ushernet Chapter 89
Chapter 89
“That kind of person doesn’t exist. Really, where do you even get such ideas from...” Penelope began to answer but then paused mid-sentence.
There had been one man who showed her questionable intentions last night—Ortega Hilos.@@@@
As Penelope furrowed her brow, Ahwin’s sharp gaze shifted instantly. “Who was it?”
“Oh, you’ve seen him before. The man we ran into on the train...”
“Ah, that foolish and slimy human. Don’t mind him.”
“I’m not,” Penelope replied firmly.
After all, last night, she had been escorted by Rianel and even had a private audience with the Empress. The nobles’ focus had completely shifted, leaving someone like Ortega entirely forgotten.
“Ah, so that’s why all these gifts arrived. It’s their way of saying they want to get along with me.”
Penelope finally understood the meaning behind the gifts and felt a bit dispirited.
“I never wanted this much attention.”
Her dream of a quiet and peaceful retirement was slipping further away. She had envisioned a future where she handed over the lordship to a successor early and lived comfortably in a well-appointed villa.
“Traveling across the empire, experiencing romance as much as I want...”
Attention, however, inevitably attracted hostility. The more people showed interest in her, the more enemies she was likely to gain.
Penelope sighed deeply and shook her head.
“No point dwelling on it. What’s done is done. Worrying won’t change last night.”
She had anticipated this outcome the moment the Empress sent her an invitation. She just hadn’t expected the aftershocks to come so quickly.
“So, what exactly happened last night?” Ahwin asked.
“...” Penelope clamped her mouth shut, her silence betraying her hesitation. Ahwin’s gaze turned more suspicious.
There was no part of last night—whether being publicly escorted by Rianel or having a private meeting with the Empress—that Ahwin would be pleased to hear about.
“I think I’m hungry. Shall we eat first?” she deflected.
“...Fine,” Ahwin agreed with surprising compliance, knowing how seriously Penelope took her meals. She couldn’t help but smile faintly at this side of him.
“This part of him is cute, honestly.”
Trailing behind her as they headed toward the dining hall, Ahwin resembled a large puppy wagging its tail, eager for its owner’s attention.
Sitting across the table from Ahwin, Penelope suddenly found herself wondering aloud, “But why are my gifts being delivered to your house?”
“...You’re just now wondering that? All the dresses you ordered from the boutique under your name were sent here too,” Ahwin pointed out, folding his arms.
“Oh, so that’s why... Nobles really do work fast,” Penelope muttered, still amazed at their efficiency and proactivity.
“So, what happened last night?” Ahwin pressed again.
Ahwin sighed deeply, propping his chin on his hand. After a moment of thought, he said, "The food’s getting cold. Let’s eat first."
"Do you think I’ll be okay? It’s the Empress, after all. What if she gets upset with me later?"
"Don’t worry. Betty isn’t the type to care about things like that," Ahwin replied casually.
Penelope, reassured by his words, nodded and picked up a sandwich, chewing it thoughtfully.
Why does this feel... strange?
For some reason, hearing Ahwin refer to Elizabeth so familiarly as "Betty" grated on her nerves. It was like a tiny thorn pricking her chest, making her want to scratch it away. But expressing that would make her seem petty.
Well, they are close, after all, she reminded herself.
After all, wasn’t Elizabeth his first love? Ahwin probably knew everything there was to know about her.
Does he even realize how openly he calls her Betty? He’s not even trying to hide it. Typical Ahwin.
Penelope felt her lips purse into a pout before she could stop them.
"Was there anything else that happened?" Ahwin asked, breaking her train of thought.
"No, not really... I was too busy dealing with all the nobles crowding around me," Penelope replied vaguely.
"And...?"
"And... nothing," she said as she avoided his gaze, pretending to focus on her sandwich.
Ahwin squinted at her, clearly trying to figure out what she was hiding.
Like you’ll figure it out just by looking.
Penelope nonchalantly took a large bite of her sandwich, ignoring his probing stare.
Ahwin glanced at her lips as she chewed and suddenly looked away, his ears noticeably reddening.
Is he... blushing?
Penelope almost laughed but held it in, continuing her meal. Strangely, her mood improved a little.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from outside the dining room. Moments later, Lucas entered, looking utterly disheveled. His dark circles and sunken cheeks were so pronounced that Penelope froze in shock, unable to even greet him.
What on earth happened to him in just one night?
Lucas spotted Ahwin and Penelope together and immediately rushed over, blurting out, "Was Lord Rianel really the Grand Duke of Rahinzel?"
"..."
Penelope gave a sheepish smile.
Oh, right. Rianel’s identity was revealed last night.
The chaos of the evening had left her too overwhelmed to properly process the revelation, especially since she’d known his identity from the start and hadn’t thought much of it.
Ahwin, catching onto the situation, turned to Penelope with an expression of dawning comprehension, as if everything now made sense.