Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 18: #-All The Main Characters Gathered!

Edmund Gerwyn was enjoying the look on Penelope Askary’s face at this moment.

If in the past he hated Penelope, who always showed an arrogant and selfish attitude, and was always angry toward everyone, now Edmund was very excited to see Penelope angry at him. Edmund felt very challenged. Those golden eyes that shone brightly and were very beautiful always managed to make everyone’s attention, especially the men, center on Penelope. Even though they knew Penelope was an evil woman, they could never look away from those golden eyes. So did Edmund Gerwyn.

Right now, the two of them are still close. Edmund could feel Penelope’s warm breath. Edmund didn’t like it when anyone went against him, but he didn’t mind when Penelope did that. The blue-eyed man smiled. A smile that Penelope couldn’t decipher. Then, Edmund held Penelope’s hair which had the same blue color as his eyes, then kissed her hair right in front of Penelope’s eyes. Edmund’s head was down to smell the sweet-scented from her hair, but his eyes lifted to meet Penelope’s beautiful face.

"Is my cute bunny still mad at me? What should I do so you’re not mad at me anymore? Hmm?" asked Edmund coldly. Strangely, that cold tone also sounded soft and sincere in Penelope’s ears. No, no. Penelope closed her eyes and groaned inside her heart. She must not be swayed by the gentle and sincere tone that had just come from Edmund’s voice. This man is truly dangerous. Penelope knew that Edmund had fallen madly in love with Isabella Lysander from reading the original novel in her previous life. However, in the novel, Edmund is described as a warm and gentle man in front of his beloved Isabella. Not a man who has a high obsession and is very possessive like this!

Outside this room, right behind the door, Philleo Aaron stood. With just one scream from Penelope, Philleo would step in and save her from Edmund right away. Even though Edmund didn’t do anything to hurt her, Penelope still felt uneasy right now. Penelope sensed that Edmund was not thinking straight at the moment. On the other hand, if Penelope called Philleo, Edmund would feel very angry and might end up killing his knight.

When Penelope’s eyes opened, the woman held her breath. Edmund’s face was so close to hers that their noses touched. Penelope could see Edmund’s blue irises which reminded her of the sea. When she found herself almost drowned in the enchantment of Edmund’s blue eyes, Penelope gasped. The woman cleared her throat.

Dammit! Edmund Gerwyn’s handsomeness was truly a danger to her heart and the hearts of the women out there. Even though the male lead in the original novel is the Crown Prince, Penelope thinks Edmund Gerwyn is the more handsome one.

"You want me to stop being mad at you, Ed?" Penelope asked instead of answering Edmund’s earlier question. She was still using casual language with the man.

Still with their faces so close, Edmund nodded.

"What should I do?" he asked with a smile.

"Apologize to Sir Philleo."

The smile on Edmund’s face immediately disappeared. He rubbed Penelope’s cheek and took a deep breath. To distract her from the frenzied pounding of her heart due to the proximity between her and Edmund, Penelope smiles.

"How is it? Do you want to apologize to Sir Philleo? You haven’t forgotten that you insulted and belittled Sir Philleo yesterday, have you? You accuse us of doing inappropriate things in my room at night, Ed. You owe me an apology too."

Edmund snorted softly. He didn’t want to apologize to that lowly knight. But, because this was Penelope’s request and Edmund didn’t want his cute rabbit to get even angrier with him, to the point of wanting to stay away from him, Edmund was forced to agree to the woman’s request. Seeing Edmund nod, Penelope felt very happy. Because she was too happy, Penelope’s smile widened, making Edmund mesmerized and smiling too.

"You know what, Penelope? You look very pretty when you smile. I don’t want any other man besides me to see that smile of yours."

Penelope blinked and cleared her throat. She lost his smile, then pouted. "Don’t say anything weird, Ed."

"I’m serious," nodded Edmund. The man rubbed Penelope’s smooth cheek again. "I even thought of locking you up in my mansion. What do you think?"

"You really are out of your mind." Penelope groaned and grumbled. "Let me go, Ed. I want to leave. Our business is done, right? I will forgive you if you apologize sincerely to Sir Philleo. I—"

"My Lady, His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Isabella Lysander have come to see you."

Hearing Philleo’s voice, Penelope couldn’t finish her words. The woman froze and widened her eyes, then stared at the door. Then, Penelope realized that she was still in Edmund’s arms. Their distance can make others misunderstand. The Crown Prince and Isabella might have thought that she and Edmund were kissing!

"Hey, let me go, Ed!" Penelope ordered in a low voice. Very demanding voice.

