Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 47: #-Warning, Festival, And The Crown Prince of The Abelavish’s Empire
"Hello, Father!"
Edmund Gerwyn turned and frowned when he saw a boy and a girl running toward him and hugging his legs. The man knelt in front of the two children and smiled awkwardly. He had never faced children all his life. He didn’t know how to smile either. His smile, his laugh, only came naturally when he was facing Penelope Askary. Edmund Gerwyn cleared his throat and hoped that the expression on his face at this moment did not frighten the two children in front of him, who looked like they were five years old.
"Um... Father? Why do you call me Father?" asked Edmund in a confused tone to the two children who looked similar to each other. "Are you twins?"
The boy and girl looked at each other, chuckled, then nodded at Edmund.
"Yes! We are twins," answered the girl in a sweet and cheerful tone. Edmund looked at her and without realizing it, the gentle smile that always came naturally when he was dealing with Penelope Askary, appeared. He reached out and ruffled the girl’s blue hair. Then, Edmund blinked.
Wait a minute. Blue hair? Why did Edmund feel as if he saw Penelope Askary when he saw that beautiful and adorable girl in front of him? The girl did have blue hair like Penelope. Not only that, her eyes... The girl’s eyes were very beautiful and unique according to Edmund. She has a different eye color. Her right eye is gold like Penelope and her left eye is... blue like his?!
Edmund swallowed hard and immediately turned to look at the boy beside the long-haired girl. The boy looks handsome. He had black hair like the darkness of the night sky. His eyes are also very beautiful and unique, like his twin sister’s. The difference is, his left eye is gold and his right eye is blue. Then, Edmund also seemed to be able to see his own reflection when he was little when he looked at the boy.
"Can you answer my earlier question?" asked Edmund after clearing his throat. He didn’t know what had happened to him, but Edmund suddenly felt an emotional attachment to the twins. Edmund suddenly felt affection for those adorable twins in front of him.
"We call you Father because you are our Father," replied the boy who looked like Edmund. The answer immediately made Edmund widen his eyes and freeze. The man fell to his knees because he was too shocked by the information. "Father? Are you okay? You look pale. Are you sick?"
"No, it’s not like that," shook Edmund and took a deep breath. The man rubbed his face with both hands and laughed. Then, suddenly, Edmund hugged the two children, making the twins look at each other and laugh happily. "I just didn’t expect a miracle like this to happen to me. I mean, I met my children who weren’t even born yet. Isn’t Goddess Elleia very kind to me? She has allowed me to be able to get the love from Penelope Askary, she has also allowed me to be a Father, and now, Goddess Elleia is allowing me to meet my children. I came to know that I will have two children at the same time and can also see how your face will be in the future."
The twins broke away from Edmund Gerwyn’s tight and warm embrace. Suddenly, the twins’ faces turned serious. This made Edmund wary and afraid that something bad would happen to them both.
"Father, our purpose in coming to see you right now is to warn you," said Edmund’s daughter. Her face looked panicked, making Edmund also panic because of it. "Goddess Elleia granted us the permission and opportunity to meet you in this form. The form of our five-year-old."
"That is if we manage to be born into this world safely, Father." The boy added.
"What do you mean?" asked Edmund in a trembling voice. He held the twins’ tiny hands. "Please, explain to me."
"Father, Mother will be in danger."
"What?!" Edmund screamed as he heard the twins’ words.
"We don’t know when it will happen," explained the boy. "Because Goddess Elleia didn’t tell us. But, soon, Mother will experience a terrible incident. That incident would put both of our lives in danger. If Father can’t protect Mother and save her, then Father won’t be able to meet us."
The information made Edmund tremble with fear. The darkness and coldness began to embrace his body. He lowered his head, meeting the unique eyes of his two children. If he couldn’t protect Penelope properly, these children would never be born into the world.
"Who?" asked Edmund after wetting his lips. "Who will hurt you and your Mother? Tell me who it is so I can kill them!"
The twins shook their heads weakly. "We don’t know," answered the girl.
"Goddess Elleia only told us that much," added the boy. "Therefore, Father, please always be near Mother so we can meet the both of you in the real world."
"We have to go now," said the girl. She smiled sadly and hugged Edmund by the neck. Then, the girl kissed Edmund on both cheeks. "We don’t have much time to chat with you. But, we are happy because we could meet you, Father."
The boy also hugged Edmund. "We will wait so we can meet with Mother and Father. And, when you wake up, you won’t be able to remember us. Father will not remember meeting us, but the information about Mother who will be in danger, will still be remembered by you."
"What? Wait!" Edmund reached out, intending to stop the twins from running away. However, he couldn’t stop them. The two of them immediately disappeared and Edmund closed his eyes when a light that was so dazzling made him difficult to see.
###
Edmund glanced at Penelope.
Currently, they are having breakfast at the Askary family’s summer house. Edgar, who had always followed the Duke, was waiting outside the dining hall with Philleo and Rosaline. In the dining room, there was only Sarah, who was in charge of waiting for orders from Penelope and Edmund if they wanted something.
"Why aren’t you eating?" asked Edmund in a worried tone. Penelope’s face looked pale, making Edmund afraid that she was sick or something. "You’ve only been playing with your food since earlier, Penny."
Last night, Penelope was surprised when she heard Edmund call her by that name. However, Penelope decided to accept it and not argue with Edmund over the matter of names. The woman turned to Edmund and smiled faintly.
"I’m... nauseous," Penelope answered with a heavy sigh. She put her fork and knife on the table and rubbed her stomach gently. "Your child doesn’t want to eat this food. Your child doesn’t like the smell."
