Chapter 145: Chapter 6. Personal Assistant

There was a tense atmosphere inside the spacious tent, decorated with battle banners and maps with marked routes spread out on the table.

The Crown Princess, dressed in a military uniform, sat in the center at a round table surrounded by soldiers who were eagerly awaiting her instructions. Whispers could be heard around as the knights discussed the upcoming battle, and their voices mingled with the crackling of wood in the corner where a small fire was burning.

— Your Highness, — one of the Dark Host army commanders spoke up, raising his voice to attract attention. — Intelligence reports that suspicious movement has been noticed in the enemy’s camp. We need to strengthen our positions and prepare our defense. We can’t even give the enemy a chance to doubt our victory!

— Is that all the intelligence reports? — the princess asked.

The knight hesitated and replied:

— The Ruberon Empire’s camp is under heavy protection, and even our scouts are having a hard time keeping an eye on them. But it seems they are serious and definitely not going to give up voluntarily.

— hm...

Kaena de Ronan considered her subordinate’s report on the current situation on the battlefield for a while.

— Do you have any other suggestions? — the woman finally asked.

At this moment, the previously lively discussion in the military tent had somewhat subsided. The soldiers exchanged glances in silence. Then one of the knights, a tall man with white temples, leaned forward.

— Your Highness, if we’re going to attack their camp, we need to know their weaknesses. I suggest sending another group to investigate to get more information...

Kaena slightly raised her hand forward, making it clear that she had taken his suggestion into consideration.

— OK. Anything else?

The assembled soldiers continued to discuss the details of the strategy, glancing at the maps where the key points were marked. In the end, a burly man with a scar on his cheek also raised his hand.

— Your Highness, we need more people on the walls. If the enemy decides to attack from the flanks, we may be in a vulnerable position.

The Crown Princess also nodded, pondering his words. The woman was aware that in the current situation on the battlefield, every moment is important, and every detail can play a crucial role in the battle.

«I understand all of you,» Kaena announced, «I will consider all your suggestions and make a verdict on each of them soon.

Meanwhile, discussing military strategy wasn’t the only topic Kaena was going to bring up at the meeting with her commanders today. There was also another important topic on the agenda.

The Crown Princess understood more than ever that during this stressful time she needed an assistant who could support her in organizing her affairs and making decisions when the woman herself was not in the camp. Normally, this was Jacob Osman’s direct responsibility, but he was thousands of miles away right now. Based on this, the princess made this decision.

«I need a personal assistant,» she said, looking around the room. «Someone who can help me prepare for battle and coordinate my actions in the camp. Who is ready to take on this responsibility?

Despite the fact that a large number of people responded at that moment, the princess was in no hurry to make a decision.

At some point, her gaze fell on one of the new soldiers, who was standing a little to the side. Compared to the others, he looked much more confused among the experienced warriors. And, for some reason, it was this man who eventually caught Kaena’s attention among others.

— You, — the princess suddenly turned to him, and all eyes in the tent turned to the recruit. — What’s your name?

At that moment, the inexperienced knight flinched in surprise, but tried not to show it.

— ...Cedric, Your Highness,» he replied with a slight tilt of his head.

— «Cedric», — the princess repeated, thinking about his name. — It seems that you have recently joined our army, but what are your skills?

The soldier, slightly embarrassed, replied in a trembling voice:

«I... I’m willing to do whatever it takes to protect the empire and Your Highness.»

«Really?»

— T-that’s right, Your Highness...

— Great, — Kaena nodded satisfactorily, — In that case, you will take the position of my temporary personal assistant.

«...»

The young knight, who was truly amazed by this decision, was unable to respond and only continued to remain silent like a fish. Nevertheless, the princess herself was not at all embarrassed by such a reaction, and she accepted this silence as a sign of agreement.

«You seem to agree with everything,» she remarked, «then let’s start by helping me organize the supplies. This will be your first assignment.

— ....

At that moment, it was impossible to track the reaction of the soldier, whose face was hidden behind a dark helmet. But in any case, she was clearly different from the supposed expectations of the Crown Princess.

***

The atmosphere in the northern Duchess’ office was cold as usual.

— How are things going with the divorce process? — Selina de Loon asked coldly, sitting at her desk over her work documents.

Butler Phillips hesitated and hurried to announce:

— Your Grace, I have already prepared all the necessary documents, but as you know, this procedure is not too fast...

«What do you mean by that?»

— In order for you to formalize the divorce, in addition to resolving legal issues, we will also need to get approval from the central temple. At least all of this will be ready in at least a month.

The old man carefully finished his last words, fearing a possible reaction from the Duchess.

