Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 13 Part 4

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

As always, the day ended with Norah’s cheerful greeting, and Brianna would typically follow with the next words. However, today, Brianna was absent from the departure greetings as she had gone out on an errand for the Empress Dowager and had not yet returned.

Among the remaining ladies-in-waiting, Countess Lorentz, with a cold gaze, passed by Eleanor and boarded the carriage first.

“Lady Eleanor, I’ll be heading out as well.” Norah gave her a nod and left.

After seeing off Berenice, Eleanor turned back and re-entered the palace.

The corridor was the same as always, yet today, the path felt strangely unfamiliar to Eleanor. Was she suddenly feeling sentimental at this late hour?

“You’re just in time.”

She met a maid carrying a meal tray at her door. After finishing a simple meal with the maid’s assistance, the sky outside had turned completely dark.

She opened the book she had been reading the day before, but the words failed to capture her attention. Eventually, Eleanor gave up on reading and closed the book.

‘There’s not much time left.’

She had first met the Empress Dowager at the tail end of summer, and now, a season had quickly passed, with winter approaching. As she looked around the room, trying to calm her restless mind, there was a knock at the door.

“Lady Eleanor.”

“Lady Brianna?”

Brianna, who had never visited Eleanor’s room before, peeked her face through the door. Why was she here instead of going home after completing her errand?

“Are you busy?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Like in the slums, Brianna seemed to have a lot she wanted to say. Eleanor invited her into the room.

“Did everything go well?” 

“Yes, well, it was fine.”

Brianna acted as if she had lost a screw or two. Though she answered vaguely, she couldn’t stop glancing around the room, acting like someone being chased.

Eleanor looked at Brianna curiously. “Is something wrong?”

“Uh… well…” Brianna hesitated for a moment. She didn’t seem like her usual confident and assertive self.

To ease her tension, Eleanor joked. “Did someone scold you?”

“W-what?”

“Did Her Majesty reprimand you? It seems today’s task was quite difficult.”

“No? What are you talking about? All I did was deliver a book. Do I seem like someone who can’t even handle a simple errand?”

Brianna, who hated being told she couldn’t do something, retorted sharply. Eleanor smiled faintly at Brianna’s quick return to her usual self, even after just a little teasing.

“Then what’s troubling you?”

“Well, it’s…”

Brianna hesitated again. But this time, she didn’t seem unsure of herself. After a brief conflict, she finally mustered the courage to speak.

“Countess Lorentz…”

“Countess Lorentz?”

“She…”

Brianna wondered if she should even tell Eleanor about this. She had been hesitant when she first heard Countess Lorentz’s story. However, the thought that Eleanor might be dismissed filled her with frustration and anger instead of joy.

“She said you are an untrustworthy person.”

“……!”

“She was talking about the application documents. When you first applied as a lady-in-waiting… Did you really…?” Brianna clutched at the hem of her dress nervously. “Did you really forge those documents?”

“……”

“I heard you secretly manipulated Madam Caroline’s handwriting to write a fake recommendation. Is that true?”

At first, Brianna couldn’t believe it. For a moment, Countess Lorentz had seemed like a liar. But after hearing that Caroline had personally explained everything to the countess, Brianna couldn’t help but suspect Eleanor.

“I… I can’t believe it…”

“Yes, it’s true,” Eleanor admitted calmly. “The documents were indeed forged, and I faked Caroline’s recommendation.”

“……!”

Brianna’s hand, which had been clutching her dress, froze. Her grip tightened until her knuckles turned white.

“How… how could you…”

“I’m sorry I deceived you. You’re right about everything, Lady Brianna. The lady-in-waiting position rightfully belongs to you.”

“……”

“So, did you come to tell me that?”

Despite the gravity of her confession, Eleanor’s voice remained unnervingly composed, causing Brianna’s heart to sink once more.

Did she feel no shame? Brianna felt utterly foolish for having watched Eleanor excel in a position that was supposed to be hers. Brianna’s body trembled, as if she might storm out of the room any second.

“Why did you do it?”

“……”

“Why did you go to such lengths to become a lady-in-waiting?”

Though her face was filled with anger, Brianna’s voice trembled slightly, lacking the intensity her emotions suggested.

Eleanor was surprised by Brianna’s unexpectedly calm demeanor and asked, “Aren’t you angry?”

“Yes, I’m angry.”

“…Then why do you look like that?”

“I’m angry right now.”

Brianna scrunched up her face, her cheeks flushed with frustration. But no matter how hard she tried, all Eleanor could see was a face on the verge of tears. Eventually, tears welled up in Brianna’s eyes. Eleanor handed her a handkerchief.

Brianna, sniffling, grabbed the handkerchief almost as if she was snatching it.

“I’m sorry to have disappointed you.”

“Do you think ‘sorry’ is enough?” Brianna’s sharp voice echoed through the room. “Go and beg the Empress Dowager for forgiveness right now.”

“……”

“And ask her to destroy the evidence of the forged documents.”

“Lady Brianna?”

