Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 9 Part 6

Lennoch examined Eleanor’s hands again. Though the ink stains had faded significantly, there were still faint traces left. Lennoch, still bent over, slowly lifted his head while holding the handkerchief. Eleanor, seeing Lennoch looking up at her from below, hesitated for a moment.

“Lord Childe has done wrong… but I worry he might receive a punishment that’s too severe for his crimes,” she said.

“I suppose,” Lennoch replied curtly.

“We haven’t even discovered who’s behind Lord Childe’s actions yet. Isn’t it too soon to make a hasty judgment?”

The more Eleanor explained, the less Lennoch spoke. She attached various reasons to her concern, but in the end, it was clear she was worried about Childe. After hearing everything, Lennoch straightened up. Eleanor, taken aback by the Emperor’s unexpectedly cold reaction, fidgeted as Lennoch broke the silence.

“As far as I know, no one has stepped forward to defend him. Even if someone does now, I can’t guarantee anything.”

“Is it that difficult?”

“He spread false rumors and disturbed the imperial court—it’s a serious crime. This won’t be easy.”

The Emperor had been a key witness who testified to the Duchess’s innocence. For him to now appoint a lawyer to defend Childe, who slandered the Duchess, would be absurd. Realizing that Lennoch was indicating it was impossible, Eleanor reluctantly nodded.

“I see… then.”

“Does it weigh on your mind?”

“…A little.”

She had braved the scrutiny of others to come here, but reality was harsher than expected. However, since she understood the reasoning, Eleanor didn’t press Lennoch further.

“Thank you for your time, Your Majesty.”

‘Is she really going to just state her business and leave?’

Lennoch watched Eleanor lift the hem of her dress, preparing to leave.

“…Are you really going?” he asked, holding onto a sliver of hope, but Eleanor answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Yes, my business is done. I should be going.”

“……!”

Eleanor was sincere. She smiled slightly as she spoke, leaving Lennoch speechless. Had he really become less important than Childe? No, that couldn’t be.

As Eleanor turned away, she tried to quell the disappointment in her heart. Though she hadn’t meant it, Lennoch was pained to see her sagging shoulders as she walked away.

“Your Majesty?” Eleanor called out, startled.

“There is one way,” Lennoch said, stopping her just as she was about to open the door. He didn’t want to help that scoundrel Childe, but he couldn’t refuse her.

Lennoch reached out to Eleanor. “Come with me.”

***

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The Emperor’s visit came without warning. The guards were so tense that they couldn’t lower their hands as the warden rushed over to greet Lennoch.

“Your Majesty, you grace us with your presence in such a humble place.”

“I’m here to see the young lor of House Ezester.”

“Pardon?” The warden’s eyes widened in surprise at the mention of Childe from the Emperor’s lips.

“Is there a problem?”

“No, Your Majesty. I will take you to him.”

The warden glanced at the Duchess, who stood beside the Emperor, and then led the way.

‘It was the Duke of Mecklen last time,’ he thought.

The warden was well aware of the failed attempts by the Duchess during her previous visit due to the Duke. Perhaps she had brought the Emperor this time because of that incident.

The warden tilted his head in confusion but quickly dismissed the thought.

“It might be dangerous, so I’ll guard the entrance.”

“There’s no need. Go about your duties.”

“But, Your Majesty…”

Lennoch forcefully dismissed the concerned warden from the hallway. Childe let out a surprised sound when he saw the Emperor enter his cell with Eleanor.

“Y-Your Majesty…?”

It was the first time his cell door had opened since Berenice’s visit. Even today, on the eve of his trial, no one had come to see him. All his relationships were built on the family name and money, so it was no surprise that no one remained by his side now.

“You don’t look too unwell,” Lennoch remarked.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” Childe replied, lowering his eyes, too ashamed to meet Lennoch’s gaze. His guilt weighed heavily on him, but Eleanor’s presence beside the Emperor made it worse.

Lennoch approached Childe and spoke in a low voice. “Are you aware that no noble has come forward to defend you?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Was that too blunt? Eleanor cast a sideways glance at Lennoch. The playful smile he often wore had vanished, and his face was now stern. In his expressionless state, the aura of authority radiated from his entire being.

‘I hadn’t noticed because he always smiled kindly… but this is the real Lennoch, the Emperor.’

Eleanor suddenly remembered Lennoch’s imperial status.

“It’s all my fault,” Childe confessed.

“Indeed, but in the upcoming trial, you will have to defend yourself,” Lennoch stated.

“…Pardon?” Childe’s head shot up, the chains on his wrists clinking with the sudden movement.

Lennoch chuckled at Childe’s shocked expression. “I mean it. Defend yourself with all you’ve got.”

“Y-Your Majesty.”

“First, show genuine remorse for your sins and elicit sympathy.” Lennoch relayed the advice he had mentioned to Eleanor before coming here. “One of the nobles on the jury for your trial is the secret editor of Eros.”

“……!”

“I was saving this information for later, but I’m giving it to you now. Can you do it?”

Childe’s gaze shifted from Lennoch to Eleanor. She had remained silent, just as she had when they first arrived. Though she said nothing, Childe could guess the reason for the Emperor’s visit—it was because of her. Otherwise, Lennoch would never have come to offer advice to someone who had tarnished the imperial family’s reputation.

Tears welled up in Childe’s eyes, and his face flushed red. He suddenly felt utterly worthless.

“I’m grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness. But…” Childe hesitated before mumbling, “I know I’m not even worthy of hearing such words.”

“……!”

