Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 101: #-The Past And The Prophecy
"I think His Highness the Emperor would like to talk about Sebastian, who always says he wants you to be his Empress."
Currently, Edmund and Penelope were sitting under a big tree in the backyard of Lysander’s mansion. The big tree that last night witnessed the arguments and fights between the Duke and the Duchess. Edmund made his outer clothes as a cushion for his beloved wife. The two of them leaned against the tree and Penelope let Edmund hold her hand tightly. For now, the woman decided to forget her anger and sadness at Edmund. The reasons are two. First, she felt sorry for Edmund, who had to be thrown by the magic activated by her children, and second, Penelope wanted to know the reason behind Edmund’s meeting with the Emperor later that day.
Penelope took a deep breath and looked up at the clear sky above her. "I didn’t even expect to experience something like this when I entered Penelope Askary’s body. What I wanted when I realized I was already in this strange world was to avoid you so that I wouldn’t have to suffer the pain of a cruel, tragic death."
Edmund clenched his jaw. He looked down. Information about him killing the real Penelope Askary in their first life was already known to Edmund through the soul of Penelope Askary whom he met and also from a mysterious voice that he knew as Goddess Oizys, the Goddess of Sorrow and Suffering. Sometimes, Edmund will also have nightmares about Penelope’s death. His heart ached so much that he had to know this information. That he is the killer of the beautiful woman beside him.
"I... apologize again, Penny."
Penelope closed her eyes and took one more breath. "That’s enough. I talked about that to you not to burden you or to hear you apologize again to me." She opened both eyes and turned her head around. Edmund’s blue eyes greeted her. Seeing Edmund’s expression and the way he was looking at her, Penelope couldn’t help but smile. "Hey, you are known as the cruelest Duke in this empire. You can’t have an expression like that."
"But, I shouldn’t hurt your heart. I know this is hard for you. You, a woman from another world, who knows nothing about this world, suddenly have to spend your life as someone else. And I... I’m not trying to understand you, I’m not trying to listen to your story first, I’m actually raising my voice at you and being a jerk to you. Forgive me."
Penelope laughed and waved her left hand that Edmund was not holding. "It does not matter. I can understand if you feel disgusted by me."
"No!" shouted Edmund at once. He shook his head firmly. Luckily, Edmund didn’t need to be afraid if his and Penelope’s conversation was discovered by other people because Edmund had told Chris to leave him alone with Penelope. "I do not disgust you. I’m just shocked. I didn’t know you weren’t the real Penelope Askary." The man took a deep breath. "Does... your family know about this?"
"They’ll think I’m crazy if I say I’m not the real Penelope Askary," chuckled Penelope. "Come to think of it, I was hysterical and cried in fear when I realized I was no longer in my original world and there were strangers around me."
"Then, what did your family do?"
Penelope shrugged. "They just assumed it was a side effect of the carriage accident I had. They think I’m traumatized and have lost a bit of my memory. Then, I decided to accept my fate. But, of course, I refuse to die a tragic death at the hands of the Crown Prince and Duke Edmund."
Both fell silent. The wind blew hard, making Penelope’s long hair flutter.
"You’re from another world, right?" asked Edmund to make sure. He looked at Penelope while the woman looked straight ahead. "How did you know about what happened to the real Penelope Askary in her first life? Did... Goddess Oizys or Goddess Elleia tell you about it?"
Penelope was silent before she spoke again. "If I tell you, you won’t believe it and think I’ve really lost my mind."
"Try me," Edmund said in a firm tone. "I have heard that you are a soul from another world. Whatever I hear next, I don’t think it will be able to surprise me any longer."
Penelope hesitated. She looked into Edmund’s blue eyes. The man meant what he just said. Despite feeling scared and starting to shake, Penelope felt she had no other choice. Edmund wants this and she will tell him.
"I’m... an orphan in that other world. I have to work every day from sunrise to sunset. Sometimes, I can only eat one meal a day. Sometimes, two days at a time. And, during those two days, I only drank water."
Edmund froze when he heard the story.
"Therefore, when Philleo Aaron didn’t feed me for two days, I was able to survive. But, because I’m currently pregnant, I’m afraid that it will cause a miscarriage." Penelope took a breath. "Then, at that time, there was a novel that caught my attention. I bought it with my salary. I read it and I love it."
"Don’t tell me..."
Penelope chuckled. "Yes. The novel tells about this world. It is a story about Isabella Lysander, the female lead, who is loved by two handsome men in the De Louis empire. Crown Prince Sebastian De Louis and Duke Edmund Gerwyn."
"So... this world is a... fake world...?" muttered Edmund in disbelief.
Penelope shook her head. "I don’t think so. I guess this world is real. I mean, take a look at you. The proof is, you live and breathe. As well as everyone in this world. You do all the things you want to do. And... the storyline in this world isn’t even like the one I read when I was living as Sienna." The woman looked up at the sky and saw birds flying above. "Then, in the novel, Penelope Askary is just a villainess, an extra character, who always bullies and hurts Isabella Lysander. She was killed by you and the Crown Prince because you don’t want to see Penelope hurt Isabella anymore." Penelope looked at Edmund again. "That’s why I didn’t believe it when you were attracted to me and said you loved me."
