Duchess Mecklen’s Elegant Revolt - Side Story 3

He knew the Emperor had a son, Hail.

But Hail could not become the successor to the throne.

After the execution of Marquis Delph, rumors that the prince was blind had spread throughout the empire.

Naturally, a blind prince could not be named heir, so the child born of Empress Eleanor would become the first in line.

The current Emperor didn’t seem likely to take a concubine, and the imperial family would certainly prefer a child born from the Empress’s womb.

Even if not right away, the Empress would have to produce an heir someday…

“What if she’s infertile?”

A wave of elation swept over him.

‘Eleanor’s position might become unstable.’

That would be a critical blow.

The Empress’s heir was, after all, the future of the Baden Empire.

If she couldn’t bear a child, Eleanor would inevitably need a faction to support her.

‘No—better yet.’

What if he used this differently?

‘Is there a drug that temporarily causes infertility?’

Preferably one that would make it seem permanent.

He would make Eleanor appear infertile, then, just when the imperial family was at their most anxious, he would show up with a cure.

Adler clenched his fist at the thought.

He would trade the medicine.

Even for the Empress’s sake, the Emperor would have no choice but to accept.

Adler searched his memory.

He seemed to recall reading in an old text about herbs related to infertility.

Or perhaps he could find something among the mysterious poisons imported from the Western Continent.

Staring up at the ceiling, Adler suddenly jumped to his feet.

‘First, let’s check the capital.’

It wouldn’t be easy to find, but it wouldn’t be impossible either.

Even in high society, infertility drugs were sometimes used during power struggles between wives and concubines.

Exiting the stables, Adler looked around.

Fortunately, the senior officer who usually watched him was nowhere to be seen.

His superior, known for his nasty temper and cruelty, was someone Adler had come to fear lately—one mistake and he’d be done for.

Confirming that the area was quiet, Adler hurriedly slipped away.

***

Ferret Street No. 13

A neighborhood packed with information brokers, once chaotic and lawless like East Harlem.

But over the past few months, Ferret had changed.

Now there was an established hierarchy, and the once-unruly brokers had started to watch those above them.

It was a remarkable shift, given their past resistance to any form of control.

Another notable change was the large teahouse in the center of Ferret—completely out of place.

Run directly by House Hippias, the shop offered tea and matching desserts and had quickly earned a name for itself.

The first location thrived, and when they opened a second, few expected it to land in the infamous Ferret.

Some worried it would be a wasteful investment, but in the end, their concerns proved baseless.

Information dealers who enjoyed tea began emerging from the shadows.

Oddly enough, this even led to a drop in the area’s crime rate.

Hooligans, robbers, and pickpockets were pushed out by the information brokers’ growing influence.

Even the locals who once shunned them began to see them differently, and the streets regained life.

“We can’t go on like this forever.”

Russell, a well-known broker in Ferret who had recently lost the last strands of his hair, made a grim resolution.

“Damn Jack.”

He referred to Jack Ruby as simply “Jack” with disdain—and Russell had just turned forty.

His current emotional state could be summed up in one word: rage.

“Just because he’s the boss, does he think he can do anything?”

Jack Ruby was younger than him by a good margin.

And in terms of experience, Russell was no slouch either.

Before coming to Ferret, he had been a famous mercenary roaming the empire.

He chose information dealing because it paid far more for far less physical effort.

For a brief time, Russell had flourished in Ferret

But after losing to Jack Ruby, who had shown up with a band of mercenaries, Russell found himself stuck with all the grunt work.

‘Even now, he does nothing and lazes around.’

That alone was infuriating—but recently, Jack Ruby had opened an apothecary, claiming he wanted to pursue something more refined than information dealing.

By threatening some academy-trained pharmacist, no less.

Russell had been delighted when Jack Ruby vanished for a while.

But it had all been a misunderstanding.

Now, Jack simply used the apothecary as an excuse to send his underlings—including Russell—all over the empire.

He’d claim they needed to collect rare herbs, or some nonsense.

He even gave them bizarre assignments, sending his subordinates on wild errands.

“Deputy Russell, are you really going to do this?”

A nervous underling beside him asked cautiously.

Russell nodded firmly. “If I don’t slice Jack’s throat today, I’m not a man—I’m a dog. A dog!”

“Then maybe we should prepare a leash in advance.”

“What?”

“N-nothing.”

The underling shrank under Russell’s glare.

With bold steps, Russell stormed into the shop.

“Hey, Jack!”

“What? Why are you here?”

Jack Ruby, lounging at the counter, greeted them while picking his ear.

He wore a white lab coat that looked comically small on his large frame.

It was supposedly the largest size, but the sleeves looked ready to burst at any moment—almost pitiful.

Russell marched up to him. “I challenge you to a duel.”

“A duel?”

“That’s right. Let’s compete like true information brokers—see who’s better at gathering intel.”

Jack Ruby casually poked at his ear again. “Why would I do that? Sounds like a hassle.”

