บท 32: Chapter 31. The Ice Cage
The selection of suitors for the Duchess of the North turned out to be the most unpredictable outcome of all.
Among the many young nobles, some of whom were the sons of respected officials and scientists, the princess's choice fell on a completely unexpected candidate.
Jeremy Seibel, the seventh son and also the youngest heir of the baron's family. Recognized as a "loser", he was refused engagement offers from noble families as many as seventeen times. Not a single noble family from more or less wealthy circles wanted to marry their daughters to him.
By nature, Jeremy was the true personification of the word "trash." A completely ordinary, mediocre appearance. A fool who couldn't even get the minimum score threshold for admission to the academy. On top of that, he's also a beggar...
His own family despised him, and his peers openly mocked him. Only a desperate woman with nothing to lose would agree to marry him. Well, or crazy. When Jeremy was sent to the selection of the ice witch, no one expected that he would return alive.
Even the hapless Count Zilo, who was not much wealthier than Baron Seibel, was stingy to enter into an engagement with him. What can we say about someone powerful like the Princess of the north? But unexpectedly...
— I choose him.
These words from the mouth of the ice witch sealed his fate.
While Jeremy froze, unable to comprehend what had just happened, the servants had already grabbed him by the arms. The guy could only open and close his mouth like a fish stranded on dry land.
"Congratulations, my lord, you are now Her Highness's appointed consort!"
— Ah... me...
The baron's son muttered absently, thinking that he was just dreaming.
"Thank Her Highness for Her favor."
— Wh-what?
Jeremy stuttered when he realized he wasn't really sleeping. The servants forced him to kneel as a sign of respect for the ice witch. The girl on the throne, in turn, did not utter a word.
Like an ice statue, she did not move, and her expression remained the same impenetrable.
When the baron's son touched his forehead to the cold floor, he finally realized everything. One part of the servants stayed with him, and the other went to inform the audience that the selection was officially completed. Along with the sighs of relief from the crowd of nobles, there were also surprised whispers.
The last person to enter the palace was an inconspicuous red-haired guy, whose name many did not even know. No one could believe that he had actually been chosen as the princess's consort.
However... What difference does it make who ends up being the calf destined for slaughter?
No one really thought about it.
"No! Wait! I want to go with you!"
When the line of nobles in front of the main entrance began to disperse before his eyes, Jeremy wanted nothing more than to follow them. He stretched out his hand helplessly, but the tall ice doors closed in front of him like a cage.
Trembling from head to toe, Rufus, a random hit man, turned around.
He was left alone with the ice witch.
***
After Jeremy was "appointed" as the groom of the Princess of the North, some time passed. Throughout this period, Jeremy was kept at the Edelweiss residence and was not even given the opportunity to see his family.
It looks like this ice palace has become his lifelong prison.
The guy couldn't believe that he really found himself in a similar situation. Apparently, reincarnation in the body of a loser in another world was not enough. Fate decided to "finish him off" by giving him a monstrous bride.
And that was exactly what the Duchess of the North, Selina de Lune, looked like in his eyes.
This frightening woman didn't seem to have any emotions. He couldn't understand why she chose him as her husband. Jeremy had neither money nor position. Any young man from a more or less noble family would be a much better candidate than him.
Jeremy might even have assumed that the Duchess fell in love with him at first sight.
But...
This theory did not coincide with reality. After that day in the throne room, the girl never visited him. Even then, she looked indifferent, and there was not a drop of interest in her eyes. It didn't seem like the behavior of a person who feels at least some sympathy.
Therefore, Jeremy really couldn't understand the reasons for her absurd decision.
Although it wasn't much better than just dying, deep down Jeremy wasn't happy about it at all. In exchange for his death, he received a life sentence in the clutches of this woman. His carefree bachelor existence was over forever.
Although the conditions of detention here could not be called so terrible.
The apartment Jeremy was put in was twice as spacious as his previous ones. Good food and service, where for the first time the servants didn't look at him as trash. His father and brothers couldn't bully him anymore. It seemed that the miserable position of the insignificant heir was forever left behind.
But... Despite this, the guy suddenly realized that he felt much calmer then. At least then he knew what was waiting for him.
Now his life was more like a solid minefield.
The horrific scenes that the baron's son witnessed on his first day here seemed to haunt him every night. Jeremy knew that one wrong step and he could follow those unfortunate people. After all, only the ice witch had absolute power here. And he is... Still no one.
The atmosphere in the Edelweiss residence was gloomy and oppressive. Unlike the ordinary houses of the aristocrats, there was not even the chatter of servants to distract from what was happening. Everyone was silent and went about their business exclusively.
Despite the fact that the servants here did not humiliate him, Jeremy realized that he was more afraid of them than of the workers in his own house. After all, at least they were human... And these, like their mistress, rather resembled ice statues.
As a result, the baron's son found himself in a rather difficult position.
The engagement had already been concluded without his consent. And the wedding ceremony itself will take place in a month.
Jeremy clutched his head, trying to figure out if it was even possible for him to get out of this situation.
The servants looked after him around the clock. While he was sleeping, guards were also on duty at his door. Even incoming correspondence was carefully checked before it got into his hands.
In a way, Jeremy really felt like a prisoner here. He didn't have any personal freedom.
For the first week, he was completely afraid to leave his room. Everything here was strange and unfamiliar. And then, losing patience, I finally plucked up the courage and went out for my first walk.
For several hours, Jeremy wandered aimlessly around the ice castle, of course, not harboring false hopes of escape. It is not for nothing that they say that the first thing to do when you are captured is to explore the lair of your "enemy". During his wanderings, Jeremy accidentally stumbled upon the local library.
He himself did not know what guided him when he decided to visit this particular place. After all, Jeremy has never been much of a reader.
And yet his feet had led him into the icy citadel of knowledge.
Considering that he had not visited many libraries in his life, this was definitely the largest of them. After wandering past the bookshelves for a while and even going up to the second floor, the baron's son thought about going back to his room.
But...
Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine. Startled, Jeremy Seibel slowly turned around.
The Northern Duchess was standing by one of the bookshelves, and she noticed his presence almost immediately.
It was the first time they had met face to face since the day Selina had chosen him as her fiance.
At that moment, Jeremy barely restrained himself from screaming. How did he manage to run into this particular woman right here and now?!
It seems that he is really "lucky" in this life.
However, the ice witch did not deign to pay special attention to his presence. Soon, her blue eyes shifted back to the book she was holding in her hands.
Nevertheless, out of politeness, the guy couldn't just keep silent and leave. After all, she had already noticed him anyway.
— Good afternoon, Your Highness...!
Jeremy stumbled, barely able to utter this greeting. In fact, this was their first face-to-face conversation.
It was her that Jeremy was most afraid of in this ice castle. After all, this woman was the continent's strongest sorceress. Who knows what she might want to do to him at any moment?
However, given her indifference, the baron's son did not expect any reaction from her. Jeremy hoped to hurriedly greet her and escape.
But...
— It's evening, not day.
— Eh? It's true...
Her sudden short remark threw Jeremy into a stupor.
— Yes, it seems that I was mistaken...
Walking around the residence, the baron's son did not notice that several hours had passed. However, it didn't really matter.
Deciding that this was the end of it, Jeremy was eager to get out of here as soon as possible.
— Your Highness, I'm sorry to bother you. I'm going to leave right now...!
— Wait a minute.
As Jeremy was about to slip away, he heard a cold voice behind him. Selina de Loon looked at him with a cold and extremely serious face.
— what? Did you want something...?
In an instant, his heart sank into his heels.
— Come here.
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