Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Side Story 20

She could feel his gaze from the side. Lennoch gave an awkward laugh and lightly pinched Hail’s cheek. “Hail, there’s no need to exercise. Adults can have a baby just by holding hands while they sleep.”

“Just by holding hands?”

“That’s right. You’ll understand when you grow up.”

“Then when I grow up, I’ll just hold hands when I sleep too,” Hail answered innocently, clearly unaware of what it meant.

Eleanor stifled a small laugh, her confusion fading.

Lennoch gently ruffled Hail’s hair. “By the way, do you like Jack Ruby that much?”

“Yup! I like him second best after Eli!”

Excited, Hail kept chatting.

“Jack is like a huge tree! Rough, but solid wood!”

“‘A big tree’ is a fitting description.”

“Also, Jack told me there’s tons of fun stuff outside the palace. Lots of cool animals, noisy streets, and all kinds of things to touch.”

Eleanor was quite surprised that Hail was talking so much about Jack Ruby.

It was the first time the child had shown this much interest in anyone other than her.

“So I said I wanted to go right away, but Jack said I couldn’t. He said I needed permission from His Majesty the Emperor.”

Toward the end, Hail looked sullen.

Would Lennoch really let him go?

Eleanor pulled Hail closer beside her. “Are you curious about the world outside the palace?”

“Yup. Eli, can’t you help me?”

Unable to answer the child right away, Eleanor exchanged a troubled glance with Lennoch.

They were already struggling to find a proper guardian for Hail.

What if the blind prince went outside and got hurt?

After some thought, Eleanor asked cautiously, “Aren’t you scared of the outside world?”

“Scared of what?”

“Well, there might be scary animals. Or you could trip over a big rock or obstacle and get hurt. What if you run into a strange person…”

Thinking of the former nanny incident, it had certainly left a scar on Hail. But contrary to her worries, Hail beamed brightly.

“It’s okay, I’m not scared at all anymore! Everything’s the same color now!”

“The same color?”

“Madam Hilda once told me—there’s day and night in the sky. Daytime is sparkly and bright, but the color hurts your eyes. Night is dark and scary, but it’s a warm color.”

The Hilda he mentioned was Countess Hilda, Norah’s mother.

“I can only see night. So Madam Hilda said the world I live in is full of warm colors.”

“……!”

“So in my world, everything’s the same. Everything’s warm. Thinking like that, I’m not scared anymore.”

Eleanor’s heart felt oddly tight as she listened.

Did Hail truly understand the meaning behind his own words?

The child who always seemed small and helpless now felt like he’d grown up in an instant.

Hail kept begging. “Eli, can’t I go out with Jack? I want to walk around outside the palace. Please?”

“…Jack Ruby must’ve really gotten to him.”

Lennoch, who had been quietly watching, chuckled.

What exactly had Jack said to make Hail so eager? Regardless, Hail’s growth was touching.

Before either of them could respond, Hail spoke up again. “Jack said baked pudding is really delicious!”

Baked pudding?

“They sell it on the street, and it comes from a cart so big I couldn’t even wrap my arms around it.”

“……!”

“Jack said it’s the tastiest food in the world. You can’t get anything like it in the palace. I’m so curious.”

“…Haha.”

They knew exactly what he was talking about.

It was the very food Eleanor and Lennoch had snuck out to eat during the Founding Festival.

Pudding that was so plain it was practically tasteless.

Their expressions subtly shifted, but Hail, full of hope, didn’t notice.

“I have to try it.”

“……”

“With Jack.”

If he wanted it that badly…

Unable to crush Hail’s dream, Eleanor gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek.

“I hope that wish comes true.”

***

“You ready?”

“Of course. Brace yourself. I’ve come more prepared than you can imagine.”

“Heh, more than I can imagine? You’ll be bawling and dragged back to Bahama the moment this ends. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of the Empress.”

“Hey, Jack. One more condition on our bet. If I lose the duel, I’m shaving your head.”

“Heh, and why would I agree to that? You idiot.”

“You little punk…!”

“Cut the chatter and show me what you’ve got.”

Chewing the end of his cigar with a cocky look, Jack Ruby was insufferable.

Grinding his teeth, Russell pulled out a scroll.

‘Your arrogance ends today.’

Jack Ruby had no idea how hard Russell had prepared for this moment.

With confidence, Russell unfurled the scroll.

The length rivaled a grown man’s height, prompting exclamations from the onlookers.

“He even counted Adler’s hairs, that maniac.”

Russell declared proudly, “I’ve found 916 pieces of information!”

“Whoa, impressive, Vice Captain.”

“How’d he get that much in such a short time?”

“Did he even count how many times Adler goes to the bathroom each day?”

“That’s some next-level obsession.”

Basking in their admiration, Russell puffed out his chest.

Yes, this was what he had longed to hear.

Feeling triumphant for the first time in a while, Russell looked unbeatable.

But Jack Ruby wasn’t so easily intimidated.

