Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 34 Part 4

The next morning, when Eleanor woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

Startled by the bright sunlight streaming through the window, she sat up and looked around.

Just then, Lennoch, who had been reading nearby, approached her.

“Are you awake?”

“You should have woken me instead of waiting.”

Unlike herself, who was only wrapped in a flimsy piece of fabric, Lennoch was already dressed impeccably from head to toe.

That meant he had been awake for quite some time.

Feeling embarrassed for having unintentionally overslept, Eleanor smiled sheepishly, and Lennoch gently pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“You seemed tired, so I let you sleep. How is your back?”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ve arranged for a carriage, so today’s journey will be more comfortable.”

His warm hand pressed firmly against her waist, massaging it gently.

A dull ache spread through her belatedly, making her wince slightly.

‘I really overdid it.’

Riding a horse for such an extended period after so long had certainly taken a toll.

And more than that—

“Eli?”

Suddenly, Eleanor’s face flushed bright red.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to explain the real reason when Lennoch, worried she might have a fever, looked at her with concern.

Instead, she simply shook her head in silence. “Everyone must be waiting. I’ll get ready and come out.”

“Are you sure you can manage alone?”

“Of course.”

There was no way she could let Lennoch help her with this. Especially now, when memories of last night kept flooding back.

Eleanor promptly pushed Lennoch, who lingered at the door, out of the room. Only after stepping into the attached bath did she finally unwrap the fabric covering her body.

‘How am I supposed to face him like this?’

The reflection in the mirror was quite revealing.

Countless marks scattered across her skin brought back vivid images from the night before, making Eleanor shake her head vigorously to dispel them.

Taking a quick shower and drying her damp hair took longer than expected.

By the time she was fully dressed and stepped outside, something unexpected appeared in front of her.

A bouquet of roses.

Surprised, Eleanor lifted her gaze beyond the flowers and met Lennoch’s eyes.

“Starting today, you’re going to be quite busy.”

“……?”

Unlike his usual playful demeanor, he seemed more solemn this time.

His gentle gaze softened even further.

“I know that many nobles are already eager to align themselves with you. But from now on, your status will change so significantly that it cannot even be compared to before.”

“……”

“Sometimes, the overwhelming attention might feel burdensome. Some will expect things beyond your capability, and there will be moments of exhaustion and frustration.”

‘The article must have been published.’

She had been so preoccupied with Ernst that she had completely forgotten about it.

Eleanor belatedly realized that today was the day of their engagement announcement.

A faint blush colored her cheeks as she looked at the bouquet.

“I’m sorry.”

He apologized.

“Because of my selfishness, I asked you to become Empress.”

His deep, resonant voice carried an unexpected hint of hesitation.

As if he feared she might reject the flowers.

It was a strange realization, but understanding his concerns wasn’t difficult.

‘Could he have thought… I only agreed because of the moment’s emotions?’

The conversation they had in the carriage after the ball hosted by Count Turin must have weighed on his mind.

Otherwise, there was no reason for him to act like this on the very day of their official announcement.

As if he wanted to confirm her feelings once more, his actions filled her with an inexplicable warmth.

‘I really am loved a lot.’

She had already accepted this long ago.

But having someone pay attention to even the smallest details of her feelings—she hadn’t realized how wonderful that was until now.

What should she say?

She wanted to reassure him so he wouldn’t feel uncertain anymore.

After a moment of thought, Eleanor carefully opened her mouth.

“I’ll study hard.”

Her voice was as light as a feather and smooth as velvet.

Before she knew it, her eyes followed Lennoch’s, forming a gentle curve.

“I won’t just be an Empress in name. I’ll learn everything I need to know. I want to be of real help to you and to this country. I’ll also do my best to ensure that my homeland, Hartmann, can integrate well with Baden.”

“You’re already making enough effort.”

Handling her official duties alone would be exhausting enough.

If she pushed herself too hard and collapsed from overwork, what would he do?

Seeing Lennoch grow serious, Eleanor playfully asked, “If I collapse from exhaustion, will you just stand by and watch?”

“Of course not. If that happens, I’ll make sure you never touch state affairs again.”

It sounded as if he wouldn’t even let her lift a finger.

As if she had expected such an answer, Eleanor nodded with satisfaction.

“That’s enough for me.”

For us.

“Let’s share the hardships together and the happiness too.”

“…Eli.”

“Lennoch, you’ll always be on my side, right?”

“Of course.”

“Me too.”

“……”

“I’m on your side. You’re on mine.”

“……”

“Then that’s all that matters.”

Watching Eleanor’s radiant smile, Lennoch felt a lump rise in his throat.

Perhaps she didn’t realize it, but—

During the most difficult times of his childhood, he had clung to the memory of a small, gentle hand that had once held onto his, stopping him from letting go of life entirely.

And he had dreamed of this moment.

A day when he could finally say these words to her.

“In the name you gave me, and in the name of Parnell-Baden, I swear.”

To honor and cherish this noble woman for the rest of her life.

To ensure she lived with dignity, wealth, and love beyond compare.

To make her the happiest woman in the world.

“I will devote myself to making you happy.”

Lady Eleanor.

My eternal lady.

His first love, the one he had never once forgotten since childhood.

A love that had once felt like an incurable affliction, now reaching its beautiful conclusion.

“Will you marry me?”

It was his second proposal.

The first had been on the night they returned from Count Turin’s ball.

And now, this moment.

Eleanor happily accepted the bouquet he offered.

A shy smile spread across her lips.

“I gladly accept.”

