Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 41: #-Kneel And Beg

It had been a whole week that Edmund Gerwyn had not returned to his mansion.

The man was busy looking for Penelope Askary in the South. All of his work in the imperial capital was left behind by Edmund. The man’s appearance was also very messy, although his handsome face still managed to fascinate the women who saw him. Edgar and Chris, who were closer to Edmund than the other knights who had joined Edmund to find Penelope, tried to approach the Duke.

"Your Grace, how about you rest for a while?" Edgar asked. "If you continue like this, you will get sick, Your Grace."

However, Edmund did not want to listen to Edgar’s words. The man turned to stare at Edgar with his cold gaze. Currently, they were at one of the inns in the South after spending two days without rest looking for Penelope Askary.

"How about my little bunny?" asked Edmund. "Have you and Chris managed to find where my bunny is?"

Edgar and Chris looked at each other, then shook their heads and looked down apologetically.

"We’re sorry, Your Grace," Chris said. "I’ve been trying to find information about Princess Penelope’s whereabouts. But, no one in this Southern region had seen a woman with Princess Penelope’s features. I’ve returned to the capital, specifically to the Askary mansion to find more information about the Princess, but everyone keeps saying that the Princess is on vacation in the South region. I also heard that the Crown Prince was in the South because he wanted to catch up with the Princess and Your Grace when the Crown Prince heard that the two of you were in the South."

Edmund clicks his tongue in annoyance at that information. Sebastian De Louis always annoys him! The man began to be interested in Penelope and intended to take the little bunny from his arms. Edmund would not let that happen. From the start, Sebastian hated Penelope, right? Then, why does the man want to have what he already has?

"When did you receive the news? Regarding the Crown Prince going to the Southern region I mean."

"Five days ago, Your Grace," Chris replied. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Edmund took a deep breath and rubbed his face with both hands. The man had not properly rested during this week. He also doesn’t eat regularly. Under his blue eyes were dark bags, making Chris and Edgar worried about the condition of the Duke they served.

"Then, how about Penelope Askary’s health condition?" asked Edmund in his usual cold tone. "What did you get?"

"There is nothing suspicious about Princess Penelope’s health, Your Grace. The woman was not sick and did not call the Askary family doctor to examine her. Even so, there is a rumor going around in the Askary mansion that some of the maids have seen Princess Penelope have nausea in the morning."

Edmund frowned. "Nausea?"

Edgar nodded. "Then, it was early in the morning, Princess Penelope went to a doctor’s place which was very far from the Askary mansion with her maid named Sarah, without Sir Philleo."

"Have you found out about the doctor Penelope visited?" asked Edmund urgently. Why did that woman have to find a doctor so far away from her mansion? What is that woman hiding that she doesn’t want her family to know?

Edgar looked uncomfortable in his place. The man nodded slowly and didn’t know how to react. He glanced at Chris who was looking at him while raising one eyebrow. When Edgar heard the news that Penelope had nausea in the morning, he just assumed Penelope was sick like the flu or something. However, Edgar realized that the flu would not make people nauseous. Then, he looked for other information until he found a doctor who was visited by Penelope Askary along with Sarah.

"Edgar, why are you silent?" asked Edmund impatiently. He stood in front of Edgar who looked down, then gripped both of his shoulders, and that made Edgar wince in pain. Seeing that, Chris started to act wary. "Answer me! What information did you get from the doctor my little bunny visited?!"

Edgar took a deep breath and looked down again. He closed his eyes. This information he got from the doctor after successfully threatening him. The truth remains in Penelope Askary’s hands. They must find the woman to confirm the validity of this information. But, if Edgar didn’t tell Edmund now, he was sure he would die this very second at the hands of the Duke who seemed to have lost his mind due to Penelope Askary’s disappearance.

"I... I only heard this information from the doctor in question, Your Grace. You have to confirm the truth through Princess Penelope’s own mouth," said Edgar in a doubtful tone. The man took another breath and looked up to meet the Duke’s eyes which seemed to have lost their light due to not being able to find Penelope Askary. "Princess Penelope is carrying a child, Your Grace. The woman is pregnant."

###

Isabella Lysander glanced at Sebastian De Louis.

Currently, that woman was accompanying Sebastian in the Southern region. When Sebastian came to see her at Lysander’s mansion that day to say he was going to the South, Isabella immediately begged to be allowed to come. Of course, Isabella did that when she heard about Sebastian’s goal to follow Penelope Askary and Edmund Gerwyn.

Then, when they got to the South and came to the summer house of the Askary family, Penelope Askary wasn’t there. According to the butler, Penelope had not been to the summer house since she was a child. The last time she came was when she was around ten years old. Of course, this made Sebastian shocked and angry. He ordered all the knights who escorted him and Isabella to look for Penelope and Edmund, while he and Isabella would wait at an inn rented by him.

"Tian," Isabella called in a doubtful tone. "Could it be Penny and Duke Edmund... eloping?"

Sebastian glared at Isabella who flinched and immediately lowered her head. "What do you mean by eloping? They were the nobles with the highest status after the member of the imperial family, Isabel. The two of them couldn’t possibly do such unreasonable and lowly things! Watch your mouth, Isabel."

"But, they’re not here, are they?" Isabella tried to argue. She dared to look the Crown Prince in the eye. "You got information that they are in the South region, but in reality, those two aren’t here. Maybe they both loved each other and decided to run away together because they didn’t get permission from the Duke and Duchess Askary to get married. Maybe—"

"Enough, Isabel!" Sebastian slammed on the table in front of them, causing Isabella to jump. This was the first time Sebastian snapped at her and even gave her a sharp and cold look. The man also growled at her. "You don’t have to interfere! I’m sure, the two of them didn’t do such things! Edmund and Penelope don’t love each other!"

