the cold duke : derrick eckhart

three

You laid your head on the bedside patiently waiting for her to wake up. Reynold was arguing with a few people concerned as to why his sister wasn't waking up when it was nothing too severe.

"Lady Elianna, please you need to rest" Emily who was Penelope's maid urged you. You gave the girl a weak smile and looked back at the sleeping princess. "I'll be fine, I need to see Lady Penelope open her eyes,"

Everyone in the dukedom now called you Lady Elianna since you had properly made your debut as the main lady of the Eckhart family.

"That crowned prince is going to pay!" Reynold yells, you got up from your seat and made your way over to him, to urge him to be quiet.

"Just shut up" a weak voice says behind you. Quickly you turned around to see Penelope her eyes were open but still very weak. Reynold exits the room shortly after Penelope whispered something you didnt catch.You sat on her bed taking her temperature, "Princess are you alright?" Penelope does't say anything, instead she takes your hand and holds it tightly as if she was telling you not to leave her. "Derrick and Reynold were very worried, you were out for almost 4 days," she gives a light nod.

As you held her hand Emily came over with some fresh towels, "The Young Duke was very worried, he practically carried you to the doctors when they weren't coming" Emily chimes in. Penelope looked surprised by that action, "i didn't know," she softly says. "Reynold almost fought some people" you giggle recalling his reaction.

Penelope softly looks at the both of you, "I must scared you, I'm sorry" Emily gives her a hug, "don't say that my lady, of course we were terrified but we are always going to take care of you" you simply nod agreeing with her.

"Eli please go rest, Derrick will kill me if you fell ill" Penelope says when Emily leaves the room. She had noticed how worn out you had become, it's true you didn't leave the room for the 4 days she was out. "of course princess, you know where I am if you need me" Penelope gives you a nod as you exit the room.

Upon entering your room Derrick was sitting in the chair reading a book, he glanced up acknowledging your presence. "Is she okay?" He asks, you lay down on the bed closing your eyes, "she's doing better, Emily ran out to get her some sorbet" you say your mind was threatening to drift off to sleep but you weren't going to let that happen with Derrick in the room. "I wonder why Callisto did that to her" was the last thing you said before your mind went to sleep.

Third Person POV

The young duke watched as she slowly fell asleep, he was finding it hard to understand why she cared for someone that much. "Why did Callisto do that" she slowly said as she fell into deep slumber. He got up from his chair and walked to the bed to cover her body with the blanket.

He was grateful that she had been there when the incident happened, but he didn't know how to show her that gratitude. Things like this were hard, he didn't know how to sincerely give thanks.

He exited her bedroom and made his way to his own before it was time to meet with his father once again.

A couple of hours later

You woke up to the sound of the birding chirping, your own maid came into the room, "My lady I have some news," you nodded grabbing some new clothes to change into, "The Dukedom seems to be treating Lady Penelope much better, they are so much kinder to her" that news brought a smile to your face. "That's wonderful! I hope the duke didn't punish her for causing commotion" you softly say looking at yourself in the mirror.

When you opened the door you were greeted by Derrick who was holding some tea, "I was on my way to see Lady Penelope and I was wondering if you'd like to come" you smiled at the clueless boy, of course he wanted you there because he didn't know how to speak with Penelope. You gave him a nod and started walking beside him.

Lady Penelope was sitting outside reading a book by a tree, "Derrick just ask her if she's better" you stop in your tracks, "aren't you coming?" He asks. "I think this is your own time with the lady" he seemed uncomfortable over the fact that you weren't coming wit him but he still made his way over to the tree.

You watched as he walked over to her and handed her the tray of tea and some of her favorite snacks. You watched as he pulled out a new handkerchief, earlier you had told him a mysterious man gave her the one she had and he got upset. Everything seemed to be going well so you decided to start walking back to the mansion.

Derrick soon caught up with you, he looked flustered "Lady Elianna do you know why Penelope calls me young master?" That sudden question had you baffled, "answer me" he sternly said when you became silent. "I mean if my own brother didn't like me I wouldn't call them by their name," he looked down, "I don't dislike Penelope, I care about the reputation of the family," he says. "You spend so much time worrying on the reputation that you didn't realize how much harm you have done to lady Penelope" you say with your heart aching as you knew this feeling all to well.

"Elianna," he softly says your name for the first time without any title next to it. "Do you relate to Penelope by any chance?" That question hit you, your lips quivered as you turned your back on him. You felt his hand on your shoulder, as he carefully turned you around to face him.

"Let's say female heirs have it hard, especially with an evil stepmother" his gaze softened. "Life isn't exactly nice, especially when you grow up being beaten by your brothers, I want to protect Penelope i dont want her to slowly die" you managed to say before walking away from the blue eyed man.

Of course Derrick isn't going to understand, he is part of the reason Penelope is so closed off he's part of the reason why Penelope has to suffer. "Yvonne," Derrick says catching up to you, you wipe your tears away giving him a confused look. "Yvonne is my real sister, I guess I treat Penelope the way I do because there's a part of me that hopes she will come back one day" it shocked you to know that he treats someone the way he does all because of some missing person. "That isn't an excuse Derrick, even if Penelope wasn't your sister she's still family" his pupils widen meaning you had hit him where it hurts.

Later that night

You looked at yourself in the vanity, Derrick had said the two of you were going to go out to the festival to take a look around. Penelope surely would of wanted to go but she didn't seem interested by it saying she had other things to do.

Derrick was waiting outside your door, you took his arm and made your way to the festival.

As the two of you passed by you noticed Reynold and Penelope crouched near something that looked like a hole, "what are you guys doing" Derrick says as the both of you walk towards the pair of pink heads. Penelope looked dazed by the sudden arrival, "she wants to go to the festival" Reynold says giving his sister a glance. You hold Derrick hand hoping he gets the hint, "I'm taking Elianna so we can go together" Penelope gives a blank expression. It was probably more shocking to hear that both her brothers want to stay by her side.

You walked hand in hand with Penelope with the two boys trailing behind the two of you. But you couldn't help but noticed that her expression had changed. She seemed distracted by something, "aren't you girls gonna want something" Reynold says earning a sigh from Penelope. "We are looking around" Penelope says.

Reynold pulls Penelope away from you and to a jewelry stand, he starts showing her many goods, Derrick gives you a slight push towards the two, "chose something" he says. You look at the display of the items while Reynold and Penelope argue about a mask she wants and how he has to pay for her. A light purple necklace just like your hair is put around your neck by Derrick, "I'm you this one" he says paying the vendor. It was sparkly and very beautiful.

Crowds were forming followed by loud sounds.

it could only mean one thing.

The parade was coming to a start.

Penelope's thoughts

Reynold doesn't understand the meaning of this mask but I need it. Derrick is un pretty bareable sinc Elianna came to the story a lot earlier. I can't help but notice that he's falling in love with her. I want to break it, their story only brings tragedy but if I do Elianna will leave.
Lady Elianna by the end of this I will make sure you have a happy ending if I survive this too. Sometimes I want to tell her the truth but I'm afraid she won't believe me.

Thanks for reading

Every now and then I will be adding Penelope's thoughts at the end of the chapter .