Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 100: #-Aren’t My Children So Annoying, Honey?

Penelope couldn’t swallow her food.

The breakfast setting in the dining room of the Lysander mansion feels like a grave for Penelope. The delicious food on the table was unable to raise Penelope’s appetite even though she was hungry. She just played with the food that was on the plate, then glanced at Edmund, who was sitting beside her while enjoying his breakfast.

How could this annoying man enjoy his breakfast when he already hurt her feelings? Maybe Edmund’s heart was made of stone or ice so he didn’t care if someone else was hurt by his words or actions.

"Hmm? Why don’t you eat your breakfast, Penny? Is the food here not as good as the food in our mansion?" asked Edmund in a light tone. The man smiled gently at his wife. "If that’s the case, come home with me. I will have the maids make all your favorite dishes."

Penelope rolled her eyes and snorted. "Whose fault do you think it is that I can’t enjoy this delicious food? Don’t insult the food in this mansion just because your status is higher than the owner of this mansion, Duke Edmund."

Edmund was silent. The man’s smile disappeared and Edmund looked down. It was so painful to hear Penelope no longer called him ’Ed’ like she used to. He stopped eating his breakfast and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. Then, Edmund stood up from the chair and stroked Penelope’s head gently. The man lowered his head and gave a gentle and affectionate look to his beloved wife.

"I know you can’t enjoy your food because of my presence. In that case, I’ll wait somewhere else. I want to talk to you before I go to the palace."

Penelope remained silent. However, the woman looked like she was thinking. Then, after clearing her throat, Penelope asked, "What did you go to the palace for?"

Even though it was said in a flat tone, Edmund knew Penelope wanted to know the reason why he had to go to the palace. There was a hint of worry he could hear in Penelope’s voice. Just that small fact alone could make Edmund feel so happy that the man smiled.

Meanwhile, Isabella Lysander, who had only been paying attention and listening to the interactions between the Duke and Duchess Gerwyn in front of her, couldn’t help but swallow hard. If the Duke and Duchess had another argument like last night here, then Isabella didn’t know if she could kick the Duke out of her mansion or not when she knew her Father was in the mansion and would definitely scold her for daring to stand up to and against a noble with a higher status than theirs.

"Sebastian wants to meet me."

Penelope frowned and subconsciously looked up at Edmund. She seemed to forget her anger and sadness because of Edmund’s actions yesterday. "Meet Sebastian? What for? Did he do something to you?"

"No." Edmund chuckled. Ah... how he missed Penelope Askary. He really was an idiot for hurting the heart of this woman he loved so much. "Actually, His Highness the Emperor wishes to see the two of us. I don’t even know why His Highness the Emperor wants to see us."

Penelope paused and tapped on the table in front of her. This is indeed very far from the original storyline. But, what made Emperor De Louis want to meet Edmund and Sebastian? Does this concern her too?

"Isabel, I’m sorry that I couldn’t accompany you to breakfast and I didn’t eat mine either," Penelope said apologetically with a gentle smile. She stood up, and so did Isabella. Then, Penelope hugged Isabella and rubbed her back. "I must speak to Duke Edmund. It’s fine if I leave you alone here, right?"

"Oh, sure." Isabella nodded and chuckled. "I’m used to having breakfast alone. You’re still staying here, right? We can spend time together while you stay here."

Penelope nodded back and waved her hand. Then, she looked firmly at Edmund, who was still smiling, and raised one eyebrow. "Follow me, Duke. We’ll talk somewhere else."

"But, you haven’t even touched your breakfast."

"I will eat later."

"I don’t want anything bad to happen to you and my children."

Penelope snorted. "We are strong people. It doesn’t matter if we don’t have breakfast. Besides, when I was kidnapped, I was starved for two days straight and I’m still living with the baby I’m carrying."

The words silenced Edmund. The Duke lowered his head and clenched his fists. Remembering how Penelope almost died because of Philleo Aaron’s extreme actions made Edmund’s blood boil. He also felt stupid for not being able to find Philleo’s whereabouts until now.

"Come on, let’s talk in the backyard," Penelope said. The woman walked ahead and subconsciously took Edmund by the hand. Seeing how Penelope’s small, white, and delicate hands were holding him made Edmund feel a great warmth inside him.

Reaching the backyard, Penelope let go of Edmund’s hand. It made Edmund feel like he was losing something. He cleared his throat and smiled sweetly at his wife.

"What do you want to talk about, Honey?" asked Edmund. He will continue to try to win Penelope’s heart again. Whatever the method is, Edmund was willing to do it. Then, Edmund’s eyes fell on Penelope’s stomach. A stomach that has started to look big. He remembered how his children’s magic power had prevented him from touching Penelope yesterday. Edmund knew he was guilty but, weren’t his children really annoying even though they weren’t born into the world yet? His children wanted to monopolize Penelope and keep him from receiving Penelope’s love and attention.