“If you erase all traces of it, there won’t be any reason for you to be expelled.”

The conversation was taking a strange turn. Eleanor tilted her head slightly as she listened.

“Or I’ll do it for you.”

“Wait, hold on.”

“Do you think I can’t handle that? I’ll make sure there’s no talk of it at all—I’ll make it as if it never happened,” Brianna said with bold confidence about forging official documents, something that left Eleanor at a loss for words.

Eleanor tried to suppress the laughter that was bubbling up. “What if you get caught forging public documents and get arrested?”

“Hmph. I’m the only daughter of the Liege family. Do you think I’d get arrested over something like this? I can just ask my father to get me out of it.”

“Is the Marquis of Liege that influential?”

“Of course. Do you know how much money my father has poured into the imperial family? He’d take care of this with his eyes closed.”

Brianna had always seemed intelligent, so it was hard to understand why she would so casually discuss her family’s potential involvement in such wrongdoing.

‘Is she that concerned about this situation?’

The same Brianna, who had once despised her, was now stepping in to save her. The tears in Brianna’s eyes likely carried a similar meaning. Despite her sharp words, Brianna genuinely cared for Eleanor, and the warmth of this unexpected sentiment touched Eleanor’s heart.

“Don’t you hate me?”

“Yes, I do. I find you incredibly annoying.” Brianna wiped her nose with the handkerchief. “So you need to stay here for a long time.”

“……”

“That way, I can crush you.”

It’s true that even bad feelings can turn into affection.

Eleanor couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Thank you, Lady Brianna.”

“What’s there to thank me for? You’re about to be kicked out of the palace.”

“I just thought of a good idea. Will you help me, Lady Brianna?”

“……?”

Brianna, still holding the handkerchief, looked at Eleanor with a puzzled expression. Eleanor gestured for her to come closer.

***

“It’s going to be quite the grand party.”

Caroline grinned as she read the letter. It had been a while since she last dyed her hair. The maid, who was applying dye to Caroline’s long hair, flinched and paused as Caroline lifted her upper body.

Caroline handed the letter from Ernst to the butler. “Is the banquet preparation going well?”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Make sure there are no mistakes. Many important guests will be attending.”

The butler, Gilbert, nodded with a hint of fear in his eyes. The banquet Caroline referred to was Ernst’s birthday party. The Duke of Mecklen disliked banquets and had previously forbidden them, but Caroline had ignored his wishes and started preparing anyway.

Then, just as she was preparing, she received a letter from Ernst, saying he would host the party after all. Caroline, in a buoyant mood, leaned back comfortably in her chair.

“Oh, and bring out the jewelry.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Another maid, who had been waiting nearby, brought out a jewelry box. When the lid was opened on the side table, the box was filled with large gemstones.

Caroline picked one up and held it at eye level. “No matter how many times I see this, it’s beautiful.”

It was a blue diamond ring, a wedding gift from the late Duke of Mecklen to Rachel. Rachel had left it behind when she was expelled from the Mecklen family, and Caroline had taken possession of it.

As Caroline admired the brilliant ring, the corners of her lips lifted.

“Madam, I’ll go ahead and secure your hair.”

The maid who had finished applying the dye wrapped Caroline’s hair in a cloth to keep it in place. The maids then quickly tidied up the area around her.

While Caroline admired her jewelry, the butler, Gilbert, brought over a full-length mirror. “Is there anything uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s fine,” Caroline replied curtly as she looked at herself in the mirror. Though she was in the middle of dyeing her hair, her reflection still looked impressive with the ring on her finger.

As she leisurely admired herself, Caroline suddenly began to speak.

“There was a country girl.”

“……?”

Caroline was referring to herself, though the maids, unable to imagine she was talking about herself, exchanged nervous glances.

In the midst of the tense atmosphere, Caroline’s monologue continued.

“That girl was from a family so insignificant that it was almost laughable to call them nobles. She lived in poverty, unable to even dream of the luxurious life of a princess from a fairy tale.”

Then she became the adopted daughter of a wealthy family, practically a stranger by blood.

“The naive girl thought that becoming an adopted daughter would fill her life with happiness.”

Foolishly.

Caroline twisted her lips into a bitter smile as if mocking herself. There was hardly any trace of her youthful beauty left. Deep wrinkles, dull skin, and prominent cheekbones now defined her age.

But that didn’t matter. What she lacked back then, she possessed now.

“Look at this. Doesn’t it suit me?”

Caroline flaunted the blue diamond ring on her pinky finger. Originally, it would have been worn on her ring finger, but the ring didn’t fit because it wasn’t hers.

“Yes, Madam. It suits you perfectly,” Gilbert quickly responded. It was in his best interest to please Caroline no matter what. The maids around her followed suit with praise, as Caroline gazed contentedly at her hand adorned with the diamond ring.

Everything was perfect. The ring, the jewels, the dress, and everything in this house.

Caroline, intoxicated by the thrill of victory, looked at herself in the mirror. Her red-painted lips curled into a long, satisfied smile.