Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 43: #-Penelope, Please! Come Back To Me!

"Monsters?"

Thompson nodded at Ethan Askary. He had just reported the latest happenings in the North to the little Duke he served. Ethan did order Thompson to provide him with reports from time to time regarding Penelope who’s currently living in the North to conceal her pregnancy. In this mansion, Thompson is the only knight who knows Penelope’s whereabouts.

"Yes, Young Master. Monsters suddenly appeared in the North region and rampaged there. A few days ago, Duke Edmund’s team went to the North region on the order of His Highness the Emperor to exterminate the monsters."

Ethan clicked his tongue in annoyance and tapped the table in front of him using his index finger. This is really bad. What if something bad happened to Penelope because of the monsters? A few days ago, Thompson also reported that Penelope had a high fever and luckily, Rosaline Amber, and Sarah were able to handle it easily, so Penelope’s fever went down the next day. Then, Duke Edmund was in the North right now to exterminate the monsters. What if the man meets Penelope?

"He loves my little sister he says," Ethan snorted, causing Thompson to raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"Yes?"

"No," Ethan shook his head. "I’m just talking to myself. In that case, how are things currently in the North? Is my little sister okay?"

Thompson nodded. "According to the information I received from the people I sent there to keep an eye on Lady Penelope from a distance, Lady Penelope is fine. She is with Dame Rosaline and Sarah."

"So, My Lady is in the North region?"

Ethan, who intended to speak in response to Thompson’s words, cursed under his breath and pursed his lips again. He widened his eyes and stared at the door of his study. There, Philleo Aaron’s figure was seen. The man looked really messed up. There were dark circles under his eyes. A few days ago, Ethan went to Philleo’s room where the knights lived, but his best friend wouldn’t open the door to his room, even though Ethan had knocked repeatedly with a loud knock and threatened to destroy the door.

"Who gave you permission to enter like this, Philleo Aaron?" asked Ethan with a growl. "You really are impolite! I didn’t hear the knock on the door and I never permitted you to come in here!" Ethan stood up from his chair, while Thompson just kept silent and watched the situation. He knew Ethan and Philleo’s relationship wasn’t just that between the little Duke and the knight. They have been friends since childhood.

Philleo ignored Ethan’s anger and walked straight to Ethan’s desk. The man’s eyes looked sharply and firmly at Ethan. "Is what I heard just now true? My Lady is in the North with Dame Rosaline and Sarah? Have you gone mad, Ethan?!"

Hearing that, Thompson widened his eyes. "Philleo Aaron! How dare you—"

Ethan shook his head when he realized that Thompson was about to scold Philleo. The man ordered Thompson to get out of his office. After Thompson left his study, Ethan immediately pointed at Philleo’s face.

"You’ve really crossed your lines, Phill! You are indeed my friend, but you must be able to distinguish when you should treat me as a friend and when you should treat me as the son of a Duke you serve!"

"I don’t care about that! To hell with it all, Ethan!" shouted Phileo. At this point, Ethan didn’t even seem to recognize Philleo Aaron anymore. The man was not like Philleo Aaron who usually looked gentle and friendly. What’s with this guy? "I only care about Penelope Askary!"

"Philleo Aaron! I told you not to call my little sister’s name as you please like that!" Ethan snapped. "Now, get out of my study!"

"Is Penelope in the North?" asked Philleo, ignoring Ethan’s earlier order. "Tell me, Ethan! Is that woman there now?"

"Get out!" Ethan snapped again. "You’ve lost your mind, Phill! I will ask my father to discipline you. You’re obsessed with Penny like that crazy Duke Edmund!"

Philleo Aaron clenched his jaw and clenched his fists tightly. He glared at Ethan. "I’m going up North and I will bring Penelope Askary back!"

"Phill! Come back here!" Ethan shouted as Philleo came out of his study and closed the door with a slam. This made Ethan frown and ruffle his own hair. "What’s with that guy? He’s been really weird these past few days!"

###

Edmund Gerwyn had not expected him to find Penelope in such dangerous territory.

This woman seems to be lying to everyone in the Askary mansion about her whereabouts. Or, Penelope asked the people in her house to hide the fact she was in the North. If the second option was correct, it wouldn’t be strange for everyone in the Askary mansion to say Penelope was in the South region. But it’s okay. It’s all over now. He had managed to find Penelope and their child who was being carried by the woman he loved.