“I can’t take your tyranny any longer. You’ve had us running around like beggars, chasing errands all over the provinces. The subordinates are all fed up.”

“So they really feel that way, huh?”

 Jack Ruby growled the question at his subordinate.

The one who had followed Russell shifted only his eyes side to side.

That was enough to say no.

Realizing this was all Russell’s personal tantrum, Jack Ruby rubbed his chin with a thick hand.

“Wasn’t it just the other day you begged for your life in tears, and now you’re saying something else? Besides, I’ve been paying you well. Your wife even cooked a meal and thanked me herself, saying she was just relieved you weren’t out killing people anymore.”

“Th-that’s true, but that’s not the point.”

Russell faltered slightly at the mention of his wife.

But he didn’t back down.

“That’s not what I meant… I just don’t want to lose the pride of being an information broker! But the brokers in Ferret have changed. Have we really sunk so low as to sell out everything to the imperial court just for money?”

“Didn’t you become a broker to make money? What’s there to complain about when you’re getting paid?”

“……”

“He’s right, Deputy. And you get paid the most out of all of us.”

Even the subordinate he trusted took Jack Ruby’s side, and Russell’s position weakened further.

Feeling the pressure mount, Russell clenched his fists. “Shut up! Either way, it’s a duel! The loser leaves Ferret for good. Let’s put everything on the line as information brokers and fight it out.”

What was he so upset about?

Jack Ruby couldn’t understand Russell’s stubbornness.

Sure, he sometimes used force, but he always made sure they got paid.

But it didn’t look like money would solve this one.

As Jack Ruby bit down on a cigar, the pharmacist, watching nervously, jumped in. “Jack Ruby, please! Don’t do that—it stinks up the whole apothecary.”

“Ah, right.”

When he scowled, his already rough face turned even more fearsome.

The pharmacist, intimidated, stepped back several paces.

Jack Ruby chewed the end of his cigar and laughed heartily. “Fine. Let’s do it. But I’m adding one condition. If you lose, you’re going abroad.”

“Abroad?”

“I heard there’s a good herb in Bahama. You go fetch it yourself.”

“Wh-what?!”

Russell was at a loss for words.

Go abroad for a single herb?

Jack Ruby smirked, as if he’d expected just this reaction.

“What? You scared?”

“…No. Fine.”

Cornered, Russell begrudgingly agreed.

“Then we need to pick the target…”

The rules of an information broker’s duel were simple.

Each contestant chose a target to investigate.

Then, from the person’s public status and assets to trivial habits, number of forks in their house, family background, medical history—even the number of hairs on their head—anything and everything was fair game.

Victory depended on the amount and difficulty of the information uncovered.

Jack Ruby’s gaze shifted from his subordinate to the pharmacist beside him.

Sensing instinctively that something was off, the pharmacist shrank back.

Just then, the door swung open.

“……!”

“Ugh.”

What was that smell?

Everyone inside grimaced as the stranger entered.

‘Smells like crap…’

Outwardly, the young man looked clean-cut.

With his handsome appearance, he probably had plenty of admirers.

But that smell.

Reading the room, the young man—Adler—forced a strained smile.

“I’m looking for a medicine…”

He turned to the pharmacist, who looked like the most agreeable one of the bunch.

The pharmacist led him to the consultation room.

As Adler followed the pharmacist inside, both Jack Ruby and Russell locked eyes.

‘That one.’

‘Exactly.’

They didn’t need to say it aloud.

The sacrificial lamb for their duel had been chosen.

This time, Russell’s eyes burned with determination—not to lose to Jack Ruby.

***

The list of noble men and women who would offer tribute to the goddess had been released.

As the most anticipated event among unmarried young nobles during the Founding Festival, it immediately became the talk of the capital.

The excitement even reached the East Palace, where the Empress resided.

“I heard Lord Eger is attending the Founding Festival too?”

Brianna, sipping tea in the rear garden, pouted.

“I just don’t get it.”

Eger wasn’t the type for such things.

They said the names were randomly drawn, but surely the Emperor, who knew Eger’s nature better than anyone, had made the list himself.

Hearing Brianna’s confusion, Eleanor couldn’t quite hide her own guilt and glanced at Joshua beside her.

“Sir Joshua, I heard you’re participating in the ritual as well.”

The ritual referred to the event where young men and women helped conduct the festival.

Joshua gave a nonchalant nod. “Yes.”

“Did you volunteer?”

“No. His Majesty graciously appointed me,” Joshua answered dutifully, showing no sign of suspicion.

Eleanor glanced at Brianna, worried she might have caught on.

“Partnered with Lord Eger, though… Sir Joshua, that might be a bit awkward. You’ll have to stay together for over three hours. That’s a long time to endure the discomfort.”

It seemed Brianna hadn’t the faintest clue about the setup.

Eleanor didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed, and simply kept sipping her tea.

‘They must really have had no prior contact.’

Could this be their chance to grow closer?

No one could say.

Then Brianna asked out of the blue, “Sir Joshua, are you seeing anyone?”