Escape from the evil lady (GL)
Chapter 66 - 16. Being Useful

Chapter 66: Chapter 16. Being Useful

"Should I thank her?"

This thought hadn’t left Jeremy’s mind since Camilla and the Crown Princess of the Empire left the ice castle. No matter how you look at it, he was still alive only because his faithful intervened in time to protect him. Otherwise, the young man’s fate would have been very unenviable.

And although Selina de Loon most likely did this only because the baron’s son held the "position" of her nominal spouse, Jeremy could not help but think that he should at least say "thank you" to her. After all, it was just basic politeness.

For several days in a row, the guy just hung around the hallway, trying to compose a speech that he would say to her. But in the end, nothing came to mind. Jeremy’s thrashing came to an end the moment he came face to face with the butler in the same hallway.

The old man frowned at the sight of him.

— My Lord, what are you doing here?

— Ah... me... I came to see Her Ladyship, — the prince awkwardly defended himself.

«...»

The butler, meanwhile, looked at him incredulously. Jeremy had no choice but to finally put his plan into action.

Finally, he plucked up the courage and knocked on the door.

— Your Grace, may I come in...?

The answer came a few moments later.

— Come in.

Jeremy carefully opened the door and stepped inside. Selina was doing her duties as the head of the duchy, and there was a pile of work papers on her desk. It seemed that the woman was too busy to find time to talk to him.

Jeremy groaned inwardly.

"I waited for the right moment for several days, but in the end I still came at the wrong time..."

However, just as Jeremy was about to apologize for bothering her and leave so as not to disturb her, Selina looked up at him.

Jeremy shuddered involuntarily.

— Did you want something? — she asked.

— Ah... I... — the guy stammered awkwardly, — I just wanted to tell you something.

— ...

— Thank you for saving me that day...! — the words that he had been preparing for several days came out of his mouth with unexpected ease.

— There’s nothing special about that, — the Duchess replied indifferently, sorting through the documents on her desk, — As my husband, you also represent the North and the Duchy of de Lune. There’s no way I would let our clan lose face in front of the southerners.

— Oh, really...

Jeremy nodded understandingly.

— Is that all you wanted to say?

When there was an awkward silence for a while, Selina turned back to him.

— me...

— If that’s all, then you can go. I still have work to do.

Jeremy stopped and noticed that her desk was indeed littered with papers, and they all had to be reviewed for today. At that moment, he probably realized for the first time how hard it was to bear the burden of the title of "duchess."

— It looks like you have a lot of work to do.

Noticing where his gaze was directed, Selina frowned.

— You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll take care of everything myself.

Jeremy sighed softly.

Well, such an answer was quite expected. Their marriage was based on such conditions from the very beginning. In a way, Jeremy wasn’t a real member of the de Loon family. You cannot respect a prince who has no right to decide the family’s affairs and does not fulfill his duties.

A half that only serves its purpose when it is attached to the northern princess as an ornament.

In fact, no one considered Jeremy to be the true Duke of Lune, because he had neither responsibilities nor rights. Even he couldn’t consider himself as such.

Whenever Jeremy thought about it, or was reminded of his situation, the guy’s self-esteem steadily fell down. Who would like to be something like a pet or furniture? Although Jeremy used to think that the most important thing for him was to survive, but now for the first time he thought about such things.

No matter how you look at it, his destiny was to spend the rest of his life here. So is he really going to stay in such a humiliating position until his death?

"I also want to be useful..." the thought that flashed through the northern prince’s mind for the first time made him clench his fists.

— Your Grace, I’m sorry... — at that moment, when Jeremy was about to leave, he suddenly turned to the Duchess: — But could you give me some work?

Selina de Loon looked up from her work papers and looked at him. There was surprise in that look. It seemed that this was the first time the guy had seen such a range of emotions on her usually impassive face.

— what?

— I’m ready to do anything! — Jeremy said defiantly, — Even if it’s sorting documents for you or cleaning the office. So... Please let me help you.

«....»

Jeremy held his breath, waiting for her answer.

It took him a moment to notice that this was the first time he hadn’t been afraid to look into her eyes.

***

The carriage of the second princess was returning to the imperial capital, and Selman Hirsch, the deputy princess, did not stop wondering about the necessity of this trip.

"Was it really worth it?"

The knight sighed heavily: for the second day now, he had not closed his eyes because of the work piled up, and the stack of cases did not seem to be decreasing.

His gaze slid to Jericho, who was sitting across from him.

The second princess was sitting over one of the documents and had not looked up for quite a long time. After the disorder caused by the Crown Princess in the Imperial Palace, she was constantly madly busy with an endless stream of cases, as there simply were not enough workers to solve state affairs. Selman tried to help her as much as he could, but it still wasn’t enough.

The deputy princess in the ranks of the Imperial Army suddenly wondered if it was really that important for her to go on this trip, forcing herself to do work right in the carriage?

— Your Highness, you amaze me. Even during such a busy period, you took the time to personally travel to the north.

Jerica de Ronan, who seemed to be completely focused on her work, heard him and chuckled softly.

— Don’t exaggerate. It’s not that bad.

— Oh well? Do you even remember the last time you slept?

At the knight’s question, Jerica shook her head with a smile.

— I can say for sure that it was last week.

Selman sighed again.

Deep down, he couldn’t stop cursing the man who had put them all in this situation. Moreover, it wasn’t anyone else who had to deal with the consequences of all this, but the second princess. As if before that, the girl could boast of a carefree life.

"Well, what’s it called? Why should the younger sister be responsible for the consequences of the elder sister’s actions...?" the knight did not cease to be indignant inwardly.

If he had his way, he would certainly have said it all out loud. But, unfortunately or fortunately, for such a thing, he would have lost not only his position, but also his head too quickly.

As a simple knight, he had no right to criticize any member of the imperial family.

And yet... Is it possible to just turn a blind eye to such an injustice?

— Your Highness... — After a while, Selman turned to her again.

— Yes?

— hm... — the man hesitated, — Are you sure that the girl you have chosen is trustworthy?

No matter how you look at it, this operation was too risky, and Jerica didn’t hesitate to tell that girl about their plan. What if something goes wrong?

The knight couldn’t stop worrying about it.

But to his continued surprise, ever since the duke’s daughter had left their camp after making the deal, the second princess had never once looked doubtful about her decision.

It took only a few seconds for Jerica de Ronan to give her answer.

— yes. I’m sure she won’t let us down.

«...»

After these words, the girl turned away for the first time in a long time and looked out the window. The snow-capped mountains turned green, and they were already approaching the capital. The sky was unusually blue today without a single cloud.

A mysterious smile flashed across the lips of the second princess.