Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 19: #-Quicker Than The Original Plot
"How about the food, Isabel? Do you like it?"
Penelope’s gentle tone made Isabella Lysander nod with a smile. She didn’t expect to be able to eat food at Askary’s mansion like now. In the past, Penelope Askary often held tea parties at her mansion. However, only selected noble ladies can come to this grand mansion. Penelope never invited her at all. It was most likely because she resented her for being an obstacle between that blue-haired woman and the Crown Prince.
Seeing Isabella’s reaction, Penelope smiled happily and nodded along. The woman cleaned her mouth with a handkerchief, then looked at Sarah who was standing beside her.
"Sarah, would you please get some dessert for Lady Isabella?"
"Yes, My Lady." Sarah nodded and left the dining room. When it was just her and Isabella, Penelope immediately held Isabella’s hand tightly. This action made Isabella surprised and felt nervous. Since long ago, Isabella Lysander had always considered Penelope Askary to be the most beautiful woman in this empire. Moreover, her golden eyes always shine brightly.
"Isabel, I’m sorry for all my mistakes to you in the past," Penelope said, making Isabella blink and immediately meet her golden eyes. The expression on Penelope’s face showed that she was deeply regretting her past actions. "I always bullied you because I was jealous of you. Even though I shouldn’t have done it. You are the woman chosen by the Crown Prince. I just need to accept that decision, no matter if I loved the Crown Prince at that time."
Isabella shook her head frantically and said, "No, Penny. I’m the one who should be apologizing to you. Because of me, you can’t have the Crown Prince. I..." Isabella looked down. She smiled faintly. "I do have feelings for the Crown Prince. He was very kind and always protected me. But, I don’t want to break the heart of another woman, let alone a woman as beautiful as you, Penny. You’re a better woman than me. You are more deserving of standing by the Crown Prince’s side as his Empress. I should know my place and not be a hindrance to your love."
Penelope fell silent. She looked at Isabella who was still looking down. The expression on her face suggested that she was saddened by what she had said. Penelope knows Isabella’s love is sincere for Sebastian De Louis. It was Isabella’s kindness that made Sebastian fall in love with her and an evil-hearted woman like Penelope obviously wouldn’t have the slightest chance of winning the love of the Crown Prince. But, that was the original Penelope Askary. Now, Penelope just wants to stay as far away from Sebastian De Louis as well as Edmund Gerwyn.
"Hey, Isabel," Penelope called. "I don’t love the Crown Prince anymore. So, if you love him sincerely, I think you should try to get that man. Learn how to become a woman who deserves to be at the side of the Crown Prince and to be the Empress of this empire. I will always support you."
Isabella gasped and froze. She shook her head frantically for the second time. Her heart was beating so fast, it felt like it was going to explode.
"No, no! How could I possibly stand on the Crown Prince’s side, Penny? I am... nothing but the daughter of a Marquess. You deserve more for him since you are the daughter of a Duke. Your status is above mine. The highest status in this empire after a member of the imperial family." Isabella looked into Penelope’s golden eyes which the woman liked so much. If only she also had golden eyes like that. Isabella smiled gently at Penelope. "So Penny, I’m not going to get in the way of your love anymore."
Penelope smiled even more and shook her head. She rubbed the back of Isabella’s cold hand. Isabella looked like she wanted to cry, making Penelope sure that the woman was forcing herself to give up her love for the Crown Prince. It was evidence of how kind-hearted Isabella Lysander was.
"Isabel, you don’t have to worry about your family status. I told you that I will support you, right? I will do whatever it takes for the other nobles to accept you as the Crown Prince’s Empress. After all, your status is also the highest in this empire. Just try me if other noble women dare to look down on you. I will go to them and scold them. You know that I have a bad reputation in this empire, right?"
Isabella blinked when she saw Penelope wink one eye. The woman laughed and nodded. She never thought she would be able to spend her time chatting and laughing with Penelope Askary who used to hate her.
"Thank you, Penny." Isabella scratched her cheeks that weren’t itchy and blushed. "Err... Penny? So, are we friends now?"
