Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 104: #-This Parting Is Only Temporary, Penelope!
"You can’t refuse an Emperor’s wish like this!"
Sebastian De Louis shouted and banged on the table in front of him. He stood up and pointed at Edmund Gerwyn’s face. Because of Sebastian’s scream, Penelope jumped in surprise. The woman pressed her body even more into Edmund’s arms which she hugged. Penelope got hiccups, making her immediately cover her mouth with both hands.
Meanwhile, Edmund Gerwyn just kept silent and responded to Sebastian as if he were an insect. His facial expression was flat and cold, as well as the look in his eyes. On the other hand, Emperor De Louis closed his eyes, sighed, and massaged his temples. His head suddenly hurt because of the fight between Sebastian and Edmund. So did the head priest. The man gulped and paled in his place. He doesn’t know how to react.
"I have the right to forbid my wife to stay in the palace , Your Highness the Crown Prince," said Edmund in a cold tone. "Besides, why would I allow my wife to live in this palace if I can protect her so well? My knights are great. Their abilities are above average. Even without them, I can protect my Duchess. So, why did Penelope Askary have to stay in the palace?"
Sebastian clenched his jaw. The veins began to appear on the Crown Prince’s jaw and neck. How dare Edmund Gerwyn belittle the imperial palace and members of the imperial family?!
"With all due respect, Your Highness the Emperor," said Edmund in a firm tone. "But, I will never allow Duchess Gerwyn to stay in the palace even if it is your wish and for the Duchess’ sake. I hope you can understand."
"If that’s what you want, I—"
"No!" Sebastian shook his head firmly. He interrupted his Father’s words. His green eyes were sharp and frightening. In her place, Penelope swallowed hard and started sweating. Her heart was beating really fast. This man in front of her was blatantly displaying his obsession with her. Even the Emperor looked surprised by his behavior. "Penelope Askary must live in the palace according to the orders and wishes of Emperor De Louis!" Sebastian took off his gloves and threw them in Edmund’s face. Seeing that, Penelope flinched. She immediately checked her husband’s handsome face to make sure there were no injuries from the throw earlier. Then, her golden eyes glared at Sebastian. "I challenge you to a duel, Duke Edmund Gerwyn! If I win, then Penelope Askary will have to live in this palace with me according to my Father’s wishes!"
"Sebastian De Louis!" growled Emperor De Louis. He stood up and pointed at the face of his only son. "Watch your mouth! I did tell the Duchess to live in the palace but I never told her to stay with you! Open your eyes, you shameless son! That woman was a Duchess in this empire. She’s the wife of your best friend! You have tarnished the good name of this empire with your attitude of coveting another man’s wife!"
Sebastian laughed and snorted. "Father, you don’t need to be afraid of Duke Edmund. I’m sure I can beat him. And, I was determined to make the Duchess my Empress. I told you, Father, there’s no rule in this empire against having more than one partner! If the nobles in this empire are allowed to have more than one partner, then why can’t Penelope and I do it?"
"Bastard!" Emperor De Louis immediately slapped Sebastian so that the Crown Prince’s head turned to the side. The man accidentally bit his lips and caused them to bleed. Sebastian snorted and laughed again. He wiped the blood off his lips roughly. "I never raised you to be a man like this, Sebastian De Louis! Quickly, apologize to Duke Edmund and Duchess Penelope!"
"I won’t do it even if I have to die! Why did you forbid my relationship with Penelope, Father?! Penelope and I love each other!"
Penelope felt like throwing up hearing those words from Sebastian’s mouth. The woman looked away, unable to bear to see the face of the jerk in front of her. After taking a deep breath, Penelope stood up from the sofa and looked firmly at Sebastian.
"I never loved you, Sebastian De Louis. Looks like you should check your health. I’m afraid you’ve lost your mind. The one I love is only my husband, Duke Edmund."
Sebastian grinned and approached Penelope. He intended to touch Penelope but Edmund immediately moved quickly. The Duke stood up from the couch and jerked at Sebastian’s outstretched hand, then positioned his body between Penelope and Sebastian.
"Don’t you ever touch my wife, Sebastian De Louis," growled Edmund. He no longer cared if his current actions were considered impolite. "You challenge me to a duel? Fine! I will accept your challenge. I have heard your wishes if you win." Edmund looked at Emperor De Louis. "Your Highness the Emperor, may I state my wishes?"
Emperor De Louis felt very tired. "Go ahead, Duke."
"If I win this duel, I want the imperial side not to interfere with my family and the Askary family anymore. I want you to respect my Duchess’s decision of not wanting to live in the palace. I want you to respect my decision of not allowing the Duchess to live in the palace. I want you to respect Isabella Lysander’s wish of no longer wanting to marry the Crown Prince and become Empress of the Empire in the future, and..." Edmund looked Sebastian straight in the eye. He pointed at the man’s face. Then, Edmund’s blue eyes looked back at Emperor De Louis. "I want you to lock up Sebastian De Louis in his castle for a year! I don’t want to see or hear of Sebastian De Louis around the Gerwyn mansion, the Askary mansion, and the Lysander mansion. I don’t want him anywhere near Duchess Penelope."
"Edmund Gerwyn!" Sebastian shouted. "You are really—"
"I accept all your wishes," said Emperor De Louis in a firm tone.
