Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Side Story 10

Eleanor watched the tense standoff unfold.

As expected, the ones holding the middle-aged woman hostage were from Hartmann.

They had mainly been active in guerrilla units and had fled all the way here after their organization was finally wiped out.

‘It’s similar to my past life, but not quite the same.’

In her past life, the group that had planned a terror attack at the red clock tower had moved with great coordination.

They had reportedly been very cautious about smuggling explosives into Baden.

‘What’s different this time is that there are no explosives.’

There were no crates filled with gunpowder around the two.

The sequence of events resembled the past, but the rebel force had lost enough power that they couldn’t pull off something as large-scale.

Even the motive was different.

In her past life, the terrorist had shouted for Hartmann’s independence before attempting to blow himself up.

Now, the hostage-takers were only demanding the royal ring.

“What on earth is the Hawk’s Seal Ring?”

“Dunno. Must be something valuable?”

“They said it’s a ring.”

“How expensive could a ring even be?”

The gathered onlookers whispered among themselves.

The Hawk’s Seal Ring that the hostage-takers demanded was an unfamiliar object to Baden’s citizens.

And understandably so.

‘How do they even know about Hartmann’s royal ceremonial items?’

In Hartmann’s coronation ritual, there was a segment called the “investiture.”

It was a ceremony where the priest would hand the royal scepter, staff, and seal ring to the new monarch.

Since coronations were mostly attended only by high-ranking nobles, lower nobility had no idea what the seal ring even looked like.

The scepter and staff were the only items somewhat known to the public.

But even those were treated as near-taboo, because speaking their names carelessly was said to diminish the king’s authority.

“It’s impossible to tell how they know about the seal ring.”

Lennoch had reached the same conclusion as Eleanor.

“Are they perhaps nobles of Hartmann?”

Eleanor shook her head. “Not to my knowledge. I’ve never seen either of their faces before.”

Still, it didn’t mean they had no ties to Hartmann.

They could have been nobles quietly active in the provinces.

But to have remained hidden all this time and then suddenly risk their lives to join the rebel forces only after Hartmann had fallen?

It didn’t add up.

“There might be something more behind them.”

“Yes, it’s certainly possible.”

The scepter and staff had already been publicly declared by Adler.

He had said that, for the last honor of the royal family, they had been buried in the tomb of the late king.

As for the ring—

“The royal seal ring was actually lost.”

“……!”

“According to Adler, it was lost by mistake.”

“Do you believe him?”

“Not at all. I’d sooner believe Jack Ruby if he claimed to hate money.”

Even as she spoke, Eleanor kept her eyes fixed on the hostage-takers.

Even from a distance, it was clear the woman they held was trembling.

Though the guards had arrived after the report, they didn’t seem to have any effective measures.

Instead, it seemed they had only further agitated the hostage-takers.

Just as Lennoch was about to step forward, unable to watch any longer, a familiar voice reached Eleanor’s ears.

“Found you at last.”

***

“If you won’t return the royal seal ring, I’ll kill this woman right now!”

“P-please… spare me… please…”

“Calm down, now. Let’s lower the tension and try to resolve this peacefully.”

Captain Aaron of the city guard was losing his mind.

Of all days, why did a hostage crisis have to break out on such a joyous occasion?

He racked his brain for a peaceful resolution, but the armed rebels showed no signs of backing down.

With no choice, Aaron kept trying to coax them.

“I promise I’ll report your demand for Hartmann’s royal seal ring to His Majesty. But what fault does this poor woman bear? For the sake of an innocent life—”

“Hah, do you take us for fools?”

Before Aaron could finish, one of the hostage-takers shouted in fury.

“If we lose the hostage, you’ll send soldiers to capture us. Why would we let her go?”

“Th-that’s…”

“We won’t move an inch until the Emperor appears with the ring. Understand?!”

The man pressed his blade more tightly against the woman’s neck.

The sharp edge bit into her skin, drawing a panicked scream.

Captain Aaron froze in place, helpless.

And then—

“Found you at last.”

“……?”

At the sudden voice from behind, Aaron and the two hostage-takers turned their heads at once.

A man pushed through the guards and stepped forward.

His deep blue eyes radiated a chilling intensity.

“W-who are you?!”

Clutching the woman, the male hostage-taker brandished his weapon.

So did the female beside him.

The black-haired man glanced at their faces, then tilted his head slightly.

“So it’s different this time.”

“……?”

“Has it changed?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?!”

The two rebels scowled, not understanding a word.

Meanwhile, Captain Aaron straightened up and saluted the new arrival.

“C-Count Mecklen!”

“Mecklen?”

“Did he just say Mecklen?!”

A murmur spread through the crowd.

Though time had passed, the trial involving the Mecklen family’s former duchess, Caroline, was still a topic of discussion across the empire.

The curious gazes around them quickly turned to hostile stares.

But Ernst paid no mind to the sharp looks as he continued walking forward.

“Is he… is he planning to fight them?”

Seeing how close Ernst had gotten, one of the hostage-takers shouted in alarm.

