The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 67: Newlyweds (4)

"Can you help me take it off?" Penelope asked, turning around so her back was to Tyrion.

Penelope wished she didn’t require his help so she wouldn’t torment him even more, but she needed a hand with the dress or she would struggle.

It was either this or she would be hot as she slept.

"You don’t have to help if it is too much," Penelope said, looking over her shoulder.

"It is fine. I am not a beast who doesn’t know how to control itself," Tyrion replied, his fingers working fast to undo her dress.

"You are not? I am not convinced," Penelope said, jokingly.

Penelope learned quickly that now wasn’t the best time to make jokes as Tyrion’s hand lingered on her exposed skin. Her body tingled where he touched her, and without looking at him, Penelope guessed that he was smiling.

"I know how to control myself," Tyrion said, stepping away from Penelope once he was finished. "I shall pay you back for this in due time, but tonight, you will rest."

Tyrion looked away from Penelope so she could get to the bed and place herself under the covers. Once she was settled in, he picked up her dress to set it aside.

As Penelope wanted, Tyrion was going to join her in bed until she fell asleep. He could not rest until he met with Damien and knew if there was conflict with his father or the court.

Tyrion unbuttoned his shirt, set it to the side of Penelope’s dress, and joined her in bed.

He could not help smiling as she did everything she possibly could to avoid his gaze. It was the opposite of what Penelope did before, as he had caught her sneaking glances at him during the times she entered the palace whilst he was training to use weapons.

"I am yours to stare at," said Tyrion.

"Forgive me for being raised like a lady. My mother raised me well," Penelope replied.

Penelope did not have many chances to stare at men since her father and brother would quickly get rid of them.

Penelope laid on her right side to get a better look at Tyrion. It was strange at first, but she started to settle into the idea of sharing a bed with him.

To show she was comfortable in his presence as she was dressed scantily, Penelope scooted closer to Tyrion to rest her head on his chest.

This surprised Tyrion, but he didn’t share his thoughts to have her respond by backing away. Tyrion reacted by placing his right hand around her waist.

"It will not always be like this," Tyrion promised. "I will give you a proper home."

Penelope wasn’t afraid of where they would call their home. She was well aware of what her father was putting in her name as well as in her siblings’ names now that they were of age to marry.

Penelope could count on her father to offer them one of his homes.

"I am not worried about a home," Penelope replied. "I am worried about what will happen when you return to the palace. One day, it would be best for us to leave this town."

"I am not worried about it. I know how the court will react, and my father’s hands will be tied. He will be upset that I failed to inform him of our leaving. I only informed Teo," Tyrion revealed.

Penelope looked up at Tyrion, surprised by this. "When did you tell him?"

"Once I decided to go through with this plan. He knew long before we arrived at the ball. I had to let him know that he would take the throne. He was concerned for my safety, but he is happy. Teo was always more suited for the throne," said Tyrion.

Teo was overlooked all because he was the spare, and no one thought something would ever happen to Tyrion. Now there would be a lot of attention on him. Tyrion could not leave his brother just yet.

"It is good that at least one person from your family knew beforehand. You will have to apologise to your parents," Penelope said.

It was reasonable for Hazel and Tobias to be upset that they did not get the same respect as Alessandra and Edgar.

"I don’t want your parents to think you forgot about them," Penelope said, thinking of a way she could apologise to the queen.

"I didn’t forget about anyone. Your mother being at your side wasn’t in my plans. I planned to steal you away when you were alone," Tyrion shared.

The duchess, standing with Penelope, changed his plans as Edgar was involved earlier, but it ended as Tyrion wanted.

Penelope closed her eyes, her body starting to feel weighed down with tiredness. "Then you only need to say it was merely a coincidence that my family was there."

Tyrion didn’t respond, letting silence come over the room so Penelope would drift off to sleep. He stayed awake, watching as Penelope made herself comfortable and fell into a deep slumber.

It was over an hour later that he heard the noise of a horse neighing and upsetting the horse Tyrion had tied outside.

Tyrion quietly slipped out of bed and stood to go out to check if it was Damien.

Upon opening the front door, Tyrion saw Damien tying his horse.

"Prince Tyrion," Damien greeted Tyrion. "I apologise for coming so late. I was being tracked by someone, so I had to lose them first."

"If you see anyone at any point during the night, kill them," Tyrion ordered Damien.

"As you wish," Damien replied.

Damien looked at the home, which didn’t show any signs of a fire having started inside to offer light. "Is there anything I need to gather?"

"No, just stand guard for us. Try to rest as much as you can since there might be a war waiting for us in the palace. You did well," Tyrion complimented Damien.

It was thanks to the loyalty of men like Damien that Tyrion made it so far.

"We need to wake before dawn and return to the duke’s land. Tomorrow morning, you will no longer be my guard-"

"I have promised to follow you," Damien interjected.

"You are always so impatient. From tomorrow onward, you will be Penelope’s guard. As her husband, I must ensure her safety, and I trust you the most to keep her protected. You’ll join me in the palace in the morning, but after that, guard her," said Tyrion.

Tyrion had not forgotten the recent events with the woman who fell and blamed Penelope, as well as what occurred at the ball with the woman dressed as the duchess. There was still danger looming around the town that Penelope needed to be protected from.

"I will protect with my life," Damien promised. He considered it a great honour that Tyrion trusted him to keep Penelope well.