Even though Selina de Loon intended to file for this divorce as soon as possible, she still needed to wait some time. However, there was nothing to be done about the laws of the northern region, which were somewhat different from those of the south. Compared to the south, divorces in the north have always been extremely rare, especially in such noble families. For this reason, they still had to settle a lot of legal subtleties and related issues.

However, after listening to the butler’s explanation, Selina only nodded slightly.

— A month? Good. I got it.

«.....»

Such an indifferent reaction, contrary to his expectations, somewhat confused the butler. After hesitating, he even plucked up the courage to speak again:

— Your Grace...

But at that moment, Selina raised her hand and interrupted him.

«If that’s all you wanted to report to me, then you can go,» she announced coldly, «I still have a lot of work to do today.»

Since there was nothing to be done about the princess’s order anyway, the butler could only bow his head obediently.

«Yes, Your Grace...»

In the end, the butler left the Duchess’s office and sighed heavily. Although the woman herself tried her best not to show it, but still her condition was definitely different since her last return to the castle. The Duchess of the north seemed to have become even colder than before.

And the reason for this, undoubtedly, could be only one thing.

«This kid... It’s all his fault!»

Once again, mentally cursing the baron’s youngest son for what it was worth, the old man took a deep breath, trying to regain his former calm. He intended to return to work and continue his other duties at the castle.

However, just as Butler Phillips was about to leave, one of the servants suddenly caught up and called out to him.

— Mr. Phillips!

«What’s the matter?» the old man asked gloomily, when he involuntarily had to stop.

The servant hurried to report:

— A man requests an audience with you.

— what? — he frowned, — Why on earth would I meet with him in person? If it’s something important, this person should first make an appointment and wait their turn...

«But this man said it was something urgent.»

«I just told you.».

«And he asked me to show you this,» at that moment, the servant suddenly stretched out his palm and showed him a painfully familiar small sparkling object, «This man said that you will understand everything when you see this thing.

In the end, after looking at this ring, Butler Phillips rubbed his forehead and sighed. Of course, he immediately guessed the identity of this uninvited visitor. And even if he didn’t want to meet him at all, but after hesitating, he still decided to give in.

«Okay, I’ll meet him,» the old man said unhappily, «Take him to my office.»

«Yes, sir!»

A little later, the old man met his young lord inside his office, whom he thought he would never see again. Standing in front of him, the young man pulled the hood off his head, revealing the top of his red hair.

«My Lord, to what can I owe your visit?» Phillips asked.

Jeremy Seibel took a step forward and said decisively:

«Sir Phillips, I already know everything, so just tell me the truth.»

«What are you talking about?»

«I...» he hesitated for a moment, «I met Runnie by chance, and she told me everything. Actually, you didn’t let me go of your own free will back then, right? It was an order from the Duchess.

Butler Phillips frowned.

— Even if you know about it now, so what? Why did you come back here?

«Because I want to know the truth!»

«The truth?»

«Why not?». Jeremy clenched his fists, «Why would the Duchess do that? I need to know the truth.

The old servant chuckled.

«In that case, why did you come to me and not to Her Ladyship?» Obviously, he asked.

— I... — at this moment, the guy involuntarily hesitated, because, in fact, he couldn’t even answer this question clearly to himself.

Noticing the young man’s hesitation, the butler chuckled coldly.

— You are well aware of your guilt yourself, right?

— ....

— Well, that’s good. If you really insist and have come here solely for this, then it is not difficult for me to tell you. Moreover, all this will soon cease to have any significance anyway.

After that, Butler Phillips actually told the young man everything he knew himself.

As for why Selina de Loon acted the way she did... Here everything rested on the primordial traditions of the northern region.

The people of the north simply would not have accepted such a decision by the duchess if she had decided to simply let her treacherous husband and his mistress go after such an outburst. After all, adultery would cast a shadow not only on the reputation of the family, but also would discredit the traditions of the northern people. Thus, in order to protect the honor of the de Lune family and at the same time protect Jeremy and the maid from universal censure, Selina had no choice but to go to such a trick and deceive everyone.

After Jeremy Seibel heard all this, he was so shocked that for a while he couldn’t even find the power of speech. Meanwhile, Butler Phillips, after giving him a piercing look, said:

— My Lord... No, rather, former milord, I want to give you some advice for the future. If you have any conscience left, then be so kind as to disappear from Her Ladyship’s life after this divorce. Stop ruining my mistress’s life with your presence in it.

«........»

After uttering such harsh words, the butler left the office, leaving Jeremy there alone. Meanwhile, looking after the old man, the red-haired youth involuntarily clenched his fists.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read