the cold duke : derrick eckhart

fifteen

The guards surround you as Reynold is pushed away from you. There was no hope fighting these people off. "Derrick" you whispered before they took you away. Their logic was a joke, they had judged your character simply because you are close with Penelope. It seemed as though no one was worried about her.

You were dying to know where she was and more importantly if she was okay and safe somewhere away from the rain.

Just as you arrived to the court house, a sword was drawn in your direction. "Move out of the way!" The guards yelled. Hesitant you lift your head up to see Derrick, "do you have evidence?" There is complete silence, "she was with me the entire time" he simply states. "Why would a mere woman be capable of touching the crown" that stung, a woman was more than capable of doing something like that. The guards drop their hold on you, your wrists were red and throbbing in pain. Derrick came up to you and engulfed you in a hug, "Elianna are you alright?" He says caressing your face making sure you weren't hurt. "I'm okay, but what did Penelope do?" His gaze falters and turns dark. "There were nobles found unconscious unable to remember anything, they had the mana beads that father gave her. And now the crowned prince is nowhere to be seen" you stood there in shock.

Penelope surely would never do something like that, she wasn't the type to truly want to hurt anyone. Especially if that person is Kallisto. "We need to look for her" Derrick shakes his head no. It was times like this when you saw that he always chose to keep the reputation of the family safe rather than the actual members of the family. "If people knew they would think we were helping her" you shot him glares. Penelope could be hurt somewhere and he didn't even want to bother looking for her.

Frustrated with him you began to walk away. Only for him to jerk you back towards him, "Elianna listen to me, stop being stubborn don't make stupid choices" you slap his arm away in anger. How could he? "Penelope could be dead, and you're telling me it's stupid to worry about her" you say almost yelling at him. He sighed, "that's not" you interrupted him, "not what you meant? We both know you meant it" you finish walking away from him and from Reynold who just so happened to be there.

*****

You had been confined to your bedroom due to high order. Continuously you paced back and forth. A full day had now gone by and there was still no sign of Penelope or the prince. You had walked over to the door once again to try it. Still locked with guards on the outside. Deep in your mind you were certain that they would find Kallisto and stop the search entirely. Your eyes wandered towards the window. Staring down at your dress and back out the window. Taking steps towards the window you unlocked it, it was quite high up you thought to yourself. However, you knew you couldn't waste time Penelope needed you right now.

Taking a deep breath you step outisde the window, it was pretty high up. Tiptoeing at the edge of the window still you made your way down making sure there was no one around to see.

You felt your leg slip as you fell all the way down to the ground. Wincing in pain you stood  up and dusted your dress. The woods were right in front of you as you began to walk through them. It had been raining the last few days the woods were covered in mud, you looked down at your destroyed dress but it didn't matter anymore. "Ellie you got this!" You tell yourself with a smile on your face trying to give yourself hope that everything was going to be okay.

For what seemed hours you finally stopped at a rock wall, you were beginning to loose hope that you were going to find at least a hint of where she was. There was nothing, it was as if everything was cleared up. You were tired so you decided to down near the rock wall. It was cold and even if you were mad at him you had to admit you missed him.

It was starting to rain. You sighed giving up. Kallisto was a strong man surely he was keeping her safe. Perphaps Derrick was right you thought closing your eyes letting the cold engulf you. These were the woods everything looked the same to you.

"You're truly a fool you know that" you glance up as a blanket. The pink haired boy kneeled down in front of you touching your forehead to make sure you didn't catch a cold. "What are you doing out here?" You questioned as he helped you onto his horse. His light blue eyes stared into yours, "I guess I was worried you might end up dead" he sarcastically says. You smiled at him, "so did you find her?" He worriedly asks. You look down feeling terrible for yourself, "no, I just hope she's okay and with kallisto" he scoffs but didn't look at you. "Kallisto tried to kill her remember?" You nodded feeling exhausted, "I think kallisto likes her" he chuckled unable to believe what you had just said. "Yeah right"

*******

By the time the two of you had gotten back there was word that Penelope and Kallisto had arrived back at the castle. You and Reynold glanced around as people stared at the two of you whispering things to each other. "Penelope is innocent right" he whispered to you as he helped you down the horse. "Of course," Derrick was in front of the two of you, he had a cold expression on his face. You couldn't tell if he was relieved or upset with you. "Anyways umm, Ellie make sure you don't catch a cold" he says patting your head. Derrick grabs his arm hard but Reynold just brushes him away. You did the same, "we need to talk" he says. "I know, later I need to change" he nods not saying a word allowing you to leave.

You sat in the warm bath wondering what was going on, Penelope had arrived back and she was immediately put in a jail cell while Kallisto arrived fighting for his life. You stared at the ceiling, how did Reynold know where to find you and why did Derrick not have an once of concern written on his face. "Miss Elianna?" you blinked at saw Emily at the door she was holding a towel for you. You smiled letting her in, "I have news of the princess" she says with a sullen look on her face as she helps you out of the bath. From her facial expression you could tell it wasn't good news. "Tell me" she nods.

"Miss Penelope is being put on trial, for the attempted murder of the nobles and the crowned prince" your heart dropped. "Did Derrick let it happen" you asked her. She lowers her head which gave you answer you needed.

******
"Derrick Eckhart, when will you learn that your family's wellbeing is more important than the reputation!" You say practically yelling at him near the cell house. You were in your way to see Penelope when you bumped into him. "I get it Yvonne this Yvonne that" you begin noticing that the mere mention of her name set him off. "Stop trying to make Penelope be Yvonne, she's her own person she's not the girl you knew" he walks closer to you pulling you towards a secluded spot. "You don't know anything, so stop" he sternly says his blue eyes locked onto your brown eyes. You scoffed, "you're an idiot you know that," he swallows.

"Penelope is your family too, and from what I know family believes each other when no one else does. But to me you really only care what people think about you" he was silent there was nothing he could say.

"I'm done" he finally looks up at you startled.

"What do you mean" he choked out.

"How am I supposed to make a family with you, when all you care about is your own reputation. You aren't a brother to Reynold or Penelope. What would Yvonne think of this Derrick"
"I tried to love and accept you for you but I can't Derrick, our marriage would have cracked if I did" tears begin rolling down your face as you realized what you were saying.

"Tell Penelope, that I trust and love her with all my heart, and I believe her when she said she didn't do this"

You said walking away tears stinging your eyes.

Penelope's thoughts

I watched as she left him, tears were rolling down my face. In a world where no one had faith in me she did she never doubted my intentions. I didn't mean to over hear her as I had just finished telling Derrick off for not having faith in me. Now she was walking away from me. My heart breaks for her, she loves him with all her heart yet he refuses to change for her. This is for the best Ellie find someone who' loves you for you.

Gosh even Reynold would have a been a better choice for her.

Ellie thank you for making my days better.

Hi all! Hope you enjoy this chapter and thank you for reading