Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 13 Part 1

13. Resigning as a Lady-in-Waiting

“You killed Umar?”

“Yes.”

Caroline, who was trimming her red-painted nails, responded in a nonchalant tone. “What a hassle. What if this causes more trouble?”

Saruka answered in a dry voice, “There was no other choice.”

Saruka, the one who had set fire to the slums and killed Umar, seemed to feel no guilt whatsoever. If someone had seen him responding so casually, they would have immediately called the guards, but unfortunately, the only person in front of Saruka at that moment was Caroline.

“I’ve killed all the remaining members of the organization anyway. Since I set the fire, even if their bodies are found, it will be assumed they died in the blaze.”

Despite Saruka’s full report, Caroline continued filing her nails in silence. She blew off the dust clinging to her hands with a puff of breath.

“It couldn’t be helped.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Forget it.”

Saruka found it a bit odd that Caroline didn’t respond in her usual irritated tone. To his surprise, she was smiling faintly.

“In a way, this might have worked out better.”

“……?”

“We can just pin everything on Umar and clean it up neatly.”

Even if the emperor noticed El Gino, the matter could be neatly resolved by attributing everything to Umar. All they needed to do was frame the kidnapping of the nobles as something Umar did impulsively.

“We’ll conclude that Umar took responsibility and committed suicide.”

“Thank you.”

“Well done.”

Saruka, who had braced himself for a scolding for acting on his own, was taken aback by Caroline’s unexpected praise. He grimaced under his mask, feeling more uneasy than pleased. He worried that she might suddenly turn on him and slap him. But contrary to his fears, Caroline seemed genuinely pleased.

‘This actually worked out well.’

Framing Umar’s death as a suicide was the right move. Her previously chaotic thoughts were now clear and organized.

‘I can’t be discovered yet.’

At first, she had intended to form a small, useful organization based in the Hadum slums. Occasionally, she needed people to cause trouble, but the ones she currently had weren’t enough. The Empress Dowager’s investment in the slums also suited her perfectly. As the slums grew and became more active, the organization naturally expanded as well. However—

Knock, knock.

“Madam Caroline.”

“Count Verdik.”

The tall man who entered the room was Count Verdik. Having just received a telegram, he rushed to see Caroline as soon as he heard the news. His eyes were red, and his still-wet pupils indicated that he had been crying.

“My brother…”

“I just heard. It’s truly unfortunate.”

Caroline offered Count Verdik a seat. As he sat across from her, he glanced at Saruka, who remained expressionless behind his mask. Caroline personally prepared tea for Count Verdik.

“Umar made a great sacrifice.”

“…I never expected this to happen.” Count Verdik covered his face with his hands, consumed with guilt. “I shouldn’t have asked this of my brother. I burdened him too much.”

One of the reasons the Hadum slums had been chosen was because Count Verdik’s cousin, Umar, was the mayor. An organization that grew under the protection of the mayor naturally developed quickly. After Saruka took control of El Gino, the organization’s rapid growth as a criminal enterprise was all thanks to Umar.

Caroline consoled the grieving Count Verdik. “Umar was an extraordinary man.”

“……”

“If he hadn’t protected us, the imperial family might have discovered the secret of the flower the organization was cultivating.”

The purple flower. A weed, whose name was unknown, initially seemed useless. Caroline herself might have thought the same until she heard about its properties from Marquis Delph. But once she learned its use, it became irresistible. The plan Count Verdik and Caroline devised together included the cultivation of that purple flower.

“Who could have imagined Eleanor would take the organization members directly?”

Developing the slums was never going to be easy. Even though Countess Lorentz had shared the project plan with her in advance, Caroline, who knew the situation in Hadum well, had mocked the Empress Dowager and Eleanor. But of all people, it was Eleanor, who had gone on a preliminary inspection, that disrupted their carefully orchestrated organization.

“If any of the kidnapped members had mentioned the flower in front of the Empress Dowager, it would have been disastrous. Umar knew this, which is why he tried to stop Eleanor.”

Caroline subtly linked Umar’s death to Eleanor. Hearing this, Count Verdik lowered the hands that had been covering his face.

“Why does that woman cause so much trouble?”

His eyes were filled with hatred for the Duchess of Mecklen, a woman he had never met.

“If only she hadn’t taken the members…”

“I’m sorry. This is all my fault. I should have given them stricter instructions.” Caroline feigned an apologetic tone while wearing a false mask of concern.

Grieving his brother’s death, Count Verdik, unable to think clearly, easily accepted her words. “What fault could you possibly have, Madam? It’s all because of that woman.”

Having no reason to be polite to the Duchess, Count Verdik ground his teeth. His brother’s death was ultimately the Duchess of Mecklen’s fault. If she hadn’t interfered with the organization, Umar wouldn’t have recklessly attacked the carriage. He was certain that the Emperor and Duke Mecklen had acted because of the Duchess.

“I won’t let this go.”

Saruka glanced at the enraged Count Verdik. Caroline, fearing that Saruka might say something foolish, gestured for him to leave.

“Saruka. Wait outside.”

“Yes.”

Understanding Caroline’s intent, Saruka quietly left the room. Count Verdik was too consumed with anger to notice his departure.

Caroline waved a fan in front of the agitated Count Verdik. “Calm down. We can’t let your brother’s sacrifice be in vain.”

“……”

“For his sake, we must succeed in cultivating the flower.”

Count Verdik, his emotions in turmoil, let out a deep sigh. “Do you have a plan?”

“Not yet. We’ll need to find another suitable location.”

