Chapter Text
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E̓̂̉͠r̍̈́͝r͌̍̀̀̑̕o͋̽͝r͊̐͗̚͠ c҇̄͆̊͗̽ơ͑̀̆̋̐d͒̐̌͝e̛͌͐͌̓:̏̊̄̕ 4̛̆̉̅8҇̂̓̑̂̎7̃̔̑̂͠ (̍̆̅̕0́̚͝x̛͊͛̈̇1̑̋̄͛͞E̛̾̽̏7҇͆̀́)̊̋̔̃͡.͊̓̈́̚͡ P҇̆̂̽l̇͌̉͡e̛͗͒a҇̆̐̀s̍̐͋̅̂̕e͆̉̄͡,҇͒̌̊̐̒ c̀͐͛̄̒̕ơ͛̄̏͆n̊͡t҇͂͛a̛̋̐̾͑̽c̔̐̚͠t̋̈͊͐̔͝ ẗ̛́̈h̽̊͝é̉͞ t҇͗͌e̅͆͂͠c̏̇́͝h̛̊̊̀̔̓n̓̊͞ȋ̎͊̌͝c҇̊̀́͋̾a̛̓̿̇̽l͛̓̄͡ s҇̎̉͗̎̚u҇̏̋p̽̿͞p͒̅̍͝ö́͡ř̔̕t̛͂̄̌̒ o͌͋͌̈́͞f̆̀͑̃͑͝ t̛͊͊͐̏h̊̏̚͞e̾͌̎͐͝ g̑̈́̏͞a͗̌̕m҇̓͌̓e҇̋͋̾̔̅,̇̿̍͛̓͠ T҇͊̃̉͑ŏ́̈́͝ g҇̽́e҇̾̈́̄̓t̛̍̋͋ t̎͋̀͡h̿͌͆͝e̛̅́ o͑̑͡p̑̏͞p̛͊̑̅̚ơ̂͐̓̽̑r͌͐͡t͛̎̚͞ü̒̈́͒͠n͒̐̈́̎̑͝ǐ͑̑͛͠t҇͌̓̌̋ý̍̋̄̋͞ t̏͋͛͛̕o̾̍͞ c̋̌̒̽͝ö͊̉͠ǹ̍͠ť͑͝i̅̌͠n̛̉͒̔̊ù̔͠e̛̍ p҇̄̎͛́l͊̀̿̾͝a̚͠y̽̈́̎͠i͊͂͞n̒͂̅͝g҇͂̈́͌̔̋ a͊͒̀͡n̉̎͞d̛͒̃̿ n̈̓̐̕̚ō̂̾̓͂͞t͌̒̅̂̾͝ l̇̇̌̕o͂̏͠s͑̏̓̚͝e҇̊̋̾ s҇͐̾̏̌a҇͒̓̏v҇̈́̂̑̚̚ỉ̾͂͝n͐̒͛̌̍͝g̑̂̇̋͠!̎͆͌͡ A҇̉͐v̓͊͝ỏ̑̍̈́͞i͆̅͡d̓̄̉͆̓̕ ã̐͑̓̔͡l̄̎̕l̇̄͠ p̔͂̒̚̚͞ơ̒̐͑t̔̑̕e̛͂̈͛n͌̃͛̾̚͡t̆͊̊̏͝i̛͆̈́a͌̑̓̌̅͠l̃̐̉̊̚͠ t̆͛̇͝ã́͌͝ŕ͌̉͐͋͞g̿̿͠e҇̒t̓͠ŝ͂͐̓͡,̅̀̍̾͑͡ ḯ̌̈̌̕n͊̂͝ o҇͊̆r҇͑̊̽d̑́͂̍͞è̛ř̃̕̚ ň̈͆̽͝ö̓͐̏̿͡t̂̓̆́̕ t̋͌̎̃̈͞o̾̇͞ i͐͋̔̈͒͠n̒͑͞c͛͊͝r̛͐̌e̛̔̽̎̎a͆́͊͞ṡ͂͞ē͐̿͠ t̓̈̓͒̕̚h̏̀͡ĕ̚͝ i̐̎͡m̽̃͗͞p̛͗̿̆ā̿̑͒͂͠c̓́̎̃͞t̏̒̀̅̃͝ ŏ͝f̅̔͠ t͋̈́̚͡h҇̎͂̓̑e̋̈́̒̓̀͝ ẻ̀͞r҇͗̀̚r͐̄͑́̕ó̒͌̕r͛̊̕ ō̄͠n̈̔̕ G̐͗̔͠a҇̿̊̄m̀̃̎͞e͑͂͠ w̛͗̔̒̏͑o͋̈́͝r͛͐͌͂̀͠l̉̀̃͞d̑́̋̔͡!̿̇͂̽̓͠]̉̓͂͡
[System: THE SAVE FILE IS DAMAGED!]
