Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 24 Part 5

Ernst instinctively felt the strong hostility that pierced his skin. The smile on his lips remained, but his experience from observing the emperor for decades told him otherwise. He knew that Lennoch was looking at him with disapproval.

Ernst calmly saluted. “I apologize, Your Majesty. I will correct myself.”

“No need to apologize.”

“……”

“She is not someone you can treat recklessly. She is the director formally appointed and recognized by me. I hope you will not let personal feelings interfere with your duties.”

“…I apologize. I will ensure this does not happen again.”

At the heavy reprimand, Ernst bowed his head. He had nothing to say.

“I apologize if I was too harsh. I may have overstepped.”

Lennoch had apologized, but the discomfort lingered.

Eleanor silently accepted the apology, holding the proposal she had been carrying to her chest.

The emperor’s sharp gaze followed her. “Is there something you wish to report to me?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Then let us go.”

Lennoch swiftly wrapped up the situation, extending his hand to Eleanor. His slightly bent upper body conveyed respect.

Eleanor looked down at the hand held out to her for a moment. She could see the scars that seemed out of place for someone of his noble status. His hand, worn from years of wielding a sword, was rough and calloused, yet Eleanor knew it was warmer than anyone else’s.

Overcoming her lingering embarrassment, Eleanor gently placed her hand in his. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The emperor’s stiff expression relaxed slightly.

Eleanor deliberately avoided looking at Ernst, whose sharp gaze bore into her. Right now, she had no time to look back at him.

She thought she saw Ernst’s arm move toward her before hesitating.

Leaving him in the hallway, Eleanor walked alongside Lennoch. His hand gripped hers with a slight firmness, as if he had no intention of letting go.

The unpleasant feeling that had lingered like residue seemed to be washed away like rain.

***

“How about entrusting the coverage of the charity party to Fox? Compared to other magazines, it has a broader readership, which will help convey the significance to a wider range of people. We could coordinate the content with the communications office in advance, ensuring it promotes the culture of voluntary giving… Your Majesty?”

Eleanor, who was pointing out items on her proposal, called out to the emperor.

“Are you uncomfortable with something?”

“…No, it’s nothing,” Lennoch answered, snapping out of his thoughts.

Eleanor, unfamiliar with seeing him so unfocused, tilted her head to the side. “Are you troubled by something?”

“Troubled?”

Yes, quite a lot.

Not only that, but he had also nearly lost control of himself a short while ago.

Lennoch asked with somber eyes, “Why do you always say you’re fine?”

“What…”

“Weren’t you scared? It was an upsetting, infuriating situation. Has anything like that happened to you recently?”

The sudden barrage of questions made Eleanor’s eyes widen like a startled rabbit. Lennoch looked as serious as an investigator confronting a grave crime.

Eleanor floundered, trying to calm him. “I wasn’t threatened, Your Majesty. And since the divorce, this is the first time the Duke has grabbed me.”

“If he grabbed you and wouldn’t let go, then what else is it if not coercion?”

Lennoch’s voice grew colder as he spoke, having almost lost control when he saw Ernst treating her like an object. He, who handled Eleanor as if she were a delicate jewel, had watched Ernst’s rough treatment, and it had nearly made his vision go dark.

“What did he say to you?”

“Well…”

After a brief hesitation, Eleanor decided to explain.

She told him how she had ended up being dragged into Ernst’s office and what had been discussed—her explanation was quite long. When she mentioned how the Mecklen family members had asked if they were getting back together, Lennoch’s brow furrowed deeply.

“He is out of the question.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

“If I had known he would treat you like that, I wouldn’t have asked him for help in the first place. No.”

Lennoch paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm his excitement.

“I want to grab him by the collar right now.”

“Pardon…?”

He did have a sense of decorum.

If the emperor grabbed a duke by the collar over a woman, it would be talked about in society for a long time—it might even be recorded in history. Yet here he was, saying he would get into a physical altercation like a commoner.

