The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 90: Duties (2)

"Tyrion," Tabitha gasped, appalled that he would keep Penelope from her. "I have known the duke and his wife long before you did. No harm should ever befall that child whilst she is in my care."

"I know you will not harm her, but that is not what I want to protect her from. You will not get in her ear to convince her to join me in the palace, nor will I allow you to make her feel like this is her fault," said Tyrion.

"Well, isn’t it? You were doing so well up to now. The court and many others had no reason to question your place as crown prince, as you performed well beyond their expectations. You would let that all go to waste?" Tabitha asked, hoping that it wasn’t so.

Tabitha had been through so much turmoil during Tobias’s early days as king, and now, history was repeating itself with Tyrion.

It upset Tabitha that both times involved a lady whom she did not place would become queen.

"I have heard many great things about Penelope before," Tabitha said. "But now, what I hear is enough to have damaging gossip started about our family. You were careless with how fast you wed her."

It was no different from the past.

Since Edgar was a close friend of Tobias, Tabitha paid close attention to him. It came as a surprise to hear that he had wed the daughter of a baron who was drowning in debt.

There were other reasonable matches for Edgar, but for some strange reason, Edgar thought it was best to marry the young woman the town avoided. It seemed to work out in the end for Edgar, but Tabitha didn’t want his for her precious grandson.

The corners of Tyrion’s lips curled as his grandmother’s words upset him. He was close to crossing the line with being disrespectful with his answer, but he remembered who he stood before.

"Grandmother, my choice has been made, and there is nothing I regret. I am not returning to the palace as crown prince," said Tyrion.

"Why not?"

"Weren’t you listening?" Tyrion asked, tired of the repeated questions.

The answer was obvious for why he didn’t want to return.

Tabitha wanted him to mention Penelope so she could place blame on Penelope, but Tyrion wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

"It is time that you show Teo more affection. He will be the one to perform better than your expectations. I am off to see him now, if you would like to see him. Perhaps you might have some useful advice for him," Tyrion said, shifting the topic.

"Tyrion-"

"Grandmother," Tyrion spoke over Tabitha. "Don’t try to control matters concerning my wife. I shall not stand for it."

Tabitha frowned, hurt by the way Tyrion spoke to her. He was a stranger in her eyes.

"What has become of you? You were not like this last time I came here," Tabitha said, more worried than when she heard news of his marriage.

"Don’t you dare blame Penelope for it," Tyrion said in a warning tone. "All of you saw what you wanted and missed the man that I grew to be. I have not changed. You are starting to pay attention."

Tyrion hated that others tried to place blame for his actions on Penelope.

"Penelope is far too good for me," said Tyrion.

Tabitha laughed. "No one could be better than a royal. You may love her, but you don’t have to tell such lies. I am disappointed with you."

"So are many others. Perhaps there will come a day when I care about who is disappointed. I have picked my happiness," Tyrion said, mentally placing Tabitha on the list of people for Penelope to avoid.

"Tyrion, this is not the way to speak to me. I am your grandmother, and I have come to you because I care about your life. You might not see it now, but one day, you will regret leaving the palace behind," Tabitha said, reaching for Tyrion’s hand.

"You must act fast before Teo takes the crown. Teo is talented, and I am sure he would have done well, but that seat has always belonged to you. It will be hard to get it back once he sits there and has an heir. Let me help you," Tabitha offered.

Though Tabitha didn’t frequent the palace as much as she wanted, she still had connections well within the court. She could easily turn this around so it would be as though Tyrion never left his place in the palace.

"You are making it quite hard for me to remain respectful. It is time that I leave," Tyrion said, walking around Tabitha to continue on his way.

"Tyrion!" Tabitha called out to him, failing to keep up. "I am thinking of what is best for you. Bring her to the palace for us to speak."

Tyrion didn’t bother to respond since everyone loved to pretend he did not speak of Penelope not coming to the palace.

When they all acted like his grandmother just did, why were they so surprised that he did not want his wife in the palace?

Tyrion listened closely to the sound of Tabitha still trying to keep up with him

To anyone looking from the sidelines, it would look as though he was cruel to ignore his grandmother. Tabitha wasn’t going to leave him alone until she got her way, so unfortunately, it meant that she would be stubborn until she died.

"Tyrion," Tabitha called, walking as quickly as she could to catch up to him.

Seeing what was becoming of Tyrion filled Tabitha with regret. She regretted that she was not more involved when it came to raising him. Tabitha had to keep her distance because of her past ruined relationship with Hazel.

Tabitha thought the price of Hazel keeping her away from the children was Tyrion becoming like this.

Tabitha stopped walking since it was unfitting of her to chase after Tyrion when he couldn’t spare her another moment.

He was hard-headed and liked to have his way. She could not get through to him now, but Tabitha had other means to talk sense into Tyrion.

Rather than approach Tyrion, it would pay off to approach the women involved in this matter.

"Send word to the duchess that I would like to have a sit-down with her and her daughter. Send it as an invitation to my home for tomorrow at noon. Make sure it is noted that they must accept and be there on time," Tabitha ordered one of her maids.

The maid left Tabitha’s side to do as she was ordered.

’I must hurry,’ Tabitha thought, going in search of the king to speak sense into him.

When the time came, Tyrion would take his place on the throne just as they planned, and a proper royal wedding would be performed.