Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 6 Part 8

He pleaded earnestly. Eleanor had no idea how anxious Lennoch had been at the thought of Childe being her first dance partner in Baden. How much he had wanted to stop her from stepping out onto the balcony with him. And now, once again, Lennoch desperately held onto Eleanor, who was on the verge of slipping away.

If he let this opportunity pass, he felt he might never get another chance.

“…It seems I have no choice.” Reluctantly, Eleanor took his outstretched hand.

The tension that had hardened Lennoch’s expression softened into a gentle smile. “Thank you for granting my request.”

“I’ll dance with you, but just this one time.”

What could make the Emperor, the highest authority in the empire, go to such lengths for her? Eleanor couldn’t help but wonder. She knew well enough that Lennoch had feelings for her. He was calm yet surprisingly easy to read when it came to emotions.

But this behavior was reserved only for her. When others spoke of the Emperor’s demeanor, they described him as kind but strictly professional, playful but never crossing the line. His emotions were so steady that no one could truly discern what he was thinking.

‘If only he were more forceful like Ernst, maybe I could push him away more firmly.’

His gentle and cautious demeanor made things difficult. Her heart, once sharp and guarded, was slowly becoming dulled. No matter how harshly she spoke to him, he always treated her with the same unwavering respect. From the moment she entered the palace, Lennoch had been the only one who treated her with dignity and respect.

“If you’re uncomfortable, just let me know. I’ll let go immediately.”

He placed his hand on her waist. Though she knew it was for the dance, Eleanor found herself unsure of where to look, finally settling her gaze on his shoulder. Lennoch likely had no ulterior motives, yet she felt oddly guilty, as if she were the one thinking something inappropriate.

She decided it was better to focus on the dance.

As her mind shifted, Eleanor’s expression brightened. Moving in time with Lennoch, she took a step to the left, turned halfway, then took two steps to the right. They drifted apart briefly before she returned to him. Lennoch smiled as they moved together.

“You’re an exceptional dancer.”

“So are you, Lennoch.”

“May I ask for one favor?”

“……?”

“I want to help you.”

Eleanor’s posture stiffened slightly.

“I still don’t fully understand why you dislike me. But if you ever need my help, I’ll do everything I can.”

The once loud music seemed to fade into the distance.

Eleanor’s steps slowed, becoming almost hesitant.

“Even if it’s something small. Even if it’s just a trivial story, could you share it with me?”

Should she brush it off, claiming not to know? Or should she be honest?

Eleanor’s lips trembled slightly beneath her mask. The music was reaching its climax.

She let go of his hand and stepped back. As she and the other women in their flowing dresses twirled together, the ballroom blossomed with vibrant colors. After two rotations, Eleanor linked arms with Lennoch once more.

“Then I’ll be honest.”

The final part of the dance was a free duet. Most of the guests, tired from the long dance, had stepped back to rest, leaving only a few couples in the center, capturing everyone’s attention. Among them, Eleanor and Lennoch stood out the most.

“I didn’t want this.”

“……!”

“I didn’t want to get married off to the Mecklen Ducal family as if I were being sold.”

His hand, once warm, grew cold in hers.

“I don’t blame you for it. Even if Hartmann hadn’t fallen apart… no, even if I hadn’t come to Baden, I would have ended up in another arranged marriage sooner or later.”

A princess couldn’t avoid a political marriage, but did she really have to live such a harsh life?

“My resentment is more toward the situation than toward you. Why did I have to come to Baden? Was there nothing else for me but marriage? Why did they…”

“I wanted you to be happy.”

Eleanor paused. His voice, slightly cracked, resonated in her ear.

“The best choice I could make at the time was that.”

“……”

“This position requires more sacrifices than gains.”

Lennoch’s eyes, hidden behind his mask, seemed to tremble slightly.

“I had to give it up in order to protect it. It’s hard to explain everything to you, but…”

“You did it for me?”

She realized he hadn’t sent her to the Mecklen family out of malice. She could see that in the way he treated her now. But still, she couldn’t help but feel sad.

Whenever she looked at him, she thought of the “what ifs.”

What if she hadn’t come to the Mecklen family…?

What if she had married someone other than Ernst…?

Eleanor finally voiced her last lingering thought. “I’m sorry, but… I’m still not happy.”

“……”

Lennoch’s hold on her loosened. The tightness in her chest eased, making it easier to breathe, but Eleanor’s expression didn’t improve. An awkward silence settled between them.

The applause marking the end of the performance echoed briefly before fading away.

***

After the dance ended, both Lennoch and Eleanor were lost in deep thought, neither speaking a word. With a slight buzz from the wine, Eleanor eventually left the ballroom. Lennoch had offered to escort her back, but she firmly declined and returned alone.

That night, or rather, early the next morning, Eleanor found herself unable to sleep.

“I’m thirsty…”

A hoarse voice escaped her dry throat. She drank the water the maid had brought, but her mind still felt clouded, as if shrouded in mist. As she forced her heavy body to prepare for the day, her eyes fell on the turquoise dress she had worn the previous night.