"How did you know about that?" asked Isabella with a trembling voice. "You don’t know anything about their relationship, do you? Are you blind, Tian? Can’t you see how Duke Edmund always protects Penny and always wants to be around her? He loves Penny. He—"

"Even though Edmund loves Penelope, Penelope is only mine because she loves me!" Sebastian shouted. The man stood up from his chair and left Isabella who gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. The woman looked down, letting the tears fall. Her heart ached and the anger began to control her.

"Penelope Askary... all of this because of that woman! She wanted to snatch those two handsome men from my arms. I won’t let that evil woman get to Sebastian and Edmund. Only I can be the only woman in this empire who gets all the attention and love from Sebastian and Edmund."

###

"Who’s coming?"

Ethan barely believed his ears when he heard the butler’s words just now. He had heard nothing about Edmund Gerwyn during this week. Ethan thought the man was busy so he didn’t have time to look for his little sister and disturb his little sister as usual. When Ethan had begun to forget what Edmund had done to Penelope, the man had come looking for him.

"Duke Edmund has come to find you, Young Master," repeated the butler. "What should I say? Are you going to see Duke Edmund?"

Ethan tapped the table in front of him with his index finger. He had to find out what the man who had ruined his little sister’s life wanted.

"I’ll see him," Ethan said. He stood up from the chair and started walking out of his study. "Where’s Philleo?"

"Sir Philleo has not been seen for a week, Young Master. The last time anyone saw the man was when Sir Philleo came to you in this room that evening."

"Tsk," Ethan clicks his tongue. "That guy really gave me a headache. He must have locked himself in the room in the residence of the knights. He was like a puppy abandoned by his owner. I’ll take care of him later. Now, take me to where Duke Edmund is waiting for me. Father and Mother aren’t in the mansion, are they?"

The butler nodded. "The Duke and Duchess are going to visit the Duchess’ parents, Young Master."

"Ah, yes. I forgot that Grandpa and Grandma wanted to meet Mother."

Ethan thanked the butler who had escorted him to the room where Edmund was waiting for him. The man took a deep breath and opened the door. Then, when Ethan walked into the room, the man widened his eyes and froze. Edmund’s appearance was so chaotic that Ethan was speechless. Those blue eyes that were usually sharp and cold now looked tired and seemed to have lost their purpose. Lost their light.

"Duke Edmund...?" Ethan spoke hesitantly. He had even forgotten what to do if he met other nobles. "You—"

Edmund immediately stood up and approached Ethan. Then, the man suddenly knelt in front of Ethan, making Ethan flinch and automatically take a step back. Ethan looked up and saw Edgar who was also in the room accompanying Edmund. However, Edgar was just as shocked as Ethan so the man couldn’t react at all.

"Duke Edmund! What are you doing?!" Ethan exclaimed. Even though he was angry and hated Edmund, Edmund’s current attitude really didn’t reflect that of a noble with high status. "Get up, Duke! You must not kneel like this before me who is only a child of a Duke. Your position is higher than mine. You—"

"Please, tell me where Penelope Askary is right now," Edmund asked in a tired tone. A tone that describes despair. "I have no problem continuing to kneel like this at you, little Duke. I will do whatever you tell me to do, even if you tell me to kiss your feet. But, please tell me where Penelope is right now. I want to meet her. I need her and believe me, she needs me right now, little Duke. I miss her." Edmund looked up and met Ethan’s eyes, who looked confused at this time. "I love your little sister, little Duke."

###

Penelope felt her body so weak.

Since last night, Penelope did not want to eat. Any food that enters her body will definitely be vomited. This made Sarah and Rosaline very worried. And then, the woman also had a high fever. Her face was red with fever and Penelope found it a little difficult to breathe.

"Dame Rosaline, what should we do?" Sarah asked in a panic and worried tone. "Is there a doctor in the North region?"

Rosaline took a deep breath. "Yes, but I’m sure it’s very far from here. I will find the doctor and you stay here to treat and protect My Lady. Sarah, you can do it, can’t you?"

Sarah nodded.

"I will be right back." Rosaline glanced at Penelope and immediately ran to find a doctor.

"My Lady, I will be in the kitchen for a moment to prepare you some food. You have to eat even a little. Please think about the health and safety of your baby, My Lady," said Sarah in a gentle tone. The woman then went into the kitchen and tried to make food as quickly as possible.

Penelope opened her eyes and realized she was alone in this room. The woman smiled. It was like her first life back then, when she was still Sienna. She is alone and has no one. Thinking of this made Penelope very sad and the woman cried, rubbing her stomach.

"Forgive your mother, Honey," Penelope said weakly. "Mother is so weak and put you in danger like this."

It was then, Penelope saw someone enter the room. The figure smiled at her, then sat beside her while caressing her hair affectionately. Then, the figure kissed her forehead and rubbed her stomach, making Penelope calm down and closed her eyes again with a smile.

"You’ll be fine, Penelope," the voice said warmly. "I will immediately come to pick you up and protect you as well as our child."

Penelope subconsciously nodded. She didn’t even know if the man comforting her at the moment was the real Edmund Gerwyn or just her hallucination.

"I think I’ve gone mad," Penelope muttered. "Because right now, I can’t lie to myself that I really miss him."