Escape from the evil lady (GL)
Chapter 146 - 7. The incident

Chapter 146: Chapter 7. The incident

Damn Mag and his stupid idea!

I couldn’t believe that it really turned out this way in the end. Although initially I didn’t even think about something like that, but in the end I was made an assistant to the main villain. No, but why should it be me?

In any case, it was too late to retreat now. Since I’ve already started this performance, I’ll have to play it to the end...

Although I originally came here just to learn the truth from the Crown Princess about the incident in the Duchy of de Walt, now I really had no idea how I could do it. In the end, Mag really did me a disservice when, on his initiative, I changed into the uniform of a knight of the Dark Host... And, to be honest, I had no idea how I was going to get rid of her now.

Anyway, after I was appointed assistant to the princess and the meeting came to an end, I continued to receive ambiguous glances. Some knights praised me for being able to prove myself and rise through the ranks so quickly, while others were clearly jealous of my unprecedented «luck.»

I just wanted it to be over so I could get out of here.

In the meantime, I just had to summon all the remnants of my courage until this misunderstanding was finally resolved.

A little later, I was called back to the Crown Princess’s tent, and since I didn’t have much choice, I had to obey.

I took another deep breath before going inside.

The atmosphere inside the military tent was filled with flickering torchlight. Kaena de Ronan was sitting at her desk, which was littered with maps and strategic plans, and it looked like she was completely focused on the upcoming battle. At first, she didn’t even notice my presence.

When I entered the tent, my steps were unsteady. I also had a heavy helmet on my head, which covered most of my face and made it difficult to see. Nevertheless, I tried to stay straight and not show my excitement, even though I wasn’t very good at it.

— Your Highness, — I said, bowing slightly. My voice sounded a little muffled because of the helmet, which eventually also became part of my disguise in order to prevent the villainess from revealing my identity by voice.

At that moment, the Crown Princess raised her head and finally noticed me.

— Your Highness... Did you call me? — I asked in a slightly trembling voice.

«You came,» she said calmly. «I have a lot of work to do, and you have to help me prepare for my meeting with the commanders tomorrow. We’ll need to discuss tactics for the upcoming battle, and I want you to gather all the necessary documents and maps.

«.......»

Although it confused me a little at first, I tried to recover quickly.

«Y-yes, Your Highness!» I nodded, trying to memorize every word.

I took a step forward to better see what exactly needed to be collected. However, when I did this, my helmet shifted a little, which worsened my viewing angle and eventually led to the fact that I could not accurately calculate the distance. In the end, because of this, I accidentally bumped the table, and several important scrolls rolled to the floor.

«I–I’m sorry!» I exclaimed, hurriedly bending down to pick them up.

At this moment, the Crown Princess also got up from her desk and came closer. When I looked up again, I saw that the villainess was also handing me some scrolls.

«These are important documents,» she frowned, «for the future, you should remember to be careful with such things.

— ...Thank you, Your Highness!

I couldn’t see it because of the helmet, but at that moment, a cold drop of sweat definitely rolled down my face.

I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when I realized that the so-called punishment for my offense would not follow after all. It seems that Kaena de Ronan was not as tough a leader as one might expect.

However, the moment I reached out to take the scrolls, I missed again due to poor visibility and accidentally hit the main villain. More precisely, my hand involuntarily touched her breast.

«.......»

A second froze in the air, and we both froze, realizing what had happened.

My face instantly turned red, and I didn’t even know if it was from embarrassment or fear. Anyway, I recovered pretty quickly and came to my senses the moment I heard the ice-filled voice of the Crown Princess:

«What do you think you’re doing now?»

It seems that it was at this moment that my heart decided to stop its work and stop.

***

Selina de Loon finished her work late in her office.

When the woman finished reviewing the last document left for today, it was well past midnight. Usually, the mistress of the ice castle rarely got tired, and sometimes she continued to work even all night. Nevertheless, perhaps because that’s what she’s been doing for the last few days, but it was today that fatigue affected her especially strongly.

