The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 40: The things we do for love (2)

"Does this frighten you?" Tyrion asked, moving with the rhythm of the music as they danced among the other pairs.

"No. This is child’s play considering all that I have overheard from my father. You should do what you must, but I only ask that you don’t find yourself in danger over me. When your court is already not pleased with me, what would they think if they find out what you have done?" Penelope asked.

Penelope didn’t want to drag Tyrion down into her problems.

"If only they knew that I have been trying to set your sights elsewhere. That I have turned down your advances. They would not believe me, would they?" Penelope asked, which was why she didn’t mention it to Arthur.

"Don’t think about them. Their thoughts and actions would only make you lose your mind. Think about me. Think of how you are in denial of what you feel for me. I will get rid of anyone who would make the palace a cage for you. I do what is needed for you," Tyrion said.

"I still don’t want to go. It will never be possible for you to have the palace and me. Please, do not speak of leaving the palace for me. I," Penelope stopped, looking down for a moment. "I cannot think of anyone else who would be a better king. The kingdom deserves to be ruled by someone like you."

"There is Teo," Tyrion said, reminding Penelope of his younger brother.

"Teo is good, but he isn’t as wonderful as you are," Penelope said, noticing the smile that fell on Tyrion’s lips."It was only a compliment."

"A compliment from you is rare these days. I won’t give up just yet. I will do what I can to prove my love to you. One day, if you pick someone else, I will still do what I can to protect you," Tyrion promised.

This came as a surprise to Penelope.

"If I were to accept a gentleman’s proposal now, would you give up and protect me from afar? You would not meddle and try to convince me to accept your hand?" Penelope asked, not believing it was so.

"If he made it through the night, then yes," Tyrion replied, causing Penelope to laugh. "I love you enough to know when it is time to let you go so you can be happy. That is my foot. Since when have you ever messed up during a dance? Nervous?" Tyrion asked, enjoying the state Penelope fell in.

Penelope purposely stepped on Tyrion’s shoe the second time around. She had never messed up, but how could she not with what he confessed to her?

"Why aren’t you giving up now when I have already said I don’t want to enter the palace?" It is dangerous," Penelope said, shifting the conversation.

"Because I have not finished cleaning out the palace yet. When I am done, I will show you the state of the palace. You are also too wonderful for me to let go of so easily. Each time I step away, there is a bastard near you," Tyrion said, spotting the man who asked Penelope for a dance.

Despite her reluctance to dance with many of the bachelors around the town and many referring to her as cold-hearted, Penelope was always approached because of her family wealth and the challenge she presented to men.

Many were trying to see who would be the one to make her cave in to fall in love.

"It is unfortunate that your days of running around the town at night are over. I was looking forward to us having more uninterrupted talks. I shall find a way for us to speak without worrying about the town’s gaze. Wait for me," Tyruon said, stepping away from Penelope as the song came to an end.

Tyrion lifted her hand, just as the other men around him who were bold enough did, to kiss the back of it.

Penelope curtsied, her right foot almost losing balance, but she managed not to fall.

Penelope retreated to her family’s side.

"Well done," Lily applauded Penelope. "You look as though you need a fan."

"I don’t need anything," Penelope said softly. Though a glass of water was needed now. "One dance is enough for me. Father, can I stay by your side?" She asked, drawing closer to Edgar.

It was Lily’s turn to be the one made to dance.

Remaining by her father’s side, Penelope managed to avoid more offers to dance and, in due time, prepared to leave with her family.

On their way out of the gathering, Penelope caught a glimpse of Tyrion speaking to a palace guard. She did not know when next she would see him, and despite all that she said to him, Penelope looked forward to it.

Penelope found herself having to admit that the things Tyrion said were swaying her decision.

Alongside the Collinses leaving was Arthur, since he wasn’t getting his way. He placed a man before Penelope to steal her heart, yet that wasn’t working out now, and the prince failed to acknowledge the women he had picked.

Once settled in his carriage, Arthur let out his frustrations.

"That boy is a fool. The court offers him women who could warm his bed, but like a fool, he sets one on a silly girl. This cannot be our king," Arthur spat, annoyed he had to put up with a brat.

Arthur hated even more that he was being subjected to the prince handling him like he was a simple man. Tyrion had no right to treat Arthur as he did. fгeewebnovёl.com

"He will be a problem when he is king. If he makes it," Arthur quickly sang a different tune.

The second prince seemed easier to control than the crown prince. Should anything happen to Tyrion, the palace would be better off in the hands of the second prince.

"I would have to convince the others," Arthur said, plotting for an incident to fall upon the crown prince.

Such incidents needed to happen for the better of the palace and the kingdom.

Arthur relaxed now that he had a plan in mind. The ride to his home was peaceful until the sound of horses surrounded his carriage, and it quickly came to a stop.

"What is the meaning of this?" Arthur yelled, looking outside where he spotted familiar palace guards’ uniforms. "I am the man of the court!" He yelled, but soon regretted his actions after hearing his coachman cry out, followed by silence.

The carriage door was pulled open, revealing a man Arthur knew was a guard for Tyrion.

"The crown prince sends his regards," the palace guard said, his grip strong like iron as he pulled Arthur out of the carriage.

Arthur’s nails dug into the polished wood as he fought to stay within the carriage, but he wasn’t a match for trained palace guards.