[System: SYSTEM SYMPATHY DISPLAY INDICATOR THE CHARACTERS ARE DAMAGED!]
[System: THE SYSTEM OF OBTAINING A REPUTATION ARE DAMAGED]
Ë́̏̕Ȓ͌̓͠R̊͒̍͞Ö̂͞R̅̓̓͛͞!͆̂͠ Ė͊̍͆̒͠R̛̽́͛O͐̎͊͑͞R҇̈́̽͐̚R͋̍̓͋͞!͂̋̚̚͠ Ë́̋̎̕R̛͒͋͗̂O̓̓͠R̽̅̄͞R͂̎̃͠!҇̎̓ E̿̓͐͠R̛̄R̎̀͂̂͡Ô͑̔͠R̔̎͡!͐̔͛̆̚͝ E̔̄̄̋͡R҇̄̋̄Ơ̈͆͗R͋̽́̽͞R҇̿̍̋!̓͛͂͠ E͑̂̃̕R̅͌͒͠Ơ̒R̃͌̽͡R̋̋͞!̽̆͞ Ȇ̊̚͠R̋̀͑̑͡Ȑ̀̎͝Ō̽͋̉̕R҇̎͌!̿͒̾͞ E̿͂̔̓̂̚̚͞R̓͑͆̕O͛̈̂͛͡R̛͐̐̀̉̐̇̓̎̈́R̿̈͑̿̇̈́͌́͆̀̇͝!҇̈́̎̑͂ E͑̅͗̽͂̐͞R̔͑̈̋̋͠O͑͆̅̇͞R͛̉̈̍̿͌̆̓̈́̚͡R̛̂̓͊̈!҇̃̽̀́͋͗͂ E̊͗͗̃͌̉͌̎͊̓͡R̆̾̆̿͛́͐͞Ṙ̛̆̎̎̒̉̾̐Ŏ̐̈̾͝R̾̽̆̍̄̽̔͆̄̿͠!̓̊̊̿͊͊̈́̃̊̕ E҇̍͛̓͋R҇̿̈́̌̿̄͗͌͂O҇̋̌͛͆̆̇R͌͛̔̏͐̾̏̚͝R͑̏̈́̋̒͑̒̑̓̈̑͠!͋̒̏̇̂̕ E̛̿̏̐̋̆̅̓R͊̿̓͋̒̏͑̕O҇̌̋͆̓̃R҇̊͑̿̿͒̏Ȓ̈̃͋̆͑̅͗͞!́͗͛̒͐͡ E͑͒̑̀̕R̓͗̌̂͂̈̉͞R̊͂͑̾̔́͠Ō̐̔͌́͒͐͊̈̒̕R͋͌̄͂͞!͋̋͆̄̐̈́͆̍̈̋͋̌̕ Ẽ̄̎̒̅͆͝R̄̾͊̎͡O҇̂̊͆̓̅̓͒͊R̿̿̋͌͞R̋̑͐̎͑͑̌̚͝!̑́̉̎̊͠ E͋̓̇͆̄̂̊͌̓̚̚͠R̛̎̎͆̽̉̓̒͗̚Ơ̿̄̍̀̽R̍̔͌̒̀̿͠R͌̂̑̈́̓̄͋͛̏͑͝!͌̋̓̾́͡ E҇͑̏̽̅̐͋̓̄R̀͆͒̅̔̉͂͐̕̚R̂̿͒̓̒͂̂̌͠Ǒ̑͑̎͠R͌̽̊̔̋̽͝!̾̈͆̑̔͗̐͒͒̔̈́̕ Ẻ̔̏̓̓͌̓̾̇̑̚͡R̛͊̇͑͒̇Ȍ̎͂̋̋̓̒̆̇̔͠R̀̄͑̾͝R͑͛̄͑͐̔̕!̏͛̽̋̔̾͠ E͒́̇̂̓̽͗́̑́͡Ȓ̃̆͋̑̓̄͡O̽͌̐̆͝R̉͛̿̽͝R҇̓͋̄͗̀̉̓̚!̃̿̅̈̑́̓̽̅̿͞ E̛͑̿̈́̉R̛̒̋͒͐̓R̐̋̐̌̎̐̿̀̊͝O̓̇̆͋͗͑̚͝Ȓ̾̉̿͗͊̅̕!