Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 79: #-I Will Find A New Love!

"I really hate it when I have to go to the imperial palace."

Callix, who today accompanied Ethan Askary to take care of something at the imperial palace, could only smile and shake his head in amusement. Callix knew what made his master dislike having to go to the palace. Of course, he didn’t want to meet the Crown Prince, the man who had abandoned his little sister and was now obsessed with her. All of the knights of the Askary family already knew that Sebastian De Louis wanted to take Penelope Askary away from Duke Edmund Gerwyn and they all strongly condemned the intention of the Crown Prince.

"Be patient, Young Master," said Callix. "We only come to the palace to take care of our work. I’m sure, Young Master can settle the matter quickly and we’ll head straight back to the mansion. Or, Young Master would like to visit My Lady at Duke Edmund’s mansion?"

Hearing Callix’s suggestion, Ethan immediately smiled happily. The man turned his head and nodded excitedly.

"You’re right, Call. I didn’t expect you to be this smart," Ethan praised, patting Callix’s shoulder repeatedly. "I feel instantly better just thinking about that adorable little sister of mine. After our business at the palace is finished, we’ll go buy lots of Penny’s favorite cakes and visit her at Duke Edmund’s mansion."

"Help!"

The scream made Ethan stop in his tracks. The man looked at Callix and frowned.

"Did you hear that voice, Call?"

Callix nodded. "Yes, Young Master. It was a woman’s voice asking for help." Callix stared at the palace’s garden. "I think the voice is coming from there, Young Master. Should we check it out?"

Ethan took a deep breath. "I’m too lazy to have to deal with matters like this. But, I also know that I can’t let a woman who is in danger or get into trouble." The man shrugged and walked slowly toward the palace’s garden. "Come on, Call. After we have checked what is going on, we should quickly finish our work in the palace."

Ethan didn’t expect that he would find Isabella, who was crying in fear and pain because of the Crown Prince. The man immediately helped Isabella without even thinking that his actions, especially when he pointed his sword at the Crown Prince, would get him in trouble. Just like now, when Sebastian’s two shadow knights pointed their swords at him.

"What I’m doing to Isabella Lysander is none of your business, Ethan Askary!" growled Sebastian. He pointed at the face of the man in front of him. "You shouldn’t have to meddle in my affairs and my future concubine!"

Ethan frowned when he heard those words. "Your future concubine? Isn’t Isabella your future Empress?"

Sebastian snorted and laughed. "Originally, I was going to make that woman my Empress when I became Emperor later. But, I changed my mind. In my opinion, Penelope Askary, your little sister, deserves to be beside me and occupy the seat of the Empress of this empire, Ethan Askary." Sebastian grinned and licked his lips. "She loves me. She’s crazy about me. So, I should have made her the Empress."

Hearing that, Ethan Askary froze. The man was wide-eyed. His jaw clenched and his teeth gritted. The anger began to rise and overwhelm him. Ethan growled and unconsciously, his arms around Isabella’s waist tightened. This made Isabella wince in pain and look up to see Ethan’s face.

"Ethan Askary...?" muttered Isabella. She had never seen Ethan like this before. The man may have shown his anger when she insulted Penelope at that time. But Isabella didn’t feel this scared. Ethan Askary, who was standing behind her right now was far scarier than Ethan Askary, who was angry at her at that time.

"You’ve lost your mind, Sebastian De Louis!" Ethan shouted. He couldn’t stand it when Sebastian treated his little sister as if she was a slut. "Penny is Duke Edmund’s wife! She is the wife of your own best friend! I can’t believe you have such a rotten plan for the two of them. Did I think I would let you do that?! I will protect my little sister as well as Duke Edmund! I will protect their marriage. I don’t care if my opponent is the Crown Prince of this empire."

Sebastian laughed mockingly. "You have great guts, little Duke. You dare to defy me, that means you are ready to accept my punishment," said Sebastian in a cold tone. He glanced at the two shadow knights behind him. "What are you guys waiting for? Quickly, catch Ethan Askary and put him in the imperial prison. He already dared to insult the Crown Prince of this empire."

"What’s going on here?"

The sharp question made Sebastian, Ethan, and Isabella turn their heads. Callix and Sebastian’s two shadow knights immediately knelt and lowered their heads when they saw Emperor De Louis approach them all.

"Greetings to His Highness the Emperor. May Elleia’s light always be with you," said Callix and Sebastian’s two shadow knights.

The emperor just nodded and stood between Sebastian and Ethan. Seeing that, Ethan immediately lowered his sword and released his arms around Isabella’s waist. He bowed and greeted the Emperor. Isabella did the same too.

"I asked what was going on here?" repeated the Emperor. He glared at Ethan, Isabella, and his son, Sebastian. "Why are you arguing in my palace?"

"Nothing Father—I mean, Your Highness," said Sebastian. "It’s just a misunderstanding."

Ethan snorted and laughed mockingly. Hearing that, the Emperor looked at Ethan.

"Is there something you’d like to tell me, Ethan Askary?"

