Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 74: #-Talking With The Mysterious Voice
"What did you say?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Sebastian De Louis seemed unable to believe his own ears. The De Louis imperial Crown Prince slammed the table and stood up from his chair. He approached his aide, who looked down and gripped the man’s shoulder to make the aide wince in pain.
"Isaac Abraham threatened Penelope Askary by sending a bloodied dead rat to Gerwyn’s mansion?!" hissed Sebastian.
Sebastian’s aide, who had another assignment from the Crown Prince to always keep an eye on Penelope Askary, nodded. He didn’t understand why his master was still obsessed with the Duke’s wife. There are still many women who are more beautiful than Penelope Askary, who wants the position of Crown Princess. If Sebastian didn’t want to be with those women, wouldn’t he already have Isabella Lysander by his side? Why does Sebastian still want a married woman, who is pregnant with another man’s child?
"That’s the report I received from Zach, Your Highness," answered Sebastian’s aide in a choked tone. Zach is a knight of the imperial family as well as the leader of the first division that is famous for people with extraordinary abilities. "Zach found out about Isaac Abraham’s involvement with the Assassin’s Guild and ordered them to deliver the dead rat covered in blood for Duchess Penelope."
"Tsk!" Sebastian pushed his aide away and clenched his jaw. "What did Edmund do? Why couldn’t that man prevent something trivial like this? My Penelope must have been terrified. As expected, only I can protect Penelope and make that woman happy. Edmund can do nothing to protect his own wife." Sebastian walked toward the door of his study and prepared to leave.
"Your Highness?" called Sebastian’s aide in a doubtful tone. "Where do you want to go?"
"Of course, I have to go to Gerwyn’s mansion now!" Sebastian exclaimed. "Did you think I would just stay quiet when I knew my Penelope was in danger and most likely scared right now? I have to go see that woman to calm her down."
"What? But... There was already Duke Edmund, Your Highness. Duke Edmund is her husband and I’m sure Duke Edmund will do his best, will do whatever it takes to protect and comfort Duchess Penelope. Isaac Abraham will surely be caught soon."
Sebastian stopped in his tracks and turned his head around. When the aide noticed the murderous look the Crown Prince gave him, the man flinched and immediately lowered his head.
"You dare talk back to me? You’re just an aide! I have the right and power to do whatever I want. I’m sure Penelope would be very happy if I visited her now. Look for more evidence on this matter. Once the evidence has been collected, arrest Isaac Abraham and give him the death penalty for threatening my Penelope! I’m sure Penelope will be touched by my actions."
Sebastian smiled triumphantly and walked out of his study.
"Wait for me, My dear Penelope. I will come soon to dispel all your fears."
###
Penelope Askary was very pleased to see Isabella Lysander’s face red with anger and embarrassment that was probably starting to well up inside of her as a result of what she had just said.
If Isabella thought she would always win because she had the support of Sebastian De Louis and would always bring her down because of that woman’s words about her past relationship with Edmund, then Penelope would show her that she was wrong. Maybe at first, Penelope, who had just entered this body, felt strange and afraid of everything in this world. But, after she swore to herself and in front of Ethan Askary that she would be a stronger woman in the future, Penelope knew she couldn’t just stay silent.
"You have a very scary mouth, Penelope Askary," said Isabella in a sharp tone, causing Penelope to raise an eyebrow. "Does Edmund know about your true nature like this?"
"Call him Duke Edmund, Isabella Lysander. And call me Duchess," Penelope replied in a firm tone. "Who do you think you are that you can call me and Ed just by our names without using our titles? Our status is higher than yours, Isabella. Even His Highness the Emperor and Her Highness the Empress still address us by using our titles even though their statuses are higher compared to us. Know your place, Isabella!" Penelope bent down and brought her face closer to Isabella’s as she was still sitting in her chair. "Then, regarding my true nature. Ed knew about it and he didn’t mind it. That man loves me so much that he accepts everything about me, Isabella. According to him, a cruel woman like me deserves to be side by side with a cruel man like him."
"You?!" Isabella growled.
Penelope smiled and shrugged. She straightened her back again and stared into the restaurant.
"I’m going to give you some very wise advice, Isabella," Penelope said. "Stay away from my older brother. I don’t want him to get involved with a hypocrite like you, Isabella Lysander. If you ignore my warning and still approach Ethan Askary, I will teach you a lesson and I will make you regret it."
When Isabella stood up from her chair and intended to reply to Penelope’s words, Penelope froze. The woman held her head and subconsciously took a step back. Her face suddenly turned pale, making Edgar and Sarah surprised and both of them immediately held Penelope’s body which almost fell.
