Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Chapter 34 Part 6

Berenice calmly delivered the Empress Dowager’s summons.

“But His Majesty is nowhere to be seen.”

“He is away for an interrogation. You will find him in the torture chamber.”

“Then I shall speak with him later.”

Considering the grim nature of the torture chamber, it would not be ideal to pass along the Empress Dowager’s message there.

Berenice glanced at Eleanor. “Then, would you accompany me alone? Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is very eager to hear about the engagement.”

“I was planning to visit her shortly anyway. I will go now.”

“Have a safe trip.”

Eger saw Eleanor off as she stood.

“You must return immediately afterward. The reports are not yet complete, and there are still matters regarding the wedding schedule to discuss.”

“I will.”

Her tone was that of an official addressing a superior.

Eleanor realized with amusement that Eger was already treating her as the future empress.

***

The Empress Dowager’s Palace.

It had been a while since she last visited the Western Palace, but it remained unchanged as always.

When Eleanor entered the Empress Dowager’s study with Berenice, a familiar voice greeted her warmly.

“Eleanor, I finally get to see you.”

“Your Majesty, have you been well?”

Having changed into a dress after returning to the palace, Eleanor lifted her skirt and curtsied.

As always, Countess Lorentz was seated beside the Empress Dowager.

With a chuckle, the Empress Dowager gestured for Eleanor to sit beside her.

“Isn’t this a little too much? You could have at least given me some notice. I had to find out through Fox this morning. I must admit, I felt a little left out.”

“I should have come to tell you in person. My apologies, Your Majesty.”

Eleanor sincerely expressed her regret.

However, despite her words, the Empress Dowager looked absolutely delighted.

Rather than being displeased, she beamed as if she had been waiting all along for Eleanor and Lennoch’s engagement to be announced.

“Still, you came without delay, so all is well.”

The one who was most surprised by this reaction was not Eleanor but Countess Lorentz, seated across from her.

‘She isn’t usually so lenient about such matters.’

Even if the Empress Dowager had softened with age, she was still the highest-ranking elder in the palace.

She was strict when it came to rules and etiquette.

Had someone else made such an oversight, there would have been serious consequences.

Yet here she was, simply laughing it off.

Swallowing nervously, Countess Lorentz glanced between them.

It was clear—the Empress Dowager held Eleanor in the highest regard.

More than anyone else.

“You seem to be very busy these days. I barely get to see you anymore. No, that’s not right. You’ll be even busier soon. The wedding is in less than two months, after all. Ah, here it is.”

The Empress Dowager put on her reading glasses and peered closely at the newspaper.

Today’s edition of Fox had been delivered personally by Norah.

After learning the news in the morning, Norah had come rushing in, making such a fuss that she had nearly turned the palace upside down.

Fortunately or unfortunately, she was currently out running an errand.

Hearing about Norah’s excitement from the Empress Dowager made Eleanor laugh.

“I will make sure everything is prepared without issue.”

“No, no, I will take care of everything. All you need to do is choose a wedding dress you like. Here, I’ve already prepared a catalog of the latest designs.”

“Already?”

Berenice leaned in and whispered softly, “Her Majesty the Empress Dowager says Norah was making a big fuss, but honestly, she was just as excited. She’s been talking about nothing but the wedding all day, even before you arrived.”

Holding the wedding dress catalog in her hands, Eleanor could only feel overwhelmed.

She had never expected such attention and enthusiasm.

Seeing her hesitate, the Empress Dowager urged her again.

“Go on, have a look.”

The pages were filled with dozens of elegant, intricate, and extravagant gowns.

As she examined the designs, a sudden curiosity arose, prompting Eleanor to ask the Empress Dowager, “Your Majesty, if I may be so bold—were you not surprised?”

“Surprised about what?”

“I imagine you wouldn’t have expected such an announcement.”

How could she explain it?

How her feelings for Lennoch had grown over time, turning into love.

How naturally it had all come to be.

As Eleanor hesitated to put her emotions into words, the Empress Dowager simply laughed as if she found the question amusing.

“Lennoch—he made his feelings for you so obvious. How could I not notice?”

“Was it that obvious?”

“Of course. The way he looked at you, the way he spoke, even the way he listened—it was always different when it came to you. It was so plain to see that it would have been odd if no one noticed.”

The Empress Dowager grinned mischievously.

“Even back when you considered joining the Nestor family. You two almost ended up as close cousins, didn’t you? He was so anxious then, it was hilarious. I barely managed to hold back from teasing him.”

Even as the ruler of the empire, Lennoch was still just a son in his mother’s eyes.

The Empress Dowager muttered to herself, “That boy is far too possessive over you. Tsk, tsk. He won’t ever let you go.”

Though she lived quietly in the Western Palace, she still had ears everywhere.

She had heard about the incident at Count Turin’s ball, along with various other rumors.

She had been expecting good news sooner or later, but for Lennoch to be so blunt about his claim over Eleanor—

Berenice nodded in agreement.

Feeling overwhelmed, Eleanor lowered her gaze to the catalog in her lap.

“If he ever becomes too obsessive, just let me know. I’ll scold him properly. Ah, but when it comes to your married life—I’ll leave that to you two.”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

Eleanor’s hand froze on the catalog.

The memory of last night, which she had briefly forgotten, came back to her.

Her cheeks turned bright red, and the Empress Dowager chuckled knowingly.