“I’m nothing but trash. I’m not even worth recycling. You don’t need to go out of your way for someone like me.”

It wasn’t Eleanor who was surprised by this answer, but Lennoch. Had Childe always harbored such thoughts? Was he pretending to be innocent in front of the Emperor? But Childe’s eyes shone with a clarity that couldn’t be faked.

Lennoch realized that this was the first time he had seen Childe’s eyes so clear. The Childe he knew had always been drowned in alcohol and women.

“I’m the useless son that even the great Duke Ezester abandoned.”

The disgrace of the Ezester family. A fool with no talent, living off his father’s name. These were the words everyone used to describe him.

“Does someone as hopeless as me really have a reason to keep living?”

Childe was well aware of his own weakness. Even if he were miraculously freed by some stroke of luck, he doubted he could avoid falling back into his vices—drinking, women, gambling. He wasn’t confident he could change.

At that moment, Eleanor stepped forward.

“There are plenty of reasons to live.”

Both men’s eyes turned to her.

“The first reason is this current situation,” she said.

“……?”

“Sacrificing yourself for someone else is the most foolish and senseless thing you can do.”

Eleanor spoke from her own experience, recalling the feelings she had on the guillotine before her return to the past. For the person behind Childe, his silent death would be the perfect ending. He mustn’t die so easily out of sheer frustration.

“And the second reason is to prove it.”

“Prove… it?” Childe asked.

“Prove why you should live.”

“How can I prove something I don’t even know?” Childe questioned. It was something he had never found throughout his life. Everyone had given up on him—wasn’t that proof enough?

Eleanor answered clearly, “First, find that reason. Then we can talk.”

***

The next day, Childe’s trial proceeded as scheduled. While the trial took place, Eleanor spent the evening packing for her trip to the slums. She had been assigned a week-long mission to investigate and gather information to lay the groundwork for the poverty relief policy.

The existing data was too outdated to provide an accurate picture of the current situation, so it was necessary to collect new information. With the help of her maid, Eleanor packed a comfortable dress, a hat to shield her from the sun, gloves, and other necessities. As she was preparing, her eyes fell on the flower placed in a vase.

‘Lennoch.’

Thinking about the slums reminded her of the young boy, Lennoch, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time. She had always found it curious that the child shared the same name as the Emperor. How is he doing now?

Eleanor decided that she would try to find out how the young Lennoch was faring during her investigation.

“I should leave the flower here,” she said to herself.

Since the purple flower was not a fresh one, there was no need to water it. Leaving the flower in the vase, Eleanor packed her favorite books and a few other items. As she was busy with her preparations, her maid entered to announce a visitor.

“Lady Eleanor, I’m sorry to interrupt, but the Empress Dowager requests your presence.”

“Her Majesty?”

‘Is it about the current project?’

It was late, and most of the other ladies-in-waiting had already left the palace, so no one else was around. Assuming it was related to her work, Eleanor made her way to the Empress Dowager’s chambers.

Outside the Empress Dowager’s chambers stood an unfamiliar attendant. Eleanor knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

“You called for me, Your Majesty?”

The Empress Dowager was still dressed in her elaborate court attire, having not yet changed. She looked up from the papers she was reviewing, still working even in her bedroom.

“Sorry to call you at this late hour.”

“It’s no trouble.”

“I know you’re busy too, but could I ask you to look after the prince for a while?”

“The prince?”

Eleanor immediately thought of the small, timid child who often looked up at her with fearful eyes.

The Empress Dowager raised the documents in her hands, indicating her dilemma. “I was going to go myself, but someone is waiting for these.”

The attendant outside appeared to belong to the main palace. Though the Empress Dowager felt guilty about imposing on Eleanor at such a late hour, she continued, “He hasn’t eaten and keeps crying. I want to bring him here, but there are too many prying eyes…

“I’ll go,” Eleanor replied without hesitation.

The Empress Dowager nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you. You’ve saved me.”

“I’ll leave right away.”

Though it was within walking distance, the Empress Dowager suggested Eleanor take a carriage since it was late. She added a word of concern. “Lately, the prince’s crying has increased significantly.”

Even his nanny didn’t know the cause, and the Empress Dowager’s worry grew daily. Though she adored the prince, she feared that if crying became a habit, it would make the prince’s future life in the palace even more challenging.

Eleanor took the Empress Dowager’s words to heart and left the palace. She arrived at Winston Palace, where most of the lights were out, giving the place an eerie feeling.

Eleanor followed a maid who was on night duty down the corridor. The door to the prince’s room was slightly ajar. Dismissing the maid, Eleanor peered inside through the crack.

The room was filled with the sound of quiet sobbing. The young Prince Hail clung tightly to a raccoon doll, tears streaming down his face. Toys were scattered all around him.

“Your Highness, you must stop crying now.”

“Sniff, sniff… Hiccup.”

“Please, Your Highness.”

The nanny spoke gently, trying to comfort the prince, but it was no use.

“Would you like to play with one of your toys, Your Highness?” The nanny picked up a toy from the floor and tried to place it in the prince’s hand.

“No!!!”

The prince, who had been quietly sobbing, suddenly screamed and threw the toy aside. The wooden horse hit the floor with a loud clatter. The nanny’s eyebrow twitched slightly, though it was barely noticeable. With a sigh, she bent down to pick up the discarded toy.

“What on earth is wrong with him?”

“Sniff, sniff… Grandma… hiccup.”

Prince Hail’s cries grew louder, his distress increasing. The nanny, fearing he might collapse from exhaustion, tried to soothe him with another toy.

Knock, knock.