“What’s this?”

Because she had returned so late, she had only draped the dress over a chair. The dress’s skirt was visible, and something about the hem, slightly frayed and uneven, caught her attention.

Curious, Eleanor moved closer and lifted the dress to examine it more closely.

“Where did this get cut?” Her head tilted slightly as she pondered. She didn’t recall the skirt snagging on anything while dancing with Lennoch. Was it like this from the beginning?

She tried to recall, but she hadn’t inspected the dress closely when she first put it on, so her memory was fuzzy. The cut was at such a low point, near where it brushed the floor, that she might have missed it even if she had looked.

‘This feels strange.’

After some deliberation, Eleanor decided to set the dress aside for now. It was possible Brianna had intentionally given her a dress with a damaged hem. With Brianna, anything was possible.

“I’ll need to keep an eye on this.”

It was too early to confront her about it. Eleanor called for a maid and instructed her to store the turquoise dress separately.

The day began as usual, but with a subtle difference.

“You’re already here. How are you feeling?”

“Oh, Duchess, thank you for asking.”

On her way to the Empress Dowager’s quarters, Eleanor ran into Countess Lorentz. It was the first time they’d met since the Countess had returned to work. The Countess seemed slightly surprised to see Eleanor, but quickly masked it with a composed smile.

As they exchanged brief pleasantries and continued on their way, Brianna approached.

“Are you feeling better, Madam?”

“Lady Brianna.”

Countess Lorentz’s face lit up at the sight of Brianna. Their conversation was full of formal well-wishes, but the Countess’s tone was much warmer and more affectionate than it had been with Eleanor. While someone else might have felt slighted by the difference in treatment, Eleanor didn’t let it bother her.

Brianna glanced at Eleanor. “I heard you wore the dress I gave you last night.”

“How did you know?”

“Lady Norah was quite proud to tell me about it.”

Brianna explained that she had run into Norah as she was getting out of the carriage. She seemed pleased, though perhaps a bit irritated, that Eleanor had worn the dress she had chosen for her. Eleanor couldn’t help but make a curious expression as she watched Brianna’s mixed reaction.

“Lady Eleanor! Lady Brianna and Countess Lorentz, you’re here too!”

Norah came bouncing over, practically rolling with excitement. Her cheerful morning greeting brought smiles and warm replies from everyone, including Eleanor.

***

In the afternoon, Eleanor received instructions to check the number of tables and chairs allocated to the main palace. As she walked along the well-maintained paths of the imperial palace, the refreshing breeze gently brushed against her face. By now, she had visited so often that she felt she could find her way with her eyes closed. Passersby recognized her first and greeted her from all directions. With a smile, she returned their greetings as she ascended the stairs.

“Wait a moment, Eleanor!”

Just as she was about to pass through the central doors, Eleanor stopped in her tracks. A cold shiver ran down her spine, as if warning her of something. He came running, his footsteps quick and urgent, until he stood before her, trying to catch his breath and meet her gaze.

“…Brother.”

“Have you been well? Are you eating properly?”

Adler spoke hurriedly, his breath heavy from running. He hadn’t changed a bit since the last time they met. Eleanor silently observed her brother, who shared the same golden hair, as he acted as if he wanted to embrace her.

“I’ve been so worried, but it’s good to see you looking well. That’s a relief.”

“Worried…?”

“Yes, worried. You can’t imagine how anxious I’ve been since you left for Baden. I sent letters, but they were always returned. I was so afraid something had happened to you.” Adler’s face flickered with expressions of guilt and regret. “Can we talk for a moment?”

“Let’s move to a different spot.”

Eleanor had initially intended to ignore Adler, but at the last moment, she changed her mind. They moved to a quieter area, away from the main path. An awkward tension hung between the siblings as they faced each other.

Adler was the first to break the silence. “I’ve felt uneasy. It’s been weighing on me, thinking I burdened you with too much.”

“……”

“I heard you’ve become the Empress Dowager’s lady-in-waiting?” He watched Eleanor’s reaction carefully as he spoke. “She’s treating you well, isn’t she? I saw her yesterday—she hasn’t changed a bit since I last saw her.”

“Yes, she’s a very kind person.” Eleanor emphasized the words ‘very kind.’

As Adler instinctively reached out to touch Eleanor’s hair, he hesitated. He sensed a faint chill in his sister’s expressionless face. The look in her eyes was not one she’d give her brother, but rather the cold gaze reserved for a stranger.

His hand, frozen in midair, awkwardly returned to his side. Adler’s hand was clad in spotless white gloves.

“Right, I see. You’ve adjusted well… Is there anything I can help you with?”

“No, there isn’t.”

“I see.”

He tried to say more but faltered under the weight of her demeanor, closing his mouth instead. Adler couldn’t understand why his usually docile sister was suddenly acting as if she were an irritable adolescent.

After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Are you upset with me?”

“……”

“Becoming a naturalized citizen of Bahama was an unavoidable choice.”

“I know.”