***

Eleanor descended the stairs with Lennoch, holding a bouquet of flowers against her chest.

As they stepped outside, those who had been waiting greeted them in a neat formation.

“It is an honor to welcome Your Majesty to such a humble place.”

Baron Manuel, the owner of the hotel, bowed deeply before them.

Last night, he had been so startled by the sudden arrival of the emperor’s party that he had rushed out in his nightclothes. Today, however, he was dressed impeccably in a sophisticated uniform.

The baron glanced at Eleanor.

“And…”

Though his political influence was minor, he was not ignorant of the rumors circulating in the capital.

Especially the morning’s breaking news.

“I have heard the news. Congratulations on your engagement, Director.”

“Congratulations!”

Following the baron’s lead, the hotel staff chimed in with their well-wishes.

The public acknowledgment of their relationship, coupled with the sudden wedding announcement, sparked both surprise and curiosity.

What kind of woman was the Hartmann princess, for the emperor to make such a swift decision?

The baron’s gaze shifted to the bouquet in Eleanor’s hands.

“Thank you.”

“Let’s go.”

Before she could respond further, Lennoch lightly placed his hand on her shoulder, as if shielding her.

The affectionate gesture elicited small gasps from those watching.

As they made their way to the carriage, the knights standing on either side saluted them.

Among them, Ernst was nowhere to be seen.

He had left at dawn, stating only that he was returning to the palace.

In a separate, less elaborate carriage, the child who had been waiting with Vito suddenly turned to Childe.

“Brother? Are you crying?”

“……”

They had spoken briefly the night before.

Still, he hadn’t stayed up the entire night.

Childe, with his red-rimmed eyes and watery gaze, quickly turned away.

“Dust got in my eye.”

“Dust?”

“I’m a bit sensitive to it.”

Sensitive or not, his voice sounded close to tears.

The child tilted his head, then turned to Vito as if seeking confirmation.

Vito simply shook his head, indicating he wasn’t sure.

‘I had a feeling.’

As he watched Eleanor board the carriage, Childe swallowed hard against the lump in his throat.

From the moment he woke up, the entire empire had been abuzz.

It wasn’t just the nobility—commoners, too, were showing great interest in the wedding.

The special edition newspapers were already framing it as the new alliance between Baden and Hartmann, stirring excitement throughout the empire.

‘So this is how it ends, before it even begins.’

A part of him—

Even if it was just a small part—had dared to hope.

That if he completed this mission well, he might finally catch her attention.

That when she saw how much he had changed, Eleanor might offer him even a small word of praise.

“……”

Of course, such feelings were beyond his reach.

He had already been rejected once.

He had known better, yet he had carried these emotions deeper than he realized.

A dull ache tightened in his chest.

“…The dust is really bad today.”

Muttering under his breath, Childe looked up at the sky.

***

The eyes of Marquis Delph nearly popped out of their sockets as he read Fox.

A full-page exclusive.

Not only had the article been meticulously prepared, but it even included a painted portrait of the couple in an intimate pose.

The emperor’s bride was officially named: Eleanor of House Hippias, a princess of Hartmann.

“He said there wouldn’t be an announcement…”

Just yesterday, the news had been entirely different.

Even during the Noble Council, when the emperor tossed Fox to him, he saw with his own eyes that it was filled entirely with reports on the Balkan Trading Company.

Yet today, this was the front-page story?

Marquis Delph rubbed his eyes in disbelief before turning pale and tossing the newspaper aside.

“Vivia! Vivia!”

Shouting his daughter’s name, he stormed out of his study.

The passing maids gasped and stepped aside at the sight of the frantic marquis.

But he had no time to worry about appearances.

He dashed to Vivia’s room and threw open the door.

“Did you see the article?”

“……”

Vivia said nothing.

But the ruined makeup on her face, smudged as if she had cried, spoke for itself.

Marquis Delph clenched his fists.

“It’s over now, Father.”

Her hoarse voice barely carried as she whispered.

“No matter what we do, how could we compete with someone who already has a wedding date set?”

Just last night, she had bribed the maid, Revoni, with treasured jewelry to keep her quiet.

She had done everything to avoid leaving loose ends, but now it was all meaningless.

“You said that once the Balkan Trading Company scandal settled, we would have another chance.”

He had believed it, too.

Though the Delph Remarriage Act had been repealed and he was under house arrest, these were temporary setbacks.

He had thought the emperor’s supposed engagement had merely been a political maneuver to pressure him.

For a moment, he had even felt relieved.

Surely Eleanor and Lennoch’s marriage wouldn’t be rushed, considering the delicate political balance among the noble houses.

“Only Black Cat accused her of being caught in a love triangle with Duke Mecklen. Every other paper is raving about her. Everyone wants to know what makes her so special that she captured both Duke Mecklen and the emperor.”

Vivia’s room was filled with newspapers.

The moment the news broke, she had ordered copies from every publication in the capital.

Yet, despite her expectations, criticism of Eleanor was surprisingly scarce.

Vivia’s voice grew sharper with frustration.

“I don’t want to admit it, but… Have I ever received this much attention?”

“……”

“Forget the nobles. Why are even commoners praising her? I just don’t understand.”

Marquis Delph had no answer.

“It’s completely over now. I can’t win.”

Her tone was final.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she shook her head in despair.

Then, suddenly—

Slap!

The force of the blow snapped her head to the side.

Vivia froze, her hand flying to her stinging cheek.

Wide-eyed, she looked up at her father, who was now shouting furiously.

“It’s over? Just because of this?”