Escape from the evil lady (GL)
Chapter 82 - 32. Bullying

Chapter 82: Chapter 32. Bullying

After the whole situation with the trial of the main villain’s subordinate, I was strangely relieved. After all, one of my most pressing problems has suddenly been resolved. After I publicly stood up for him, I couldn’t help but feel that this man’s attitude towards me had softened.

He definitely didn’t suspect me as much as he used to.

And that was exactly what I needed.

Before that, I couldn’t take any active action, because Jacob Osman was tirelessly watching my every move. In such a situation, my hands were literally tied. As a result, the villainess’s subordinate caused me more trouble than she did.

However, since the situation has now changed, I could finally come out of the «shadow» with my plan.

A few days later, the Crown Princess invited me to her office under the pretext of having tea together during her break. After all, this woman was sometimes so busy that she sometimes had lunch right in her office. And I went there, hiding my secret intentions in advance.

«Camille, have you been okay lately?»

— Oh, yes, — clutching a cup of tea in my hand, I answered a little nervously.

Kaena de Ronan, who was watching me from the side, sighed heavily.

— I’m really sorry. This situation must have caused you a lot of anxiety.

— N-no, it’s fine...

— I will try to prevent anything like this from happening again, — the woman said seriously.

«.....»

Even when I didn’t respond, the Crown Princess continued to stare at me. And I could only wonder what kind of creepy thoughts were going through her head at that time.

«This woman... How can she be so kind?» — this thought worried Kaena and at the same time delighted her. It was the first time in her life that she had met someone as selfless as the Duke’s youngest daughter. Kaena still couldn’t stop wondering about it.

Once upon a time, the girl defended her father and brother, despite their bad attitude towards her. And even now, she showed generosity to a lowly knight who betrayed her and didn’t deserve her kindness. Because of this, Kaena wanted to be by her side all the time to protect the girl from the troubles that could overtake her because of her peaceful nature.

Meanwhile, while they were quietly drinking tea in the princess’s study, there was a knock on the door.

«Your Highness.». The cautious voice of one of the knights came from the other side.

«What is it?» Kaena frowned-she didn’t like being interrupted.

«I...I’m sorry, but could you come here for a minute?»

«What’s the matter? Are you really unable to cope with any problems on your own?»

— T-there is a matter that requires your direct attention...

In the end, the Crown Princess sighed as she still had to get up from her seat.

— Camille, wait here for a bit. I’ll be back soon, — the woman said reluctantly.

— Y-yes, of course, Your Highness...!

As soon as Kaena de Ronan left her office, it was like a countdown had started for me. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I hurried to check all possible places where a secret passage could be hidden. During the tea party, I had already visually examined the situation and noticed several places that seemed to me the most suspicious.

Usually such things can be hidden behind a painting, a tapestry, or a statue. So, of course, I decided to check them out first. There were several rather large paintings in the villainess’s office, and I carefully felt the walls behind each of them. Then I also carefully examined the floor, hoping to find some secret floorboards there.

However, after a short search, my efforts did not bring any results.

Finally, the door to the office opened at the most inopportune moment. The Crown Princess returned and found me twirling the head of the lion statuette, hoping in vain to find some secret button there.

«.....»

The pause that followed at that moment was short-lived.

— Camille? What are you doing? — Kaena de Ronan asked, puzzled.

I had a strange feeling of deja vu, as if this situation had already happened once.

— me...

Although it was silly, I hoped that the excuse that I was just looking around the office would work again.

And, to my surprise, it actually happened.

— ...I just wanted to see where you work. I’m sorry if that was inappropriate. — It was a rambling excuse that came out of my mouth, and needless to say, even in my eyes it was completely ridiculous.

Who the hell would have the good intentions to inspect someone else’s office when its owner isn’t there? The act itself seemed extremely suspicious.

And yet...

Kaena de Ronan didn’t get mad at me. She just sighed heavily.

— yes. You’re right.

«...what?»

— The last situation and your words gave me some thoughts.

«What thoughts?» I swallowed involuntarily.

— If we’re going to get married soon, we shouldn’t have any secrets from each other. Therefore... I have something to show you too.

Kaena de Ronan’s golden eyes flashed unusually brightly at that moment.

«...»

I stifled a sigh, being extremely perplexed. This was the last development I expected. No, I didn’t expect that at all. It wasn’t some kind of trick or trap... was it?!

In the end, the main villain revealed to me the location of the secret passage in her castle.

***

Life at the Edelweiss Residence continued as usual.

Jeremy Seibel himself could not have imagined that at some point he would get used to and adapt to such a new way of life. It seemed that in some ways, life in the ice castle wasn’t as terrible as he had initially imagined.

After the end of the next working day, Jeremy was just collecting the remaining documents before going to a joint dinner with the Duchess. After that day, they really began to spend more time together, and it seemed that the initial tension between them was gradually smoothing out.

This could not but please the baron’s youngest son. After all, it’s much more beneficial to be «allies» with your own spouse than enemies or estranged strangers. So the changes that were taking place now were definitely beneficial to everyone.

Having finished his duties at the archive for the day, Jeremy stretched tiredly, stretching his cramped muscles. He left the library and was about to head to the dining room.

