Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 23 Part 5

‘Calm down.’

Eleanor hastily cooled her flushed cheek with her cold hand. She was here to discuss business, yet her mind kept wandering. She checked her attire nervously.

The new dress she wore, replacing the ruined one, was a soft pink. Though outdated, its lace and small jewels, no larger than her fingernails, gave it an elegant charm.

After quickly adjusting her clothes, Eleanor took a deep breath.

Knock, knock.

“Your Majesty?”

Fortunately, her voice was steady. Pleased with how composed she sounded, Eleanor stood in front of the silent office for a moment. She knocked again, but no response came.

‘Where could he be?’

She opened the door, and the first thing she saw was an empty desk. She was about to leave when she noticed someone lying on the sofa by the window.

“Lennoch?”

Without thinking, Eleanor softly closed the door behind her. He must have been exhausted, as he hadn’t even noticed her presence.

Eleanor approached him, her footsteps making no sound. She leaned in slightly to get a better look at his face.

The setting sun filtered through the window, casting a pink glow on his silver-gray hair. She couldn’t help but think, ‘He looks just like he did when he was young.’

Just as Lennoch had found traces of her childhood in her, Eleanor now saw remnants of his youth in his sleeping form. This small realization made her inexplicably happy, and she failed to notice her own hand moving of its own accord.

Just as her hand was about to touch his silver hair, his eyes suddenly opened.

“Oh?”

Before she could even react to her captured wrist, she lost her balance and fell forward. Like a leaf falling onto a resting figure, Eleanor landed on top of Lennoch.

Momentarily stunned, Eleanor looked up at him.

“Y-Your Majesty?”

Lennoch still seemed to be half-asleep. Unsure of what to do, Eleanor held her breath.

He was too close. She could feel his breath touch her lips.

Unable to free her trapped hand, Eleanor called out again, “Your Majesty.”

“……!”

It wasn’t long before Lennoch finally came to his senses, his once-clouded green eyes focusing on her. He looked confused as to why Eleanor was on top of him. Then, realizing he was still holding her slender wrist, his expression changed to one of bewilderment.

“I apologize.”

“N-no, it’s all right.”

Though she replied, Eleanor couldn’t stop her face from growing redder. Lennoch, his voice slightly hoarse, offered a small excuse.

“I mistook it for a dream.”

“A dream?”

What kind of dream could it have been? Eleanor almost asked but then decided to keep quiet. She thought she could hear his heartbeat faintly, feeling it from where she rested against him.

She wanted to lift herself up, but Lennoch’s grip on her wrist hadn’t loosened. His earlier apology seemed at odds with the way he still held her.

“Lennoch, could you let go of my hand…”

Suddenly, the door swung open.

“Your Majesty, I have returned…”

It was Eger. He entered, looking exhausted, but then stopped in his tracks, stunned by what he saw.

The emperor lying down with Eleanor awkwardly perched on top of him.

‘What is this atmosphere…’

With a bewildered expression, Eger alternated his gaze between the two. After a beat, he pushed his slipping glasses back up and spoke.

“I’ll leave the rest to Your Majesty.”

“S-Sir Eger?”

Caught off guard, Eleanor called out to him, but Eger swiftly placed the documents he brought on the desk. He wasn’t completely lacking in perception.

Eger grabbed the office key on his way out.

Click.

The sound of the office door locking echoed clearly in both their ears. Neither of them moved until the door was fully secured, and then they slowly turned to face each other.

“……”

It seemed like a major misunderstanding had occurred. A rather unusual one.

Realizing this, Eleanor’s face flushed to the point where she couldn’t even come up with an excuse.

***

Eger, after locking the office door, briefly looked around.

It was after work hours, and the hallway was empty. Still, he wasn’t reassured until he carefully checked his surroundings once more.

“This kind of mess always falls to me,” Eger muttered in a disgruntled tone, frowning deeply.

What would happen if someone saw them like that, so carelessly exposed? It was fortunate he was the first to find them. If Marquis Neto or someone else had walked in, the scandal would have spread in an instant.

‘I knew it.’

He always suspected the emperor would get into trouble someday, especially regarding Eleanor.

Clicking his tongue like an old man, Eger shook his head.

‘Next time, it won’t end with just chocolates.’

For all his worth, he was tired of being caught up in these ridiculous situations. Helping with Eleanor’s masquerade dress or getting tricked into attending the Duke of Mecklen’s birthday party—it was all due to the emperor’s schemes.

Perhaps it was time to seriously ask for a raise.

Eger made his decision just as he left the hallway, only for two more people to appear near the emperor’s office.

“Working late, what a life,” grumbled Marquis Neto, his steps echoing as he walked. He kept glancing at the windows lining the corridor, clearly not wanting to be there.

