Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Side Story 1

Side Story 1

Time that seemed like it would remain forever frozen, nevertheless flowed on without pause.

Even after the wedding, the imperial palace remained bustling and complex.

It was due to the wind of new change.

The balance of power was shifting.

The central nobility had to hold their breath as they watched the constant changes in palace appointments.

As all the nobles who had once opposed the Emperor crumbled, pro-imperial factions, including Duke Nestor, soared to unprecedented power.

There were even jokes about how the three great ducal houses of Baden should now be called two.

Nestor, Ezester, Mecklen.

Among them, the Duke of Mecklen could not escape the sins of his mother.

After the Emperor’s wedding, the nobles clamored that he too should be punished, grouped together with the executed Caroline.

Thus, Ernst was demoted to Count and disappeared from the social scene.

In fact, it was a miracle the Mecklen family had survived at all.

There were even rumors that Empress Eleanor had intervened from behind the scenes to preserve the Mecklen house, but only the parties involved knew the truth.

***

The Empress’s East Palace.

So full of life now that it was hard to imagine it had ever gone unused for years.

There’s a saying that servants reflect the mood of their master.

The expressions on the maids and attendants moving about the East Palace were like children before a festival.

“Your Majesty the Empress, His Majesty has sent a message via carrier pigeon.”

Eleanor, having just finished her duties and taking a short rest, accepted the note the attendant handed over.

The thin, crinkling paper was only large enough to fit a single sentence.

Beside her, Brianna stretched her neck, eyes half-lidded as she looked down at it, lips pouting.

‘Looks like a love letter.’

Even the smile blooming on Eleanor’s lips gave it away.

‘His Majesty really is something.’

He’d be at the East Palace like clockwork come nightfall anyway.

Even the short time apart for their individual tasks felt wasteful to the Emperor.

Despite the fact that the distance between the East Palace and the main palace was barely a 30-minute carriage ride.

‘That’s not what carrier pigeons are for.’

Anyone would think they were Romeo and Juliet in some legendary romance.

Shaking her head at the carrier pigeon now reduced to a mere messenger of love, Brianna scoffed.

And just as she suspected, the note contained a short, heartfelt message.

[I miss you.]

“Do we have any other plans this afternoon?”

“Nothing in particular, but…”

Trailing off, Brianna looked displeased.

She had caught on to Eleanor’s intent.

Eleanor had been waiting for that answer.

“I forgot to give His Majesty the guest list for the upcoming Founding Festival.”

“If it’s urgent, we must hurry and deliver it.”

Strictly speaking, that list had already been finalized last week.

But who could stop her from slyly making an excuse to visit the main palace?

Though she looked resigned, Brianna’s eyes softened.

“I’ll take care of the remaining tasks. I’ll report on them tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Brianna.”

“Think nothing of it.”

Just as Eleanor stood up with the list in hand—

“Then allow me to deliver it! We can’t have Her Majesty making such a long trip herself. Leave it to me, and I’ll report swiftly to His Majesty.”

An oblivious attendant stepped forward eagerly.

In his mind, he was trying to impress the Empress.

‘Trying to ruin the moment, are we?’

Seeing the meddling attendant, Brianna’s smiling face turned cold.

“Perfect timing, then. Could you move that flowerpot for me?”

“Huh? A flowerpot?”

“It’s been blocking the window light for a while now. I’ve been meaning to move it to another room. Her Majesty found it quite inconvenient.”

“Uh, well…”

The flustered attendant looked at the flowerpot Brianna indicated.

It stood waist-high on an adult man and looked heavy at a glance.

As he hesitated, Eleanor let out a quiet laugh.

“I’ll leave it to you, you two. Then I’ll personally deliver the documents.”

Before anyone could stop her, Eleanor briskly left the room.

Though she didn’t look back, the attendant’s face was surely a sight to see.

As soon as she stepped out, the knights waiting nearby naturally fell in behind her.

The White Blossom Knights assigned to guard the Empress.

Composed entirely of women, this new order had been established after Ernst left the palace.

“Are you heading to His Majesty’s office?”

A polite question caught her attention, and Eleanor turned her head.

The pink-haired female knight whose appearance always stood out—her name was Joshua.

“Yes, please.”

“Certainly. As you wish.”

Joshua seemed unaccustomed to Eleanor’s formal speech, even toward her guards.

It was only after becoming Empress that Eleanor learned something: the lady Lennoch often teased Eger about was Joshua.

‘I wonder how he came to feel that way.’

A secretary in love with an imperial knight.

Even now, whenever Joshua’s name came up, Eger grew flustered.

Just a few days ago, fed up with Lennoch’s teasing, Eger had muttered gloomily that he might as well confess and get it over with.

Yet, judging from the continued silence, he had likely failed again.

Eleanor suddenly felt sorry for Eger.

“Sir Joshua, if it’s not a bother, may I ask you something?”

“Ask me anything.”