“T-try coming any closer, and this woman dies!”

“Go ahead.”

“…What?”

“The hostage isn’t my concern.”

The words were chillingly cold.

Not only the hostage-takers, but also Captain Aaron and the others turned their attention to Ernst in shock.

But Ernst’s focus was elsewhere.

He quickly scanned the area around the hostage-takers.

‘No gunpowder crates where they should be.’

It was different from his previous life.

The terrorists had now become hostage-takers, and even their location was completely unexpected.

Because of that, it had taken him quite some time to find them.

Clicking his tongue inwardly, Ernst asked the captain behind him, “Was the palace informed?”

“Y-yes, Your Grace. We received word that reinforcements will be sent shortly.”

“Good. Also, I’m no longer a duke, so please adjust how you address me.”

“Ah, m-my apologies.”

Realizing his mistake, Captain Aaron broke into a nervous sweat.

Ernst casually drew his sword.

“If it must be done, I’ll at least try not to let the hostage die.”

But that would change if circumstances forced his hand.

“Sometimes, sacrifices are necessary.”

“……!”

“P-please, no, Count!”

Captain Aaron shouted in panic.

He hadn’t been like this when he was at the palace.

Ernst had become even colder than before—enough to give someone chills.

His demeanor was so intimidating, it felt as if he really would kill the hostage.

Captain Aaron, startled, reached out a hand toward him.

***

Eleanor stood still, watching Ernst as he faced off against the hostage-takers.

Setting aside the question of how he had known to appear here—

‘Did he really just say he would abandon the hostage?’

Her body moved before her mind.

Before she knew it, she was pushing through the crowd, stepping forward.

She reached Ernst just as he was about to swing his sword at the hostage.

“Ernst!”

“……!”

As if by magic, the sword stopped midair.

Ernst, just as surprised, turned his head awkwardly.

His face was as indifferent as it had been when they were at the palace.

But standing close, Eleanor noticed the slight tremble in his pupils.

They were just one step apart—close enough to touch.

In that instant, the flow of air turned uneasy.

At the same time, Captain Aaron instantly recognized the woman confronting Ernst.

Empress Eleanor.

“I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

“Y-Your Maj— pardon?”

A gentle baritone voice slipped between them, softening the tense atmosphere.

Captain Aaron, stunned again, turned toward Lennoch.

The Empress—and now the Emperor.

People they had naturally assumed would be at the palace.

As Captain Aaron hurriedly saluted them, a wave of commotion swept through the crowd.

“Did you hear that? That’s His Majesty the Emperor!”

“My goodness, the Emperor? I thought he always stayed in the palace!”

“Then that must be Her Majesty the Empress! She looks just like the portrait we have at home…”

“Yes, it’s her! I have a portrait too. That’s definitely Her Majesty!”

“To see such noble figures in my lifetime…”

“Your Majesty!”

A cheer different from earlier rang out, and the gathered citizens hurriedly fell to their knees.

“Glory forever to the Empire and Their Majesties!”

Though not as refined as noble etiquette, it was the most respectful gesture they could offer.

Lennoch wrapped one arm around Eleanor’s shoulders and raised the other hand in response to the citizens.

Meanwhile, the expressions of the hostage-takers darkened in an instant.

‘This… this isn’t what we wanted…!’

They had shouted confidently, but—

They had never actually planned to confront the Emperor.

Their role wasn’t to retrieve the seal from the Emperor directly, but rather to draw his attention to it.

And if possible—

They were also meant to provoke the Hartmann people still residing in Baden.

The hostage-takers were now at a loss.

‘What do we tell Duke Etetus…’

This entire scheme had been devised by Etetus, a noble of Bahama.

If they made a mistake here—

One of the hostage-takers turned pale.

“W-we are knights of Hartmann—Orech and Philia…”

Panicked, they blurted out an ill-timed self-introduction.

It was too late to regret saying it.

Thanks to Eleanor’s sudden appearance, Ernst had momentarily lost focus, but at that statement, his eyes regained their deadly sharpness.

He had no intention of showing them mercy.

Ernst swung his sword at them.

“―!”

The woman being held instinctively shut her eyes.

At the same moment, Philia—who was more free than Orech—blocked Ernst’s sword.

Apparently, they hadn’t lied about being knights. Philia seemed quite skilled with a blade.

While the two clashed, Orech, now cornered, swung his weapon at the Emperor.

“I-I’m not bluffing! I really will kill her!”

“Your Majesty…! Please spare me…!”

The hostage, eyes still shut, screamed in terror.

The cry made Eleanor freeze in her tracks.

She couldn’t stop Ernst, nor could she stand idly by.

If she made the wrong move here—

‘The hostage will be in danger.’

She didn’t even have a usable bow on hand.

At the palace, she always had escorts, so she hadn’t thought to carry a weapon herself.

Biting her lip in frustration, Eleanor stood helpless.

Just then, Lennoch spotted someone behind Orech.

“……”

Suddenly, a crooked smile formed at the corner of Lennoch’s lips.

“As you said, let’s negotiate.”