Reincarnation of The Villainess: She Has The Duke's Baby!-Chapter 9: #0-Penelope Askary’s Plan

Philleo Aaron stood while watching Penelope Askary.

The woman was sitting with her arms crossed. Her eyes focused sharply forward, toward the tree in the backyard of the Askary family’s mansion. Most of the leaves from the tree had fallen because of the wind that had been blowing hard since yesterday. Penelope’s brain was spinning hard, looking for ways to help Isabella Lysander from the kidnapping that would traumatize her. Even though the real Penelope Askary had asked her not to have anything to do with the main characters, it still felt unfair if she knew what bad things were going to happen to them, but didn’t do anything to help.

"My Lady," Philleo called. He felt worried when he saw the look on his mistress’s face. It was as if Penelope had to bear the burden of all humans in this world. "Are you okay?"

Penelope blinked and turned her head. She smiled at Philleo who immediately cleared his throat and looked down, after he was wide-eyed from being given a sweet smile by his mistress. His face heated up rapidly and his heart pounded wildly. This is bad. It would be unethical for Philleo to have special feelings for Penelope. First, the woman is the little sister of his best friend. Her status was higher than his. Secondly, Philleo is just an ordinary knight. If he didn’t choose the job of a knight, maybe Philleo could still force himself to fight for her love. And finally, Philleo knows that Penelope has feelings for the crown prince, Sebastian De Louis.

"I’m fine," Penelope replied. "Forgive me, Sir Philleo. You must have heard the news about me suddenly fainting yesterday. I’ve made you worry, haven’t I? But, you don’t need to worry because now I’m fine." The woman raised her hand, exposing her small muscles while still smiling. "You saw it yourself, right?"

Philleo glanced at her and looked down again. His face felt hotter. He cleared his throat to ease his sudden nervousness, then realized Penelope had just sighed. The man then worked up the courage to look at Penelope and hoped that his face wasn’t blushing or something.

"My Lady, is there something you are worried about?"

Penelope nodded. She stood up from her chair and walked over to the guardrail that was in front of her. "I was thinking of a safe way to help someone."

Philleo’s brow furrowed. "A way to help someone? Who do you want to help, My Lady? And why do you want to help that person?"

The wind blew again, making Penelope’s beautiful blue hair flutter. The woman had to hold her hair in one hand and her golden eyes stared at Philleo. Again, for the second time, Philleo stared at her and froze in his place. How beautiful Penelope Askary is right now. She had always been beautiful, but for Philleo, coinciding with the change in Penelope’s attitude and demeanor which became softer, her beauty only increased.

The thought made Philleo flinch. How dare a knight like him to admire and have a desire to possess his mistress like that? Philleo immediately slapped himself hard, causing Penelope to flinch with shock and widen her eyes.

"Sir Phileo?!" Penelope exclaimed. She approached her knight and checked his blushing cheeks. "What is it? Are you okay?"

Philleo cleared his throat and straightened his back. He looked at Penelope’s golden eyes which gave a worried look, then nodded.

"Yes, I’m fine, My Lady. I only felt a bug crawling on my cheek, so I took the initiative to smack it."

"But your cheeks are turning red," Penelope said in a worried tone. She reached out and touch Philleo’s cheek. The man stood still and looked away because they were so close. "It must hurt because you hit your cheek so hard. I even jumped in shock."

"Forgive me, My Lady." Philleo took a deep breath and tried hard to control his heartbeat so Penelope wouldn’t have to hear its embarrassing sound. "By the way My Lady, you haven’t answered my question."

"Ah..." Penelope nodded and created some distance from Philleo Aaron. "I... overheard a conversation between strangers, just before I got into the carriage accident that time. They plan to kidnap Isabella Lysander. They also intended to harm her. Of course, I was thinking of a way to help Isabella."

Hearing that, Philleo frowned. "Doesn’t My Lady hate Miss Isabella Lysander because that woman is close to the crown prince?"

Realizing that his question just now was outrageous and impolite, Philleo gasped. He immediately dropped to one knee on the floor and bowed before Penelope.

"Forgive me, My Lady! I’ve crossed the line and been rude to you. I am ready to accept whatever punishment it is from My Lady."

Penelope blinked and the next second she was laughing. The laughter sounded amused. Hearing that, Philleo mustered up the courage to raise his head and saw Penelope wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes. Then, the woman helped Philleo to stand up, after Penelope ruffled Philleo’s hair. Her action made Philleo freeze again like a fool. And his poor heart was beating above normal again.

"It’s all right, Sir. What are you apologizing to me for? What you said just now is true. I hate Isabella Lysander because she is close to the crown prince and I consider her to have taken him away from me, when I didn’t even have a relationship with the crown prince. But, that’s all in the past. I no longer have feelings for the crown prince and I don’t care if he has a relationship with Isabella Lysander or any other woman. Because of that, I want to save Isabella Lysander. I want to make up for my past mistakes, which have hurt Isabella."

Penelope’s explanation made Philleo stunned. What’s more, her facial expressions and her golden eyes look very sincere and gentle.

"Beautiful..." Philleo muttered unconsciously, making Penelope blink and tilt her head.

"Yes?"

Philleo gasped. The man shook his head vigorously as he closed his eyes. His behavior was really cute in Penelope’s eyes.

"Forgive me, My Lady! Again, I speak impolitely to you!"

"Hey, how can praising me be considered impolite?" Penelope laughed again. The woman shook her head and took a deep breath. Then, Penelope smiled very gently with her head slightly tilted. That view, coupled with the beauty of the backyard as the leaves fall in the strong wind, is the most beautiful sight Philleo has ever seen and will always remember. "Thank you, Sir, for complimenting my beauty."

Philleo could only nod slowly and looked down. Avoiding eye contact with her beautiful golden eyes. If he kept staring at Penelope, Philleo was afraid that he would not be able to hold back and suddenly approached his mistress to hug her.

"So, will you help me thwart Isabella Lysander’s kidnapping plot, Sir Philleo?"

Philleo forced himself to look at Penelope who was still smiling and nodded.

"Of course, My Lady. If not me, who else will protect you? Would you like it if my head came off my body and rolled on the ground because of your big brother’s sword?"

Penelope laughed again and approached Philleo again. Then, the woman pinched Philleo’s cheek, making his face turn red and he was forced to look away, even though he let Penelope keep pinching his cheek.

The two of them didn’t know that someone was watching from inside the Askary’s mansion. The man wore an expression that was so cold. A cold look is in his eyes too. His hands clenched tightly, making Sarah, Penelope’s maid who was very loyal and loved Penelope, who had brought the guest for her beloved mistress, frown.

"You don’t show that smile and laugh when you are with me, Penelope," said the man in a low and cold tone. A tone that seemed to describe his disappointment. This made Sarah’s confusion even more.

Was Duke Edmund Gerwyn jealous of Lady Penelope and Sir Philleo’s closeness? Sarah thought in a questioning tone.