Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 32 Part 3

If all of this were true, it would be an event that could shake the entire nation.

Lambert rubbed his eyes multiple times in disbelief.

A phantom trading company created for the illicit dealings of East Harlem.

An organization established solely to serve the greed of nobles, its crimes were heinous.

They even dealt in slaves.

If this were exposed, it wouldn’t end with mere condemnation.

An enraged populace might take to the streets with torches, demanding justice against the nobles involved.

“This…”

Lambert hesitated for a moment.

Everything about this was good.

He could solidify his reputation as a fearless journalist uncovering noble corruption.

It also aligned perfectly with his belief in journalism’s duty to uphold justice.

And yet, one thing nagged at him.

My family.

“I-if this gets published, what about the consequences…?”

What if the nobles who faced public outrage retaliated against him?

While nobles couldn’t openly kill a commoner, they could certainly have it done through others.

Or worse, they could go after his family.

It was a dilemma he had grappled with throughout his years as a journalist.

Having people to protect made him hesitate.

Then, a simple answer came.

“I will take responsibility.”

“……!”

“I understand your concerns.”

The emperor’s deep voice carried a reassuring weight.

“I give you my word. Neither you nor your family will come to harm.”

“Y-Your Majesty.”

“In fact, those who would harm you may disappear before they get the chance.”

“……?”

Something about that phrasing felt off.

Disappear before they get the chance?

“Can you truly not do this?”

Before Lambert could dwell on it, the emperor pressed him for an answer.

Lambert bit his thin lips.

He had come merely to report something and now found himself with a story beyond anything he had imagined.

He looked once more at the paper the emperor had written.

After a long moment of deliberation, his conclusion remained the same.

I am a journalist.

“I’ll do it.”

“Good.”

Seeing Lambert’s resolute expression, the emperor nodded in satisfaction.

‘An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.’

A major scandal should be buried under an even bigger one.

When Lambert first spoke, Lennoch’s immediate realization was that it was already too late to suppress the upcoming article.

Even if a counterargument were published, there was no guarantee that public opinion would believe it.

People didn’t care about the truth.

They were only interested in whatever was most sensational and shocking at the moment.

Marquis Delph knew that too—that’s why he was deliberately manipulating the media.

Thus, Lennoch decided to respond in kind.

‘The best defense is a strong offense.’

Whose story would grip the public more? That would depend on Lambert’s skills.

With a relaxed tone, the emperor added his final words, “Then, I leave it in your hands.”

***

The grand doors of the Taymond Palace conference hall swung open.

It was the venue where the Noble Council convened once a month.

The hall was filled with nobles engaged in conversation as they arrived on time.

Among them was Henrik of House Hippias, attending the council for the first time.

‘There are so many people here.’

Slightly nervous, Henrik scanned the room with shifting eyes.

The council was mostly filled with older nobles, rather than young ones like him.

That made it difficult to approach anyone.

He spotted a few familiar faces from the New Year’s celebration but had no close connections with them, so he couldn’t even greet them.

Feeling awkward, Henrik found an empty seat and sat down.

‘Sister once told me to prepare for entering the palace.’

He hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

Henrik absentmindedly toyed with the council badge he had received from a royal messenger the day before.

“All you need to do is cast your vote in favor of the repeal bill.”

The messenger had explained it simply, but Henrik was worried about making a mistake at his first Noble Council meeting.

He had even stayed up late studying how to engage in noble discussions, just in case.

Ironically, it seemed unnecessary now, as he didn’t recognize many people here.

As Henrik sat stiffly, his shoulders tense, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

“Greetings!”

“H-huh? Oh, hello.”

Startled by the boisterous greeting, Henrik responded in confusion.

The man who had spoken to him was so tall that Henrik had to tilt his head back to look up at him.

Broad shoulders, a solid build, and a beaming smile.

The man extended his hand first.

“Haha, it’s rare to see someone my age at the council. I just had to say hello. I’m Pedro of House Nestor.”

Pedro was friendly and unreserved.

Henrik wasn’t used to such an outgoing personality, but he didn’t dislike it. He took Pedro’s hand.

“I’m Henrik of House Hippias.”

“Hippias?”

Pedro’s expression immediately brightened.

“Then you’re Lady Eleanor’s younger brother!”

“You know my sister?”

“Of course! You might not know this, but I helped with the location selection for the Ceylon tea business.”

“Ah, that was you.”

Henrik finally recalled seeing a mention of Pedro in one of Eleanor’s letters, stating that a young lord from House Nestor had assisted her.

Pedro laughed heartily and gave Henrik’s hand a firm shake.

“So, you’re here at the emperor’s request, huh? Same for me.”

“Ah, yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you. But, um, could you let go of my hand…?”

Pedro’s grip was so enthusiastic that Henrik feared his arm might pop out of its socket.

As Henrik’s upper body wavered from the force, Pedro sheepishly released him.

“Ah, my apologies. I got a bit carried away.”

“It’s fine. I just need to work on my strength.”

He wasn’t scolding Pedro.

Henrik genuinely felt he needed to build his strength and added that he envied Pedro’s physique.

At that moment, Duke Nestor approached them.

He immediately recognized Henrik.

“You’re the young man I saw at the New Year’s celebration. The young head of House Hippias. Am I correct?”

“Yes, I am Henrik of House Hippias, Your Grace. It is an honor to meet you.”

“I’ve heard much about you from Lady Eleanor.”