On the other hand, Penelope, who at first felt relieved that her life and the baby in her womb had been saved by Edmund, Penelope, who at first missed Edmund very much and thought that she most likely already had feelings for the cruel Duke, now started to panic. Penelope broke free from Edmund’s embrace and pushed him away. The woman put her hood back on and reflexively covered her stomach by holding it.

Seeing Penelope’s actions, Edmund smiled and looked at the woman’s belly which was now starting to grow. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"You don’t have to hide it from me anymore, Penelope. I know you are pregnant with my child. Why... Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you run away with my baby?" asked Edmund in a trembling voice. Even so, Penelope could also hear a hint of anger in Edmund’s voice. "Do you think I will let you run away with my baby who is growing and developing in your womb? You and the baby are mine, Penelope!"

Hearing that, Penelope suddenly felt angry. The woman automatically held her stomach even more with both hands as if she wanted to protect the baby she was carrying from Edmund.

"Yours?!" Penelope shouted. "This child is mine! Only mine! We don’t need you, Ed! We can survive alone without any help from you!"

When Penelope wanted to run away from Edmund, the man flinched and widened his eyes. He immediately jumped up and ran to catch up with Penelope, then grabbed her by the arm. After successfully catching Penelope, Edmund held Penelope’s shoulders and unconsciously shook the woman’s petite body. Seeing Edmund’s actions, Edgar immediately became alert. He ordered the other knights to clean up the mess the monsters had caused, then returned to keep an eye on Edmund and Penelope.

"Where are you going, Penelope?" Edmund hissed. "Do you think I’ll let you go again from my life when I’ve found you and our child?" Edmund hugged Penelope’s waist and then held her stomach, making Penelope flinch and widen her eyes. "This baby is mine whether you like that fact or not! I have the right to this baby because I am the father, Penelope Askary!"

"No!" Penelope shouted. She pushed Edmund again with all her might and immediately slapped the man. Penelope tried to catch her breath while Edmund held his cheek which hurt from Penelope’s slap just now. Meanwhile, Edgar gulped and noticed the arrival of Rosaline Amber, and Sarah. The two women were surprised when they saw Penelope facing Edmund. Rosaline even prepared to approach Edmund to protect Penelope, but Edgar held her arm and shook his head firmly while glaring at her. A look that told Rosaline not to interfere. "I told you this is my baby! You don’t love me, Ed! You hate me! So, why are you trying to keep me and this baby by your side, in your life?! You only love Isabella Lysander, I know that! Don’t worry, I won’t interfere in your life anymore! I can be a good mother to this child without anyone’s help!"

It was then that, somehow, a circle with moon and stars symbols, and with a pink glow appeared beneath Penelope. The woman blinked and Edmund widened his eyes. Edmund recognized that pink circle. It was the circle that once made Penelope disappear. Panic and fear began to take over Edmund. He tried to pull Penelope into his arms, but it didn’t work. Edmund was thrown when he tried to touch Penelope who was already surrounded by the pink light, causing Edgar to run straight toward Edmund.

"Your Grace! Are you okay?!" Edgar helped Edmund to stand up and Edmund immediately jerked the man.

"Penelope!" shouted Edmund. The man ran again to approach Penelope and tried to touch her again. Edmund winced in pain and screamed as his hand touched the pink light. It was as if he had just been given a high-voltage electric shock. "Penelope, please! Come back to me! I can’t live my life without you, Penelope! I need you and our child. I need you both. I love you both!" Edmund looked at Penelope with a pleading look and knelt. "I love you, Penelope Askary!"

The words made Penelope flinch. The woman clenched her fists at her sides. The tears threatened to roll down her beautiful face but Penelope held herself back and didn’t want to look weak in Edmund’s presence.

"You don’t love me," Penelope shook her head. "You’re just obsessed with me. You only love Isabella Lysander."

"That is not true! I—"

"Goodbye, Ed. Take care of yourself and don’t look for me and our baby again." Penelope smiled sadly and immediately disappeared from Edmund and everyone’s presence. The man was wide-eyed and shook his head in panic. He ran to the place where Penelope had just disappeared and knelt there.

"NO! DON’T LEAVE ME, PENELOPE! COME BACK TO ME!" Edmund shouted while hitting the asphalt beneath him hard repeatedly. The man’s fist was again cut and bleeding. "ARRRGH! RETURN PENELOPE TO ME!"

Seeing that Rosaline and Sarah looked at each other.

"Duke Edmund... loves My Lady?" muttered the two women together in a tone of bewilderment and disbelief.