"My Lady?! What is wrong? Are you sick?!" Sarah exclaimed frantically.
"Duchess, are you all right?" Edgar asked. "We have to go home now, Duchess! The safety of yourself and your children is my priority!"
Penelope did not answer. She found it hard to breathe. Everything around her suddenly started to darken.
"Lady Isabella!" Sarah growled. The woman stared intently at Isabella, who looked confused. "What have you done to Duchess Gerwyn?! If Duke Edmund finds out about this, I’m sure you won’t be able to survive!"
"What?" Isabella blinked and pointed at herself. She could hear whispers around her accusing her of doing something to Penelope to make Penelope fall like that. "I am not doing anything! She suddenly fell on her own!"
"Penny?!"
The scream made Isabella, Sarah, and Edgar turn their heads. Ethan ran and put all the cakes he bought for Penelope on the table, then immediately knelt beside his little sister, who was starting to sweat and looked to be enduring the pain.
"Sarah, Sir Edgar, what’s wrong with Penny?" Ethan asked. He touched Penelope’s forehead to wipe away the sweat and frowned when he realized his little sister had a fever. "A fever?"
"What? My Lady’s got a fever? But... At the mansion and on the way here, My Lady was fine, Young Master." Sarah gulped and looked at her Lady who looked miserable. "We must quickly bring her back to the mansion, Sir Edgar, Young Master. Duke Edmund must be informed of this."
Ethan nodded, and so did Edgar. Ethan immediately carried Penelope and Sarah carrying all the cakes that Ethan had bought and placed on the table earlier. Seeing how they were going home, Isabella immediately held Ethan’s arm. This caused Ethan to stop in his tracks and turn his head with a frown.
"Allow me to come with you, Ethan!"
"No," Ethan said firmly, shaking his head. "You stay here or go back to your mansion. I don’t want to make a scene at my brother-in-law’s mansion!"
"But—"
"Isabella Lysander," Ethan growled. "Don’t make me act harsh to you!"
Isabella looked down. Somehow, it hurts so much to be treated like this by Ethan Askary.
"Jellal!" Edgar shouted. Jellal suddenly appeared and looked at Chris. "Go first to the mansion and report the Duchess’ condition to the Duke. Tell Evan to call the doctor immediately!"
###
"You should have died, Penelope Askary!"
Penelope opened her eyes and blinked. The woman looked around. This place is empty, dark, and cold. She got up from her lying position and started walking. Where is this? Wasn’t she at a restaurant waiting for Ethan Askary and arguing with Isabella Lysander?
"Why are you still alive?!" shouted the voice. Penelope frowned and stopped in her tracks.
"What?" Penelope asked in a confused tone. "What are you talking about? Who are you? Why don’t you show yourself?"
"This world belongs to Isabella Lysander! She is the female lead! But, why did you take and seize everything that belongs to Isabella?! You are simply a villainess destined to die! It doesn’t matter if your soul is from another world, you still have to die because that is Penelope Askary’s destiny!"
Penelope gulped and clenched her fists. "So, you know that I’m not the real Penelope Askary?"
"Of course! I know everything that happens in this world! I created this world together with that bitch, Elleia! I wanted you as the villainess to make the female lead shine even more but Elleia didn’t want that. That bitch actually likes you and wants you to get happy. But, I finally managed to thwart Elleia’s plan. I made you evil, I made you always hurt Isabella, and even almost got Isabella killed. And finally, I made you die at the hands of the male leads! But, Elleia turned back time because she wanted you to have a better life! I can’t accept that. No matter how many times Elleia will turn back time, I will make sure Penelope Askary dies at the hands of Edmund Gerwyn and Sebastian De Louis!"
"Are you crazy?!" Penelope shouted. She looked up, staring into the darkness. "You can’t make someone suffer like this just because of your selfishness and just because you need a bad guy to make the main characters grow! Penelope Askary has suffered all this time and I’m not going to let that woman experience it again. I will live happily for the real Penelope Askary’s sake and for her family’s too! This time, Penelope Askary will be the main character!"
"And do you think I’m going to let that happen?" the mysterious voice laughed mockingly. "As long as I am in this world, I will keep Penelope Askary dead. It doesn’t matter if the soul in her body belongs to the real Penelope Askary or not! Edmund Gerwyn and Sebastian De Louis belong only to Isabella Lysander! This world should only center on Isabella! I don’t need extra characters like you!"
Penelope clenched her jaw and grinned.
"Then, we’ll see who wins and laughs at the end, you damn mysterious voice," Penelope said in a sharp tone. "I will prove to you that I will fight against all those who intend to hurt me and make me suffer!"
