Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 26 Part 3

The rumors had already spread widely in the social circles. It had happened at the tea-tasting event hosted by Caroline, of all places. The noblewomen who attended that day spread the rumors, and Caroline was humiliated even by nobles she didn’t know.

Caroline spoke each word with force in response to Marquis Delph’s question, “It’s exactly as I said. It was a business I was planning, but that woman stole everything, including the product name. She even sent her company to Ceylon ahead of me to finalize the contracts.”

“Tsk tsk, how unfortunate.”

“And there was someone who helped her steal it. I looked into it, and it turns out the eldest son of the Duke of Nestor secretly helped her secure the store.”

“……!”

A slight change appeared on the sickly thin face of Marquis Delph. It was clear that he hadn’t known that detail.

Caroline gritted her teeth, unable to stand idly by, and slammed her fist on the table. “How despicable. The Duke of Nestor has been playing both sides behind our backs. His eldest son is helping Eleanor, while his second son, Evan, is on our side. Clearly, he’s trying to benefit from both sides.”

“This is very troublesome.”

Marquis Delph feigned ignorance and shook his head, though he had always suspected the Duke of Nestor.

“The Duke of Nestor is certainly not someone to take lightly. Goodness, what a dilemma. Just recently, Evan recommended a financial manager, and I hired him without knowing any of this.”

“A financial manager?” Caroline whipped her head around, unaware of the situation.

Contrary to his supposed worry, Marquis Delph continued his explanation leisurely, “We have been managing our finances rather haphazardly, laundering money without keeping proper records, making it difficult to track. I thought it was time to hire a professional, so I took Evan’s recommendation and employed him.”

“Are you insane? Why would you do something like that?” Caroline jumped up in shock.

Bringing in a professional financial manager like this would only put her at a disadvantage. She had been embezzling money more thoroughly than anyone else, and now he was bringing in someone without her consent?

Caroline was furious, almost grabbing Marquis Delph by the collar. “What if the company’s secrets leak out? Are you going to take responsibility? How could you bring an outsider into our affairs so recklessly?”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly. …I shouldn’t have trusted Evan so much.”

“Why are you stating the obvious? You’re out of your mind. Fire him immediately! No, I’ll have Saruka kill him right away. That way, there’ll be no loose ends.”

Angry at Evan, but even more terrified of losing her easy access to funds, Caroline shouted so loudly that the boutique seemed to shake.

Vivian, who had been silently watching, covered her ears, her face pale. She had insisted on accompanying her father to meet Caroline, but she found the woman even more violent and brutish than she’d imagined.

‘How can she be so crude and uncivilized? I wonder if she can really be trusted to handle this.’

Vivian, who had no interest in business and only wanted Caroline to get rid of the two women she hated, thought to herself.

***

After receiving the message from Pedro, Eleanor moved to the office with a heavy heart.

She had chosen to face the situation head-on rather than avoid it, but that didn’t make it any easier, and she had to focus on maintaining her composure.

Eleanor brewed a fresh pot of tea for Ernst, who was sitting alone in the quiet office.

“Wasn’t it too harsh to kick Lord Pedro out? I’ve heard he’s your friend.”

“Do you like him?”

Instead of answering her question, Ernst responded with an unexpected one. Eleanor took a sip of the hot tea before answering.

“Yes, I like him.”

“……”

“He’s a good person. He helped me with my business this time as if it were his own. Thanks to him, opening the store was much easier.”

Eleanor didn’t deny Pedro’s help.

She had assumed that Ernst had already heard the rumors. It was something he would eventually learn about, so there was no need to hide it and create unnecessary misunderstandings.

“He’s an excellent business partner.”

“Is that all?”

“…What answer are you looking for?”

Seeing that the conversation kept veering in odd directions, Eleanor lifted her head. For some reason, Ernst seemed incomplete.

Noticing that he was struggling to focus on the conversation, Eleanor placed her teacup down with a firm clink.

“What did you want to say that made you send Lord Pedro away?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Ernst let out a low sigh, realizing that he had been hesitating, which was unlike him.

“My mother was just here.”

“……”

“She apologized to me.”

Apologized?

“She said she feels sorry for you.”

“Sorry…?”

“I’ll apologize on her behalf.”

It seemed Caroline had been to Ernst’s office. But an apology so soon—Eleanor found it hard to believe.

Ernst watched Eleanor’s expression as he continued, “My mother begged me, admitting she was entirely at fault. She even said she regrets what she did to you and is ready to apologize to you whenever you’re willing to hear it.”

“…I can’t believe it.”

Just a few hours ago, Caroline had tried to slap her. And now, the same person who had stormed out, vowing revenge, had suddenly gone to Ernst to apologize? It was hard to believe.

Eleanor asked calmly, “Do you think those tears were genuine?”

“I don’t entirely believe her either. But…”

As Ernst thought of his mother crying, his forehead wrinkled like a piece of paper.