In the end, the Duchess decided to return to her chambers to rest for a while.

However, when the woman came out of her office, she hadn’t even taken a couple of steps when a voice from the darkness suddenly called out to her.

— Your Grace!

She recognized that voice immediately, without even turning her head. Selina de Loon frowned.

«What are you doing here?» the woman asked coldly.

Jeremy Seibel took another tentative step forward to meet her.

«I...» the guy hesitated for a moment, «I’ve been waiting all this time for you to finish your work.

«Why?»

The young man with red hair faltered. Shifting from one foot to the other, it was not so easy for him to find the words.

— me... I wanted to talk to you, — he finally said.

— «Talk?» — the Duchess repeated his words ironically, — And about what?

After a moment’s hesitation, during which he gathered all his willpower in every possible way, the baron’s youngest son readily blurted out:

— Now I know everything! I know what you’ve done for me and Runny... That’s why I wanted to apologize to you.

— .....

— I apologize for misinterpreting your intentions and wrongly accusing you.

Carefully summarizing his speech, Jeremy guiltily lowered his gaze. Nevertheless, the reaction of the Duchess of the north was quite unperturbed.

«Is that all?» she asked.

— Wh-what...? — the guy absently looked up at her.

Selina de Loon continued coldly:

«If you really came just to tell me that, then you can go.»

«.....»

Jeremy Seibel, who was somewhat confused by this, was speechless for a moment and only silently closed his mouth.

However, at the moment when the woman with long silver hair turned around again and was about to leave, the guy finally came to his senses and hurriedly called out to her:

— no... I didn’t come just for that!

— .......

Selina stopped and slowly turned to him. Her blue-violet eyes were focused on him at that moment.

Jeremy, out of breath, hurriedly continued:

— I... I understand how important this marriage is for the reputation of your family! I know that this is considered unacceptable in the north, and there has never been a divorce in the de Loon family before...

While the guy was telling her all this, Selina de Loon continued to remain silent. Then Jeremy, having plucked up the courage, carefully summed up:

— That’s why... I wanted to ask you. Can we try again?

«What are you talking about?» At this moment, the Duchess’ cold voice finally cut through the silence before. The woman asked as if she really did not understand the meaning of this phrase.

— We are... Can we not get divorced? — Jeremy asked cautiously.

«.......»

However, after listening to his impassioned speech, the woman eventually only chuckled coldly.

«If this is your way of paying me back for what I did, then it’s not worth it,» she said.

Having fallen into a stupor, the baron’s youngest son hastened to object:

— No, I...!

«I still remember well what you said to me back then,» she continued, «Didn’t you say that I was a monster who had no heart? Now I’m going to relieve you of that burden. Shouldn’t you be happy about that?

At that moment, remembering his own words, thrown out in a fit of emotion, Jeremy Seibel involuntarily felt embarrassed.

«Your Grace...» he hesitated, «what I said back then is this...

The guy tried to explain himself to her for what had happened, but the Duchess wasn’t even going to listen to him. She cut him off in mid-sentence:

— Those words were definitely spoken from the bottom of my heart. Therefore, I see no point in making excuses for them.

After this caustic remark came out of her mouth, Jeremy involuntarily shuddered and silently clenched his fists.

— .....

«As I said, I don’t need your apologies,» she repeated, «leave before the servants and the others notice you. Otherwise, another misunderstanding may arise, which will be difficult to explain.

In the end, the Duchess of the north didn’t even give Jeremy a chance to explain. Not wanting to stay a second longer in the company of her almost ex-husband, the woman was going to leave him there. While the guy continued to stand silently in the middle of the corridor at a loss, Selina de Loon turned around again, and this time she was not going to stop.

— In the end, all these people around me were right. This marriage... It was doomed to fail from the very beginning.

Saying these words one last time, the mistress of the ice residence smiled coldly. However, apart from the usual indifference, there was also a subtle bitterness in her tone.