Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 24: #-Penelope Was Never Yours!

Edmund Gerwyn’s current behavior annoyed Penelope Askary.

The blue-haired woman turned her body and pushed Edmund’s athletic body, causing the Duke to take a few steps back. Penelope’s golden eyes shone sharply, making Edmund smile with satisfaction as he crossed his arms. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Are you angry?" asked Edmund.

"You think?!" Penelope grumbled. The woman took a deep breath, trying to get rid of her annoyance. She massaged the bridge of her nose and cleared her throat. "You said you don’t remember anything about yesterday!"

"When did I ever say that?" Edmund asked in an innocent tone. He shrugged. "I’m asking you, what you meant about yesterday’s incident is the one when I tortured those bastards who hurt you or not. I never once said that I don’t remember anything."

Penelope gave Edmund an annoyed look. What Edmund said was true, but Penelope would never admit it. The woman was preparing to leave the room again, but Edmund immediately grabbed Penelope’s arm.

"Do you really want to help Tian?" asked Edmund. There was annoyance in his tone as well as the way he looked. "I don’t want you to be in any danger, Penelope."

"I told you that I would still be in danger even if I didn’t participate in thwarting the Crown Prince’s assassination plan," Penelope replied. "Besides, with you and Sir Philleo, who would dare come near me and hurt me? You two can protect me very well, can’t you?"

Edmund snorted softly. "Of course, I can protect you well."

"Then, this problem is solved," Penelope nodded. The woman pushed Edmund’s body again, but this time with little force. "Since we both have agreed, it’s time for you to go home and rest, Ed. I also want to rest."

"Why? Are you sick? Are you hurt?" asked Edmund in a panicked tone. He looked at Penelope from head to toe. "You’re fine, right?"

Penelope was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I’m fine. I’m just a little sleepy. Besides, I don’t have anything to do today." The woman then tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. "No, wait. Maybe I should go to the palace and meet the Crown Prince to tell him about this."

"I will go with you."

"Huh?" Penelope blinked. "You don’t need to do that. I can go to the palace with Sir Philleo. You still need to rest, Ed."

Edmund shook his head. "I won’t let you go alone with Philleo Aaron."

"He’s my knight," Penelope replied in a confused tone. "It should be Sir Philleo’s duty to accompany me wherever I go. He was assigned by Brother Ethan to be my protector."

"I am willing to take his place," said Edmund in a firm tone. "I can leave the Duchy, leave all my work, and become your one and only protector."

"Are you crazy?" Penelope grumbled. The woman realized that Edmund was a stubborn man who could never be refused. Hence, Penelope took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay, I’ll go with you. So, come again to this mansion tonight. We will go after dinner. Do you think the Crown Prince can give us some of his time tonight?"

"I could send him a letter," Edmund shrugged. "I can force him to make time for the two of us."

Penelope glanced at Edmund. This man truly could be called the craziest, cruelest, and most cold-hearted man in the De Louis empire. How dare he intend to force the imperial Crown Prince to comply with his wishes? But, that’s none of Penelope’s business. The woman only waved one hand, feeling tired even just talking to Edmund.

"It’s up to you then, Ed. In that case, I will return to my room. You too, don’t forget to rest as soon as you arrive at your mansion."

A satisfied smile appeared on Edmund’s handsome face. He leaned forward, causing Penelope to reflexively turn her head back. Before her head hit the door, Edmund reached out and held Penelope’s head. Penelope’s golden eyes widened, making Edmund even more pleased. He really liked Penelope’s expression. She was afraid of him but didn’t want to show her fear either. Penelope wanted to show to others that she was a brave woman.

"Are you worried about me, Penelope?" asked Edmund in a low voice, almost a whisper. The sensual tone made Penelope’s face heat up quickly and blush. Even more so when Edmund blew into her face, making Penelope flinch and turn her head away.

"You’re too close, Ed," Penelope said. Her hands stretched out to hold Edmund’s athletic chest so that the man wouldn’t get any closer to her.

