Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 7 Part 1

7. The Duchess’s Debutante

The Harvest Festival, which had left everyone with a bittersweet feeling, finally came to an end. While the palace returned to its usual routine, Eleanor still had unresolved issues weighing on her mind. Among them, Caroline remained her biggest concern. Things were calm for now, but the future was uncertain. Eleanor knew she needed to delve deeper into the history of Rachel, the first wife of the former Duke of Mecklen, but she was aware of her limitations in doing so on her own.

After much consideration, Eleanor decided to request a private audience with the Empress Dowager.

“What brings you to me, my dear?” the Empress Dowager asked with a warm smile.

Since the incident with Adler, the Empress Dowager had shown even more trust in Eleanor, her eyes filled with a reassuring confidence.

Buoyed by this support, Eleanor spoke clearly, “I would like to have my debutante ball.”

The Empress Dowager’s expression registered a hint of surprise. A debutante ball was traditionally a coming-out event for young ladies in their mid-teens to early twenties, marking their formal introduction to society. Given that Eleanor had already made her public appearance during the recent Harvest Festival, the Empress Dowager found it unusual for her to seek such a formal debut.

“Do you wish to build social connections?”

“Yes,” Eleanor replied succinctly.

The Empress Dowager studied Eleanor closely, letting out a thoughtful hum. ‘So, she’s decided to fully immerse herself in the political arena,’ she thought.

The social world wasn’t just about idle chatter and pleasantries. Events like tea parties, tennis gatherings, literary readings, and musical performances all served specific purposes. Through these gatherings, people built alliances, pursued their interests, and carved out unseen territories.

The social scene was a battlefield where allegiances shifted dozens of times a day. Moreover, the influence of the social world couldn’t be underestimated; it was often the starting point for shaping public opinion across the nation.

“Then go ahead with your plans.”

“Thank you. Also, I would like to keep my debut a secret for now.”

“Very well,” the Empress Dowager nodded without hesitation.

“On the day of your debut, I will give you a gift,” the Empress Dowager added.

“Your Majesty…!”

“It’s only fitting that you hold your head high,” the Empress Dowager explained.

Receiving a gift from the Empress Dowager in front of the nobility carried significant weight. In simple terms, it meant that the Empress Dowager would publicly support her, offering her official backing. Eleanor had not anticipated such a generous gesture, and her eyes widened in surprise. The Empress Dowager chuckled at her reaction.

Eleanor’s wide, blue eyes struck the Empress Dowager as particularly endearing.

‘She looks so gentle and innocent,’ the Empress Dowager thought. Although she occasionally glimpsed a steely resolve in Eleanor, she found that contrast all the more appealing.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Eleanor said sincerely.

For the first time, she felt like she was truly starting something significant, and her heart swelled with a sense of anticipation.

***

“What brings you all the way here?” Brianna asked as she noticed her father, the Marquis of Liege.

The Marquis, with his well-groomed mustache resting above his plump lips, responded as he casually stroked it with his fingers, “I’ve come to see His Majesty the Emperor.”

“To see His Majesty?” Brianna echoed, puzzled. She couldn’t recall any particular reason her father would need to meet the Emperor.

“I have a report to deliver regarding the academy.”

“Ah,” Brianna nodded in understanding.

The Marquis of Liege was involved with the Imperial Academy, providing partial funding and participating in its management. Although it was a private institution, the academy was renowned throughout the empire for producing the brightest talents, and occasional meetings between the Emperor and the academy’s board members were customary.

‘So today must be one of those days,’ Brianna thought.

“Come along with me,” the Marquis said, addressing Brianna as she stood there.

“Right now?” Brianna’s expression crumpled slightly in surprise. While she wasn’t uninterested in her father’s affairs, the idea of accompanying him to an audience with the Emperor made her a bit uneasy. However, seeing no valid reason to decline, she nodded. “Alright.”

She had just finished the tasks the Empress Dowager had assigned her, so there was no pressing reason to refuse.

The Marquis took a moment to scrutinize his daughter’s appearance. “Go put on some earrings,” he instructed.

“Earrings?” Brianna echoed, a little surprised by the sudden concern for her accessories.

“Those ruby earrings you had fitted recently. No, wait. Emerald would go better with your outfit. The large emerald ones—go and put them on quickly.”

Blushing slightly at her father’s attention to detail, Brianna nodded, “Alright.”

“And do something with your hair. What’s with that style?”

“……”

Brianna couldn’t quite understand why her father was suddenly so particular. While he had always been generous in providing her with dresses, necklaces, and bracelets to ensure she stood out, he had never been this meticulous about her appearance.

Suppressing her rising irritation, Brianna obediently followed her father’s instructions. She put on the emerald earrings, gathered her hair into a high updo, and adorned it with satin ribbons and decorative pins shaped like flowers—current trends in high society.

When she returned, the Marquis of Liege clapped his hands together in satisfaction. “Now that’s my daughter. There’s no woman in the empire more beautiful than you.”

“Oh, Father,” Brianna laughed, her earlier annoyance quickly dissipating with her father’s praise.

The father and daughter headed straight to the audience chamber. Having arranged the meeting in advance, they were able to see the Emperor without delay.

“Your Majesty.”

“Welcome. And Lady Brianna is here as well.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty,” Brianna said, bowing along with her father, feeling slightly embarrassed. Though the Emperor’s tone was neutral, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her presence was unnecessary.

The Marquis glanced at his daughter, noticing her discomfort.

Click.

“Your Majesty,” another voice called out.

