Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 36: #-The Sudden Jealousy

It’s been a week and Edmund Gerwyn hasn’t seen Penelope Askary yet.

That was because the Duke had a lot of work he had to finish. Not only work that was related to managing his territory, but also assisting the Crown Prince in the imperial palace. The assassination plan devised by Christopher De Louis finally made the man die horribly as a result of the death sentence given by the Emperor. He also hasn’t had time to interrogate Penelope about the power possessed by that woman.

"Your Grace."

The call made Edmund look up from the many reports on his desk. Evan, the butler, bowed first, then smiled at Edmund.

"A guest has come to look for you," Evan said politely.

"A guest?" Edmund frowned. "I don’t remember having an appointment with anyone else. Who came here to see me?"

"Lady Isabella Lysander."

Edmund clicked his tongue angrily. Why did that woman come to his mansion? Edmund admits that he fell in love with Isabella, just like Sebastian. When he found out that Sebastian was interested in this woman, Edmund decided to bury his feelings and gave in. Then, Edmund became interested in the drastic changes that had happened to Penelope Askary. Initially, he was only ordered by Sebastian to investigate whether the woman had really changed or was just lying to get sympathy from other people. However, when Edmund found out that the woman was not lying, Edmund’s interest in Penelope grew bigger and eventually turned into an obsession. Especially after he spent that night with Penelope. The sex they had that night couldn’t get out of Edmund’s brain. The man even dreamed of the incident repeatedly.

Then, a realization hit Edmund hard.

Edmund Gerwyn seems to be starting to fall in love with Penelope Askary. No, it’s no longer a possibility. This has already happened. He had forgotten his love for Isabella Lysander and fell in love with Penelope Askary. Edmund wanted to protect the woman. Edmund didn’t want Penelope to belong to another man. This beautiful woman should only be his. Because of that, Edmund would get rid of anyone who dared to approach Penelope, let alone try to take her little bunny away from her.

Even if that person was the Crown Prince of this empire.

"Tell her I’m very busy and send her home," said Edmund coldly.

Edmund’s words made Evan’s suspicions about Edmund’s feelings for Penelope even more evident. The Duke had indeed fallen in love with Penelope Askary.

"Am I not allowed to speak with you even for a moment, Duke?"

The gentle question made Edmund and Evan turn their heads. At the door of Edmund’s study, Isabella stood. The beautiful woman smiled, making Edmund growl in annoyance and Evan cursed himself inside his heart for forgetting to close the door. But, shouldn’t Isabella know that walking around in someone else’s mansion without permission is a very impolite act?

"Who allowed you to come into this room, Isabella Lysander?" asked Edmund coldly.

"Sorry, I had to do this. Somehow, I have a feeling that you don’t want to see me."

Edmund nodded firmly. "And your hunch was correct. I’m very busy and have no time to see you. So, please get out of here right now."

"I... just wanted to thank you, Duke," said Isabella in the same gentle tone as before. "Because you saved me a week ago. If it wasn’t for you, I would have been hurt already."

Edmund snorted. "It wasn’t me who saved you, but Penelope Askary. So, you better go meet that lady and thank her."

Evan, who didn’t know how to react, could only stand in the corner of the room watching the two of them. The man did not want to interfere in the Duke’s affairs with these two beauties who had different personalities.

"Duke, do you hate me?" asked Isabella in a doubtful tone. She knew that Edmund was a cruel man in this empire. However, Edmund was always warm and gentle to her. But, when the rumor about Penelope Askary who changed drastically reached Edmund, Isabella felt that the man was starting to change. Edmund was no longer warm to her and he no longer paid any attention to her. And this really bothered Isabella. She didn’t want to lose the two most influential men in the De Louis empire.

"If I said I hated you, what would you do?" challenged Edmund. "You are a woman close to the Crown Prince. I can’t get too close to you, Lady Isabella. I don’t want to make the Crown Prince angry."

"So, the problem lies with the Crown Prince?" she asked. "If I ask the Crown Prince for permission to be your close friend, will you return to being warm to me, Duke? I... I miss the person you used to be, who always protected me and put me first above all."

When Edmund was about to reply to Isabella’s words, the man heard someone’s voice. Edmund looked at the open door of his study and a maid bowed to him.

"Excuse my impoliteness, Your Grace. But, a guest has come to see you."

Again? Edmund grumbled inside his heart. "Do the nobles no longer remember etiquette in this empire? They have to send a notice in advance if they want to visit someone’s house!"

