Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 190: Side Story 05 (END)-Their Life From Now On

Penelope Askary stretched her body muscles and looked out the window with a smile.

The Duchess stood up from the chair and approached the window. She hugged herself and her smile widened when she saw her children gathered in the garden, under a big tree. They chatted while eating sweets. As usual, her daughter was as happy climbing trees as she was and Alexander looked panicked. Raven looked annoyed with his twin sister’s behavior while Chintya tried her best to calm Raven down. Marvel is seen struggling to get Ocean to come down from the tree and Charlize sits on the tree to accompany and protect Ocean. Meanwhile, Ruby and Crown Prince Ixion have just joined them.

"What are you looking at?"

The question made Penelope mutter and turn her head. She laughed when her husband, Edmund Gerwyn, hugged her waist from behind. The Duke rested his chin on Penelope’s shoulder, then kissed her neck briefly. Penelope chuckled amusedly and ruffled her husband’s black hair.

"Our children are an adult right now. They already have fiancés and will probably get married on the same day."

"Same day?" Edmund frowned.

Penelope turned her body and happily wrapped her arms around the Duke’s neck. She kissed Edmund’s lips briefly then nodded.

"I want to hold the biggest wedding in the entire De Louis empire. I want the the children to get married on the same day. What do you think, Ed? Would the Emperor allow it if I made such a request?"

Edmund raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. He shrugged his shoulders and lifted Penelope into the air and spun her around, making Penelope scream and laugh. She hit Edmund’s shoulder repeatedly, asking her husband to put her down immediately.

"The Emperor will not be able to refuse Duchess Penelope’s request," whispered Edmund. "Moreover, Duchess Penelope is a Saintess who saved this empire at the cost of her own life several years ago."

Penelope shook her head in amusement. She gently patted Edmund’s cheek and kissed it. Then, the woman broke away from Edmund’s possessive embrace and walked out of the room. Behind her, Edmund followed faithfully like a duckling following its Mother.

"Ed, I want to go to the De Louis palace."

Edmund was silent and raised one eyebrow. He was still waiting for Penelope to continue her sentence because the man knew that his wife hadn’t finished speaking. However, without even having to hear it, Edmund knew what Penelope was going to say.

"I want to see Philleo Aaron."

After the war with Goddess Oizys was over and Penelope Askary experienced a very long sleep, the seriously injured Philleo Aaron finally opened his eyes several months later. He felt very sorry for letting Penelope experience something like this. He was able to escape the death penalty for all his actions because of the mercy of Edmund and Ethan. The two men asked the Emperor to commute the death sentence to life imprisonment. And, before Philleo was taken to the De Louis palace prison, the man gave most of his mana to Penelope in the hope that he could help make Penelope open her eyes. Then, the remaining mana in his body was expelled by a special device created by the magic tower and the man could not perform magic again for the rest of his life.

"You’re not going to stop me?" Penelope asked when she realized her husband was silent. The woman stopped walking and looked at Edmund who had also stopped beside her. She looked into the blue eyes that shone calmly like the blue sky outside. The Duke smiled and pinched his wife’s nose lightly.

"Even if I told you not to, I know you would still go to see Philleo. You are the most stubborn woman I have ever met in this world, Penelope Askary." The man laughed when he saw Penelope’s sullen face, then put his right arm around the woman’s waist, and led her. "Why do you want to see Philleo?"

Penelope smiled faintly.

"I haven’t seen him for a long time. Apart from that, I also want to invite him to the children’s wedding event later if we have set a date for their wedding. I would like to ask the Emperor’s permission for that." Penelope turned her head. "You don’t mind if I invite Philleo, right?"

"Actually—"

Penelope pouted. "Ed..."

The Duke laughed and shook his head in amusement. "Darling, if you don’t want to accept my opinion in the end, then don’t bother asking me in the first place." The man put his hand on Penelope’s head. "You are so adorable."

Penelope continued walking and ignored Edmund who laughed while continuing to call her name.

###

"Hello."

Philleo Aaron’s greeting made Penelope Askary smile. The woman was accompanied by Chris and Jellal, although they were both invisible because they were shadow knights. Penelope stood in front of the iron bar that confined Philleo inside. The man looked very healthy. His face is fresh and his good looks have not diminished even though he has been in prison for approximately eighteen years. Sometimes, Ocean would visit Philleo and it would make Raven and Marvel groan in disapproval. Even so, Ocean’s two brothers still followed Ocean to protect her.

"Hi," said Penelope. The woman nodded at the prison guard and handed Philleo a large box filled with food and drinks. The prison guard briefly opened the iron bar that confined Philleo and handed him the large box. "I brought you lunch. Ocean and I cooked it. Sarah also helped us, as did Ruby, Chintya, and Charlize."

Philleo looked at the amount of food in the big box and smiled faintly. His eyes felt hot and tears threatened to roll down his cheeks. Just seeing and receiving this food could make Philleo’s heart warm.

"I feel honored to have food cooked by the beautiful people of this empire." Philleo already knows who Chintya and Charlize are from Penelope. Beautiful women who managed to attract the attention of Raven Gerwyn and Marvel Gerwyn. "So, did you come here because you missed me?"