That’s how genuinely furious he was.

Lennoch’s usually serene demeanor had almost been shattered, and he continued, “I’m not fine.”

“Lennoch.”

“It feels like I’ve been insulted.”

He had held back for her sake.

“If this incident leads to rumors, it won’t be good for you. So I ended it with a light scolding, but I’m still angry. I feel as if all the loyalty Ernst has shown me until now has been nothing but betrayal.”

“……”

Eleanor’s cheeks flushed slightly. She felt Lennoch’s sincerity—standing firmly on her side, getting angry for her.

‘But I’ve already moved on.’

When Lennoch had extended his hand to her in front of Ernst, it had erased her bad memories, replacing them with a fluttering feeling. How could she explain to him that she was truly fine?

As Eleanor pondered, her gaze fell on the papers scattered beside her.

“Um, Your Majesty.”

As she organized the documents, Eleanor cautiously spoke, “I don’t know how long it will take, but once we’re done with work, would you like to go out for some fresh air?”

“…Are you talking about a walk?”

“A walk sounds nice. Or maybe we could go to the theater we couldn’t visit last time. Would it be too late in the evening?”

“How about a private visit to the East Palace tonight instead of the theater?”

“Sie Eger?”

Startled by the voice that naturally joined the conversation, Eleanor turned around.

Across from them, Eger, who had been there all along, was chewing on chocolates like they were popcorn.

It was only then that Eleanor and Lennoch realized they had been so engrossed in each other that they had forgotten Eger’s presence.

Pouting slightly at being ignored, Eger spoke up, “I’ve always been thorough in maintaining the East Palace. There’s no one watching, so it would be a perfect place for the two of you to spend some time alone.”

“Ah, no. It seems you’ve misunderstood, Sir Eger. It’s not like that…”

“Go roast some sweet potatoes by the fireplace or something. I won’t be coming back tonight, so I’ll give you two some space.”

Eger’s expression made it clear that Eleanor’s excuses wouldn’t work.

Eleanor’s pale cheeks flushed a pleasing shade of pink.

At the same time, Lennoch cleared his throat and stood up. “Thank you.”

“Y-Your Majesty?”

“Then, shall we be off?”

You too?

Eleanor looked up at Lennoch, feeling betrayed like a startled fawn. However, her pitiful gaze only seemed to ignite something in Lennoch’s heart. The composure he had briefly lost due to Ernst had already vanished, never to return.

Lennoch promptly took the proposal from Eleanor’s hands. “I will receive the report in the East Palace.”

“……”

“Let us have an in-depth discussion there. Surely, some good ideas will come to mind while we unwind in a tranquil setting.”

I was going to be the one to cheer you up.

Eleanor lowered her gaze to her now-empty hands, watching the emperor—suddenly revitalized at the mention of an East Palace visit—with a mix of emotions.

***

As Eger had mentioned, the East Palace was impeccably maintained. With the knights stationed at the entrance, there was no need to worry about anyone intruding. Climbing the cold steps, they finally stopped at the top floor.

“It feels like an attic,” Eleanor said, her voice filled with innocent wonder as she opened the door to the last room. She hadn’t expected to find a room like this in the palace. A thick, knitted rug gave the room a cozy, warm atmosphere.

While Eleanor settled into an armchair nearby, Lennoch lit the fireplace. The crackling sound of the firewood echoed as flames took hold.

“Sometimes it’s strange,” Eleanor spoke first, staring blankly at the flames. “Watching the fire makes me feel like time has stopped. When I was young, I used to sit by the fireplace like this a lot. Sometimes, my nanny would scold me for sitting too close.”

Lennoch listened quietly as Eleanor reminisced.

“Thinking back, I always did everything my nanny told me not to do. I climbed trees all the time. Eventually, she never left my side, not even for meals.”

“You must have been very close.”

“Yes. Sometimes, she felt more like family than my own father. She would scold me often, but no one cared for me as much as she did.”