"Why should I let you go?" asked Edmund in a confused tone. This made Penelope’s golden eyes widen even more.

"Are you crazy? The Crown Prince and Lady Isabella can have weird thoughts about the two of us! Then again, don’t you love Lady Isabella? You’re not afraid if that woman is jealous and sad because she sees you with me? Aren’t you afraid that this will keep you from getting close to Lady Isabella?"

Edmund frowned. "When did I tell you I was in love with Lady Isabella?"

"What?" Penelope blinked. "But—"

It was then, the door beside them opened. Penelope paled and turned her head quickly. Edmund looked relaxed and didn’t care about the arrival of the Crown Prince and Isabella Lysander. When the two of them entered the room with Philleo Aaron who opened the door and escorted them, the three of them froze in their places when they saw the closeness between Penelope and Edmund. Penelope was so embarrassed and wanted to scream. She also wanted to hide within the earth’s core. Her face heated up quickly and started to blush. Meanwhile, Edmund looked annoyed at the Crown Prince who had behaved normally again.

"Duke Edmund, what are you doing to Lady Penelope?" asked Sebastian De Louis with displeasure. Beside him, Isabella Lysander lowered her head and covered her pretty blushing face with her hands. Feeling embarrassed for disturbing Penelope and Edmund’s intimacy.

"I was seducing Lady Penelope—"

"Lie!" Penelope shouted, interrupting Edmund’s words. She looked panicked, making Edmund laugh and shake his head in amusement.

Edmund Gerwyn’s reaction surprised Penelope Askary. Likewise Sebastian De Louis, Isabella Lysander, and Philleo Aaron. It’s no secret that Edmund Gerwyn is called the cruelest man in the De Louis empire. The Duke was known to never smile or laugh. But now, the man was laughing just because of the reaction from a woman who was known to have a bad reputation in the past.

And that made Sebastian feel uncomfortable, for some reason. He didn’t want to see Penelope close to Edmund. Hadn’t that woman loved him a long time ago and always sought his attention? Has that love disappeared? Was Penelope’s love for him that easy to disappear?

On the other hand, Philleo Aaron gave Edmund a cold and sharp look. How dare that jerk hug his lady? Philleo wanted to approach Edmund, then cut off both of the man’s hands because he dared to touch Penelope’s body. But, he realized he wouldn’t be able to do it. There is the Crown Prince here. He definitely wouldn’t let him live after trying to hurt his best friend.

"Ed, let me go or I’ll get mad at you even more," Penelope threatened. "You want me to not forgive you?"

Edmund clicked his tongue and released his hands on Penelope’s petite body. The man raised his hands in surrender. Then, Penelope took a deep breath and cleared her throat. She bowed to Sebastian.

"Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Isabella Lysander. May Elleia’s light always be with you." Penelope greeted the two of them. Then, the woman looked at Sebastian with an annoyed look. "Pardon my impoliteness, Your Highness, but... what are you doing here?"

"Me? I’m visiting you." Sebastian shrugged. "You don’t want me to come here?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

To be honest, Penelope would have liked to have answered that Sebastian had guessed that right. However, what she was facing right now was the Crown Prince. If the man was offended, Penelope’s life might be in danger.

"Isn’t it proper etiquette that you have to send out an advance notice if you want to visit someone’s house?" Penelope asked to make sure. Even if he was the Crown Prince, imperial etiquette must still be carried out.

"I am the Crown Prince, Penelope. I’m free to do what I want. No one can stop me in this empire, except for my parents, The Emperor and The Empress."

Can Penelope kick that annoying guy just once?

"Um... Lady Penelope."

The doubtful call made Penelope look at Isabella. The beautiful woman looked shy and fidgeting. Isabella also looks a little scared and panicked, making Penelope take a deep breath and can understand why Isabella is acting like this. This is of course due to the actions of the original Penelope Askary in the past, who always bullied Isabella Lysander.

"I heard you were sick." Isabella tries to meet Penelope’s golden eyes. "Are you okay now? Ah! I also... want to apologize about yesterday’s incident, Lady. I already bumped into your body and made you fall."

"It’s alright, Lady Isabella. And, thank you for coming here to see me. I was sick last night, but I’m fine now." Penelope smiled. And that smile can bewitch everyone in this room.

Seeing Penelope smile, Philleo, who was still in the room, immediately looked down with a blush. His heart thumped violently, causing the man to bite his lip. Ah... he really wanted to protect that smile. A smile that looks soft and warm.

