Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 10: #-Do Not Get Hurt In Front Of Me, Ever Again!!
Sarah felt that it was time for Penelope to know about the arrival of Duke Edmund Gerwyn, who was known to be cold and heartless.
The woman cleared her throat, then walked past Edmund. Before actually passing him, Sarah bowed and at the same time told Edmund as a cue that she was asking permission to pass through. Then, Sarah smiled when she was near Penelope. Her obvious presence made Penelope smile gently, while Philleo just nodded.
"My Lady, you have a guest," Sarah announced. "Duke Edmund has come and wants to see My Lady."
Hearing that, Penelope couldn’t control her body gestures. She froze, but immediately normalized her posture again. Penelope couldn’t stay afraid of Edmund. Maybe she was intent and determined to create distance, even stay away from Edmund. But, because the other day Edmund had asked her not to be afraid of him anymore and to trust him, and because Penelope had also promised to try to do so, she had no other choice but to keep that promise. Besides, it was too late if Penelope wanted to pretend to be sick just to avoid Edmund because Sarah signaled through her eyes that Duke Edmund was not far from their place.
"My Lady, do you want me to ask Duke Edmund to leave? If My Lady feels uncomfortable meeting him, I can do that for you." Philleo immediately spoke, when he saw the look on his mistress’s face. However, Penelope shook her head and smiled reassuringly.
"It’s all right, Sir Philleo. I will be fine. Duke Edmund will not hurt me. At least, not in my own house."
Philleo frowned when he heard Penelope’s words just now. "What is the meaning of My Lady’s words just now?" he asked in a firm and sharp tone. "Did Duke Edmund threaten to harm My Lady? Or, has he ever hurt My Lady before? Shall I chop off his head for you, My Lady?"
Penelope blinked and the next second, she was laughing. Seeing that beautiful laugh, Philleo cleared his throat and had no choice but to turn his head to cover his face which was most likely already turning red. His heart was beating fast again. Pounding so fast and hard, until it suffocates him. One thing Philleo wants. He didn’t want Penelope to hear his embarrassing heartbeat.
"I never doubted Sir Philleo’s ability at all. However, I can’t guarantee that Sir Philleo will be able to hurt Duke Edmund. Even to touch him, I think it would be difficult for you." Penelope patted Philleo’s shoulder a few times. "Besides, I don’t want you to get hurt trying to protect me, Sir."
If this was the old Penelope, she definitely wouldn’t care if Philleo was injured or even died. And this change made Philleo feel a sudden warmth overwhelm him. He swore he would do anything, as long as Penelope was okay.
"Let me accompany you to meet Duke Edmund, My Lady," said Philleo, but Penelope shook her head.
"No need. I will meet him myself. Just stay here, Sir. Or, you can go back to your other duties. Perhaps, you can train at the training ground with your other comrades as well." Penelope looked at Sarah. "Sarah, take me to where Duke Edmund is. Then, please make tea and bring sweets too for him."
Sarah smiled and bowed. "Yes, My Lady."
For some reason, Philleo didn’t want to let Penelope be alone with the man who had made her tremble with fear and even cry at that time. But, Philleo realized he couldn’t go against Penelope’s orders. Philleo could only sigh heavily and clenched his fists. His head was down.
"I don’t have any power to even protect such a fragile woman," he muttered.
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Penelope Askary was thinking, how did she end up in a beautiful garden, which had a large lake beside it?
At first, Duke Edmund wanted to talk to Penelope about the search for a mysterious person that she was talking about the other day. However, when Penelope showed up to meet him, he instead asked her to come along somewhere. He said he had asked permission from Duke Askary, Penelope’s father, and he allowed it. If Ethan was in the mansion, her older brother would refuse and strictly forbid Duke Edmund to take her. Unfortunately, Penelope could not do anything about it. What’s more, right now, instead of talking like Duke Edmund wanted, they were just sitting on a white bench. Staring at the flower bed in front of them without uttering a word.
Don’t ask how nervous Penelope is right now. It felt like her heart was about to explode because she had to be alone with a man who had the potential to kill her in the future. Philleo and Sarah, as well as Duke Edmund’s two loyal guards, were quite a distance behind them. Of course, it was Edmund who gave orders to them not to interrupt his conversation with Penelope.
"Penelope," called Edmund at last. The man turned his head, staring firmly at Penelope’s golden eyes that were able to bewitch him. Penelope immediately flinched and froze. Then, the woman slowly looked at him. The glint of fear was still visible in her golden eyes, making Edmund somehow feel frustrated. "What relationship do you have with that knight of yours?"
The question, which was far from the topic Edmund was going to talk about, made Penelope blink involuntarily. The woman did not know that her actions just now looked very cute in Edmund’s eyes so Edmund unconsciously smiled.
"Yes?" That was the only response that Penelope could give, she was so shocked at Edmund’s question.
"Your relationship with Sir Philleo Aaron," repeated Edmund and slightly changed his sentence. "You guys look... quite close. Can I assume that you two have a relationship that goes beyond that of a knight and the noble lady he serves?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Penelope widened her eyes and shook her head hastily, waving her hand. The attitude she subconsciously showed in front of Edmund. The attitude that Penelope used to always have if she wanted to argue with something, in her first life. A demeanor that, once again, looks cute and innocent at the same time in Edmund Gerwyn’s blue eyes.
