Escape from the evil lady (GL)
Chapter 106 - 14. No compromise

Chapter 106: Chapter 14. No compromise

When I suddenly heard something like that from my friend’s mouth, I wasn’t sure if I really hadn’t imagined it.

— What... What did you just say? — I asked, just in case.

The baron’s youngest son sighed.

— I understand that this might sound unexpected to you, but still...

«Unexpectedly? That’s putting it mildly!»

Getting a marriage proposal was the last thing I expected to hear in a situation like this. And besides, I never expected to hear something like this from Jeremy. What is this guy even thinking about?

— Do you remember how our acquaintance originally began?

When the guy asked this question, I involuntarily closed my mouth before I could say anything.

— Of course... — I said reluctantly, — It’s hard to forget such things.

Despite the fact that Jeremy and I were getting along and were good friends right now, but the circumstances of our acquaintance at that time really left much to be desired. After all, our parents were forcing us into a marriage of convenience. After that, they eventually quarreled and even got into a fight... It was really hard to forget.

However, I didn’t quite understand why Jeremy mentioned it now.

«Actually, I already offered you something similar back then,» he said, «and now, as time has passed... I want to do it again.

My eyes widened.

— About what... What exactly are you talking about?

A friend summed up his entire previous speech with one phrase:

— Fictitious marriage.

— ...

«Fie... A fake marriage?»

Instead of trying to figure out what was going on, I seemed to get even more confused. What is the connection between a fictitious marriage and our continued survival in this world? No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t make the connection. And, clearly reading these mixed emotions on my face, Jeremy explained:

— No matter how you look at it, but if we don’t want to end up being caught, we can’t continue to live with our real personalities. At least for the next few years, it would really be better for us to «disappear.»

«Oh...»

After thinking about it, I couldn’t help but agree that there really was a grain of common sense in the guy’s words. The idea of hiding our real identities for a while seemed like the best solution if we were going to continue living in this empire. And yet...

— But even if we live under false names, then... What is the point of us entering into a fictitious marriage?

Jeremy sighed.

— What other options do you have? — he folded his arms on his chest, — If a guy and a girl are next to each other, but they are not related to each other, it will definitely attract unnecessary attention from the outside. Outwardly, we are too different to pass for brother and sister. So... Only this option remains.

— That is... Will a fake marriage also be part of our disguise? — it finally dawned on me.

«What did you think?» The guy chuckled, «Is it really that I’m going to marry you? Well, even if I had such an intention, I would never have risked it...

«And...?»

While the duke’s daughter was blinking uncomprehendingly, the baron’s youngest son did not voice out loud the thought that flashed through his mind at that moment. «That scary woman... The only reason I felt in mortal danger last time was because I was her friend. What would have happened if I had become her husband? No, I don’t even want to think about it...!»

Despite the fact that a cold shiver ran down Jeremy’s spine during these thoughts, he tried to put these thoughts out of his head and turned back to his friend:

— So what do you think about this?

My thoughts actually didn’t last that long.

— OK... — if it was really necessary, I didn’t see anything wrong in actually agreeing to this proposal. After all, it was all just a disguise.

— So we’ll switch identities and pretend to be a fake couple... — I said thoughtfully.

Jeremy nodded.

«But in that case, what are we going to do next?»

«Well,» Jeremy scratched his head, «I’ve already thought about opening my own business in the capital. We could live in the city and earn money until it was no longer necessary to hide our existence.

— what? Do you really intend to go to the capital?!

Hearing about this, I involuntarily gaped, because no matter how you look at it, it was the capital that was the center of the empire, where the imperial palace was actually located. Will it be okay if we get so close to our opponents? But...

Noticing my concern, the guy hastened to reassure me:

— I think that’s why if we choose such a place, our chance of facing persecution will be many times less.

«What...?»

— Most likely, neither the Duchess, nor the Empress, nor the Crown Princess will even think that we could be in the capital all this time. They probably sent their people to search for us in all corners of the empire. Therefore, they probably won’t even think that we could be right under their noses all this time.

— This... That sounds reasonable.

«What am I talking about?»

However, as I continued to think about all this, I eventually couldn’t help but wonder:

«But what about Yufil?»

— Oh, right... — the guy came to his senses, as if for the first time in all this time remembering the existence of this man, — He probably looks too old to pass for our son, right?

I burst out laughing.

— That’s for sure.

— Then... — he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, — Why doesn’t he be our guard? Besides, his current uniform is quite suitable for this.

«A security guard?» I asked doubtfully, «Do you really think a guy like him would actually agree to this?»

Jeremy just shrugged his shoulders.

— Well, then... We should ask him first.

Eventually, we continued chatting, discussing our upcoming plans, until the middle of the night. Because of this, the next morning I felt like I had absolutely no sleep. But one way or another, we had to continue on our way. Since Jeremy and I had decided that night that we would settle our future lives in the capital, the first thing we had to do was get there first. And this has become another difficult task.

Continuing to walk through the forest, we eventually managed to get onto the road, where, by a completely happy coincidence, a cabman with a simple carriage was just passing by.

— Sir, I’m sorry! — Jeremy ran out onto the road and waved his hands in front of him, — Could you give us a ride to the city?

The man stopped his horse and raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Suddenly, in the middle of the wilderness, several seemingly noble-born people suddenly appeared on the road in front of him.

— Who are you? And... how did you end up here? — he asked.

Jeremy Seibel smiled tightly.

— You see, my wife and I were going to have a picnic in this forest. But it so happened that in the end we got lost and lost our crew. Therefore... Could you help us in such an emergency?

— what? Are you lost?

— That’s right... My wife is very exhausted and is about to lose consciousness. Isn’t that right, dear?

I nodded back at my «spouse» with the same strained smile on my face.

— yes. Because we’ve been trying to find our way out of this forest for so long, I’m completely exhausted now...

While I made a plaintive expression on my face, and Jeremy continued to press for pity and persuade the man to take us with him, meanwhile, Yufil only silently watched our performance from the sidelines.

«...»

In the end, the driver turned out to be not an indifferent person and agreed to give us a ride to the capital. It was cramped and uncomfortable in the small carriage, and we had to sit huddled together. But anyway, it was much better than nothing, and I was just glad that we were finally able to get out of this forest.

During the trip, Jeremy and I also told Yufilu about our grand plan. However, after listening to our enthusiastic speeches, the guy was not at all imbued with the same feelings... Rather the opposite. When we arrived in the city and got out of the carriage, the Duke’s eldest son stated uncompromisingly:

— I don’t want to take any part in your masquerade. More accurately... From now on, I’m not going to have anything to do with you anymore.

— what? — I stared at him in disbelief, — But why?!

«I’ve had enough!» The guy snapped, «Who do you take me for if you think I’m going to play these stupid games with you?»

— But...

— Just leave me alone!

After this angry tirade, Yufil abruptly turned around and left without turning around once. Jeremy and I just stood there and stared after him in confusion.

It seems that in the end, things didn’t turn out quite the way we expected.

«So what do we do now?» Finally, a friend whispered to me.

I just sighed softly. Despite the fact that I have already managed to get used to the tantrums of the duke’s heir, which took place from time to time, but why did he decide to throw something like this right now? As if we didn’t have enough problems without that!

— Can you wait here? — I had to ask, — I’ll go and talk to him.

The baron’s youngest son belatedly nodded at me with a confused expression on his face.

— yes... Sure.

In the end, having agreed that we would meet at the same place in about an hour, I hurried to follow my half-witted brother.