̛͐̓̍͛̉̃͊̈́̽͛̓ E͑͆̈͒̽̈̇̾͝R̀̋̆̌̅͋̄͒͝Ȭ̒͒̅̎̇̚͡Ȑ̽̇͑͋́̏̈̽͞R̛̂̀̓̐̃͛̅͗̆̈́!̉̉̑̌̈́̒̍͛͛̚͞ E̛͗͗̀̓R̛̃̅̿͛͑̍Ơ͆̐͊̃̓R̄̈̄̃́̈͡Ȓ̊̆̔̆͠!̏̓̎̓͞ Ȇ̇͆͐͋̈́͠R̛̊̇́͒̓̾̚R̽̿̑͂̉͝Ơ̈͌́̒̾̎R҇̐̂̂͋͆͂̾͌́͒͊͐!̽͋̾͊̃͐̈̅̚͞ E̷̛͊͒̈́̏͌͊͐̏͐̿̒R̸͊̆̈́̓̑̆̿̅̾̇̉̃̏͗͠O҈̛̽͗̅̅̃̅̏́͒͋̄͂̑̑̓R̵͋̐̅̎͋͒̏͑̓̏͊͑̓̿̾̾͡R̴̛̈́̔̾̓͗̃̒̀̆̚̚!̷͛͑̉͂̆̂̂̌̀̐̊̿̉̚͞ Ê̸̎͒̽̈́̔̋͒͠R̵̎͐̐̅͐̑͒͋̉͞O҉͆̓̀͒͆͋͒̅̓̑͂̚͡R҉͊̓̓̋̌̐̒̈́̅͌͑̑̄͡R̶͆̀̂͂̓̾̀̃̅͊͝!̵͐̈͂͊̊́͛̓̿͡ E̴͗̌̓̃͊͌̏̿͛̍̂̍͛̐͂̚͠R̵͌̐̔̓͐̌̂̆͞R̷̾̎̓̐̏͌̅̏́̇̌̀́̍̚͞O҈̾̐̈́́̓̓͐́̓̍͠R̴̍͑̓̈͛̾̄̍̇̏̃͑̈́̅͡!̵̛̏̓̉̽̊̒́̑̀ Ȅ̷̾̿̓͐͗̄̂̄̕R҉̛̄̉͌͗̄̏͌̏͌Ỏ̶̏̉̃͊̆͆̄̾͒͂͐͂̑͑͝Ṙ̵̆͊̍̌͆͋̂͌̄̅̃͌͑͠R̸̆̑̈̓̓͑̍̈̾̾̀̂̐̇̑͡!̴҇̓͛͆́̒̆̈̎̇͐̓͐ Ë̸̌̾̈́̄̎͆̕R̵̿̐̄̉̇̍̈̓͐͊̓͋͝O҈̐͋̿̐̒̽̽̃̏̔̀̂͛̄͝R̷̓̉̐̉͌̈́͆̓͂́͠R̶̛̊̐̆̍̄͆̇̄͋͐͒!̵̾̉̍̿̈̒̏͋͋͠ E̸̓͛̑̈͛̌̈̔̕R̷̓͑͊͑̅͌͑̆̓̕̚R̷͛͋̓́̍̄͆̄͌͑͗͒̍̎͠O҉̀͒̽̽̈͗̾͗̋͂̓̋̍̇͡R̷͑̐̎͐͂̈͂̆̈́̋̃̈̚͡!̷̃͊̅̆́̏̏̅̏̂́̅̈͊̄̚͠ E̵̐̋͆̀̂̈̇͂͠R̴̾̏̈̐͛̈̿̔̌̍̃̒̐͝O̸͐̐̊͂̾͌̈́̾̄̽̃̐̕R҉̄̈̇̋̏̉́͋͂̍̕̚R̵̛͗̾̽̈́̈̅́͛̋̊̚!̷̛̐͂̂̔͛͆͐̈́̑̽̑͑̎͛̄ E̵҇̋̄́̌͌̓̏̉̔̀̀̚̚R̷̊̽̎̔͒́̏̕O̷̿̍̿͗̑̋̂͆͆̋̅͝R̸̍̄̒͋͌͗̋̓̾̎̀͡R̴̛̾̑̐͑͐̄̏̂̍͗̾̓̏!̸͗̾͂̈́̊̈́̊̔̆̓̿͑͝ E̸҇̅̓̓̏̔̆̊̇̐̚R̵͊̃̈̋̈͐̈̆̎̂̏̾̏̓͞R҈̛̾̆̒̐͌̇͌͆̄O̷҇͑̑̈̏̃̌̿̽̔R̵͆͋̀͆̀͋̌̚͠!̷̛̑́̑̓̿̔̓͂̍̾̚̚ E̸̍̊͌̊͆̊͂̽̌͛̐̓͠R̶̛͆̉̄̌̋͆̅̓̃͆̆͋̊͑̚O҉͂̋͊̅̎͌̀̉̾͝R҈̈́̊̊̏͆͛͊̚͞R̴͐̆͆͐̈́̔͌̆̈̃̔̾́̿͗͞!