"But, I really love you!" shouted Edmund, desperate. "It doesn’t matter if you are Sienna or Penelope. What I love is the woman, who is currently in front of me! I can’t be wrong. I love you!"
Penelope smiled. She stretched out her right hand and stroked Edmund’s face. "I know. Because of that, I’m grateful to be able to survive in this world and meet you. But, if after knowing this you no longer love me and want to leave me, then I—"
Edmund immediately kissed Penelope’s lips to stop the woman’s words. Penelope was wide-eyed. However, she let Edmund kiss her lips as he pleased. A kiss is so full of passion and love. Edmund started to play his tongue in Penelope’s mouth and Penelope tried to reciprocate. Then, Edmund broke the kiss and rubbed Penelope’s lips with his thumb. The woman tried to catch her breath. Her face was flushed and her heart was pounding like crazy.
"I have said many times that I love you very much. I will never leave you." Edmund brought his forehead and Penelope’s together. He smiled. "I will always protect you, Penelope. I will stop loving you and leave you when my time to live in this world is up." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
Penelope shed tears. The woman sobbed. Seeing Penelope crying, Edmund chuckled and immediately hugged her.
The misunderstanding between the Duke and Duchess Gerwyn was finally resolved properly.
###
Philleo Aaron looked at the three children, who were playing not far in front of him.
The man was sitting in front of a lake. The black robe he wore made him unrecognizable to everyone. He saw several posters of him in several places in this empire. The poster must have been made by Edmund Gerwyn and Ethan Askary to catch him.
Philleo smiled when he saw how the little girl in front of him was sulking in front of the two boys beside her. The three children reminded Philleo of his childhood when he first met Ethan Askary and became his friend. At that time, Philleo always came to Askary’s mansion to play with Ethan and Penelope.
When she was little, Penelope Askary was a very shy little girl. She never wanted to separate from Ethan. When he and Ethan played, Penelope would follow Ethan wherever Ethan went. Ethan also never felt bothered by it, and neither did he. Philleo also remembered he and Penelope were quite close.
Then, after experiencing an incident, Penelope began to change. She became a rude, arrogant, and cruel woman. Philleo started to hate her because Penelope was always getting her family in trouble. When Philleo decided to join the knights belonging to the Askary family, he and Penelope had never spoken like they had when they were children. Philleo always gave Penelope a hateful look and vowed to protect the Askary family, who were very kind to him, from Penelope.
When Penelope changed again into a kind and gentle woman, Philleo also began to change like her. He began to like Penelope until finally, Philleo began to obsess over Penelope.
"I’d do anything to make you mine, Penelope Askary," Philleo muttered. "You are destined just for me."
’Yes, you are right.’
The sound made Philleo flinch and stand up. He looked around but found no one. The man was starting to get wary. His silver hair fluttered because of the gust of wind.
"Who’s that?!"
’You don’t need to know who I am, Philleo Aaron,’ chuckled the mysterious voice. Philleo clenched his fists at his sides. ’All you need to know is, I’m here to help you to make Penelope Askary yours. The woman is in danger, Philleo. Edmund Gerwyn would torture her and then kill her! She needs your help.’
Philleo froze and gritted his teeth when he heard that.
"I knew that bastard Duke never loved my Penelope! I will definitely kill Edmund Gerwyn! I’m the only man in this world who can give happiness and love to my Penelope!" Edmund hissed.
###
Sebastian De Louis walked with quick steps toward his Father’s study.
The man immediately opened the door in front of him without even knocking first. Sebastian walked to his Father’s desk and stared at Emperor De Louis with his green eyes that were sharp and cold. He didn’t even care if in front of his Father, right beside him, stood the head priest while bowing to him.
"Father, what do you mean by telling Edmund to come to the palace? What do you want to talk to him about?"
"I’ll talk to you too later." Emperor De Louis took a deep breath and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Have you forgotten your manners, Sebastian De Louis? Can’t you knock on the door before entering my study? Didn’t the guard outside say that I was talking to the head priest?"
"I don’t care about that stuff!" Sebastian exclaimed. "Father must want to talk about the throne, right? Are you going to end up giving the Emperor’s position to Edmund, who isn’t blood-related to you?!"
"Lower your voice, Sebastian De Louis!" growled the Emperor. "Do you want me to lock you up in your palace again?"
Sebastian clenched his jaw. He didn’t expect that his Father would also side with Edmund Gerwyn. That bastard had literally taken everything away from him!
"I wish to apologize to Duke Edmund for your unreasonable behavior toward him and the Duchess," the Emperor grumbled. "You always said you wanted to marry the Duchess and make her your Empress. Duke Edmund reported your behavior to me, and so did the Duchess. How could I not take care of this matter? I will compensate him with an apology."
"Father!"
"Also, I would like to talk about the prophecy the head priest received last night to the Duke."
Sebastian frowned.
"Prophecy?"
The Emperor nodded and took a deep breath. He tapped his finger on the table.
"The prophecy regarding Duchess Penelope, who will become a Saintess in the future and will save this empire from destruction."
