the cold duke : derrick eckhart

eleven

Time stopped as you watched her give him a box and a warm smile followed by the person you had longed to see for the longest time. Derrick took the box and gave them a polite smile as he turned his gaze back to you.

Your heart was slowly sinking as you walked up to him. Was it the fear that she takes everything from you? "Are you okay?" Reynold stopped you. Snapping out of your thoughts you looked up a him. He lets you of your arm, "y-yeah," you managed to choke out when Derrick approached you followed by Penelope.

She looked mortified, "it changed?" she softly choked out and grabbed your arm. You didn't understand what was happening. "Elianna are you okay?" he asked you. You were more concerned as to why Penelope had that look on her face. "I'm okay I just felt dazed for a second" you tell the three of them. Derrick nodded handing you the gift he had received earlier.

"Who was that?" Penelope asked in a more serious tone. "A while ago I saved a young lady from a runaway carriage so I guess she found me and thanked me" he says as Penelope's face grows more cold.

She knew something you didn't.

Penelope took the gift from you and walked away.

A couple of minutes passed by when you began to hear a commotion. The three of you turned around to see Penelope aiming her bow at the people. Reynold was the one to rush over to her. "Do you want to get kicked out again!" he yells at his sister. "Everyone is staring!!" he continues as the Duke tells him he's being too loud. 

All she was doing was sitting with her crossbow, "It's been one year it's not the time to act like this" Derrick sternly tells the girl. You take a seat next to Penelope and take her hand, "Penelope please, Eckhart might not be able to protect you this time" you plead to her as the thundering footsteps entered.

Kallisto entered and his eyes went to the Eckhart table. You glanced at Penelope who looked like she just saw a ghost. She began to cover her face, you smiled at the sight of the flustered girl. While the three men were oblivious to what had just happened.

"I was only going to be attending for a while but i changed my mind i'll stay" the prince announced his eyes on Penelope. You were starting to question whether Penelope told you correctly that he had bad intentions for her. To you it seemed that he was attracted to her.

The three of you remained sitting at the table with Penelope. Most likely due to the fear of not wanting to leave her with Kallisto unattended. That's when Reynold suddenly got up and left even when Penelope told him to stay. Guess you were wrong about it as Derrick got up and left too.

"Don't worry Pen i'll stay!" you reassured the girl just as Derrick came back and pulled you away. "I need to stay with her!" you fought back but his grip only tightened. Penelope looked even more mortified.

Both of you were approached by a man, "Baron Walters," Derrick says. Curiosity got the best of you as you took a peek to see the two purple heads and a small boy with a man by their side. Your heart shattered at the sight. "Young Duke Eckhart I can't thank you enough for saving my daughter" he says.

"This is Lady Evie, Baroness Evangeline and my youngest Elon" he introduces his family. Since you were behind him they couldn't see you until Derrick took your hand and pulled you in front of him. It was time to face your biggest heartache and Derrick didn't have a clue.

Unlike their green eyes yours were brown.

"This is my wife Young Duchess Elianna" he introduces you. You gave them a weak smile as your mother did the same. Your sister however had a scowling look on her face. As the baron leaves with his son you take this opportunity even if it meant rejection.

"did you miss me?" you lowly ask. Derrick's gaze changes into a concerned one. Mother was surprised by the question, "did you ever think of me?" you ask again. "Lady Elianna you must have mistaken me for someone else," she says walking away from the two of you. She had taken your heart and shattered it for the whole world to see.

You swallowed back your tears as a familiar warmth hugged your body, "it's okay Ellie, you did your best" Iris said as you sob into her chest. Derrick was still holding your hand despite Iris being there. From afar the two of you heard her being called, she pulled away "I'll sneak away later" she quietly says leaving you and Derrick.

Derrick pulled you into his arms even with everyone watching. Before you had the chance to say anything from the corner of your eyes you could see the prince drawing his sword to Penelope.

Hastily you pulled away from him, "Penelope!" You called out as Derrick shifted his attention towards her. "What are you doing?" He says moving you behind him as Penelope rushes to your arms. Her body was shaking as the two of you hid behind the tall black haired man. The events from earlier had long gone away.

The two of them start talking, "what did you tell him?" You whispered to her. "That I don't love him anymore" your eyes widened in shock, you almost wanted to scream at her for telling him that knowing what he's capable of. "She tricked me" you hear Kallisto say as the two of you look at him in surprise. Could it be that Kallisto was upset to hear that she didn't like him anymore because he likes her.

Derrick turns to look at her, his cold gaze was piercing right through her. It pained you that you weren't allowed to tell him the truth. "We had a promise and she broke it. Played with my feelings too" he says looking directly at Penelope. Derrick's expression had suddenly changed.
He was in shock.

"What do you mean?" He asked trying to remain his composure. You and Penelope held each other tighter. Luckily no one was bothering to come and see the commotion yet. "I believe your sister said" he was interrupted by Penelope shouting his name in utter embarrassment.

Just as the conversation continued a large magical creature emerges as everyone starts running for their lives.

Penelope's thoughts

That girl with the purple hair, Derrick saved her just like he saved Elianna in normal mode from the runaway carriage. He and Elianna continued to meet in private until they formally met at the hunting festival. This time it's different he met another girl and she gave him the gift Elianna was supposed to give him.

What's happening? Is Elianna no longer Derrick's love interest? Gosh I should have been paying attention to their relationship a little more. But it seems like they are doing fine, Derrick clearly likes Elianna and Elianna clearly likes him.

But this new girl is really starting to worry me. Maybe it was a glitch and the girl is Elianna.

Whatever happens I'm Team Elianna.

Thanks for reading!