Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 128: #-I’m Just A Commoner. I Do Not Deserve You.
Everyone gathered in Helios Rune Abelavish’s study.
Penelope sat beside Isabella. The woman continued to hold Isabella’s hand tightly. Isabella’s hands were so cold that Penelope wasn’t sure if what she was holding now was a human hand or an ice cube. Penelope glanced at Ethan, who was sitting in front of her. Her older brother always stared at Isabella’s face because right now, Isabella looked more like an undead than a normal human.
"Are you all right, Isabel?" Penelope asked. She was very worried about her best friend’s condition. "If you don’t want to talk about this or hear about this, that’s fine. I don’t want to stress you out or make you sad. I don’t want to make you cry."
Isabella shook her head and took a deep breath. "It doesn’t matter. I want to hear everything you know, Penny."
Penelope bit her lip. "Isabel, honestly, I don’t know if this is true or not. I mean, Philleo Aaron was the one who told me. I don’t know if he’s telling the truth or not."
"Most likely, the information is true," Isabella said sadly. The expression on her face was hurt. "Because all this time, Father always tortured me. My Father was always angry when I didn’t succeed in doing what he ordered. Father will be angry if I don’t want to do what he wants." Isabella covered her face with both hands. Her body was shaking. The woman started sobbing and now, she was chuckling. A very sad chuckle. "So, all of that is because I am not the biological daughter of Marquess Lysander. I’m just a commoner, who was adopted by him to be his daughter because I possess mana and potentially have great magic power in the future. I am an investment for him to achieve everything he wants. I am just a tool for him."
Seeing Isabella’s sadness, Ethan clenched his jaw. His hands clenched tightly at his sides.
"Ethan," Isabella called. The woman smiled sadly. "I am just a commoner. I do not deserve you. I can’t be Duchess Askary like you said last night. It is better for you to find a woman who is equal to you. A woman from a high noble family. I—"
"Nonsense!" Ethan shouted. He stood up from the sofa, causing Isabella, Penelope, Edmund, and Helios to look up to look at Ethan. The man’s red eyes glared firmly at Isabella. "So what if you are a commoner? What’s wrong with that?"
"Ethan," Isabella rubbed her face with both hands. The woman sighed heavily. This is really hard for her. She and Ethan had just confessed their feelings to each other last night, they had just become a couple and intended to get married, but issues regarding her status rose to the surface. How could Isabella let Ethan marry a lowly woman like her? "Please, understand. You and I are very much different. I don’t intend to continue being the daughter of Marquess Lysander after I learn of this fact. I will leave the mansion. I will live my life as Isabella. Just Isabella, in the commoners’ area."
Ethan shook his head firmly. "You’re not going anywhere, Isabella. Your place is by my side! I will never let you leave me! I don’t care even if you’re not a noble. I’m not a stupid man, who only cares about status, Isabel! I’m sure my parents and Penny agree with me. I love you and I want you!"
Penelope nodded firmly at Isabella. She held her hand tighter.
"If my parents didn’t allow me to marry you just because of a trivial matter like noble status and such, I would have dropped everything and would have gone with you. We will start a new life in a faraway place. Just you and me, as well as our children that you will give birth to later."
"Brother, what are you talking about?" Penelope asked in a panicked tone. She stood up from the couch, and so did Isabella. Isabella looked very pale because of Ethan’s words earlier. "I won’t let you leave the mansion and leave the name Askary behind! I won’t let Isabel leave you either. I’m sure, Father and Mother will not forbid your marriage!"
Edmund massaged the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily. Perhaps, he should usurp the position of future Emperor from Sebastian and change the rules requiring nobles to marry nobles.
"The three of you, please, calm down," grumbled Edmund. "We have to find out first about the truth of the information Philleo gave Penelope about Isabella’s origins. After that, we’ll decide what’s best for Isabella and Ethan. And, while we are trying to find out about the truth, it’s best for Isabella not to return to the Lysander mansion."
"She can stay here as long as she wants," Helios said as he shrugged and smiled. "I have no problem with that. I’m glad I could help all of you. By the way, if it is later proven that Lady Isabella is not Marquess Lysander’s biological daughter, how about finding a noble family who wants to adopt her?"
"What?" Penelope and Isabella blinked. The two stared at each other.
"Do you think any noble family will adopt Isabella?" asked Edmund, raising one eyebrow. "She is a grown woman, Your Highness, not a child."