"Why? Is your heart beating really fast right now? Do you admire my handsome face? I’m much more handsome and much more charismatic than Tian, ​​right?"

Dammit! Penelope tried to calm her crazy heartbeat at this time. The woman glanced at the smiling Edmund. It seemed that the man was really enjoying the current situation.

"If you don’t know why I’m doing this to you or pretend you don’t understand, then I will say it clearly," whispered Edmund. "I’m seducing you right now so you can forget your love for Tian and turn your heart and your love toward me."

For God’s sake! What exactly happened to Edmund Gerwyn?! This man should hate Penelope Askary and fall in love with Isabella Lysander. Then, why did Edmund’s attention and Edmund’s interest lead to her?

"Back off or I’ll be mad at you, Ed," Penelope threatened.

Edmund shrugged and created some distance. His hands were raised in the air, a sign that he gave up and wanted to make peace with Penelope so that she wouldn’t be angry with him. Penelope cleared her throat, then prepared to open the door. But, she failed again to get out of this room.

"Penelope Askary," called Edmund in a gentle tone.

Penelope took a deep breath and turned her head. "What else—"

However, Penelope’s words trailed off. Her golden eyes widened as she felt Edmund’s lips touch hers. The man kissed her lips again. His blue eyes met Penelope’s golden eyes with a satisfied look. Even though this was a very shameless act, Edmund didn’t mind doing it. Who in this empire would dare to scold him because he kissed a woman who caught his eyes and attention?

"Let’s just say that the kiss earlier was your form of apology for making me lose control of myself yesterday and finally making me go berserk in the palace."

Penelope touched her lips and blushed again.

"You crazy Duke!" Penelope shouted as she ran out of the room. She didn’t even heed Philleo’s calls that sounded panicked and worried. The man turned when he realized that Edmund had come out of the room, laughing in amusement. Philleo gave Edmund a cold, sharp look.

"What have you done to My Lady, Duke Edmund?" asked Philleo in a sharp tone. His hands clenched very tightly at his sides.

"What I did to Penelope is none of your business, Philleo Aaron," replied Edmund coldly. His laughter had disappeared. He approached Philleo and glared at the man. "How many times have I told you to always remember your place? You’re just a lowly knight, Philleo. Your job is only to protect Penelope Askary, not to meddle in her affairs. You also can’t have special feelings for that Lady of yours. Do you think, the Askary family as well as the other nobles, let alone the members of the imperial family will accept you as the partner of Penelope Askary? Don’t even dream about that, Philleo. So, just throw away all your feelings for Penelope because I will never let you have those feelings for her either."

"That feeling is my right to have it, Duke Edmund," replied Philleo. "You have no right to tell me to throw away my feelings for Lady Penelope. If I decide that I am beginning to fall in love with Lady Penelope, then no one, not even you, can tell me to give up those feelings."

Edmund was silent. He felt very angry, but he tried to restrain himself. He was at the Askary mansion and Edmund didn’t want Penelope to be angry with him either.

"You have chosen the wrong enemy, Philleo Aaron," said Edmund in a sharp tone. "I will watch over you. Don’t expect me to let you get close to Penelope Askary."

Edmund walked away from Philleo who was clenching his jaw and gritting his teeth.

"You don’t even know who I really am, Duke Edmund. I can do anything to get what I want," Philleo growled.

###

"You’re lucky I have a wide and very kind heart, Ed. If I were a person with a hard and evil heart, you might have already been sentenced to death for daring to force a Crown Prince to spare his time just for you."

Edmund Gerwyn did not respond to the grumbling from Sebastian De Louis. The blue-eyed man just drank the tea in his cup while closing his eyes. Meanwhile, Penelope Askary felt uncomfortable and a little awkward. It was because she was sitting together with two men with a high potential to kill her in the future. But, for now, Penelope had to do it because she had important matters to discuss.

"I’ll get straight to the point, Your Highness," Penelope said. The blue-haired woman touched her chest with her palm. "I was the one who asked Duke Edmund to contact His Highness so that His Highness would spare time for us."

