Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 123: #-Older Brother, It’s Me!

Penelope Askary felt something was wrong with the situation outside her room.

The woman kissed Raven and Ocean’s forehead, then looked at Helios, who was sitting while leaning back and closing his eyes. On the floor, Claude was also doing the same as Helios. Apparently, the two men were really tired from saving her and Edmund, and that made Penelope feel guilty.

"Your Highness," Penelope called, causing Helios to open his eyes. He smiled at Penelope. "May I ask a favor from Your Highness?"

"Anything you want, Duchess. You are my best friend, my first love, and my first heartbreak.

Penelope smiled awkwardly and cleared her throat. "Can I ask Your Highness for help to watch over and protect my children and Sarah?" Penelope then pulled Claude’s hand until the man sat down. "You too, Claude. I want you to protect everyone in this room."

"Where are you going, Duchess?" asked Helios. The man stood up from the chair. "I can’t let you leave here and face the dangers out there. Lady Isabella suddenly ran out and until now she has not returned. We don’t know how things are outside, Duchess. If I let you out of here and you are in danger, your husband, who is very possessive of you, will take the Abelavish empire to war. And I’m sure that man will destroy my empire."

"But, Your Highness... I can’t just stay here and wait for them. I feel very uneasy. I... I have a very bad feeling, Your Highness." Penelope took a deep breath. "Please, let me go out and help my husband, older brother, and best friend. I will be fine."

"But—"

"Go," Claude said suddenly, interrupting Helios’ words. Helios and Penelope glanced at Claude. The man rubbed the back of his neck and walked toward the window. "You’ll be fine. You might not know it but the mana within your body has suddenly increased. I can see it. Your power is much stronger than before. I’m sure you can stay out of harm’s way."

Penelope blinked and she smiled. The woman stared at Helios, waiting for the man’s approval. Since a talented wizard like Claude Sylvester had already said such a thing, there was nothing Helios could do to ban Penelope. To be honest, Helios also sensed Penelope’s considerable mana but the man still didn’t want to allow Penelope to go out into danger. First, because he still liked her, and second, because he was afraid that Duke Edmund would throw a tantrum.

"You have to promise me that you will be fine, Duchess," Helios grumbled. "If you get hurt, I will kidnap your children and I will keep them as captives in my empire."

Penelope blinked. Her mouth was wide open. However, the next second Penelope laughed and nodded.

"I will be right back."

When Penelope came out of her room and wanted to find Edmund, Ethan, and Isabella, the woman saw Ethan throwing Philleo Aaron out of the mansion. Penelope was wide-eyed. She didn’t expect her older brother to also have magic power like her. In the original novel, Penelope never read any information about the Askary family having magical powers. However, this was not the time to think about that matter. After all, from the start, everything was already different from the original novel.

"Ed!" Penelope exclaimed. She knelt beside Edmund. On his lap, Isabella was passed out.

"Wait, don’t think anything out of the ordinary," said Edmund. "I am not doing anything! Ethan just asked me to look after Isabella Lysander."

"I’m fine with that, Ed! What I want to ask is, what happened to my older brother?" Penelope asked in a panicked tone. "Why is there a dark aura around my older brother?"

"Dark aura?" asked Edmund and Jeremy together. They both stare at each other.

"I have to stop him," Penelope muttered.

"What?!" Edmund was wide-eyed. "No, Penny—"

But, Penelope paid no heed to Edmund’s words. The woman stood up and ran down the stairs.

"Older brother!"

Penelope tried to catch her gasping breath. Ethan stopped walking and turned his head around to look at her. However, her older brother didn’t seem to recognize her. There was no affectionate gaze and gentle gaze that was always given by that man for her.

"Older brother! It’s me! I, your little sister! I, Penelope Askary! Don’t you recognize me, Older brother?!" Penelope exclaimed.

Ethan continues to walk. He ignored Penelope. This made Penelope both sad and angry. She clenched her fists and cursed Goddess Oizys in her heart for having dared to create that darkness in Ethan’s heart. The trigger is, of course, Isabella Lysander. Penelope knew Ethan loved Isabella and seeing Isabella passed out and injured like that made the man furious.

"Dammit!" Penelope came down the stairs and stopped halfway. She looked up. Forget that Isabella was injured. But, Penelope must also immediately help Ethan. "Will I be able to heal Isabella without being near her?"

’Yes.’

The voice inside her head made Penelope blink.

"Goddess Elleia, is that you?" Penelope asked.

’Yes, it’s me. You can heal Isabella Lysander without getting anywhere near that woman, Penelope. You can also purify Ethan Askary at the same time. You have to focus.’