“What does being a knight mean to you?”

Joshua’s eyes met Eleanor’s squarely. “To me, the sword is like a lover.”

Did that mean it was that precious to her?

Even as Eleanor walked on, she couldn’t take her eyes off Joshua.

The look in Joshua’s eyes as she answered was filled with rapture, “When it’s far, I miss it. I long for it. When it’s near, I want to touch it. I don’t want it to ever leave my side. It might not be wrong to say it’s an obsession so strong, I can’t tell right from wrong. Even if the sword in my hand were to hurt me, there is a kind of generosity in it that would still make me embrace the pain.”

“……”

“And a knight must live with the sword their whole life.”

‘Will Eger ever succeed in confessing?’

A formidable rival.

Not even a person.

Watching Joshua smile so brightly while speaking of swords, Eleanor finally understood why Eger had hesitated for so long.

“Thank you for walking with me.”

In front of the Emperor’s office, Eleanor gave a polite bow to the two knights.

“We’re honored, Your Majesty. Please feel free to treat us more casually.”

“It’s not that easy.”

Eleanor smiled at Joshua and reached for the door handle.

Just then, the door flew open from inside.

“Your Majesty the Empress?”

Speak of the devil, and he appears.

The very subject of Joshua’s unrequited affection appeared at the most opportune moment.

Indeed, just as he was about to greet Eleanor, Eger caught sight of Joshua and froze.

To help him out of the awkwardness, Eleanor stepped in as mediator.

“Why don’t you introduce yourselves? This is my guard, Sir Serinne. And standing next to her is…”

“…Sir Joshua.”

It should be noted—there had been absolutely no progress in Eger’s unrequited love.

In fact, this was the first time the two of them had faced each other properly.

They hadn’t even exchanged names until now, which was unfortunate, to say the least.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Joshua of House White.”

“Eger von Nestor… It’s a pleasure.”

If Joshua hadn’t spoken up first, Eger might have stood there frozen indefinitely.

It was hard to believe this was the same capable young secretary who held the Emperor’s complete trust.

The sharp eyes that were usually so meticulous at work now looked like those of a blushing schoolboy just beginning his first love.

Eleanor was just about to speak again when—

“Well, look who it is.”

A relaxed baritone voice called out from behind.

Startled, everyone turned in unison.

For a brief moment, they had all forgotten.

This was the entrance to the Emperor’s office.

Towering above the rest, the Emperor had approached with a grin tugging at his lips.

“Sir Joshua.”

***

As Emperor and also Eger’s cousin, Lennoch had the power to terrify him.

Eger, unsure what the Emperor would say, tried desperately to stop him.

Luckily, the moment Lennoch found a new target to tease, he backed off.

After the short encounter, Eger slumped into the chair in the office, letting out a deep sigh as if to calm his pounding heart.

“What exactly were you trying to do, Your Majesty?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you say something strange to Sir Joshua? About bringing Her Majesty often, or that it’d be nice to see each other more frequently. What if she gets the wrong idea…”

“Hmm? I just said that because I wanted to see Eli more often. Sir Joshua is your Empress’s guard, after all. Were you thinking I was referring to her?”

“……!”

“Oh? So that is what you thought? Look at that—your ears turned red.”

“Your Majesty…!”

Always picking on the easy one.

Eger was speechless, lips twitching like a fish as Lennoch chuckled in amusement.

“Do you really like her that much?”

“Please don’t tease me. I’m serious.”

“I know.”

Surprisingly, Lennoch agreed without resistance.

Resting his chin in his hand, he gave Eger a knowing look that only made the man more embarrassed.

Trying to change the subject, Eger turned to Eleanor. “So, how did you come to be with Sir Joshua…? Wait, no, of course—she’s your bodyguard, Your Majesty. It makes sense that you’d come together… But, I mean, how is Sir Joshua in your opinion? Not that I’m asking for judgment, but since she’s such an impressive person, I just thought I’d ask.”

The uncharacteristically flustered way Eger stumbled through his words made it clear: he was itching to talk about how great Joshua was.

Eleanor let out a quiet laugh. “Sir Joshua is an admirable woman with great pride in her work. I never expected her to love the sword so deeply. She’s exceptionally skilled, of course.”

“Exactly! She’s not just talented—she’s incredibly hardworking too. A true gem of a knight.”

Eger nodded with exaggerated enthusiasm.

It was obvious he was glowing as if he were being praised himself.

Lennoch and Eleanor exchanged a glance behind his back.

“Her family, House White, has long been overshadowed by Mecklen, but they possess a refinement and martial tradition no less impressive.”

“I see.”

“Most of them in House White, not just Sir Joshua, are fond of weapons—swords, blades, spears, shields, anything. I’ve heard most of their trading profits go into collecting arms.”

After hearing that, Eleanor couldn’t help but wonder.

She cautiously asked, “Eger, how long have you known Sir Joshua?”