Sebastian’s eyebrows shot up and he crossed his arms. His green eyes glanced at Edmund who was currently glancing at Penelope with a faint smile. Edmund’s gaze looked so gentle and also full of interest. This made Sebastian involuntarily snort.

"Your Highness? Is there any problem?" Penelope asked.

"No, nothing. Forget about it." Sebastian took a deep breath and massaged his temples. "So, what’s the problem that you have to ask Ed to contact me? Can’t you contact me directly?"

It’s because I want nothing to do with you, Penelope grumbled in her heart. "Your Highness, you must be extra careful right now. I overheard a conversation between two unknown people, where they said they would kill Your Highness. Unfortunately, I don’t know when they will do it and on whose orders they do it."

He frowned. "Someone wants to kill me?"

Penelope nodded. "I saw their faces and still remember them, and I’m sure they saw my face too. Thus, I shall assist Your Highness, together with Duke Edmund, to find out and apprehend the mastermind behind His Highness’ assassination plot."

The idea made Sebastian shake his head firmly. "No. It’s too dangerous. Did you think that I would let you do such a dangerous thing?"

"Duke Edmund also said the same thing, but I will still be participating in this." Penelope stared firmly at Sebastian. This made Sebastian suddenly hold his chest. His heart suddenly beat twice as fast as usual just from seeing Penelope’s golden eyes at this moment. "I would still be in danger, even if I didn’t help you, Your Highness. They saw my face and recognized me. They will try to kill me as well to prevent me from divulging their plans to the imperials. I have also enlisted the help of my knight, Philleo Aaron, to protect me and help thwart His Highness’s assassination plot."

Hearing the name Philleo Aaron, Sebastian felt annoyed. Sebastian also didn’t like the fact that Penelope told this to Edmund Gerwyn first. Was she more dependent on Edmund Gerwyn than he was? Shouldn’t Penelope have met him first to talk about this since it involved a plot to kill him?

"Ed, I need to talk to you," Sebastian said coldly, causing Edmund to raise an eyebrow and nod, while Penelope prepared to get up from the couch.

"In that case, I will go and let you two talk."

"No, you stay here," said Edmund, ahead of Sebastian who had already opened his mouth and was forced to close it again. The red-haired man snorted softly and stood up from his seat. Edmund also did the same. "I and Tian will talk somewhere else."

Penelope just nodded and smiled with relief as the two scary men left the room. The woman decided to enjoy tea and sweets while thinking about the next steps she should take to save the main characters in this world.

Meanwhile, Sebastian and Edmund chose the balcony of the palace as a place to talk. Jade and Theo guarded the balcony to prevent anyone else from overhearing the two men’s conversation. Edmund leaned his waist against the balcony railing with his arms crossed, while Sebastian clenched his hands at his sides.

"Are you sure you want to let Penelope Askary do this?"

"She wanted it," said Edmund with a shrug. "Besides, there is me who will always protect her. Do you think I’m going to let anyone get close to her, touch her, and hurt her? I’ll kill even a fly before it lands on her smooth white skin."

Sebastian clicked his tongue angrily and took a deep breath. "Ed, since when did you become so close to Penelope? Don’t you hate that woman? Then, why are you so attracted to her now?"

"I will also ask you the same question, Tian," replied Edmund in a cold tone. As cold as his blue eyes when he looked into Sebastian’s green ones. "Since when have you been interested in anyone close to Penelope? You hate her, Tian. You hate Penelope’s obsession with you."

"She loves me," Sebastian growled.

"She loved you once," corrected Edmund. "And that is in the past. Right now, she only sees you as the Crown Prince of the empire she needs to save, not as the man she loves anymore. She was never your woman Tian."

Sebastian’s jaw tightened and his hands clenched tightly at his sides.

"Are you in love with her, Edmund Gerwyn?" growled Sebastian.

"Maybe." Edmund shrugged and smiled mockingly. "One thing is for sure, Tian, ​​I don’t like seeing my little bunny being liked by other people, let alone someone who dares to take her from me. I will kill them all, no matter if one of them is the Crown Prince of the De Louis empire."