Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 7 Part 2

There wasn’t much to prepare, but in order to attend the event, it was necessary to receive the debutante invitation by the day before. Without the invitation, entry was simply impossible.

“Debutante?”

The news of Eleanor’s debut into society was discreetly passed among the ladies-in-waiting. Those gathered with the Empress Dowager were visibly surprised by the unexpected news. Brianna, Norah, and even the Countess of Lorentz all had something to say, but the only one who remained emotionless was Berenice.

‘Did she already know?’

Eleanor guessed as much, observing Berenice’s impassive expression. Berenice was the Empress Dowager’s most trusted lady-in-waiting. Perhaps the two had quietly discussed this beforehand.

Without revealing her thoughts, Eleanor spoke in a bright voice, “Yes, I received the invitation today.”

Fortunately, thanks to the Empress Dowager’s intervention, she was able to obtain the invitation without any issues. Eleanor added that she was sorry she hadn’t informed her colleagues in advance.

“Then I’ll go too!” Norah, who was most excited about Eleanor’s debut, volunteered eagerly. “I should prepare some flowers. Lady Eleanor, what kind of flowers would you like?”

“That’s a bit much. What’s so special about a debutante? Flowers aren’t necessary. If anything, they’ll just be a nuisance while dancing.”

“But it’s nice to receive them. When I had my debutante, my parents gave me flowers too,” Norah retorted, countering Brianna’s indifferent response.

It was up to each person whether or not they received flowers. However, having flowers could draw more attention, and some young ladies even made sure to receive them for that very reason. Norah shook her head, insisting that wasn’t her intention, but Brianna sarcastically remarked that the flowers would just become a burden after the entrance.

Their conversation was interrupted by the kind voice of the Empress Dowager.

“I’ve prepared a gift separately.”

“What? Your Majesty?”

This time, it was the Countess of Lorentz who reacted with surprise. The countess, who had been cautious not to speak prematurely, seemed genuinely taken aback by the mention of the Empress Dowager’s gift.

“Berenice, have you prepared it?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As expected, Berenice answered without hesitation. She had indeed known about Eleanor’s debutante and now presented the gift prepared by the Empress Dowager.

“A fan?”

“Wow, it’s beautiful.”

The delicate flowers, adorned with gold and pearls, immediately caught everyone’s eye against the white fan ribs.

Satisfied with the admiring reactions around her, the Empress Dowager spoke, “Try holding it.”

Eleanor carefully took the fan. Without gloves, she could feel the hard texture of the wood. As she flicked it open with a soft sound, a rose pattern intricately embroidered in gold thread was revealed.

Eleanor bent her knee and bowed to the Empress Dowager. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

“Lady Eleanor, you look truly stunning.”

Unlike Norah, who was as thrilled as if she had received the gift herself, Brianna couldn’t show her discomfort openly and merely turned her head. It was clear that Brianna felt a twinge of pride being wounded, sensing the Empress Dowager’s special affection for Eleanor.

And Brianna wasn’t the only one feeling uneasy. The expression on the Countess of Lorentz’s face had also darkened somewhat.

***

“Debutante, huh,” Lennoch muttered as he glanced at the list that had been submitted along with the report. He had barely caught his breath after the Harvest Festival, and now, less than two weeks later, another significant event was upon him. The importance of a debutante wasn’t just limited to the nobility; it was equally significant for the imperial family.

As Lennoch’s eyes scanned down the list of names, they suddenly stopped midway.

“Eleanor…”

“The Duchess of Mecklen, you mean?” Eger, who had keenly caught Lennoch’s quiet murmur, asked.

“It seems she’s participating this time,” Lennoch replied.

“The Empress Dowager is her sponsor, it seems.”

“Her Majesty must be quite fond of the Duchess.”

Typically, names appeared on the list under their family’s title. Eger, who had sidled up next to Lennoch to review the list with him, commented with a hint of unease. “Isn’t Her Majesty being a bit too forward? No matter the circumstances, there’s the matter of the Mecklen family’s honor… To have her listed under the imperial family instead of her own household?”

“Indeed,” Lennoch agreed.

“Wouldn’t the Duke be displeased if he knew?” Eger speculated, thinking of Ernst’s position.

Lennoch responded by lightly tapping his fingers on the desk.

Eger continue, “Even if the Duke of Mecklen is too busy to oversee the debutante, this should be handled by the Duchess Dowager, not the Empress Dowager.”

“The deed is done; there’s nothing we can do now.”

“Was this list submitted today?”

“Yes, I suspect my mother’s influence played a part in it.”

As Lennoch answered, he envisioned the face of the Empress Dowager. Her tendency to take care of her own was exceptionally pronounced. Sometimes, her blatant favoritism led to complaints. If not for the Empress Dowager, Baroness Berenice likely wouldn’t have received her title, despite her notable achievements. The path to becoming a baroness had been anything but smooth for her.

“I’ll have to adjust things later,” Lennoch remarked.

“You’ll have a headache for a while, then,” Eger said sympathetically.

Lennoch often found himself in the difficult position of mediating whenever tensions flared between Ernst and the Empress Dowager. Ernst resented the Empress Dowager’s tendency to favor her own circle when she involved herself in politics. In contrast, Ernst was a man who valued duty above personal connections.

