Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 9 Part 1

9. Though the Sin Is Not Forgiven

The next day, Eleanor intended to visit Childe once more, but she was met with unexpected opposition. The Empress Dowager insisted that this time, she would send Berenice instead. Eleanor did not ask for a reason, but she found it a bit odd.

‘Could it be that Lennoch said something in the meantime?’

She was curious, but Lennoch wasn’t around at the moment, so she couldn’t ask.

“Your Majesty, you are expected at Winston Palace this afternoon,” said Countess Lorentz, who was managing the Empress Dowager’s schedule in Berenice’s stead. The Empress Dowager, who had been reading a book, removed her reading glasses at these words.

“Is it already today? Time certainly flies.”

“I will prepare a change of clothes.”

“No need. I’ll go as I am.”

The Empress Dowager stopped Countess Lorentz, who was about to take out another outfit.

“Eleanor, you should come along as well.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Eleanor had a rough idea of where Winston Palace was. Shortly after she arrived as a lady-in-waiting, Berenice had given her special lessons on it. The current occupant of Winston Palace was the young prince, who was about to turn three years old. Though he was the only bloodline left from the late Empress Edea and the Emperor, his presence was minimal due to the Emperor’s youth.

If the Emperor were to remarry and have another son, the crown prince’s position would likely go to the new Empress’s child. While the Delph family wouldn’t stand idly by, they couldn’t forever cling to the title of the former Empress’s family. The new Empress wouldn’t leave things as they are either.

Moreover, there was another rumor circulating in the palace—that the prince might not even be the Emperor’s biological child. However, since the rumor lacked any solid basis, everyone ignored it.

“It’s getting a bit chilly now.”

“You should wear something warmer. Shall I fetch a coat?”

“No need to trouble yourself. Let’s hurry and go.”

As autumn drew to a close, the wind grew colder. By the time the Empress Dowager’s party hurried to Winston Palace, Eleanor’s ears had turned slightly red from the cold.

‘Short hair can be a nuisance.’

When her hair was long, it had covered her ears, keeping them warmer. Pressing her reddened ears with her hands, Eleanor closely followed behind the Empress Dowager.

Winston Palace was simpler and smaller than the West Palace where the Empress Dowager resided. It didn’t need to be large since it was primarily used as a residence for young princes and princesses. The nanny, who had been caring for the prince, came out to the drawing room to greet them upon their arrival.

“Your Majesty, welcome.”

“Is the prince inside?”

“Yes. He’s playing with his toys right now.” The nanny, a woman of advanced age, answered respectfully.

“If too many people enter, the prince might become overwhelmed, so let’s just go in by ourselves.”

“I will remain here.”

Countess Lorentz, anticipating the suggestion, was the first to offer to stay behind. Eleanor, having no particular preference, silently stood up. The nanny stayed behind as well, and the Empress Dowager, accompanied only by Eleanor, headed to the prince’s room.

The green-painted door was opened with a soft click.

“Grandma…?”

“Oh dear, did you notice already?”

The Empress Dowager smiled at the small, murmuring voice of the child. The room was decorated in a cute manner, with mobiles and stuffed animals. The child, who had been holding a large raccoon stuffed animal, turned towards the Empress Dowager. Eleanor saw the prince for the first time.

‘Huh…?’

What was it? Eleanor felt a slight sense of discomfort pass through her. Before she could even grasp what it was, the Empress Dowager approached the prince without hesitation and lifted him up in her arms.

“Oh my, you’re so heavy now. When did you grow up so much, my little one?”

The prince smiled bashfully at the Empress Dowager’s words. Even without speaking, his smile made it clear that he was in a good mood. Not wanting to interrupt their moment, Eleanor carefully closed the door. The soft sound was barely audible, but the prince reacted by turning towards the source of the noise. Eleanor was startled when she met his unfocused gaze.

“Come here,” said the Empress Dowager.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Eleanor, hesitating, followed the Empress Dowager to the window.

The Empress Dowager, seated in a comfortable chair, spoke to the prince. “This is someone who works under your grandmother. Her name is Eleanor.”

“El…eanor.”

“Eleanor, come a bit closer.”

Without a word, Eleanor bent down as the Empress Dowager directed. As her face came closer, the child, startled at first, soon calmed down. His tiny hand, no larger than a palm, fumbled in the air.

“Yes, greet each other,” the Empress Dowager encouraged.

“Your Highness, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Eleanor leaned in closer, allowing the prince to touch her cheek. She finally realized what had been causing her discomfort. The young prince is blind.

***

The prince’s name is Hail—Hail Benière von Panello Baden. Though he was the sole legitimate prince of the Baden Empire, he had never made a public appearance. He was a timid child, easily startled by the smallest of sounds, and he would shrink away and become wary whenever strangers approached. He could even detect changes in his surroundings with uncanny accuracy, often bursting into tears when something seemed amiss.

His world consisted only of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and his elderly nanny.

“E…leanor?”

The prince tilted his head as he rolled her name around in his mouth. His fine, thread-like hair spilled to the side with the motion. Eleanor, unable to move the small hand that remained on her cheek, held her position.

“Does this not trouble you?”

“It’s fine.”

Since the Empress Dowager was holding the prince, Eleanor had to keep her upper body bent forward, as they were not at the same height. For what felt like hours, the prince busied himself by playing with Eleanor’s face as if it were a lump of dough, giving the impression that he had taken quite a liking to her.