Duke Nestor narrowed his fox-like eyes into a smile.

Back at the New Year’s celebration, Henrik had seemed every bit the inexperienced youth, trailing behind Eleanor. Now, though time had passed, he still carried that same fresh and unseasoned aura.

Like a newcomer taking his first steps into the political arena.

Perhaps it was that honest and straightforward demeanor that had made Eleanor so easy to welcome into the family.

Now, their alliance had turned into a mutually successful arrangement.

Duke Nestor gestured for Pedro to sit beside Henrik. “Look after the young lord of House Hippias.”

“Yes, Father.”

Satisfied with his son’s reliable response, Duke Nestor gave a small nod and moved away.

Eleanor would have no time to watch over her younger brother today.

‘Has Duke Mecklen not arrived yet?’

Seated in the front row, Duke Nestor glanced at Duke Ezester beside him.

Ernst, who should have been seated there by now, was nowhere to be seen, despite it being nearly time for the council session to begin.

‘Strange.’

The Noble Council was about to start.

It was unlike Ernst, who was normally punctual to a fault, to be running late.

Duke Nestor straightened slightly and surveyed the assembly hall.

The room was packed with nobles, nearly every seat filled, yet there was no sign of Duke Mecklen.

“Well, it seems we have quite a large attendance today.”

A familiar voice rang out.

Duke Nestor instinctively turned toward it.

Marquis Delph.

“Ah, Duke Nestor. You’re here as well?”

Despite having turned the palace upside down with the Balkan Trading Company scandal, Marquis Delph remained composed and unabashed.

With his usual warm tone, he greeted Duke Nestor.

“Did you sleep well last night?”

“Sleep? It hardly seems fitting for you to ask that, Marquis. Men like us do not have the luxury of sleeping soundly with both legs stretched out.”

“Is that so? I wouldn’t know.”

Marquis Delph chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

The gesture seemed almost mocking, causing Duke Nestor’s narrowed eyes to harden slightly.

“I would like to invite you to my estate sometime, Your Grace. I would be honored to host you for dinner.”

“I must decline.”

“Ah, you’re so rigid. But who knows? Yesterday’s enemy might be tomorrow’s friend. The world is unpredictable, after all.”

Despite Duke Nestor’s cold response, Marquis Delph remained unfazed.

He wore the expression of an old friend sighing over another’s stubbornness.

Unbothered, he casually walked past and took a seat beside Count Verdik.

For the briefest moment, Duke Nestor’s brow twitched, but as a seasoned politician, he quickly regained his composure.

‘Let’s see how long you can keep that smile.’

Would Marquis Delph still wear that smug expression by the end of this meeting?

Duke Nestor smirked meaningfully.

Just then, a bell rang, signaling the call for order.

It was also an announcement that the emperor was about to enter through the front doors.

“His Majesty enters!”

An attendant, standing tall, announced in a commanding voice.

Unlike other venues, the grand conference hall of Taymond Palace had a separate entrance for the emperor.

This entrance was used exclusively for the Noble Council.

As the curtains parted, the emperor emerged through the door.

But today, he was not alone.

“……!”

“W-what is this?”

Startled nobles forgot their decorum and broke into murmurs.

Alongside the emperor, who was clad in a sharp navy-blue uniform, stood a woman in a dazzling white dress.

A woman with a face every noble in the room knew well.

Eleanor.

“Can a director enter through that door?”

“No, there is no precedent for this.”

“L-look over there. That chair…!”

“It’s right beside His Majesty’s.”

Eleanor took the seat prepared next to the emperor’s.

Their hands remained tightly clasped together.

The sight of them, seated side by side in perfect harmony, sent a strange ripple through the assembly.

As hushed whispers spread throughout the chamber, Marquis Delph suddenly shot to his feet.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Eleanor, his expression filled with barely contained agitation.

“Your Majesty.”

“Hmm?”

“I apologize, but there is something of utmost importance I must bring to Your Majesty’s attention.”

Forcing a smile despite his strained expression, Marquis Delph continued, “It is too serious to simply overlook…”

“Speak.”

The emperor tilted his head slightly.

Marquis Delph lifted a newspaper he had received from Count Verdik and held it high.

It was today’s issue of Black Cat.

“It is a love letter from Duke Mecklen.”

***

The best place to sell newspapers was none other than a bakery.

As people came and went for their morning bread, many would pick up a paper along with their meal.

Because of this, well-known bakeries often stocked the most popular newspapers.

Brad, the owner of a famous bakery in the capital’s main district, carried a variety of the empire’s leading publications.

Among them, the most in-demand paper was Fox.

The second most popular was Black Cat.

Typically, if newspapers sold out, Fox would be the first to go, followed by a gradual depletion of Black Cat.

But today, both baskets were completely empty.

“Oh my, what’s this?”

Laura, arriving at the bakery later than usual, exclaimed in surprise, “Both Fox and Black Cat are sold out?”

If Fox had run out, Black Cat should still have some copies left.

Perplexed, she asked the baker, Brad, if there were any more newspapers available.

Brad shook his head with a weary sigh. “Don’t even ask. It’s been absolute chaos today.”

“Is there some kind of big news?”

“Take a look for yourself.”

Brad handed Laura the copy of Black Cat he had been reading.

As her eyes moved to the front page, Laura’s gaze froze in place.

“Unbelievable. What is this?”

Even just reading the headline had her reeling in shock.