"Father?!"
"Then," Edmund Gerwyn smiled coldly at Sebastian De Louis. "Should we start this duel now? And, Emperor De Louis will be the witness!"
###
"Ed, are you sure everything will be okay?"
Edmund smiled reassuringly at Penelope and hugged her tightly. The Duke had already changed his clothes, as well as Sebastian De Louis, who was getting ready and standing on the other side. They were already at the imperial knights’ training grounds for a duel. Edmund cupped Penelope’s face and kissed her on the lips.
"Penny, have you forgotten who I am and what my nickname is?" asked Edmund. Seeing Penelope just silent, Edmund laughed. "I am Duke Edmund. I’m called the cruelest Duke in the empire of De Louis. I am a cold-blooded man and a man thirsty for blood on the battlefield. I am also known as the swordmaster. A duel like this is nothing to me."
"But, what if Sebastian dies?"
Edmund raised an eyebrow and smiled seductively. "Why? You don’t want him to die?"
"It’s not like that," Penelope grumbled. Annoyed that Edmund could still joke around in a situation like this. "He is the Crown Prince of this empire. If he dies in your hands, I am afraid that the Emperor will give you the death penalty."
Edmund shrugged. "The Crown Prince himself challenged me, Penny. I’m sure he already knows the consequences. You can take it easy. I will be fine." The Duke embraced Penelope’s body again. "Jellal."
Today, Jellal is in charge of protecting the Duchess. The man appeared suddenly and knelt before the Duke and Duchess.
"Protect the Duchess while I duel the Crown Prince."
After kissing Penelope once more on the lips, Edmund came down to the center of the training grounds. He used one of the imperial knight’s swords because Sebastian thought it was unfair for Edmund to use his own sword. The Duke stood facing the Crown Prince. Sebastian grinned mockingly at Edmund. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
"You’re going to lose, Edmund Gerwyn," said Sebastian mockingly. "I will humiliate you in front of my Father and everyone. I will make your wife feel ashamed for having a weak husband like you and she will choose me in the end."
Edmund was silent. Sebastian’s provocation was very childish. The man started to point his sword at Sebastian and vice versa.
"It’ll be over before you can even blink, Sebastian De Louis."
When an imperial knight announced that the duel had begun, Edmund immediately sprang into action. The man dashed toward Sebastian, making everyone’s eyes widen at his shocking speed. It was as if the Duke had just disappeared. Then, suddenly the sword held by Sebastian was thrown far away. The man fell to his knees and held his breath when the tip of the sword used by Edmund touched his neck. The crown prince gulped and blinked. He looked up and clenched his jaw at Edmund.
"I told you I would end this before you can even blink, Sebastian De Louis."
The sound of approaching footsteps made Edmund turn his head. Emperor De Louis glanced at Edmund and Sebastian in turn, then took a deep breath.
"I will grant all of your wishes, Duke Edmund."
"Father!" Sebastian growled. "I haven’t lost yet!"
"Shut up!" Emperor De Louis summoned several imperial knights, who were around him. "Take the Crown Prince to his palace and lock him up until further notice from me."
"Father! You can’t do this to me!" Sebastian struggled as he was dragged by several imperial knights at once. Then, his green eyes stared at Edmund with hatred. "Damn it! I will never forget this, Edmund Gerwyn! I will destroy you! I will take everything you have including Penelope Askary!" Then, Sebastian looked at Penelope. The man smiled eerily like a maniac. "Penelope, my love! Can you hear me? This parting is only temporary, Penelope! I will come to pick you up soon! You are mine, Honey! We will get married soon and live together forever! I love you! I love you very much, my Penelope, my Empress!"
Penelope glanced coldly at Sebastian. She was so disgusted with that man. Penelope couldn’t even control her body which was trembling with fear because of Sebastian’s words just now. Even though she looked brave and challenged Sebastian, Penelope could not hide the fact that she was very afraid of the Crown Prince.
"You don’t have to listen to that nonsense, Honey," said Edmund in a gentle tone. Penelope looked down when she felt her hand being gripped tightly. Then, the woman looked up and Edmund smiled warmly at her. "He won’t be able to touch you even if it’s just a strand of your hair. I’ll make sure of that. Come on, let’s go back to the mansion. Our business in this empire is done."
Penelope smiled and nodded. She rested her head on Edmund’s chest as he hugged her waist.
###
"I failed."
The long-haired man took off his glasses and stood by the window. He looked up at the stars in the night sky. His eyes were cold and empty, making the atmosphere in the room tense.
"I didn’t expect Duke Edmund to dare to refuse the Emperor’s wish." The man chuckled and turned his head as he felt another being enter the room. A black magic circle appeared in the middle of the room and a beautiful woman appeared there. He approached the woman and knelt before her.
"I’m sorry that I failed to get Penelope Askary to stay in the palace," said the man apologetically. He looked up and met the eyes of the woman before him. "Goddess Oizys."
The Goddess of Sorrow and Suffering smiled and then she stroked the long hair of the kneeling man.
"You don’t need to worry, Head Priest. We still have plenty of time and many ways to absorb all the divine power belonging to Goddess Elleia that is in Penelope Askary’s body."