Eventually, the Empress Dowager, as if she could no longer bear to watch, set the prince down on the floor. “Why don’t you go over and touch her yourself? I can’t hold you any longer; you’re too heavy now.”

“Grandma…” The prince pouted as he was placed on the floor. He waved his hand in the air, trying to reach the Empress Dowager again, but this time she didn’t immEdeately take him back into her arms.

As tears welled up in his gray eyes, Eleanor rose from her seat and crouched down in front of him. “I’m right here.”

“……!”

The hand that had been sweeping through the air finally landed on Eleanor’s face, and the prince flinched. Eleanor waited silently, so as not to startle him. After hesitating, the child mustered the courage to reach out again, long after the tea had gone cold. When his small hand touched her soft cheek once more, the prince began to inch forward.

“El…li?”

“Eli? Not Eleanor?”

“Grandma, Eli…”

Responding to the Empress Dowager’s voice, the prince moved closer to Eleanor. The warmth of his touch spread through her. Eleanor placed her hand gently over the prince’s, and though he seemed surprised, this time, he didn’t pull away.

“Eli.”

“It seems your name is a bit too long and difficult to pronounce,” the Empress Dowager said with a smile as she watched the two of them with satisfaction.

The prince’s pronunciation wasn’t inherently poor; it was simply that, in his search for something easier to say, he had inadvertently turned her name into a nickname.

Eleanor, thinking along the same lines as the Empress Dowager, nodded in agreement. “Eli. It’s a good name.”

“Eli!”

The prince, realizing that Eleanor was someone kind, broke into a smile. For a child who couldn’t see, touch was his only way to understand the world around him. However, physical contact was often exhausting for him.

‘Other people don’t like it when you touch their faces.’

Even at a young age, the prince instinctively knew this. Moreover, not everyone around him was as soft and gentle as Eleanor. Wooden chairs were hard, walls were rough, and sometimes when he touched the wrong object brought by the nanny, it hurt so much that he would cry. This was why he always sought out soft, plush toys, with the raccoon being his favorite companion.

‘But Eli is different.’

The prince, Hail, beamed widely. “I like Eli. I like Eli as much as the raccoon.”

Hail suddenly threw himself into Eleanor’s arms. Though the force of the embrace made Eleanor sway slightly, she quickly steadied herself.

The Empress Dowager, watching Eleanor and the now-laughing Hail, couldn’t hide her surprise. “This is the first time I’ve seen anything like this.”

“The prince seems very friendly,” Eleanor observed.

“Friendly…?” The Empress Dowager’s expression grew somewhat peculiar at Eleanor’s comment. If only she knew how the prince used to be, she wouldn’t say that. But Hail was so enthusiastic that it was easy to see how Eleanor could be mistaken.

Seeing him toss aside his raccoon and cling to Eleanor like a kangaroo in its mother’s pouch, the Empress Dowager let out a small gasp of astonishment. “He must really like you.”

***

While Eleanor and Hail were enjoying their time together, Countess Lorentz was leisurely sipping tea in the drawing room.

‘I made the right choice not to follow them.’

Countess Lorentz had met the prince only once. However, given his extreme shyness and the tiresome task of watching over his toy play for hours, she had no desire to enter the room again.

“Is that the person everyone’s been talking about?”

“Yes, that’s her.”

“She doesn’t seem like I imagined. She’s quite lovely.” The nanny engaged Countess Lorentz in conversation as she naturally took a seat across from her. “These are Earl Grey cookies. Please try one.”

“Oh, they look delicious.”

“The cook here is very skilled. Every day around this time, he bakes cookies, and the scent is so enticing that even the maids passing by often ask about it.”

As the friendly nanny spoke, Countess Lorentz took a bite of the cookie. The aroma filled her mouth, and the flavor lingered in her nose. Savoring the sweetness, Countess Lorentz made a contented sound. “I must know the secret to these cookies. I’ve never tasted anything this good.”

“Right? The cook has been working in the imperial palace for the longest time. The food is not only delicious, but he can make any dish you could imagine, so the dining table is always splendid.”

“Does such an experienced cook really work here in Winston Palace?” Countess Lorentz, curious about the explanation, asked with some surprise. Someone with such skills should be working in the main palace where the Emperor resides.

The nanny, expecting such a question, nodded knowingly. “The Emperor personally assigned him here.”

“Oh, I see.”

“He was instructed to pay special attention to the prince’s palate, as this is the age when he needs to eat well.”

Countess Lorentz realized that the Emperor was taking care of the prince even in ways that were not immEdeately visible. It wasn’t just about luxurious jewels or clothing; the Emperor was meticulously attending to the most necessary aspects behind the scenes. This realization brought a subtle change to Countess Lorentz’s expression.

‘What could this mean?’

Was the Emperor considering Hail as the crown prince? But that seemed unlikely. The prince’s shy nature was an issue, but his blindness was the greatest obstacle. Even now, within the palace, the prince’s visual impairment was a topic that could only be discussed under very specific circumstances.

“The Emperor seems to be a very affectionate person, don’t you think?”

“Yes, well… It seems that way.” Countess Lorentz gave a vague response to the nanny’s comment. “By the way, can these cookies be packaged? I’d like to share them with others.”

“Of course. I’ll make sure to have it arranged.”

“You’re so kind. Thank you.” Countess Lorentz expressed her gratitude to the nanny, who responded with a gentle smile despite the sudden request.

As the nanny gathered the remaining cookies, she gave Countess Lorentz a small, warm smile. “It’s nothing at all.”

***