The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 106: Visitors from the palace (2)

Tyrion held Penelope’s hand to stop her from trying to push him away. "I have not seen you since we ate this morning. Allow me to have a moment of your time. I will not inquire about your plans for tonight. Did you not miss me? I would."

Penelope frowned, thrown off by his last words. "I am well aware of how much you enjoy your own company, and I don’t know if I like it yet. Perhaps I have been neglecting you. I can give you an hour of my time."

Tyrion kept his hold on Penelope’s hand so they could walk together out to the garden.

"I forgot to inform you that Rue will soon become our guest. She will need someone to accompany her when her father is in the palace, so I suggested you and Lily. You may visit her or she can come here," Tyrion suggested. "Only if you want to."

"I adore Rue, so I will be happy to be her companion. I know it has always been hard for her and her siblings to settle in town, so I will do my best to make it easier. Must I be concerned about war?" Penelope asked.

Penelope didn’t want to have to send Tyrion off so soon. There were a few times in their youth when Tyrion had been sent away to get used to the ways of war. He needed to learn what it took to be a good leader to command an army.

Tyrion had not done it recently, but with the court against him, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if they suggested he leave.

"No. Rafael and his wife do not want war. If anything, all they want is to kill the court, and I am all for it. My father’s close ties to the leader of the border prevent war. I have heard someone suggest that Rue and Teo should marry," Tyrion said.

Tyrion opened the door and held it so Penelope could leave first.

Penelope exited the room, but soon stopped when she found Matilda and Damien standing at more than an arm’s length away from each other.

"My husband and I will be going for a walk. You should rest your feet," Penelope suggested.

"I can stand for many hours, Milady. If you are going outside, I should get you a parasol. Excuse me," Matilda said, curtseying before leaving to find where she had placed the parasols.

"I will remain at a distance to guard you," said Damien.

"Leave them be. We should enjoy that they are working hard, considering what they are paid. Follow us, but not so close," Tyrion said, allowing Damien to join them.

"What you said about Teo and Rue," Penelope said, continuing with their conversation. "They are quite the odd pairing. I have noticed that they are close at times, but it is only because they both like to cause mischief. I know personally that Rue doesn’t romantically think of you or Teo."

"Not that I mind if she does, but what was her reasoning?" Tyrion asked, curious about what Rue thought of him.

"There are too many rules for being at your side even as a friend. That alone ruins any chance of her wanting to be with Teo. I have also never heard her speak of you as other ladies do. Like your appearance," said Penelope.

It could have been due to Rue knowing that Penelope and Tyrion shared a special bond.

"So, a marriage between her and Teo is out of the question. During my visit yesterday, I spoke to him again before I left, and I was told that Amelia approached him," Tyrion shared.

Penelope frowned, immediately put off by the idea of Amelia marrying into the palace so they would be family.

"I don’t like the thought of them together, but we cannot stop him from courting who he is drawn to. It is not like we shall run into them very often," said Penelope.

"You are worrying yourself for nothing. Teo doesn’t hold the tiniest bit of interest in Amelia. He pleaded with me to do something to get her attention off of him, but I have declined to help him. I am finally rid of her," Tyrion replied, thrilled he did not need to see her anymore.

Penelope placed her left hand by her mouth to hide her smile. "For all that she said to me about you, I thought Amelia was in love with you. She has always made it appear that way, yet all this time, she was only after becoming queen."

"Knowing this bothers me since I had told her many times that I did not want to become queen so she could have you. Had I not accepted your proposal, what if you had married her?" Penelope wondered.

"There is no what if since I never planned to make anything out of her advances. I know when a woman is only interested in the life she could have as a queen. Why you believed she loved me is a mystery," Tyrion said, questioning Penelope’s sight.

"Is that why you were drawn to the one lady who did not want to enter the palace?" Penelope asked.

"No, I liked you long before there were conversations of who would become the next queen. I must admit it did help that you loved me for me and not because I was the crown prince. Everyone was always so calculated when they spoke, but you were honest."

"My father always said it was pointless to lie. Rather than have to keep up with lies, we should be honest," Penelope explained. "I tried to be gentle with my honesty, but that doesn’t always work. That is why my relationship with Melanie is now ruined."

"Not everyone can handle the truth. It is odd because they don’t want to be lied to, but at the same time, they do not want to hear the truth. It is best that you tell the truth, no matter how hard it is," Tyrion agreed.

"So, will you always tell me the truth? If I ask what you are building outside where the knights are, will you speak the truth?" Penelope asked, waiting for her curiosity to be fed.

"It is a training ground," Tyrion replied. He didn’t have any reason to lie about it.

"And what else? I have taken a tour of our home when you were away. I know there will be a training ground, but I overheard new building plans. Perhaps it has something to do with you getting out of bed at night," Penelope said, revealing she knew of his absence.

Tyrion looked back at Damien.

"I am willing to make a bet that you wish you didn’t come to disturb me," Penelope said, holding his hand tightly so he couldn’t slip away.