Without a word, he tossed out his own scroll in front of Russell.

“Me too. 916.”

“……!”

Exactly the same?

Russell’s eyes widened instantly.

The nearby subordinates began murmuring again.

“Wow, same number?”

“Then what determines the winner? If it’s a tie?”

“Obviously the quality of the information. The more valuable or rare it is, the more bonus points it gets.”

“Who assigns those points?”

“That would be the captain and vice-captain…”

‘Absolutely not.’

A tie wouldn’t do.

He couldn’t fully reclaim his lost pride with a draw.

Russell began comparing the information he’d found with what Jack Ruby had collected, looking for any differences.

Then Jack Ruby added one more line. “And one more thing.”

He grinned. “There’s a piece of intel you’ll never know, even if you die and come back.”

“What?”

“You see, Adler is actually—”

Everyone held their breath as Jack Ruby dropped a bombshell.

“—impotent.”

“……?”

“He’s impotent.”

Silence fell.

If they had heard him correctly—

Adler…

“Adler is… impotent?”

Russell let out a groan of disbelief.

“That can’t be.”

He had investigated thoroughly, with no gaps. Nowhere in his research had he found any proof Adler was impotent.

To Russell’s denial, Jack Ruby solemnly declared like a mortician hammering the final nail into a coffin, “It’s unfortunate, but you have to accept it. He’s broken.”

“…No, Adler’s lower body was perfectly functional. He was with several women in Bahama. Would they have been with him knowing he was impotent?”

“He became impotent recently.”

“……!”

“It happened less than a week ago.”

Oh, the horror.

Someone let out a sympathetic sigh.

Whether it was for the misfortune of a fellow man, or for Russell’s impending exile to Bahama, no one could say.

Russell clutched his head, dazed. “Really… Adler really is…”

Though his hair was long gone, he gripped his head as if he might lose his sanity otherwise.

He had reached the worst possible outcome.

It was unfair, absurd—but Jack Ruby, with that smug confidence, even offered to bring a witness, leaving Russell unable to argue.

Russell muttered in disbelief, “Then I…”

Lost?

“Off to Bahama you go.”

“……!”

Jack Ruby kindly confirmed his defeat.

Blowing puffs of cigar smoke, he looked at the trembling Russell. “Better leave while you can. Don’t make a scene in front of your men.”

“You—you…!”

“Oh, and your mission’s changed. The client no longer wants rare herbs.”

“What now?!” Russell shouted sharply.

What kind of request had caused the sudden change?

Clenching his fists, Russell glared as Jack Ruby grinned like a devil. “You’re now the errand boy for the lord of East Harlem, Imard.”

“……?”

“His Majesty seems to want closer ties with him. Go play the dog for a year. Got it?”

“……!”

In that instant, Russell let out a string of curses that echoed through the surroundings.

***

“What’s wrong, Lennoch?”

“Nothing.”

Lennoch shook his head, tapping his ear.

“My ear itched a little.”

“They say if your ear itches, someone’s talking bad about you.”

“Oh dear. Have I done anything recently to earn such scorn?”

“Of course not. I’m just teasing.”

Eleanor laughed and shook her head.

Who would dare badmouth the Emperor?

‘Well… maybe someone would.’

Eleanor looked at Lennoch again, reviewing documents. Lately, the Emperor’s unpopularity might have something to do with behavior like this.

“Lennoch, are you really going to receive reports here for the entire pregnancy?”

“Of course.”

“Won’t it be tough for the aides? Coming here from the main palace is a hassle.”

“Then why not make this the official office? The aides can use the adjacent room.”

Seeing Lennoch’s unwavering stance, Eleanor gave up quickly.

Sometimes work was handled from the inner palace, but moving the entire office to the East Palace was unprecedented.

And there was no one in the palace who could stop him—

Except herself.

‘What if he stays like this forever?’

Even as the thought crossed her mind, she didn’t hate it.

The care he gave, like handling a fragile porcelain doll, was unexpectedly endearing. Especially when his actions grew more intense—they started to seem adorable.

Maybe she was wearing serious love-tinted glasses.

Watching Lennoch work, Eleanor suddenly asked, “Lennoch.”

“Yes, Eli.”

“You once said you’d do anything I wanted, right?”

“Have you finally thought of something you want?”

He immediately set the papers down, eager.

“What is it? Jewels? A dress? Want to redecorate with a fancier display cabinet?”

“No.”

“A new garden, then? If you wish, I’ll turn the whole East Palace into a flower field. Glass gardens are in fashion lately—they’d suit your palace perfectly.”

“Um, Lennoch, it’s not that.”

“Do you want a villa? I’ll find a quiet, scenic place where you can truly rest.”

Eleanor quickly raised her hand to stop him.

At this rate, he’d offer to rebuild the entire country.

Afraid he’d say something ridiculous next, she got to the point.

“It’s about Jack Ruby.”

“……?”

“Can you make him a noble?”