He had never felt deep affection for his mother, but seeing her throw away her pride and beg for forgiveness had left him feeling unsettled.

“I heard there was a business conflict between you and my mother.”

“……”

“Two weeks ago, I asked you about the region of Ceylon in the Kingdom of Mondrial, and I also mentioned my mother’s business venture.”

Ernst paused for a moment, glancing at the teacup on the table.

“A business of this scale isn’t something you can prepare in just two weeks. It must have been planned and pushed forward long before that. In other words, when I asked you that question, you already knew everything.”

Caroline had cried and pleaded with Ernst. She admitted she was at fault but insisted that Eleanor had secretly stolen the business she had worked so hard to prepare.

Given the circumstances, it was difficult to completely dismiss her claims.

Ernst lifted his teacup, following Eleanor’s lead. “I didn’t come here to scold you.”

“……”

“My mother seems to have been deeply affected by this incident. She said it made her reflect on herself, and she wants to take time to think about what kind of person she’s been to those around her. She also asked me to convey that she doesn’t have the courage to apologize to you directly.”

Now she understood.

Eleanor’s lips curled into a faint smirk behind her teacup.

‘I can practically hear her scheming.’

Caroline had suffered a direct hit while trying to run a business under the Mecklen name.

She had pushed things too far, even mobilizing the Mecklen retainers to lift her probation, only to make a mess of everything. It was no wonder she was desperate.

She needed to divert Ernst’s attention and prove she wasn’t at fault. That’s why she had cried in front of her son. Claiming that Eleanor had taken revenge by stealing her business.

‘I never thought the story about the Ceylon business Ernst told me would come back to bite me like this.’

Eleanor hadn’t expected Caroline to play the victim and manipulate the situation like this.

Though it made her laugh bitterly, Eleanor didn’t deny Ernst’s point. After all, she had indeed taken over Caroline’s business.

“Even so, I hope you won’t lose sight of the essence of the matter.”

Eleanor continued in a steady, calm tone, “Your mother’s wrongdoing is unrelated to this business. The line between perpetrator and victim is clear, so please don’t sympathize with or defend her because of this incident.”

“That’s true.”

Ernst didn’t argue with that.

“I haven’t made a decision yet.”

“……?”

“The question you asked me back then.”

He had asked if she could abandon his mother once she learned of her hidden crimes.

He was still struggling with the answer. It felt like holding Pandora’s box in his hands.

Rather than face the uncomfortable truth, Ernst chose to change the subject.

“Anyway. Here, take this.”

“……?”

Ernst handed her a small pouch.

Eleanor untied the string on the palm-sized pouch. A silver bracelet engraved with a Celtic cross sparkled under the light.

“It’s a relic called Kaham’s Bracelet. Have you heard of it?”

Eleanor flinched at the mention of the bracelet’s name.

She knew it.

All too well.

But something felt off.

Eleanor tilted her head slightly as she examined the bracelet.

‘Why is he giving this to me?’

Kaham’s Bracelet shouldn’t be in her possession. In her previous life, the owner of this bracelet had been Lennoch.

***

“Young master, all the luggage has been packed.”

“Ah, thank you. You’ve worked hard.”

Pedro grinned as he patted the butler’s shoulder. The elderly butler, suddenly receiving a massage from the noble young master, frowned and stopped him. It would be bad if anyone saw this.

“How can you be the same as when you were a child? You haven’t changed at all.”

“Haha, well, I just can’t seem to fix this habit.”

“Enough of that and go have your meal. The master is waiting for you.”

The butler finally managed to separate the persistent young master. Pedro, laughing heartily as always, followed the butler.

Duke Nestor had informed them in advance that he had prepared a dinner for his son, who would be leaving the country again tomorrow.

When Pedro arrived at the dining room, Duke Nestor greeted him warmly.

“Sit here.”

“Where’s Evan?”

“He said he’d be late. He’ll be here soon enough.”

The duke answered indifferently and instructed a servant to bring the meal.

“It feels strange to send you abroad again.”

“Haha, it’s just the usual, father. Don’t worry.”

“You rascal.”

Seeing his cheerful eldest son, Duke Nestor felt regret. If only Pedro had been a little more cunning, he could have become the next head of the family.

Although Duke Nestor had given up on his eldest son years ago, a sense of loss still lingered.

As the father and son sat facing each other, smiling, a loud bang interrupted the peaceful atmosphere.

“Brother!”

Pedro and Duke Nestor turned simultaneously to see Evan entering, unable to contain his agitation. Before the startled duke could ask what was going on, Evan ran over and punched Pedro square in the face.

“Evan!”

The enraged Duke Nestor jumped up from his seat. “What are you doing to your brother?”

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

Ignoring his father’s scolding, Evan yelled at Pedro without preamble. “You helped that woman, Eleanor, with her business?”

“W-what?”

“Father, this guy has ruined all our plans. It’s all over now!”