Edmund frowned and looked at Sarah. "Sarah, are there certain foods that Penny always eats when she’s feeling nauseous?"
"No, Your Grace," Sarah shook her head. "My Lady usually eats whatever the food is, even just a little bit, even when she’s feeling nauseous." Sarah approached Penelope and knelt beside her Lady. "My Lady, would you like to eat something else?"
Penelope nodded and looked at Edmund. "I want to go to the festival."
"Huh?" Edmund blinked. "What festival?"
"I accidentally saw it," Penelope said in a low voice. "While I was out with Rosaline and Sarah before we met you in the square, I saw a poster saying that today, there would be a big festival. They will sell a variety of foods and drinks. There are also performances and many more. I want to go there and buy a lot of food at the festival, Ed."
"Penny," Edmund sighed heavily. "The food at the festival is not clean. I don’t want to see you and our child sick. How about other food? Hmm? I will buy healthy and expensive food for you and our child."
Penelope scowled, crossed her arms, and shook her head firmly. "I don’t want to!"
"Penny—"
"If you won’t buy me food at the festival, I’ll be there with Sarah, Sir Philleo, and Dame Rosaline! I will ask them to buy me some good food there!" Penelope stood up from her chair and prepared to leave the dining room.
Seeing Penelope sulking at him, Edmund quickly stood up and chased after her. He hugged Penelope’s waist from behind, then put his face on Penelope’s shoulder so Edmund could see his woman’s face. Edmund’s arms were tight on Penelope’s waist and stomach but he wouldn’t hurt his baby. The man rubbed Penelope’s stomach gently. This time, Edmund’s mind was no longer to stop Penelope from eating the food sold at the festival but to stop her from going out with Philleo Aaron.
"Why are you angry like this, Penny? I just don’t want to protect you and our child," whispered Edmund. He bit Penelope’s ear lightly, making Penelope clear her throat to shake off her nervousness. Her face started to blush and she glanced at Sarah who looked down with a smile.
"Let me go," Penelope tried to escape from Edmund’s arms. "Ed, aren’t you ashamed to act like this in front of Sarah?"
"What’s wrong with my attitude? I’m just showing my affection for you," replied Edmund. The man then looked at Sarah. "Sarah, do you mind if I do something like this with Penny?"
"Not at all, Your Grace. I’m sure, your child will also be happy when the baby knows that the two of you are very lovey-dovey and intimate like this," Sarah replied. Edmund looked satisfied with that answer and looked back at Penelope.
"You heard Sarah’s answer, right? So, stop being mad at me. I will take you to the festival and buy all the food you want."
Penelope looked happy and immediately turned around. She hugged Edmund’s neck and smiled broadly. Her eyes twinkled.
"But," added Edmund. He laughed when he saw Penelope blink and then pout again. "I will check all the food first, whether the food is safe for you to consume or not. I will taste it first before giving it to you and our child. I don’t want you to get poisoned."
"Then, how about you?" Penelope asked in a worried tone. "What if the food turns out to be poisoned and you’re poisoned?"
"I’m not that weak," chuckled Edmund. "I am already immune to poison. Besides, I’d rather be poisoned than see you poisoned, Penelope."
Maybe because her hormones were always changing due to being in early pregnancy, Penelope became very spoiled toward Edmund. She was not shy about showing her childish side to the man. Or, their child really wanted her to be pampered and lovey-dovey with Edmund.
"Do you want us to go now?" asked Edmund. The man smiled seductively at Penelope and gave small kisses to her pretty face. Penelope chuckled at that. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
"Let’s go!" Penelope shouted excitedly.
###
"Your Highness Helios, please return to the palace immediately. Her Highness the Empress is furious that you have not returned."
Helios Rune Abelavish just whistled while smiling broadly and enjoying the festival in the Northern region of the De Louis empire. The Abelavish Empire that he came from was right beside this region. The two empires had a good relationship. Emperor De Louis and Emperor Abelavish were good friends since they were both Crown Princes.
"You’re so loud, Jeremy. I told you to tell my Mother that I will come back after enjoying this festival." Helios turned around. "Besides, I haven’t found my runaway little bunny."
"If it’s only for the little bunny, you can buy them again, Your Highness," said Jeremy in a tired tone. "Why do you have to bother looking for a little bunny that has escaped from your hands?"
"Because I like that little bunny. I love her golden eyes."
Jeremy frowned. Are there any bunnies that have golden eyes? He was hearing it for the first time.
"Perhaps, the little bunny has returned to its family, Your Highness. Or to her partner," said Jeremy again in a confused tone. Of course, the man was confused by the words he said just now. It was as if the bunny knew where to turn and ran away from the Crown Prince of the Abelavish empire.
"Aw, maybe you’re right," Helios stopped walking and rubbed his chin. "I regret that I let her go at that time." The man turned his head. "Hey, Jeremy, about Duke Edmund Gerwyn—"
Jeremy tilted his head and frowned as he saw the Crown Prince he was serving stop speaking and stare straight ahead. A wide-eyed stare. Then, the man smiled widely and his eyes lit up as he looked at Jeremy.
"Hey, Jeremy! I found it! My bunny, she is right in front of me!" Helios said in an excited tone. "It’s over there! Do you see that woman? That’s my little bunny I told you about!"
Jeremy turned and froze. Then, the man stared at Helios with his mouth wide open. Before long, Jeremy crouched down and groaned while squeezing his hair.
So, the little bunny that Helios Rune Abelavish was referring to was a woman? And, not only that, the woman that caught his eye was the woman belonging to the cruelest Duke in the De Louis empire, Duke Edmund Gerwyn?!