The doubtful and hopeful question made Penelope laugh. The blue-haired woman stroked Isabella’s hair and nodded firmly.
"Of course we are friends. Do you think I’m going to talk about love with someone who isn’t my friend?"
Isabella covered her mouth with both hands. She looks moved by this.
"Can I give you a hug, Penny?" asked Isabella again. Penelope smiled very gently and opened her arms.
"As much as you want."
Penelope laughed as Isabella hugged her tightly and sobbed. Penelope may have promised herself that she would stay away from all the main characters in this world. However, seeing Isabella’s kindness and how innocent she was, Penelope decided to be by her side and protect her from bad people who wanted to harm her. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
The most important thing is that she didn’t follow the original Penelope Askary’s path to harm Isabella Lysander. As long as she didn’t, her life would be safe and fine, right?
At least, Penelope hoped so.
###
Today, Penelope decided to go to the bookstore because she was bored at the mansion.
The golden-eyed woman wanted to find a romance book recommended by Sarah. According to Sarah, the romance book was very popular among commoners. Sarah read it after borrowing it from a friend. After Sarah finished reading the romance book, Sarah told the story to Penelope and the blue-haired woman wanted to buy it.
"My Lady, are you sure you want to enter the bookstore alone?" asked Philleo in a worried tone. So did Sarah. The woman didn’t want to leave her Lady to walk alone in the bookstore, even though there were many people in the bookstore. "I’m afraid if something bad happens to My Lady, while My Lady is in there. At the very least, please allow Sarah to come in with My Lady."
Penelope shook her head and crossed her arms. Her eyes stared firmly at Philleo and Sarah who were now looking at each other.
"Sarah, Sir Philleo, I’m just going to look for the books inside. There are many people. Nothing bad will happen to me. Besides, who would dare to touch the Duke’s daughter like me? Not only am I the daughter of the Duke in this empire, but I also have a bad reputation, don’t I? People wouldn’t dare approach me and mess with me." Penelope smiled and looked at Philleo and Sarah with puppy eyes. "I want to be alone. I want to enjoy my time, even if only for a moment. So, please let me enter without a knight and a maid. If you guys come inside, I won’t be able to look for the books comfortably because everyone’s eyes will be on me."
Sarah and Philleo looked at each other again, then sighed.
"Alright, My Lady," said Philleo in a resigned tone. "But, if something happens, My Lady has to scream as loud as possible so I can save My Lady right away."
Penelope smiled broadly and gripped Philleo’s hand tightly with both of hers. That made Philleo freeze and look away. He was sure that his face would be blushing by now. His poor heart was also beating so loudly that Philleo was afraid Penelope might hear it.
"Alright, I promise I will! Well then, Sarah, Philleo, I’ll be right back. You guys too, have fun."
Seeing their Lady enter with a happy expression on her face, Philleo and Sarah smiled. While Sarah said she would have a look at the items for sale around here, Philleo would remain standing at the entrance of the bookstore to wait for Penelope.
This bookstore has two doors. When Penelope was looking for the romance book near the back door, Penelope accidentally saw two suspicious men whispering. Frowning and suddenly feeling curious, Penelope moved a little closer and tried to hear their conversation.
"Is everything ready?" asked one of the two men. Then, the man in front of him nodded.
"Isabella Lysander will come through the back alley. That woman would usually feed the children in the back alley, then enter the bookstore through that door," he pointed toward the back door.
Hearing that, Penelope Askary froze. Her pretty face turned pale. Her body was shaking and her heart was pounding hard. She glanced at the two men who were now nodding at each other, then exited through the back door. Then, Penelope bit her lip and seemed to think.
Isn’t Isabella Lysander’s kidnapping case that will traumatize the woman will happen shortly? Then, why is the kidnapping case now going to happen? Why did it happen sooner than in the original novel? Penelope glanced at the back door, then at the front door where Philleo was standing there waiting for her. If Penelope came to Philleo and reported to him first, Penelope was afraid that she would be too late to save Isabella.