Next to him, Marquis Delph let out a good-natured laugh. “Haha, I was hoping to leave early today, but it seems that won’t be happening.”

“Marquis Delph, how can you still smile in this situation?” Neto shot him a displeased look.

‘He’s always so carefree.’

Did he even think about anything at all?

Neto frowned inwardly as he observed Delph’s serene demeanor. It was because of his laid-back attitude that Delph always got stuck with these minor errands. Even though his family had produced an empress, seeing its current state made Neto dismiss Delph as incompetent.

“Let’s finish this report and get out of here.”

“Indeed.”

Marquis Neto, eager to finally wrap up the ongoing agenda he’d been struggling with, stepped forward and knocked firmly on the office door.

“Your Majesty?”

No response came from inside.

Neto tilted his head in confusion. “Is he not here?”

He grabbed the handle and tried to open it, but the locked door didn’t budge. Shrugging, Neto stepped back, clearly relieved. He didn’t want to work anyway, and the chance for an early leave had him smiling.

He turned to go, but Marquis Delph held him back.

“What now?”

“His Majesty wouldn’t have retired so early.”

The emperor spent most of his time in the office. On days when he went out, like yesterday, his aide Eger would always be in the office to inform others.

Having the office locked like this was unusual.

With a frown, Marquis Delph pressed his ear against the door.

“What are you doing?”

“Shh.”

Delph frowned, signaling Neto to be quiet. Swept up in Delph’s serious demeanor, Neto also put his ear to the door.

But they heard nothing from within.

Neto quickly straightened. “Let’s just go. He must be busy.”

“……”

Though Neto urged him, Delph didn’t move. Neto shook his head, dismissing Delph’s insistence as unnecessary stubbornness.

‘Fine, suit yourself.’

“I’m leaving then.”

Marquis Neto hurried off, not wanting to miss the chance for an early leave. His cheerful humming echoed down the hallway as he walked away.

Unlike Neto, Marquis Delph remained still, his ear pressed against the door.

“…Is he really not here?”

After a long while, Delph finally stood straight, muttering to himself. Was he overreacting? It all felt odd compared to what he knew of the emperor’s habits.

He prided himself on knowing the emperor better than anyone, yet something felt off.

The silence behind the door remained undisturbed.

After pacing for a bit, finding nothing unusual, Marquis Delph finally left the office.

***

Eleanor remained frozen, her shoulders tense.

At the same time, she felt Lennoch’s hand tighten slightly around her waist, silently asking her to stay still. Eleanor lifted her head to meet his eyes.

Clink, clink.

“His Majesty wouldn’t have retired so early.”

Marquis Delph’s voice echoed from outside. There were a few rattles at the door as he tried to open it.

Eleanor gave Lennoch a questioning look, silently asking if they should go out, but Lennoch only shook his head.

“Let’s just go. He must be busy.”

Finally, it seemed Marquis Neto was leaving. Eleanor carefully exhaled, still pressed against Lennoch.

Her wrist was free now, but after Eger had left and the uninvited guests arrived, Lennoch had kept her close, preventing her from getting up. The warmth between them felt awkward, so Eleanor buried her face into the crook of his neck, trying to hide her flushed expression.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly.

“…Is he really not here?”

The faint voice of Marquis Delph, whom she thought had left, reached her ears.

“……”

Lennoch strained his ears, making sure to listen closely. He waited until the sound of Delph’s footsteps grew distant before he finally let go of Eleanor.

“…Did he leave?”

Eleanor, still unable to lift her head, whispered.

How had things ended up like this?

All because of Eger’s strange misunderstanding, she was now engulfed in embarrassment. Thinking back on it, there had been no real reason for her to hide in Lennoch’s arms. Whatever they were doing inside the office, the people outside wouldn’t have been able to see it anyway.

Whether they faced each other, held hands, or even…

‘Or…’

Eleanor’s clasped hands trembled faintly.

She had let her imagination run too wild.

Startled, she raised her head abruptly, just as Lennoch’s sharp gaze fell upon her, as though he had been observing her closely.

For a moment, Eleanor involuntarily parted her lips. The intensity in his eyes made her feel as if she had been thrown in front of a beast. His deepening gaze seemed to be studying her, exploring her thoughts.

“Lennoch, I should…”

She tried to speak, but even her words faltered and got swallowed back down.

A foreign finger touched her lips.

It was the same sensation as when he had touched the corner of her eye yesterday, just before falling asleep after taking his medicine.

In a voice deep and dark like a cavern, Lennoch spoke to her, “Wait.”

He paused briefly.

“Can’t we stay like this, just for a while longer?”