"What should I do, Your Grace?" asked the maid again. "Because Princess Penelope said she couldn’t be here too long."

Hearing Penelope’s name, the annoyed expression on Edmund’s face changed. The man wide-eyed and grinned widely then stood up from his chair.

"Why didn’t you tell me sooner that it was Penelope who came to see me?" Edmund stepped forward excitedly. When he passed Isabella, the woman immediately held his hand. This caused Edmund to stop and glare at Isabella.

"What are you doing right now, Isabella Lysander?" he asked in a cold tone.

"Ah! That... I..." Isabella looked down and moistened her lips. "I came to talk to you first, Duke. Isn’t it unfair if you leave me to meet other women?"

Edmund jerked Isabella’s hand from his arm. "As I recall, I didn’t need your permission to meet Penelope or any of the other women. You are nothing to me, Isabella. So, don’t ever think that you’re a special woman to me or something." Edmund looked at Evan. "Evan, take Lady Isabella to her carriage. I’m sure Lady Isabella wants to go home right now."

Evan just nodded in understanding, while Isabella bit her lip.

"He should prioritize me like he used to," muttered the woman.

###

"Why do I have to come to this damn Duke’s mansion, when I just realized that I’m pregnant with his child and intend to run away from him?"

Penelope grumbled under her breath. At first, the woman had not wanted to meet Edmund Gerwyn. She had to prepare everything she would take to escape from this empire when Duchess Askary asked her to give the cake that the woman had made to Edmund. Duchess Askary said it was her gratitude because Edmund had protected Penelope all this time. Penelope had refused and wanted to order Sarah, but her mother said Penelope had to hand it over herself.

"Princess Penelope, please wait a moment as Duke Edmund is currently chatting with his guest."

Penelope raised an eyebrow. "A guest? Did I come at the wrong time? I mean, I didn’t know Duke Edmund was having guests because I didn’t see any other carriages out there besides my family’s."

"No, Princess. You don’t bother him at all. The guest who came to visit was Lady Isabella Lysander. The carriage is waiting at the side of the mansion."

Hearing Isabella’s name, Penelope frowned. For some reason, she became very annoyed. That damn Duke got her pregnant and now she’s with another woman? Penelope knew that Edmund really loved Isabella, but didn’t that man think of her even a little? I mean, had he never thought that what they had done that night would have gotten her pregnant?

Penelope snorted. "I forgot I was the one who told him I wasn’t going to get pregnant."

"What did you say just now?"

Penelope flinched when she heard the voice. The woman turned around, then stood up. She bowed to Edmund and greeted the man, causing Edmund to wave a hand and tell Penelope to sit back down.

"I didn’t expect you to come looking for me first, Penelope. It’s a surprise." Edmund smiled. "So, my little bunny misses me?"

Penelope snorted. "Don’t talk nonsense, Ed. I came here because my mother told me to. Mother said I should thank you because you always protected me and saved me. Mother also made you so many cakes and sweets. My mother really likes doing stuff like that."

"Hmm. Tell the Duchess that I really appreciate her gift. I will send a return gift for her."

Penelope stood up again. "Then, since my business here is finished, I will be going home now. I don’t want to disturb you and your guests."

Seeing that, Edmund stood up and immediately held Penelope’s arm. The man frowned.

"Why are you suddenly mad at me?"

"I’m not mad," Penelope shook her head. "I just don’t want to interrupt your time with Isabel."

"You know that Isabella Lysander is here?"

"One of your maids told me." Penelope nodded. Good grief! What’s wrong with her at the moment? Why was she so annoyed and jealous of Edmund and Isabella’s closeness? All of that is none of her business. Was this because of the baby in her womb? In her previous life, when Penelope was still Sienna, she had heard that many pregnant women did strange things and said that it was the wish of their unborn baby.

"Are you jealous?" asked Edmund in an amused tone. Hearing that, Penelope laughed. A mocking laugh.

"Take it easy, Ed. I won’t be jealous. I don’t love you, so I don’t need to be jealous if you meet Isabella or other women." Penelope took down Edmund’s hand from her arm. "I’m going home now."

"Penelope Askary."

The call made Penelope stop her steps and freeze. However, the woman did not turn around because she did not want to face Edmund again.

"Are you sick? Your face looks pale. And... It looks like you’ve put on a lot of weight. I don’t mean to be rude, but you look hotter than ever. And I really like it."

Penelope groaned loudly inside.

Dammit! Can Edmund Gerwyn guess that she is pregnant with his child?!