Escape from the evil lady (GL)
Chapter 76 - 26. Surprise party

Chapter 76: Chapter 26. Surprise party

The baron’s youngest son quickly got used to his new duties. He came to the library every day to do the amount of work assigned to him, and as time passed, even the comments from the butler became fewer and fewer. Jeremy couldn’t help but rejoice at the fact that his existence brought at least some benefit to this place.

Nevertheless, thoughts of the upcoming event, which he happened to find out about, did not leave him.

The date on which the northern princess was born was approaching every day. Until, in the end, it was supposed to come the day before. Nevertheless, there was still no festive atmosphere in the palace, and that, apparently, would never come.

For Jeremy, totally ignoring an event like his own birthday was strange. After all, isn’t this the most important day in everyone’s life? Not to mention the aristocrats who sought to make this day the celebration of the year, but even the commoners did not ignore such a day. Whether in a guy’s past life or in this one, celebrating a birthday was a matter of course.

However, Selina de Loon, apparently, did not hold the same opinion.

Because of this, Jeremy Seibel felt strange and even a little nervous. Maybe he should just ignore this day, like the rest of the castle’s inhabitants. After all, there must be some good reason why the Duchess chooses not to celebrate her birthday.

But on the other hand, all these people were just servants, and only obeyed orders from above. And Jeremy has recently become this woman’s husband. No matter how you look at it, the difference in this position was too significant. Is it normal for a spouse to ignore his wife’s birthday?

These thoughts tormented the baron’s son all those days that he was busy with his work.

After all, even if Selina doesn’t want to have a lavish banquet about it, at least she can make do with a modest feast, right?

But the question of how to organize something like this without the princess’ knowledge remained open. The mistress of the ice castle almost never left it. So, trying to arrange something in secret from her was simply impossible.

Jeremy heaved a sigh of frustration.

"Does that mean I should just give up?"

After all, the Duchess’s birthday was supposed to be tomorrow.

The guy lay with these thoughts all night, and the next morning his head ached from overflowing thoughts and lack of sleep.

Every week, the baron’s son brought the Duchess a report on the work he had done. Selina looked through it, and, if necessary, made comments to him. In this way, Jeremy gradually delved into the duties of a lord and learned how to fulfill them. Perhaps someday the day will come when Jeremy will be able to truly fulfill his obligations as the Prince of the north.

And today was the day when Jeremy was supposed to bring her his next report.

However, at the moment when Jeremy was about to knock on her office to report on the work he had done over the past week, he suddenly discovered that the northern Duchess was not there. Her desk was also empty.

The guy was a little surprised, as it was the first time he hadn’t found the princess in her usual place.

Fortunately, the butler was passing by in the hallway at the same time. It was with him that Jeremy decided to clarify this issue.

— Sir Phillips, I’m sorry, — the old man stopped after the young lord called out to him, — Do you know where the Duchess is right now? I didn’t find her in the office.

Phillips, the butler, fixed him with his usual disapproving gaze.

— I’m answering my lord. Her Highness left the castle not too long ago on business, — the butler reported after a pause.

— Work matters...?

— Her Highness sometimes makes a detour around the territory to check how things are going in certain regions. She also oversees the work of the local nobles.

— Oh, really... — Jeremy nodded his head in understanding.

The very next moment, he caught himself:

— Do you know how long Her Ladyship will be away?

The butler frowned.

— I don’t think it will take more than half a day, — he replied after a moment.

Jeremy Seibel exhaled. A chance that he couldn’t have expected had suddenly appeared in his hands! Nevertheless, trying not to show the excitement on his face, the guy answered the butler:

— Okay, then I’ll be waiting for the Duchess to return.

After his words, Philipps narrowed his eyes suspiciously, as if suspecting something was amiss. However, since it would be rude to dig into his lord’s words, he had to take his leave.

— Good day, my lord, — he groaned.

After making sure that the old man’s silhouette disappeared around the nearest bend, Jeremy himself quickly set off in the opposite direction.

The idea of organizing a secret party for Selina’s birthday was spinning in his head, which came to him quite suddenly.

Even if the time was catastrophically short to make any large-scale preparations, but at least it was something. This time will be enough to cook simple dishes and decorate the hall at least a little.

Of course, Jeremy decided not to inform the butler about his plans, because he definitely would not support his idea. The pedantic old man strictly followed the rules, and, of course, would not stand aside if anything happened in this castle without Selina’s explicit consent. In other words, he could only ruin everything. So the best solution was to also leave him in the dark.

Returning to his chambers, Jeremy first turned to the servants who had been assigned to serve him.

"I need you to help me with something."

After the northern prince’s words, the staff members who had lined up in a small line looked at each other excitedly. Especially, their anxiety worsened after the guy told them about his intention.

— But my lord... — One of the maids spoke nervously, — How can we do something like this without Her Ladyship’s knowledge?

«.....»

Jeremy sighed. To be honest, even if he hadn’t been told about it, he would have known it was dangerous anyway. To do something arbitrary behind the back of this cold and heartless woman... It sounded like a very real call to suicide. It was no wonder why the servants of this castle, who were usually also indifferent to everything, were so tense.

Nevertheless, Jeremy decided not to deviate from his idea. After all, recently he finally came to a full realization of this. Since he was stuck in this ice cage for the rest of his life, was their relationship destined to remain like this until the very end? Jeremy was afraid of her, and Selina, in turn, ignored him.

Of course, it wasn’t like a marital relationship at all. But rather at the warden and his prisoner. But one day they may even have to raise a child together... Of course, when the baron’s son thought about it, his back turned cold, but on the other hand, who would ask him? It will just be presented to him as a fact. Or rather, one of his duties as Prince of the north is to give these lands an heir.

Therefore, it was even more disadvantageous to continue maintaining the current relationship between them. Of course, Jeremy wasn’t even going to try to make the Duchess fall in love with him. After all, no matter how you look at it, it just seemed impossible. But at least they will be able to maintain a neutral relationship as "business partners." After all, this marriage itself was a deal in the first place.

So... The first step towards this, Jeremy Seibel decided to make the implementation of this small celebration in honor of the birthday of the princess.

— This is my order, — the youth’s voice sounded more firm, — Am I not also the boss here? Are you going to disobey me?

When Jeremy reminded the audience of his position here, the murmur in the line subsided somewhat.

«.....»

The servants looked at each other excitedly. And since there were no more obvious objections, the guy took this silence for agreement. His face lit up with a smile.

— great! Then let’s start preparing for the surprise party.