the cold duke : derrick eckhart

seven

You sat in the tavern with some friends from back home, they had come to visit you and say their congratulations. But you were still somewhat upset after that fight with Derrick. It was your first big fight with him.

The days went by as if nothing had happened. Except one thing changed he stopped coming to your bedroom for conversations. Even if he didn't admit it, he liked having meaningful conversations some being on how to talk to his sister without upsetting her. He was terrible at it.

You followed Derrick into the dining room, everyone was there except for her. Despite Reynold pushing you to go get her, she had to come on her own terms. She was no longer on probation that's why he father wanted everyone to have dinner together. 

The doors swung open as she stepped inside, "Why are you so late!" Reynold scoffs getting angry with his sister. Penelope doesn't say anything but you could tell she looked like a fish out of water. You smiled at the girl to at least show her that you admire her presence. 

At the Duke's command everyone begins to eat, she was only looking at her food as if something was bothering her. It made you worry, could the staff mess with her food again. There was no way, earlier when you and Derrick came in to oversee the table everything looked fine. You slowly ate trying to analyze the lady's food. It was clear that her forks had been changed but the food didn't look different from your view point. "Elianna eat," Derrick says taking your plate to cut the meat. 

You did as you said, to not bring any attention to lady Penelope. She wasn't eating and no one seemed to notice. Smiling you picked up your fork and fed her some from your plate, "My lady this is rather tasty don't you think?" Penelope simply nodded chewing the food you had given her.

"As you know the hunting competition is coming soon," The Duke announces to the family. You didn't know much about it since the men were usually the ones participating in the event. Except for the rumor about the lady at last year's competition. You weren't able to attend due to an illness that year. "We need to make our status better due to our lack of participation in the war" the Duke continues. "Thus we will be participating at the event" Duke Eckhart announces. Rather than being some event it's typically used as a way for the empire to show their power.

"Penelope you are allowed to participate again," that statement alone caused an uproar within Reynold. "HOW YOU SAW WHAT SHE DID LAST TIME!!" he cries out. Although you were curious about what happened you stayed quiet and simply listened.

"What did I do?" Penelope asks as Reynold gets upset all over again. "You requested a crossbow, a lady doesn't request one, we said no but you took it anyways. Then you threatened to kill Lady Kellen" you wanted to laugh. Lady Kellen was a parasite, she knew how to play innocent, the only reason she never did anything to you was because you are older than her.  Penelope was most likely innocent on this one.

Dessert soon arrived.

You received yours, the cook gave Penelope a dark look as she serves her. You clenched your hands to call her out but Penelope dropped her spoon. "I apologize I was being careless" she politely says. 

She then proceeds to drop another one, "this pudding is so slippery but Lady Elianna doesn't seem to have the same the same problem as me how strange," you knew what she was doing so you took her extra spoon and had the same thing happen as Penelope.

You were proud of her for standing up for herself, it was about time she showed them the reality of living here. Soon she stood up for her seat, "I can no longer eat even though I'm hungry, goodbye" she says excusing herself from the table.

The duke slams his hand on the table, since you were sitting next to him the food got on you. He was angry, he excused it the first time which was clearly a mistake. "Bring in all of the kitchen staff," he says loud enough for the people in the kitchen to hear. "The three of you are excused" he says.

You headed straight for her room but Derrick held you back. "We need to talk" the both of you walked through the illuminated hall. Everything you had told Derrick was going through your mind.

The door of his bedroom shut, it was your first time in here. His bedroom was just as you imagined, plain looking, clean. You sat in an empty chair waiting for him to speak. "I want to apologize," you were stunned watching him bow down to you. "My lord you don't have to do that" you kneel down beside him trying to get him to stop. Both of you sat on the floor in comfortable silence.

"Today is the day we lost Yvonne," Derrick mentions his little sister. You didn't know much about her but she meant a lot to this family. "Do you still miss her?" He quietly nods, it made sense why he's cold. Penelope was brought to replace her which is something Derrick refused to accept. Your head finds its way to his shoulder. "I had a sister too" you open up smiling to yourself. He relaxes his shoulder so your neck can comfortably rest on it. "What happened?" You stared out into the setting sun, "my real mom chose her and left me behind" that was the cruel reality, at the time you sincerely hoped she was going to take you too but she didn't and left you in the wolf den.

"When she left, my life became hell. I went from the most respected woman to being treated like a slave, all because the mistress told my father I wasn't his daughter." Derrick silently listened and didn't ask questions.

"Can I say something my lady" you sat up straight and looked at him.
"Of course but I don't want your pity" you reply.

For the first time since you arrived he gave you a genuine smile.

The fireworks from the festival ignited as he spoke. "I can't imagine a life without you anymore"

Penelope's thoughts

Elianna coming into the story sooner had me on edge, I don't remember what I did to trigger it or if it's just a glitch in the system. Reynolds's favorability had gone up since I opened up about Penelope's life before the duke found her. Her true arrival in the game was slowly approaching but it also feared me because of how big the change was.

Hope you enjoyed :)