Penelope nodded and took a deep breath. She imagined Isabella in her head and prayed in her heart that she would get well soon. Then, Penelope could see the pink light coming out of her body and aiming at Isabella. After making sure that Isabella would soon regain consciousness and that her injuries would soon disappear, Penelope ran again to catch up with her older brother.

In the garden, Penelope saw Ethan getting closer to Philleo. Philleo Aaron was already seriously injured. The man was already immobilized and most likely unable to fight anymore. Now, Penelope could see Ethan opening his palm and the magic circle appeared under Philleo’s body.

"Older brother!" Penelope shouted. The woman ran toward Ethan and immediately hugged his waist from behind. "Older brother, wake up! Open your eyes! It’s me, Older brother!"

No matter how much Penelope wanted to punish Philleo, she didn’t want to kill him as much as she could. Ethan is a good man. Penelope didn’t want to make a man as good as Ethan kill anyone else, let alone his own best friend.

Ethan growled and jerked Penelope’s body away from him. Penelope was thrown and rolled in the grass. She felt pain all over her body but the woman didn’t care. As Penelope tried to get up, she looked up and gasped. Ethan was already standing in front of her and looking at her with a sharp gaze.

"Older brother...?"

Suddenly, Ethan strangled Penelope. The woman was wide-eyed because Ethan was choking her so hard with only one hand. The man lifted her body into the air, making Penelope struggle and kick in the air.

"Older... brother...," Penelope called in a choked tone. "Open your eyes...!"

"Ethan!"

The scream made Ethan turn his head around. The man widened his eyes when he saw Edmund running toward him at top speed. Then, Edmund lunged at Ethan’s body, causing Ethan to push hard and fall over. Meanwhile, Penelope fell to her knees in the grass. Penelope coughed and tried to take in as much oxygen as she could.

"Penny, are you all right?" asked Edmund in a worried tone. He knelt before Penelope and examined her body. "Your neck..."

"I’m fine, Ed. I—" Penelope’s eyes widened when she saw Ethan aiming his magic at Edmund. The woman immediately pushed Edmund and after that she avoided her older brother’s magic. Realizing that Ethan was getting out of control, Penelope shot Edmund a stern look. "Ed, I have to purify my older brother!"

"But, how?"

"Fight him," Penelope said. "I need to be close to him, Ed!"

Edmund nodded and took out his sword. He looked at Ethan, who had also pointed his sword at Edmund.

"I must fight you for the time being, Brother-in-law," said Edmund. "I’m sorry but this is for your own good!"

Edmund immediately ran toward Ethan. The two men’s swords clashed together and made a terrible sound. Edmund didn’t know that Ethan’s sword skills were so good. Was this because the man was under the control of the darkness that resided in his heart? Even so, Edmund could not lose or let his guard down. He had to create an opportunity so that Penelope could save Ethan.

Finally, after fighting for several minutes, the opportunity came. Edmund managed to make Ethan lose his sword and immediately lunged at him until Ethan rolled over. Then, Penelope ran to her older brother and immediately sat on top of Ethan’s body. Edmund did not remain silent. He approached Edmund and held both of the man’s hands, who were currently struggling with a growl.

"Older brother, hold on a little longer," Penelope said in a firm tone. The woman cupped Ethan’s face and closed her eyes. She concentrated, searching for the darkness inside Ethan. And, Penelope managed to find it. The woman immediately said her prayers and hopes to Goddess Elleia. When the pink light started touching Ethan’s body, the man widened his eyes.and screamed. Screams of pain. Penelope gritted her teeth. She felt sorry for Ethan but this had to be done so that Ethan could be free from that cruel darkness.

After a few seconds had passed, Ethan stopped screaming. The man also no longer struggled. Penelope opened her eyes and couldn’t control her gasping breaths. The beautiful woman’s face was sweaty and pale. As Ethan looked at her, Penelope smiled faintly.

"Are you back, stupid older brother of mine?" Penelope asked in a tired tone.

Ethan took a deep breath and covered his eyes with his arm.

"I’ve got you in trouble, Penny," Ethan muttered. "Forgive me. You must be scared."

"It’s okay," Penelope chuckled. She got off Ethan’s body and immediately lay down on the grass. Seeing that, Edmund hastily lifted Penelope’s body onto his lap. He wiped the sweat off his wife’s face and kissed her forehead.

"You’ve worked hard, Penny," said Edmund proudly. The Duke smiled. "You can rest now."

"Hmm." Penelope laughed and looked at Philleo. She doesn’t know how long he’s been unconscious. "What should we do with him now?"

"Of course, we’ll catch him and put him in jail." Edmund snorted. "I will—"

Edmund’s words stopped when he saw a magic circle appear under Philleo’s body. The Duke, Penelope, and Ethan froze. They couldn’t do anything when Philleo Aaron suddenly disappeared. Once again, they failed to catch the man.

"Dammit!"