"I’m sorry, Sir Philleo, Sarah," Penelope muttered. The expression on her face was serious, as well as the look in her eyes. "But I promise that I will be fine."
Penelope then approached one of the employees at the bookstore and smiled gently at her. Even though she was already smiling, the bookstore employee, who seemed to recognize her—oh, come on! Who in this empire doesn’t know the villainess named Penelope Askary?—still trembling with fear. For now, Penelope didn’t care about that.
"Hey, do you have a black robe that I can wear to hide my identity?"
The woman in front of her blinked. "Yes?" she asked, confused.
"I have to go through that door because my knight is waiting for me at the front door," Penelope pointed at Philleo. "This is a rather urgent situation. Do you see those two guys that came out the back door? They were bad people who wanted to kidnap a noble lady! I overheard their conversation. Therefore, I want to immediately help that woman. So, please lend me a black robe so they don’t know that I too am a noble lady. However, I would also like you not to tell my knight if he suddenly walks in and looks for me in this bookstore. Just tell him that you don’t know where I am and don’t see me." Penelope took out one gold coin and gave it to the woman in front of her. "This is for you."
The shop clerk accepted the gold coin Penelope gave with hesitation. She looked at Penelope. Her golden eyes were beautiful, but also full of worry. She had heard many rumors about Penelope Askary’s crimes. But, right now the woman didn’t even know whether to believe the rumors or believe her eyesight. Penelope seems like a very nice woman. She even wanted to help a stranger she didn’t know just because she overheard a conversation about the plan to kidnap the stranger.
"But, My Lady, will you be alright? I mean, you’re up against two men intent on kidnapping another noblewoman, right?"
Penelope smiled and held the shoulder of the woman in front of her. "You don’t need to worry about me. You know I’m known as an evil woman, right? I can fight those two."
Although the employee still looked doubtful and worried, in the end, she nodded and asked Penelope to wait for a moment. Shortly thereafter, the employee returned with the black robe that Penelope had requested. The blue-haired woman smiled broadly and put it on immediately.
"I’ll borrow this for a moment. I will be right back. If I don’t return within ten minutes, you can inform my knight."
Penelope immediately left through the back door. She stepped quickly, but also carefully. Her heart was pounding crazily. Cold sweat appeared on her pretty face covered in black robes. When Penelope saw the two men trying to drag Isabella Lysander, whose mouth was covered with a handkerchief, Penelope immediately ran.
"Hey!" Penelope shouted.
Isabella Lysander and the two men trying to kidnap her turned their heads. Penelope gulped. She did not expect that the bodies of the two men were bigger and more muscular than she had imagined. But, Penelope couldn’t let Isabella be kidnapped by them and experience that trauma. It was very sad when she read about Isabella’s trauma in her first life.
"Let go of that woman!" Penelope ordered. "Don’t you know that the woman you’re trying to kidnap is a noblewoman?!"
The two men looked at each other, then laughed. One of the two men gave Penelope a mocking look.
"You’re also a noblewoman yourself, aren’t you? I can see it from the hem of your dress that is not covered by that black cloak. Your heels also look very nice and very expensive."
Penelope groaned inside. Dammit! She had forgotten that this robe could not really cover her entire body. This black robe was only able to hide her body up to her calves.
"If I am also a noblewoman, so what?" Penelope challenged. "Do you think all noble women are weak and helpless?"
"That means," said the man who held Isabella. "We have two noble ladies that we can sell for a lot of money!"
This harassment made Penelope Askary very angry. Not the world in the novel, not in the world in her first life, everyone loved selling women and children just for money! Just thinking about it made Penelope sick.
"What are you doing?" asked the first man, as he watched Penelope take off her heels.
"What am I doing?" Penelope repeated. The woman smirked. Her grin could be seen by both men and Isabella too, although neither of them could see Penelope’s face. "Of course, I’m getting my weapons ready to fight you two! I told you that not all noble women are weak!"
Penelope Askary ran toward the two men who were trying to kidnap Isabella Lysander while pointing the sharp tip of her heels at them.