"No, no. You have misunderstood, Duke."
Edmund took a deep breath. "Penelope, you can speak casually to me."
"What? How can I do that?"
"But, I’ve called you by name only, right? So, just call me by name too, like I told you before. Just call me Ed and talk to me casually. We’re about to start a friendship, right?"
Penelope’s brow furrowed. When did the agreement that they would start being friends happen? However, since this was an order from Edmund, Penelope had to do it whether she liked it or not. If not, who could have guessed that Edmund would kill her this very second because he was so unhappy about her refusal?
"A—All right," Penelope said and moistened her lower lip. The woman looked down, then played with the hem of her dress. "Ed, I have nothing to do with sir Philleo. I am close to him because he is my knight as well as a close friend of my brother, Ethan. Only that."
"Is it because you still like Sebastian?"
Due to his friendship with the crown prince since childhood, Edmund could call the man by his name alone. And, everyone in the De Louis empire also knows that Penelope Askary is crazy about the crown prince, even obsessed with him, to the point of hurting Isabella Lysander at every opportunity.
"What?!" Penelope exclaimed. Angry and does not accept because Edmund told her that she still has feelings for Sebastian. How could she like the man who would kill her in the future? Maybe the real Penelope once liked Sebastian, but she never liked that man even when she was still alive in her first life. Her golden eyes glared at Edmund, causing the man to raise an eyebrow. Penelope’s attitude looked very brave as if the woman had forgotten that the last few days, Penelope always trembled when faced with him. "No, no! I don’t have feelings anymore for that crazy man—I mean, crown prince Sebastian. I used to like him, but not anymore. Ed, please don’t spread unreasonable rumors."
"Hmm." Edmund suppressed his smile again and shrugged. "Okay, if that’s what you say. So now, regarding my search for the mysterious person who has threatened you..." Edmund’s words stopped when he heard approaching footsteps. The man turned and Edgar, one of his loyal knights, bowed and greeted Penelope.
"Greetings to Princess Penelope Askary. May Elleia’s light be with you." Edgar then looked at Edmund, when he got a nod and a faint smile from Penelope. "Forgive my impudence, Duke. However, there is something I must tell you."
Edmund clicked his tongue and stood up from the bench. He then looked at Penelope who looked relieved, even if it was only for a moment.
"Penelope, I’ll be going for a second. You, wait here and don’t go anywhere. I will have your maid come and accompany you."
Penelope just nodded and watched Edmund leave with relief. While waiting, the woman swept her eyes to enjoy the beauty of this park and lake. Then, her eyes stopped on the lake that looked quite deep. For some reason, Penelope suddenly has a bad feeling. Her heart was beating so fast, it suffocated her. Cold sweat started to appear on her pretty face.
Penelope, doesn’t that lake look beautiful? Go and jump into the lake. Feel the beauty of it with your own body. Come on, Penelope. Jump.
The voice rang in Penelope’s ears. Then, her body moved on its own. She stood up and started walking. No matter how hard Penelope tried to stop, her legs wouldn’t listen to her commands.
Dammit! What is this all about?! Why is my body moving on its own? Whose voice did I just hear? Why did it tell me to jump into the lake?! Penelope screamed in her heart and her golden eyes glanced at Edmund who was talking to Sarah and Philleo. Anyone, help me!
Now, Penelope was at the edge of the lake. The woman swallowed hard and tried not to do anything crazy, as the mysterious voice she had heard in her head had ordered her to do. But, her efforts ended in vain. Penelope could only close her eyes when her body suddenly jumped into the lake.
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The sound of the water made Edmund’s body freeze.
He had just spoken to Sarah and given an order to Penelope’s maid to accompany Penelope while he spoke briefly with Edgar. Edmund didn’t want Philleo to accompany Penelope. For some reason, the fact that Penelope will be alone with Philleo makes him very annoyed. Then, a sound like something falling into the water was heard, making Edmund turn his head and widen his eyes when he realized that Penelope was not on the bench they had been sitting on.
"Kyaa! My Lady!"
Sarah’s screams made Edmund realize that it was Penelope who fell into the lake. Automatically, the man threw his sword that was wrapped around his waist into the grass, then ran toward the lake. He threw away his sword so as not to let him get into trouble while helping Penelope in the water. Without wasting time, Edmund jumped into the lake, where he could see Penelope struggling to raise herself to the surface and ready to drown. Edmund swam at high speed, caught Penelope’s body, then carried her to the edge of the lake. He lifted Penelope’s tiny body out of the lake, which was now coughing from too much water in her lungs. The woman’s face was pale and her lips were blue due to the very cold lake water. Her body was even shaking violently.
"Penelope! Are you okay?!" shouted Edmund. He cupped Penelope’s pale face and gasped as he felt her icy skin. "Good grief! You freeze! What were you thinking, that you dared to jump into the lake?!"
Edmund’s snap made Penelope stare at him. Edmund’s blue eyes trembled, looking worried and panicked.
"For God’s sake, Penelope! Don’t ever get hurt in front of me like this again! Even if I’m not around, I forbid you to get hurt!" ordered Edmund in a firm and sharp tone. Then, he picked up Penelope and carried her to the carriage.
Penelope was silent.
She was thinking about Edmund’s strange attitude which was very much different from Edmund’s in the original novel.