Ugh! Annoying and adorable at the same time.

"You guys haven’t even been born yet, my children. You must be laughing happily in your Mother’s womb because you have managed to make me like this," chuckled Edmund. The man shook his head in amusement, making Penelope raise an eyebrow and cross her arms.

"What did you say just now? And why are you laughing like that?" Penelope asked in a confused tone.

Edmund cleared his throat. "Nothing. I just think my children are really annoying."

"What?" Penelope grumbled. She snorted and pointed at Edmund’s face. "If there is the most annoying person in this world, it’s you, Duke Edmund! Don’t you dare call my children annoying!"

Edmund shrugged and raised his hands in the air in surrender. The man chuckled.

"Fine, I’m the annoying one." Edmund took a deep breath. "You forgot about me and ignored me even before my children came into the world. I am pitiful indeed."

"Are you now openly showing your jealousy of your children?" Penelope asked in disbelief. "You, a grown man, are jealous of your own children?"

"Is it wrong?" asked Edmund in an amused tone. "My children dared to monopolize my wife when they were still in my wife’s womb. If they are born later, you will definitely forget me immediately."

"Crazy man," Penelope grumbled. She massaged the bridge of her nose. If it continued like this, Penelope felt she would be taking care of one more child. A child named Edmund Gerwyn. "Never mind, forget it. I know you know the reason behind His Highness the Emperor summoning you to the palace. Does this have anything to do with me?"

"No."

Penelope growled. "Ed! Can you be serious and not hide things from me?"

Edmund grinned and immediately hugged Penelope’s waist. The man pulled Penelope’s body closer to him. The surprise on Penelope’s face was the most attractive thing that Edmund liked the most. The man stroked Penelope’s smooth cheek with his right hand.

Not expecting Edmund to hug her like this, Penelope widened her eyes. The woman tried to escape from Edmund’s arms but her strength was clearly not comparable to Edmund’s. The woman clicked her tongue angrily and glared at Edmund. Since then, all the man has been doing is smiling.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Penelope asked in an annoyed tone.

"Why do you ask like that?"

"You hugged me in someone else’s backyard, Duke Edmund!"

"Call me Ed like before. As always," said Edmund in a gentle tone.

"Let me go," Penelope grumbled. She hit Edmund in the chest. "You bastard, crazy, pervert Duke!"

Edmund laughed instead of being angry. He hugged Penelope tighter, then hid his face in the Duchess’s neck. Most likely able to feel the frustration and irritation of their Mother, the children in Penelope’s womb spring into action. They activated their magic, made the pink light appear on Penelope’s body, and sent Edmund flying. The Duke rolled on the grass, making Penelope flinch and widen her eyes. She immediately ran toward Edmund, coinciding with Chris, who appeared suddenly to help Edmund.

"Ed!" Penelope subconsciously called out Edmund’s nickname. She knelt before Edmund. As Penelope was about to touch Edmund, the woman stopped. She realized that the pink light was still on her body. Then, Penelope lowered her head and her eyes shone firmly. "Children, I told you not to hurt and throw your Father like he was some kind of toy. Your Father is annoying, indeed, but it’s not good to torture your Father like that."

As if understanding Penelope’s words, the pink light disappeared. Hesitating, Penelope tried to touch Edmund and luckily, she was able to do it. Penelope breathed a sigh of relief and helped Edmund to his feet. Edmund chuckled and rubbed Penelope’s stomach.

"Aren’t my children so annoying, Honey? They don’t seem to like me."

Penelope snorted. "It’s because you pissed me off, not because they don’t like you." The woman looked into Edmund’s blue eyes. "Are you okay? You weren’t hurt, were you?"

"Is my Duchess worrying about me?" teased Edmund.

Penelope blinked and smacked Edmund in the chest. "I’m not joking right now, Edmund Gerwyn!"

"Ouch!" Edmund pretended to groan in pain.

"Huh? Does my punch hurt that much?" Penelope asked in a panicked tone. "I’m sorry, Ed. Is your chest okay?"

Edmund rubbed his chest and shrugged. "My body still hurts from being thrown by my own children with their magic power and now my wife is hitting me. It’s okay, I can take the pain." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Penelope, who felt guilty, immediately hugged Edmund without realizing it herself. Edmund cleared his throat and hugged Penelope’s petite body back. The man smiled broadly and closed his eyes. This made Chris, who was still around Edmund and Penelope, swallow hard and grimace.

"Is he the famous Duke Edmund, who is known for being cruelest and bloodthirsty on the battlefield?" muttered the shadow knight in an astonished tone.