Among those present, only Countess Lorentz remained silent, unable to join in the laughter.

‘Eleanor as Empress.’

The very situation she had feared had become reality.

This was a crisis unlike anything before.

Countess Lorentz, overwhelmed by regret, lowered her head.

Though their spheres of authority differed, once Eleanor became Empress, she would hold priority in managing the inner palace.

Naturally, the Western Palace, where the Empress Dowager resided, would fall under her control.

That meant Countess Lorentz would be far beneath Eleanor in status.

Not only had their positions reversed, but if Eleanor decided to bring up the way she had tormented her during her time as a lady-in-waiting, she could seek revenge at any moment.

‘Would it be best to beg for forgiveness now?’

Her throat was so dry she could barely swallow.

Should she leave the palace on her own?

Or should she humble herself and endure?

Though she didn’t want to grovel, the conflicting emotions burned inside her.

But if she were in Eleanor’s position, she wouldn’t forgive so easily, even if someone begged.

If anything, Eleanor might use it against her, making her suffering even worse.

“……!”

A sudden chill ran down her spine.

At some point, Eleanor had turned her gaze toward her.

Fearing that her anxiety might show, Countess Lorentz discreetly clenched her skirts, forcing herself to speak with great difficulty.

“Is something the matter?”

Fortunately, her voice remained steady.

Had she wavered even slightly, she would have lost her composure and fled the room.

Not that her fear had disappeared.

Her legs trembled under her dress, yet Eleanor simply smiled brightly and responded.

“It’s nothing.”

“……”

If only she had said something—

Even an insult would have been better.

Or perhaps if she had dragged her somewhere private and slapped her, that would have been preferable.

But she merely smiled and said nothing.

The silence only deepened Countess Lorentz’s unease.

Unconsciously, she turned to the Empress Dowager for help.

Her eyes silently pleaded for mercy.

But the Empress Dowager did not look at her even once—not until Eleanor finished selecting her dress.

Not even once.

***

A series of piercing noises echoed through the chamber.

Then silence.

Then, the cycle repeated, growing more intense each time, until finally, the guards outside the interrogation room covered their ears.

Not long after, the emperor emerged from the chamber and beckoned one of the waiting guards.

“Do you have a handkerchief?”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty!”

The guard hastily pulled out a white cloth and handed it over.

Without a word, the emperor wiped the blood from his hands.

Even after thoroughly cleaning them, the metallic scent of blood still lingered.

He lifted the handkerchief slightly.

“Bring me a new one next time.”

“I-I am honored, Your Majesty.”

Even if the emperor had simply kept it, the guard would not have minded.

But receiving a personal order from the emperor to provide a fresh handkerchief? The guard was overwhelmed with gratitude.

Still holding the bloodstained cloth, the emperor left the torture chamber entirely.

‘He is proving difficult to break.’

The old man from the secret plantation had been easier than expected.

It had not taken long before he confessed everything.

He had spoken as though resigned to his fate.

“Lady Caroline entrusted me with the plantation, Vito, and all its affairs.”

As the emperor suspected, Vito had been kept alive as a contingency plan—

A substitute in case Ernst died.

And Rachel had been dead for decades.

The village chief had not only witnessed Rachel’s death but had also been there when young Vito was stabbed.

“I was once a servant of the Montmorcy family, working as a private tutor before Lady Caroline became Duchess of Mecklen.”

Caroline had briefly worked as a tutor in a wealthy count’s household to earn money for her academy tuition.

It seemed she had met the village chief during that time.

Later, the chief had stabbed his master’s son and fled to East Harlem, only to reunite with Caroline after she became a duchess, shifting their relationship into one of master and servant.

“Every day, I taught Young Master Vito the same lesson: Never defy Lady Caroline. She is like a mother to us. We must never forget her grace.”

And then—

“The plantation grew not only medicinal herbs with narcotic properties but also… other peculiar plants. The most notable one was a purple flower.”

‘Where on earth did Caroline learn about that flower?’

The flower the chief described perfectly matched the one the emperor knew of.

Just in case, he would have to confirm with Vito and the child he had saved.

But if the information was accurate, where had she obtained those seeds?

However, even the old man did not know the answer.

‘More pressing than that is…’

Saruka.

“……”

Despite enduring extreme torture, Saruka remained completely unyielding.

Even verifying his voice against the two high-ranking El Gino members captured earlier had been a challenge.

Regular methods were proving ineffective.

‘Just what is he hiding?’

Why was he willing to endure this endless cycle of suffering in silence?

Even the investigation report Eger had compiled contained nothing unusual.

Aside from Saruka’s clear obsession with revenge.

‘I need to get more details from Eger about what happened yesterday.’

The emperor swiftly made his way to the office, pushing open the door.

“Your Majesty.”

“……”

As always, Eger stood and greeted him.

But he was not alone.

Seated beside him was Ernst, who also rose and offered a respectful nod.

“Duke Mecklen has something to discuss with you.”

Eger, sensing the tension, subtly excused himself.

He had no intention of getting caught between these two.

Judging that lingering here might get him entangled in something unpleasant, he made a quiet retreat.

The emperor did not stop him.

Once the office door shut, he walked past Ernst and settled onto the sofa.

Ernst remained standing until the emperor was seated.

Their gazes locked in the empty air between them.