"If you allow me, Your Highness," Ethan replied. After seeing the Emperor nod firmly, Ethan added, "This was not a misunderstanding as His Highness the Crown Prince said. I accidentally saw His Highness the Crown Prince trying to harm Lady Isabella. Thus, I immediately helped Lady Isabella. Callix is ​​a witness. He is a knight of the Askary family, who has to escort me today. Then, His Highness the Crown Prince got angry because he felt that I was interfering in his affairs. But, isn’t it strange if I just stay silent when I see a fragile woman, who is scared and crying, without doing anything to help her? Then, His Highness the Crown Prince said something that angered me." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"You?!" growled Sebastian. However, Emperor De Louis immediately looked at his only son and gave him a sharp glare.

"I am not giving you permission to speak, Sebastian De Louis," said the Emperor coldly. "Behave yourself! I don’t remember raising you and teaching you to be this impudent."

Sebastian paused and looked away. His hands clenched tightly at his sides.

"Go on, Ethan Askary," said the Emperor, giving orders.

Ethan nodded and thanked him. "Then, while I was defending Lady Isabella, His Highness the Crown Prince said that he will snatch my little sister from Duke Edmund and will have her as the Empress of this empire when His Highness the Crown Prince ascends the throne to become Emperor. He also said that Lady Isabella would become his concubine. As an older brother, I could not accept His Highness the Crown Prince saying such impudent and immoral things about my little sister. Because of that, I got angry and subconsciously pointed my sword at His Highness the Crown Prince." Ethan bowed. "Forgive my impudence, Your Highness. I am ready if you will punish me."

Emperor De Louis took a deep breath and massaged the bridge of his nose. He opened his palms before Ethan Askary.

"No, you are innocent, Ethan Askary. I should be the one apologizing to you and Duchess Penelope for the Crown Prince’s impudent words."

"Father!"

"Shut up, Sebastian De Louis," the Emperor growled. "You have brought shame to the imperial family! Don’t you realize the mistake you’ve made, huh?! How dare you say you want to take Duchess Penelope away from Duke Edmund?! You asked me to marry you and Lady Isabella so that she would become the Empress and now you even want to make her your concubine?! I am truly ashamed of your actions, Sebastian De Louis! You will be punished! I forbid you to leave your palace for a week!"

Sebastian was wide-eyed. "Father, you’re giving me a week’s probation?!"

"You hear me well," growled the Emperor. He glanced at two of the four imperial knights escorting him. "You two, take the Crown Prince to his palace and lock him up there! If anyone dares to help the Crown Prince out of his palace, I will give them the death penalty."

"You can’t do this to me, Father!" Sebastian shouted. The man struggled as he was dragged away by the two imperial knights, who were escorting the Emperor. "Father! What’s wrong with having two wives?! What’s wrong with me wanting Penelope Askary to be my Empress?! That woman only loves me, Father!"

Ethan glared at Sebastian and took a deep breath. The man bowed toward the Emperor.

"Thank you for your wisdom, Your Highness. And, please forgive me for causing a ruckus in your palace."

The emperor waved his hand. "I told you that you are innocent, Ethan Askary. I don’t know what got into the Crown Prince for him to be able to act like this." The emperor looked at Isabella Lysander, who was hiding behind Ethan. "Lady Isabella, forgive the Crown Prince’s impudence. I will make sure something like this doesn’t happen again. I will scold him for daring to hurt you and make you cry."

Isabella smiled faintly. "It’s alright, Your Highness. And, thank you very much."

After the Emperor left the palace’s garden, Isabella heaved a sigh of relief. She looked up to meet Ethan’s eyes and smiled sweetly.

"Ethan, thank you for saving me. I owe my life to you again."

"Forget it," Ethan said flatly. "I just don’t like seeing a man, who has the heart to harass and hurt a woman. Since the matter here is over, I should finish my work at the palace and go immediately to meet Penny at Duke Edmund’s mansion."

"Wait, Ethan!"

Isabella immediately held Ethan’s arm when she saw him leaving her. Isabella looked at Ethan with sparkling eyes and smiled broadly.

"I’ve decided to find a new love! I will leave Sebastian and won’t want to marry such a shameless and annoying man!"

Ethan raised an eyebrow and cleared his throat. "Err... that’s a good thing. But, why did you tell me such a thing? I have nothing to do with whatever you are going to do in your life."

Isabella grinned and pulled Ethan’s arm which she was hugging. Startled, Ethan could not keep his body balanced. He froze when Isabella suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. After successfully kissing Ethan and letting go of the man, Isabella laughed and ran while waving at Ethan. Ethan, who was confused and didn’t expect Isabella to kiss his cheek, could only freeze and hold his cheek. Meanwhile, Callix blinked and looked away to hide his giggles.

"I’ve decided that I’m going to make you fall in love with me, Ethan Askary! Because I think I’ve fallen in love with you!" Isabella shouted. The woman then disappeared from Ethan’s sight, making Ethan point at himself while looking at Callix.

"Hey," Ethan said, confused. "What did that annoying woman just say and do to me, Callix?"