the cold duke : derrick eckhart

five

Derrick knocked on your door and came in. "we decided not to kick the slave out, but don't talk to him. Reynold told me he scared you" he says sitting on the chair near your desk. "I'm worried for Penelope, if I was a slave from a fallen kingdom I'd want revenge" you softly tell him.

Perhaps if you didn't run into trouble the other night they would have found Penelope a lot faster. "For the time being you cannot see Penelope, she's on probation" he says standing up to leave the room. It made sense why she even was on probation but that was too much. "And one more thing, don't go out until we find the man who attacked her, he might attack an Eckhart" he says leaving the room.

Boredom soon overcame you, there was nothing for you to do besides go and spend some time with the princess but you couldn't. There was a knock on the door, "My Lady is Pennel, Lady Penelope is asking for you," you quietly opened the door seeing both sides for no sign of Derrick.

Quietly you hopped back into her room, there she was pacing back and forth. She was clearly stressed out about something. "Eli you gotta help me!" She says handing you something that looked like an invitation. It was from the crowned prince the perpetrator that did that to her. "Penelope be honest with me what happened that day," you ask the girl. She sits next to you on the bed, "I told him I was in love with him so he wouldn't kill me" she whispers in your ear . You were in utter shock, someone as cold as her would have the nerve to tell the prince that. "So he wants to see you agin," you explain while she falls onto her bed. "Suddenly im sick, call a doctor," she tells Emily.

"Do me a favor and spread the rumor that I'm sick," she says ushering you towards the door. You left her room only to bump into Reynold, "didn't they tell you to not visit her," you gave him a pout. "Yes, but I left a lame excuse there," you say accepting defeat. Reynold burst out laughing giving you a light punch on the shoulder. You laughed with him unsure of why he was even laughing in the first place.

****

It was now raining hard, the beautiful day had slowly become dark and gloomy, earlier Penelope had mentioned a person that can easily get information. Could she be looking for someone? Or was she in love with the man who gave her the handkerchief.

"Derrick if a man were to give me handkerchief and lets say I wanted to return it how would I find him," lately Derrick had been spending more time in your bedroom usually just to quietly read his novels. "Well if that man knew any better he wouldn't, and if he did it will be burnt" that wasn't the reply you were hoping for. Maybe Penelope was actually trying to find the aristocrat that helped her out that day at the banquet.

You lay on your bed watching the rain fall from the window, "another question, do you truly believe in love at first sight or is that a myth people come up with," there was no reply. You turned around to face him to see if he had left but he was now sitting on the edge of your bed staring at you. "What about you? Elianna?" You closed your eyes to think, "You can't possibly love someone the moment you see them, when you don't know anything about them." There was no reply from him. As you got up your lips were met with his.

He pulled away from you leaving you stunned. Derrick had kissed you. What did it mean? Had he truly fallen in love? You'd be dumb if you didn't admit. You too were starting to become interested in the young duke, your heart skips beats when he's around. You oftentimes find yourself wanting to be by his side.

You watched as he left the room, it was always like this he'd do something that made you feel special but then it was followed by a coldness. Maybe this is why Penelope wants you to leave him. Although she doesn't say it, her eyes tell a different story.

****

Pennel walked into the garden where you were painting, "My Lady, the Rose family is here to see you" your heart sunk. "The young master and the duke don't know" you rose from your seat as Pennel lead you to their location, it worried you, they must have something to say after the incident from the festival.

When you arrived they were properly sitting in the couch, "father" you softly called out to the older man. His rises from his seat and takes a few steps towards you, "Jasper and Alexander are a disgrace, they should know better," he begins, when step mother heard she got up and stood behind him. Whenever your father was on your side she does anything in her power to make him change his mind. "Dear but Elianna shouldn't have touched on their insecurities," she says giving you a death stare. "You know Jasper and Alexander hate when nobles by blood look down at them simply for having humble beginnings" you couldn't fight abasing her. It was a loosing battle, it was her word against yours, "is this true?" You said what you said there wasn't anyone to defend you.

"I-I" you stammered trying your best to keep your calm, "she's a duchess in the making but it seems she forgot about respect to the elders" your step mother says. Your fathers look had now changed, he had taken her side and there was nothing you could do about it. So you swallowed your pride and looked into their eyes, "Elianna," you were snapped back to reality in that moment. Tears were rolling down your face, you didn't realize that you had been crying.

It was Derrick and the Duke alongside with Pennel and Reynold. Your mother's expression soon changed into a more happier one. "My lord we apologize for the sudden visit" father states. You hurriedly wiped away the tears, "Duke Eckhart my family simply came for a visit," you softly say taking the tray of food. "The young duke suddenly ended our contract, we came to ask for Elianna" father begins. Your eyes locked with Derrick who didn't seem fazed by what was happening. "Derrick, explain" tension soon surrounded the air.

Penelope's thoughts

No one will notice that I'm gone except for her, so hopefully she doesn't notice. I called her family over as a way to distract her from coming to me. It's cruel I know but in the know but it's the only way for me to finally meet him.

Winter Vernandi