“Ah, Duke, you’ve arrived.”

“I see the Marquis of Liege is also here,” came the voice of Ernst.

Brianna flinched at the sight of Ernst’s face. She hadn’t expected him to attend the meeting. Unconsciously, she began to scrutinize his features, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

‘I’m glad I followed Father’s advice and dressed up.’

Brianna couldn’t help but hope that Ernst might notice her, but he merely glanced at her before looking away.

“Wouldn’t it be better if the young lady were to leave?”

“Oh, well, she insisted on seeing how Your Majesty conducts matters, so I brought her along. I must apologize, Your Majesty. It seems I’ve been too indulgent with my daughter.”

“Father…?” Brianna’s face flushed bright red, but for a different reason this time.

When had she ever insisted on coming? It was the Marquis of Liege who had insisted she join him, and she only agreed, wondering why her father would make such a suggestion. Now, she was suddenly cast as a young lady who had stubbornly tagged along, and Brianna, feeling embarrassed, glanced at Ernst to gauge his reaction.

“I’ll take my leave.”

“Oh no, where are you going? If you leave now, it will seem as though His Majesty has dismissed you,” Marquis Liege quickly grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving.

Brianna had always thought her father was a sly and unpredictable man, but today he was being particularly difficult. Yet, Marquis Liege wasn’t done speaking.

“This girl is often praised for being bright and intelligent, Your Majesty.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Countess Müller was her tutor, and I’m sure she could tell you more about how sharp my daughter is.”

Just moments ago, he was chastising her for tagging along, and now he was boasting about her.

“She also has a very kind and generous heart. Not long ago, she gave coins to a beggar out of pity. That’s not all—she visits an orphanage every month and donates regularly, and recently, she’s been volunteering at the temple as well…”

Brianna felt an overwhelming urge to flee.

She had no idea why her father was behaving this way. The more he spoke, the more mortified she became. Trying to free her arm from his grasp, she accidentally knocked over a teacup.

“Gasp…!”

“Oh dear.”

The tea spilled across the table, and Ernst’s expression darkened as he frowned at the mess.

Already feeling self-conscious around Ernst, Brianna wanted to disappear. She rarely made such mistakes, but this one couldn’t have come at a worse time.

“Your Majesty, I apologize. I can’t believe I’ve made such a mistake… I’m so sorry, Your Majesty.”

“It’s fine.”

Thankfully, the documents on the table had only gotten slightly damp, as Ernst had quickly moved them aside. Still, Brianna’s face darkened considerably at the thought of her clumsiness.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. It seems I have failed in raising my daughter properly. I will ensure she is taught better manners,” Marquis Liege lamented, criticizing Brianna’s careless behavior.

Brianna wanted nothing more than to snap at her father for blaming her when he had been the one to drag her into this situation. But she couldn’t do so in front of the Emperor. Instead, she gritted her teeth and stood up, embarrassed beyond words. Lennoch, noticing her distress, handed her a handkerchief.

“It seems some tea spilled on your hand. Please use this.”

“…Thank you, Your Majesty,” Brianna replied, accepting the handkerchief.

Though her body faced the Emperor, all her thoughts were on Ernst.

‘How embarrassing.’

She felt even more embarrassed than when she had boldly tried to flirt with Ernst before. She had wanted to present a perfect image, but now she was left wondering if, even if Eleanor divorced him, Ernst would even consider being with her after this.

Unable to bear the shame any longer, Brianna quickly exited the audience chamber, still clutching the Emperor’s handkerchief. The Marquis of Liege watched his daughter’s retreating figure with a peculiar smile on his lips.

***

“Huff, huff.”

Becky dashed through the forest path, her mind in a frenzy. She had no idea what kind of forest this was when she recklessly ran into it, only to stumble and fall multiple times. Her body was drenched in blood from wounds that hadn’t yet healed, but now was not the time to worry about that.

‘I must escape.’

Becky gritted her teeth as she pushed through the underbrush. She had no idea who might be following her or how close they were. All she could do was rely on her almost primal instincts to keep running. If she were caught now, it wouldn’t end with just being dragged back to the mansion. Caroline, her mistress, would surely try to kill her.

“Ack!”

Becky tripped, rolling across the ground. Fallen autumn leaves clung to her as she tumbled, making her already disheveled appearance even more pitiful. After rolling down the slope for what felt like an eternity, Becky finally reached level ground and came to a stop. The pain was fleeting. She struggled to her feet once more. To escape the pursuit of the Mecklens, she had to keep running.

‘Where should I go?’

As she wandered through the dark night, Becky had only one thought. The faces of her long-lost family floated in her mind. But she couldn’t go to them. If she were Caroline, the first place she’d look to find her would be with her family. It was inevitable.

‘I have nowhere to go.’

It was a dark night with no trace of moonlight. Becky, on the verge of tears, kept running endlessly. Suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind.

“Becky, I will help you, I promise.”

‘Young Madam…!’

“If anything bad happens to your family, please tell me. I will help you no matter what.”

This time, it wasn’t her family in danger, but Becky herself. But if it were the Young Madam…

The Young Madam, Eleanor, who had gone to the imperial palace, had never returned to the mansion since. Instead of feeling resentment toward the Young Madam for not returning, Becky thought it was just as well. Becoming the Empress Dowager’s lady-in-waiting was a thousand times better than enduring Caroline’s torment.

‘Maybe…’

Thinking of the Young Madam, a sliver of hope took root in Becky’s heart. She bit down hard on her cracked lips.

***