“Where is she now?”

“She’s gotten old and sick. After she left the palace, I lost touch with her.” Eleanor smiled softly as she reminisced about her childhood. “It’s strange. When I’m with you, I end up talking about Hartmann a lot.”

“Perhaps it’s because you feel comfortable.”

“Hmm, maybe,” Eleanor replied vaguely.

“That’s not a very clear answer.”

“It’s partly that. But in Baden, you’re the only one who knows the old me.” Her voice wavered slightly at the end. What she had just said was almost like admitting that she held Lennoch in a special place in her heart.

Feeling flustered, Eleanor quickly tried to cover her tracks. “Ah, I mean, it’s just that you’re right—we’ve known each other for so long, so of course…”

“The same goes for me,” Lennoch interrupted.

“…What?”

“You’re the only one for me, too.”

If a voice could have a texture, it would surely feel like this. The gentleness in Lennoch’s voice made Eleanor’s heart sink. Instinctively, she turned her head to the side.

She had expected him to be looking straight ahead, but Lennoch’s gaze was already fixed on her.

“Sometimes, I regret it.”

“……”

Regret.

Even without further explanation, Eleanor felt she understood what he meant. Her body stiffened.

“Did I really have to do that back then?”

Lennoch didn’t deny or shy away from his mistakes. Instead, he chose to confront them head-on.

He spoke honestly, “I’ll carry the guilt of what I did to you for the rest of my life.”

“…Lennoch.”

“And I think that’s only right.”

Though it had begun with the intention of saving her, it had ended in a terrible misjudgment and tragedy.

He had made a promise to himself—never to overstep again. Even if she had forgiven him, he couldn’t forgive himself.

“So, I tried to stop my feelings for you.”

“……”

“Because I was afraid I’d hurt you again.”

Lennoch had realized, albeit belatedly, just how selfish he truly was. Contrary to his plans, the feelings he had hidden deep inside were growing stronger.

Even today, he had been swept up in a sea of inner turmoil and conflict. If he were to put all those thoughts to paper, it would take dozens of meters of it, filled both horizontally and vertically.

“All I wanted was for you to be happy, in whatever form that took.”

But after meeting Ernst, his suppressed emotions had clawed at his heart.

Look at this.

Why hesitate any longer?

Even now, it wasn’t too late. He had to warn him—make it clear that he should leave her alone. He had to assert himself, to show his territory, so that Ernst would never bother her again.

And suddenly, his emotions erupted like a volcano.

“I think it’s too late for that now.”

His tense face muscles barely moved as he forced out the confession.

Suddenly, Eleanor raised her hand. “Don’t stop.”

“……!”

Her soft palm touched his lips. Lennoch’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Just follow your heart.”

It looked like she might cry.

“You’re right. Everything happened because of you. Sometimes, when I didn’t know anything, I even hated you—just a little. I wondered why you did it.”

“……”

“But even if everyone else blames you, I can’t. Whether you saved me or not, I had nowhere else to go. I wouldn’t have been welcomed anywhere. The hardships would have been the same, just in a different setting.”

It wasn’t his fault. It was the people who tormented her and made her life miserable who were to blame.

“I’m not waiting for an apology from you. I’m waiting for apologies from the people who made my life unbearable.”

“…Eli.”

“Coming to Baden allowed me to meet you.”

“……”

“And I realized something.”

She learned who Lennoch truly was, who the Emperor of Baden was.

“I like your kindness.”

The gentle way he comforted and cared for her.

The way he looked at her from a head taller, his gaze steady and watchful.

“I feel safe and happy when I’m with you.”

His broad back that she could barely wrap her arms around.

The occasional warmth that seeped through his rough skin.

“Sometimes, my heart races.”

The way he acted nonchalantly while suppressing his emotions, then looked at her with eyes filled with affection.

More than anyone else.

“So, don’t give up.”

Because I like you.