Philleo’s reaction made Edmund angry. He immediately cupped Penelope’s face, then turned her face toward his. Penelope blinked and her golden eyes widened.

"What are you doing?" Penelope asked in a confused tone.

"You smile."

"Yes?"

"I told you, you can’t smile at other men."

"What? But I smiled at Lady Isabella." Penelope’s golden eyes now glanced at Isabella who smiled awkwardly at her. Then, there was the Crown Prince who looked annoyed, and Philleo who looked down while blushing. Ah... it seems because of Philleo’s reaction, Edmund became like this.

"Look at me." Edmund gave the order in a gentle tone. However, what made Penelope obey was that the man’s voice was so close to hers. Then, Penelope realized that their faces were very close now, just like at the beginning, with their noses touching. "Don’t look at other men."

Arrgh! One of these days, she would go crazy because of Edmund Gerwyn’s attitude like this!

"Hey, Ed," Sebastian growled. The Crown Prince of the De Louis empire approached Edmund and held the blue-eyed man’s wrist, then pulled him away from Penelope’s face. "Stop that rude attitude of yours. Can’t you see that Penelope is uncomfortable because of your actions?"

I’m also uncomfortable because you came here and are now trying to defend me in front of the woman you love! Penelope screamed in her heart.

Edmund jerked Sebastian’s hand away. "Why do you want to meddle with Penelope and me?"

Sebastian frowned. "Since when did you and Penelope call each other by your first names?"

"That is none of your business, Your Majesty."

Sebastian didn’t know what had happened to him, but he was very upset about this. He growled and pointed at his friend’s face. "Duke Edmund Gerwyn, watch your mouth! I am the Crown Prince. You can’t go against my orders. Now, answer me. When did you and Penelope become this close?"

Penelope sighed and massaged her temples. Her head suddenly aches, causing her body to lose balance. The woman almost fell, if Edmund, Sebastian, and even Philleo, who had been running toward his lady, didn’t catch her body. Penelope frowned and looked at the three men while the three men glanced at each other.

"Please, let me go," Penelope grumbled. The blue-haired woman looked at Isabella, who had been silent and confused about what to do. "Lady Isabella..." Penelope was silent for a moment and shook her head. "No, I’ll start calling you Isabel. Can I do that?"

Isabella blinked and nodded repeatedly.

"Of course, Lady Penelope!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

"No, don’t call me that. Just call me Penny."

Isabella covered her mouth with both hands. The woman’s eyes lit up, making Penelope smile faintly at how adorable Isabella was right now. The woman stared intently at the three men nearby.

"You can let me go now. I’m already fine." Penelope gave orders as Edmund, Sebastian, and Philleo were still holding her. Hearing the irritated tone of Penelope’s voice, the three men immediately carried out her order. "Isabel, can you help me get back to my room?"

"What? Oh! Yes, of course... Penny!" Isabella ran slowly toward Penelope. The beautiful woman’s reaction reminded Penelope of a puppy who was so cute and loved to follow its master. Penelope chuckled, causing Isabella to look up and blink. "Penny? What is it?"

"No, no." Penelope sighed. "You just look so adorable."

Penelope’s laughter just now dazzled the three men around her. Even so, Edmund clicked his tongue softly because he felt irritated by the presence of the other two men who could see Penelope’s laughter.

"Come on, Isabel," Penelope said, taking Isabella’s arm. Isabella never even dreamed that she could be friends with Penelope Askary. All this time, Isabella felt sad because she thought of herself as an obstacle to Penelope’s love for the Crown Prince. She also understood why Penelope always bullied her. So, when Penelope was currently being very kind and gentle to her, Isabella felt happy. "We can chat over tea in my room."

"Penelope—"

"Stay there," Penelope said immediately, interrupting Edmund’s words. Her golden eyes glanced at Edmund, Sebastian, and Philleo. "Our business is done. Oh! Sir Philleo, will you show our esteemed guests out, please? They’re done visiting. Isabel will have lunch here with me."

After Penelope and Isabella left the room, Edmund Gerwyn immediately laughed. His reaction made Sebastian and Philleo look at each other, then frowned.

"He must be out of his mind," Sebastian grumbled. The man massaged the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. "You needn’t mind it, Sir Philleo."

"Yes, Your Highness," Philleo nodded obediently. He glanced at Edmund who was now smiling happily while combing his hair using his fingers.

"You are mine, Penelope Askary," muttered Edmund in a very low voice. However, Philleo could read Edmund’s lips. The man clenched his fists and turned his head away.

"I will not let you take her away from me!" Philleo said in a very low tone as he clenched his jaw and gritted his teeth.