Penelope blinked and the woman laughed. "Maybe?" She shook her head in amusement and took a deep breath. Penelope put her hand through the gap in the iron bar and took Philleo’s hand, then held it tightly. "Phil, are you okay here?"

Philleo chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "I’m used to living here so I’m fine. I was lucky because I didn’t have to be sentenced to death." The man tilted his head. "But, I can’t believe your very possessive and scary husband would allow you to visit me while bringing the food you and your daughter cooked."

Penelope grimaced and scratched her cheek. "Err... he’s throwing a tantrum right now, Phil. The man was sullen and refused to finish his work. Edgar is trying hard to persuade him."

Philleo laughed and shook his head. "He hasn’t changed."

"And you haven’t changed either."

Penelope’s words made Philleo freeze and look down. He smiled bitterly. Penelope was right. During the several years he lived in prison, he never changed.

"You still love me."

Yes. He still loves that woman as she said just now. But, Philleo also knew he would not be able to get Penelope’s heart and love. For Penelope, Edmund Gerwyn was the only man in her heart.

"Hm. You are right." Philleo looked up and laughed when he saw Penelope crying. "Why are you crying, Penelope?"

Penelope shook her head. She couldn’t reciprocate Philleo’s feelings. But, on the other hand, Penelope already considered Philleo to be her older brother. She couldn’t see Philleo continuing to suffer in this prison even though Philleo said he was fine. Penelope heard that Philleo’s family had never visited him once. Philleo is visited only by her, Edmund, Ethan, and the children.

"You’ve suffered a lot but you’re holding up well. I... I’m sorry I couldn’t do anything. I’m sorry I couldn’t get you out of jail. I’m sorry for taking all of your mana. I’m sorry for not being able to reciprocate your feelings." Penelope lowered her head and wiped the tears from her face repeatedly. "I’m sorry, Phil."

Philleo smiled and caressed Penelope’s head gently and affectionately.

"I’m glad I was able to save you. Because I love you I don’t regret doing it. As long as you are alive and happy then I am happy, Penelope. So, you don’t have to cry."

"I... want to invite you to my children’s wedding. I have obtained permission from the Emperor." Penelope sobbed and looked at Philleo. "I want to make you happy even if only for a day, Phil."

Philleo nodded and hugged Penelope despite the iron bar between them.

"Mm. Thank you for thinking of me." Philleo kissed the Duchess’s forehead. "I hope that in the next life, I can be a person very close to you to protect you."

Penelope nodded and the two of them chatted like old friends who had just met again. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

###

"Why are you pouting like that?"

Penelope snorted and got into her second brother’s car. Today, the man promised to pick her up. Her oldest brother, Ethan, is busy at the office because soon this year will end and give way to a new year. Seeing his little sister increasingly sullen, the man just chuckled amusedly and started his car.

"Do you want to have lunch first before going home?"

Penelope glanced at her brother and turned her body so she could face him. Her eyes started to sparkle and a smile appeared.

"I want to eat at a regular place," Penelope said in a cheerful tone. "Brother Philleo!"

Philleo laughed and ruffled Penelope’s hair. He really loved his little sister. There is one secret that Philleo’s family doesn’t know. The man remembered his past life and he lived as a knight who was obsessed and loved his best friend’s little sister. He lives as Philleo Aaron and his little sister is currently the reincarnation of Penelope Askary, the woman he loved but could not have. Philleo is grateful to be able to reunite with Penelope to make amends for his mistakes in his past life and protect her as an older brother.

Arriving at the place to eat they always went to, Philleo let Penelope order all the food she liked. Philleo smiled faintly and looked out the window.

"Philleo Aaron."

The call made Philleo freeze. He turned his head and looked up, then stood up from his chair. He stared in disbelief at the man in front of him who was smiling at him.

"Edmund Gerwyn...?"

The man laughed and ran his hand through his hair. "I am no longer Edmund Gerwyn in this life even though my name is still Edmund."

"You...remember our past lives?"

"Always." Edmund turned to Penelope. "Because I asked the Goddesses to give me memories of my past life. I will try to make Penelope Askary remember me again and love me again. Right now, I am her violin teacher."

Philleo blinked and laughed. "You are still obsessed and possessive of Penelope. She’s my little sister now, Edmund. You won’t be able to approach my little sister carelessly. You have to get my permission."

Edmund snorted and shook his head in amusement.

"Ethan was reincarnated too," Philleo said.

"Oh?"

"He is my and Penelope’s older brother. But, like Penelope, Ethan doesn’t remember our past lives."

Suddenly, Penelope turned her body towards the two men and froze. The expression on her face looked...sad. Her eyes were red and tears were streaming down her beautiful face. She covered her mouth with both of her hands, making Philleo anxious, and Edmund frowned.

"Penelope, what’s wrong with you?" Philleo asked. "Are you okay?"

Penelope continued to cry and looked down. Her tiny body trembled.

"Am I... given another chance to love you, Edmund Gerwyn?"

Penelope’s question made Edmund freeze. The man smiled and immediately walked quickly towards Penelope. He hugged Penelope’s tiny body tightly and kissed her forehead lovingly.

"You remember me," whispered Edmund. "Finally, you remember me again."

"I’m sorry I was late finding you."

In his place, Philleo laughed and took a deep breath.

Are you happy?

The voice in Philleo’s head made the man smile gently.

"Yeah, I’m happy."