“Eger, will you be attending the event tomorrow evening?” Lennoch asked.

“I’ll think about it. There’s just too much work to do,” Eger replied, shaking his head.

Ignoring Eger’s lament about the never-ending workload, Lennoch returned his gaze to the list.

‘I never thought I’d see her again like this.’

Did Eleanor know that by stepping onto the debutante stage, she would encounter him, the Emperor, once more?

Since the masquerade ball, Lennoch had found it increasingly difficult to approach Eleanor as he once did. He often thought of her while working and, come nightfall, felt an overwhelming urge to don a mask and visit her, even though he now realized how burdensome all of that had been for her.

For a moment, anguish flickered in his eyes. She was someone he should never have met from the start. From the moment he entrusted her to Ernst, he had vowed countless times to let go completely. To avoid making any mistakes, he had intentionally cut off all contact and focused solely on his duties.

But ever since that chance encounter at the boutique district, he found himself losing control more and more. And now, she had confided in him that she wasn’t happy in her marriage.

What am I doing this for…?

“Your Majesty?”

“Huh? Sorry, what is it?”

“You need to sign this document on the next page. It has to be processed by today.”

“Was the deadline today?” Lennoch nodded as he snapped back to reality.

He immersed himself in work once more, but the name of one person continued to echo in his mind.

***

The day of the debutante had arrived. Eleanor greeted the morning with excitement, and a maid approached her with a welcoming smile.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Thanks to you. Good morning.”

Eleanor expressed her gratitude to the maid who had brought her a simple breakfast. This morning’s meal consisted of white bread, soup, and cheese. As Eleanor absentmindedly tore a piece of bread, she suddenly paused.

‘What am I doing?’

A sudden pang of nostalgia hit her. The comforting scent of the warm white bread brought back memories. She thought of Becky, who had risked so much to bring her bread when she was starving.

“I wonder if she’s doing well…”

Although she had momentarily forgotten, it wasn’t as though she wasn’t worried about Becky. If she successfully navigated today’s debutante and began to establish herself more firmly, she could start saving money, as ladies-in-waiting to the Empress Dowager were paid a salary. Though it wasn’t much yet, she planned to save diligently and bring Becky to her side as soon as possible. With that resolve, Eleanor set out for the day with a renewed sense of purpose.

“Lady Eleanor! Good morning!”

“Lady Norah.”

Norah, who had just jumped down from a carriage, greeted her enthusiastically. The ladies-in-waiting who arrived on time stood before the Empress Dowager for their morning greetings. This had become a familiar routine—except today held a special significance as it was Eleanor’s debut into society.

The Empress Dowager had just started discussing the afternoon schedule when suddenly, the Countess of Lorentz rushed in, almost running.

“Your Majesty!”

“Hm?”

The Empress Dowager turned her head toward the Countess, who was behaving as if she were being chased.

“This is terrible.”

“Indeed?”

The Countess of Lorentz, visibly flustered, handed a thin paper booklet to the Empress Dowager. The item she presented was a copy of Eros, a notorious gossip magazine known for its scandalous articles, often submitted anonymously and focusing on the latest social topics. Despite its popularity across all social ranks, it was not a magazine the imperial family welcomed.

As the Empress Dowager carefully read the section pointed out by the Countess, her expression hardened slightly.

“What should we do, Your Majesty?” the Countess of Lorentz cautiously inquired, nervously watching the Empress Dowager’s reaction.

Norah, who had been about to ask what was happening, quickly closed her mouth, sensing the gravity of the situation from the Empress Dowager’s somber demeanor.

Eleanor also felt the piercing gaze of the Countess of Lorentz, who kept stealing glances at her, as if expecting something.

‘What is this about?’

A cold feeling settled in Eleanor’s chest. The excitement she had felt about the debutante drained away in an instant.

After a long pause, the Empress Dowager finally raised her head.

“Eleanor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Despite her best efforts to remain composed, a hint of coldness crept into her voice. The Empress Dowager sighed deeply before speaking.

“It seems we will have to cancel your debutante today.”

“……!”

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?” The question Eleanor wanted to ask was voiced by Berenice, who, usually so composed, now appeared genuinely shocked. Her brows furrowed as she looked at the Empress Dowager, who answered her directly.

“This gossip magazine… has published an article about the Duchess of Mecklen’s private life.”

“Oh no…”

“Oh my…”

Brianna and Norah both gasped, while Eleanor let out a faint sound of disbelief.

“Private life…?” Eleanor murmured, confused. She had never experienced anything like this before. In her previous life, she had been plagued by rumors, but there had never been an incident significant enough to be documented in a gossip column.

‘Who could have…’

Her thoughts immediately turned to Caroline. It was certainly within her capability to orchestrate something like this. But creating such a scandal would only harm the family’s reputation, putting everyone in a difficult position.

“What does the article say?” Berenice, the calmest among them, asked.

The Empress Dowager handed the copy of Eros to Berenice, indicating she should read it herself. As Berenice stepped forward to examine the article, the Empress Dowager provided a brief explanation to Eleanor, who was also eager to know the contents.

“It’s a romantic scandal involving you and Childe von Ezester.”

***