As she answered, Caroline frowned. Lately, nothing seemed to be going right. Eros had been completely ruined because of Childe, and the organization she had painstakingly built in the Hadum slums had fallen apart. Eleanor was at the center of it all.

Suddenly, Caroline felt a surge of irritation. “This time, I’ll make sure she knows her place.”

“Pardon?” Count Verdik asked, puzzled. Caroline set her fan aside and gestured for Count Verdik to come closer.

“I need your help.”

***

“I’m so relieved you’re safe, Lady Eleanor!”

As soon as the news of the Duchess’s arrival spread, Norah rushed over. Norah, who had been more worried than anyone else about Eleanor’s disappearance, anxiously inspected her.

“Are you hurt anywhere? Does anything hurt? Have you eaten?”

“I’m fine, Lady Norah.”

“Hmph, I guess you can’t even see me standing here, can you?” Brianna grumbled in a huffy voice, feeling left out as all of Norah’s attention was focused on Eleanor, even though she had been kidnapped just the same.

Norah tilted her head, puzzled by Brianna’s glare. “Were you hurt too, Lady Brianna?”

“Of course I was. I was injured so badly!” Brianna pointed to her foot. “I can’t even wear high heels properly because it hurts so much.”

“Oh my goodness.”

Only then did Norah clap her hands in surprise. No wonder she looked shorter. Since her dress covered her feet, Norah hadn’t realized that Brianna always wore high heels.

Norah looked back and forth between Eleanor and Brianna. “Now that I see, Lady Brianna is shorter than Lady Eleanor. Lady Eleanor always wears flats.”

Normally, the three of them were about the same height. Seeing Norah lower her gaze slightly to match Brianna’s height, Brianna’s face flushed with embarrassment.

“W-what? What’s with that look? This is the average height in the empire.”

Feeling as though her insecurities had been exposed, Brianna snapped in irritation. Norah, sensing an opportunity to tease her, mimicked drawing a line above Brianna’s head. While the two playfully bickered, Eleanor started walking toward the Empress Dowager’s chambers. There was something she needed to do first. Just then, Countess Lorentz appeared from the opposite direction.

“You survived.”

It was unclear whether she was talking to herself or addressing Eleanor. Countess Lorentz gave a slight nod, her expression somewhat sullen.

“Her Majesty is waiting for you.”

“……”

After delivering her message, Countess Lorentz started to walk past Eleanor. However, she couldn’t get far as her arm was suddenly grabbed. Eleanor had a firm grip on the countess’s arm and didn’t let go.

“It’s nice to see you again, Countess.”

“W-what…?”

Countess Lorentz looked up at Eleanor, who greeted her with a cheerful smile. Eleanor’s eyes curved slightly. “Thanks to you, I’ve been doing well.”

“……!”

“Have you been well during this time?”

Why is she saying this to me?

However, Countess Lorentz couldn’t bring herself to ask. The forceful aura Eleanor exuded, as if she knew everything, made it impossible.

‘Was she always like this?’

Having heard about Eleanor from Caroline, Countess Lorentz was thoroughly bewildered by the situation. As she tried to twist her arm free, Eleanor surprisingly released her. Though her arm wasn’t actually in pain, she felt uncomfortable.

“What rudeness is this?”

“I’m sorry. Since you greeted me with just a nod, I felt I should return the gesture by holding your arm.”

Countess Lorentz looked at Eleanor, who responded brazenly, with a bit of disbelief. However, she had no response. After all, she was the one who had been rude first.

Seeing that Countess Lorentz had no further comments, Eleanor lightly nodded. “Well, I should be going now.”

“Unbelievable.”

Countess Lorentz trembled with anger as she watched Eleanor walk away. She wanted to rush up and pull her hair, but she couldn’t. If rumors spread that noblewomen were fighting like commoners in the palace, both would be disgraced.

‘I must inform Madam Caroline about this immediately.’

She couldn’t help but think that Eleanor had become arrogant, emboldened by the Empress Dowager’s favor. Countess Lorentz, unable to tolerate it any longer, clenched her trembling fists.

***

“It’s such a relief.”

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

The Empress Dowager grasped Eleanor’s hand firmly, relieved that she had returned safely. Berenice, who knew the Empress Dowager well and was aware of her reluctance to make physical contact despite her affection for her ladies-in-waiting, was surprised by the gesture.

“I was wondering what could have happened in Hadum for you to be kidnapped. They say the one responsible was Mayor Umar?”

“…Is that the report you received?”

It seemed a telegram had already reached the Empress Dowager’s palace in the short time since her return.

The Empress Dowager nodded slightly. “Yes, that’s what Duke Mecklen reported. He said that Umar committed suicide. Although the exact cause of death has not yet been determined, it is assumed that he took his own life because he couldn’t bear the guilt of kidnapping the Duchess.”

It appeared they had already investigated quite a bit. Seeing that the report had reached the palace even before she returned, Eleanor couldn’t help but be impressed by the efficiency of the imperial intelligence network.

After a brief moment of admiration, she spoke again. “More importantly, Your Majesty, I have a request.”

“Tell me.”

The Empress Dowager responded immediately to Eleanor’s request. At that moment, she felt she could grant any wish.

The news of the Duchess’s disappearance had caused her a great deal of distress. Throughout her worries, the Empress Dowager realized just how fond she had become of Eleanor.

“I will grant whatever it is.” The Empress Dowager assured her.

Eleanor then carefully voiced the thought that had been on her mind during the carriage ride. “I wish to resign from my position as a lady-in-waiting.”