There wasn’t much time left before dinner, and he didn’t want to be late.

However...

At that moment, when Jeremy wasn’t thinking about anything else, he accidentally witnessed an outrageous scene. The guy was walking through the part of the castle where only servants usually went, and suddenly he heard voices. Jeremy stopped in front of the nearest bend and, initially hiding his presence, took a closer look at what was happening.

Considering that there was almost always a chilling silence in the ice castle, the rather loud voices that he suddenly heard surprised him a lot. And it was...

— ...Hey, southern trash, how dare you act like that? Don’t you really understand where you belong?

«.....»

The defiant tone made Jeremy frown.

— I...I didn’t mean to... I’m sorry...

This was followed by another, pitiful voice.

— She didn’t want to! — One of the ice castle’s maids scoffed sternly, — Do you think this is an excuse that you almost incurred Her Ladyship’s wrath because of your oversight? Do you know how much the Duchess values order in this castle? And yet you ruined the precious parquet floor with this mud!

— me... I’ll clean it up.

— Will you take it away? — The maid snorted and crossed her arms over her chest, — Do you think this is an ordinary floor that can be cleaned so easily? Do you even know which gemstone was used as the material? Even a single scratch is enough to damage it!

— ...

The maid sighed and looked back at her colleagues, who surrounded the unfortunate woman like a pack of hyenas.

— Ladies. Do we really have to explain to this Southern woman how to behave?

It seemed like a real workplace harassment was unfolding right now in front of Jeremy’s eyes. Since the guy himself had been harassed by his older brothers all his life, he understood the situation like no one else. And that’s why various emotions began to rise in him involuntarily.

Unable to stand this sight, Jeremy could not stay away for long and be a simple bystander. In an instant, he left his «hiding place» and resolutely stepped forward.

— What’s going on here? — the young man asked.

The maids, who had been acting very boldly up to this point, turned pale almost instantly.

— M-my lord...

— I’m asking, what were you doing here? — Jeremy repeated his question emphatically.

— We are... Well, this... — The maid who had been boldly scolding the offending girl said hesitantly, — This maid is new, and we just wanted to teach her the rules of behavior in this castle...

— «The rules?» What other rules? What exactly did she do wrong? — The young man continued to ask.

The maids looked at each other uncertainly.

— This maid spilled tea meant for the Duchess right on the floor...

— Tea? — Jeremy asked, — Are you saying that you’re making all this fuss just because of this?

The maid blinked excitedly.

— My Lord, you should know, but the parquet used in the construction of this castle is very valuable... Even a small injury can cause permanent damage...

— Ah. Really? So you’re saying that the tea accidentally spilled by that maid caused irreparable damage to this castle? — The Prince of the North repeated her words ironically.

«.....»

The impudent maid opened and immediately closed her mouth, unable to find words.

— Among other things, I just heard something else, — Jeremy continued, his eyes flashing unkindly, — and I think that’s the real reason you’re causing her trouble right now.

— M-my lord, what are you talking about...?

— Didn’t you just say that yourself? Trash from the south.

— ...

— Can I regard this as disrespectful to the residents of the southern region?

— This is...!

Jeremy Seibel frowned.

— By the way, I was born and raised in the south. Does this mean that these words can apply to me as well?

This careless remark of the young man was enough to make the maids terribly scared and turn pale.

— My Lord, we beg your pardon...! That’s not what we meant at all!

The maids immediately fell to their knees, begging for forgiveness.

But the baron’s youngest son just sighed heavily at that moment, looking at them. In any case, he couldn’t know for sure if these apologies were sincere or not. Moreover, he doubted it very much himself. Just now, those servants were talking about it so complacently. Could their opinion have changed so quickly just because Jeremy had intimidated them just a little?

Therefore, he saw no point in continuing this «farce.»

— If you understand everything, then you can go, — he finally ordered.

— Yes, my lord!

The maids left the scene without hesitation. Jeremy, in turn, turned to the remaining maid. The girl, who still looked very pale, sighed. Her brown hair was disheveled, and her freckled face was trembling excitedly.

— Thank you, my Lord...! — she could only say.

— It’s okay, — Jeremy held out his hand to help her up, — Are you really new to this castle?

— Yes, my lord. I got a job about a month ago.

— What’s your name? — The guy asked in a softer tone.

— I... my name is Runny, — she replied hesitantly.

— Runny, — Jeremy repeated her name, and then continued, — Does this happen often?

— Wh-what...?

— How often do the other servants annoy you?

«.....»

The maidservant did not answer this question and only lowered her head in silence. Jeremy sighed, watching her. For some reason, this intimidated maid from the south reminded him of himself, and it was probably for this reason that the baron’s son could not remain indifferent.

At least, since the problem was solved now, there was no point in continuing to linger here.

Runnie bowed low to him once more, then picked up her things from the floor and hurried away.

Still, Jeremy’s heart was still uneasy. It was as if he was afraid that after he left, those maids might continue to harass her. Therefore...

The prince of the north watched her actions in silence for a while, and then, when the maid had already turned around and was about to leave, he couldn’t stand it and called out to her:

— Wait a minute. Where is your room? I’ll walk you out.