"If you can’t find a noble family that will adopt her in the De Louis empire, you can look for it in the Abelavish empire." Helios rubbed his chin. "As I recall, there were many noble families, who wanted a successor but couldn’t have one. And, they are willing to adopt adults." The Crown Prince of the Abelavish empire snapped his fingers. "My Mother’s family also needs a successor. Male or female, they don’t matter. As long as that person is willing to work hard and willing to learn. The family is very kind. I know them very well. Contact me whenever you need and I will introduce you to the family."
Isabella started to cry. Information about her not being Marquess Lysander’s biological daughter saddened her, as did the prospect of her not being able to marry Ethan. But now, that sorrow was wiped out by the good news regarding the noble families, who might adopt her in the future with the help of Helios Rune Abelavish. That way, she and Ethan can still get married.
"I told you, no one will be able to separate you from me," whispered Ethan. The man approached Isabella and immediately hugged her tightly. Ethan kissed Isabella’s forehead. "I will never let you and our child leave me."
Penelope blinked and her mouth opened wide. She immediately looked at Edmund, who shrugged, and Helios, who chuckled.
"A child?" Penelope asked. "In just one night?"
"Penny, Honey, if you’ve forgotten, I’ll be happy to remind you again. We also only had sex in one night and you were pregnant with my child a few weeks later. It all depends on the power of the sperm, Honey."
###
"Hi, Penelope."
That greeting made Penelope turn her head around and smile at Goddess Elleia. Penelope approached the Goddess and hugged her tightly. Hugging Goddess Elleia always gave Penelope warmth and comfort, and she knew she was in a dream world right now.
"Hi, Goddess Elleia," Penelope let go of her hug. "I miss you."
"I know. And, I also saw you trapped in the fake world created by Goddess Oizys." Goddess Elleia stroked Penelope’s hair lovingly. "I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me, Penelope."
"It’s fine. Edmund and the others are by my side to help me." Penelope took a deep breath. "But, what should I do, Goddess? At this rate, Goddess Oizys will hurt everyone I care about. I have to be strong. However, I cannot use this healing and purifying power to attack Goddess Oizys or my other enemies. I must have another power."
"You can do it."
"What?"
"Magic power to attack," said Goddess Elleia. "You have it in you, Penelope. Unawakened magic power. The same magic power as that of Ethan Askary, your older brother. You two are the children I chose to receive my powers as well as those of God Ares. You have extraordinary attack power. Ethan’s powers have awakened since he was a teenager and yours hasn’t, Honey. Only my power awakens in you. Train yourself with the wizard, Claude Sylvester, and Helios Rune Abelavish." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
Penelope smiled and looked down at her palms. "I... can help Edmund and the others?" She muttered.
"Oh, Penelope?"
Penelope looked up and saw the serious face of Goddess Elleia. Seeing that, Penelope became nervous.
"Be careful. Someone is watching you. This person is very evil. He was a good person that Goddess Oizys managed to control. He is near you, Penelope."
"What?"
"I have to go now, Penelope." Goddess Elleia kissed Penelope’s forehead. "My blessings will always be with you and your children, Raven and Ocean. Take good care of them, Penelope. Because, if you can’t protect them properly..."
Penelope gulped and clenched her fists at her sides. Slowly, Goddess Elleia’s figure began to fade and disappear. But, Penelope could still hear the last words from Goddess Elleia.
"Then, Raven Gerwyn and Ocean Gerwyn would become evil. They will be the children, who will destroy the De Louis empire and also the whole world."
###
Penelope looked at Raven and Ocean, who were in their stroller.
The twins grinned broadly at her. Those unique eyes looked at Penelope with a look full of joy. The twins’ feet and hands, which were so tiny, moved agilely as if telling Penelope that today they were very happy to be able to spend time with their Mother. Penelope smiled and kissed Raven and Ocean on the forehead.
"I will not let you be the children who will destroy this world, Raven, Ocean," Penelope muttered.
Suddenly, the wind blew violently. Penelope protected the twins so that no dust got into their eyes. After the wind stopped blowing, Penelope felt someone’s presence. She turned her head around and was wide-eyed. Then, Penelope looked down at her feet when she saw a red light appear along with a magic circle.
"You?!"
"You must come with me, Penelope Askary," said Sebastian De Louis triumphantly. Behind him, a black-robed man, who seemed to be a wizard, snapped his fingers. Slowly, Penelope’s body began to disappear. "I’ll lock you up where Edmund Gerwyn won’t be able to find you! You will bear my child to become my successor!"