̶̊̅̋͊͋̄̊͒̓̈͞ E̴҇̊͐͊̋͌̄̅̑͆R̸̅̃͆̌͂̓̔͗̈̃́̀̓͝Ȯ̷̏͑̀́͛̔̚͠R̶̉̈́̽͑̋̓̈̍͝R҉̆̋̉̂̍͗̉̿̈͞!҈̿͆̐̋̄̐̇̊͋͆͞ E̶̅̑̑͗̓̈́̋̌̕Ȓ̵̓͊̋̈̍̍̉̚̚͞Ŕ̵͗̉̇̾̋̽̇̾̊͊͒̓͠O҉̛̌̋͂͋̀̾͛̎̒͑̈́̏͋R̷̛̃̽̎͗̅̾̓͐̊!̴̈́̓͗͋̐́͊̊̈́͊͆͊̎̚͠ E̴҇̏̍̇̽̇͑͛̇͂̒̅̍̚R̵̐̈́͒͑̏͋̐͞O҈̛̅̏͆̓̓̎͊͐̏R҉҇̉̉͊̓́̃̐̓̅̑̔̂̃̚R̸҇̈́͐͛͂̾̍̌̓!҉҇́̈́̐̽́́͆̓̏̈́͐̆̆͗ E̶͐̅̋̈̃͆͋̅̕R̵̓̃̏̑̋̽̐̋͝Ó̵͂̉̒̐͋̓̋̃̊̆̌̕̚R҉҇̐̔̃̑̓̆̓̑́̋̃͂R̵͊̐͊̿̓̓̉̑̈̑̓͛̀̆͝!̷̎̈͛̇̈̂͌͐͒͒͒͡ E̷͑̑̂̋̆̅̄̏̽͞R̸҇̇̈̋̅̑̊̎̚R̶̔̃̆̓̍́̽̿͞O̷͛̉̈͌̾́͂̆̆͞R̵͗̔̈̔̃͗͐͆̍̌͊̎̊̉͡!҈͗͋͒́͆̄̈̀͛͝ E̷͌̈́̒͒̊͂̆̎͡R̷̋̐̈́̑̅͌̓͂͂͑́̍̇̆̊͝Ȍ̷̍͋͋̓̓̈̔̽̾̒͠R̴̓̂̀̾̄͂̽̆̍͞R̶̔̏̆͒̿̓̔̔̌̑̌̌̎̕̚̚!҈҇͋̀̿̆͋͛̍̄̅͂̂͛͂̚ E̷҇̎͆̈́͛̈̽̽R̷̄̌̎͊͑̋̍̈̂͂̾̚͝O҉͋̌̆̂͆̐̏̊̓̄͐̕̚R҈̓̓̀͐̈́͛͆̍̓̈́͠R̶̓͋̍̋̄͐̾̓͞!̴̀́͂̿̾̀́̏̽̒͋̎̚͝ E҈͛͒̃̎̆̽͗̃̾̊̾̈́̕R̷̆̃̔́̌͛͗͆̊͗̾̍͞R̷̛̈͑̿̍̊̀̔̒̅̐̄O̴͛̈́̅̓̐̋̽̕Ŕ̴̓̄̇̓͌̃͐̋̑͠!̴̅͑͗̍͌̊̄́̌̀̎̈̚͡ E̷̐̐̉͆͌̽̈́̔͞R҈͗͆̓̈̿̈́͗̑̆͛̉̕O̵҇̿̈͒̎̿̃͒͑̾́̋̄̅R̷͒̏̄̇̀͗̂̓̅̈̆̚͞Ȓ̷̛̋̇͆̊̆͆̅̅͗́!҉͗̃̋̆̈́̒͛̑̿̓̏͌͡ E̶͒̄̀̇͌͒̑͝R̶҇̇͋̋̐̓̎̌̂͐O̵͂̒͗͂̌͌͌̑͂̎͠R̷̊̃̄̏͆̍̔̀͒̆̇̽̐̕R҉̓̂̿̓̅͆͛̌̾̑̈͒̿͗̂͡!̴̈́̋̊̉̅͊͊̑̍̾͋̍͒͊̇͡ E҉̑͑͗̃͒̓͆̌̈́̉̉͊͝R҈̛̋͌̽͑͗͌̂̋̔̑͗͋̆R̷҇̒̓̌̎̎̆̽̔̇̒͊̐̌͆͌̎Ơ̸̾͂͌̾̿̓̌̎̎͛̽R҈̏̏̂̃́̃͊̆̅̈͑̎͒̔͡!̶̋̏̆̀̐̽̔̽̕ E҉͂̊̈̃̇͒̈́͠R҉͌̌̒̇̀̿̋̌̒̍̐͞Ö̵͗͊̉̐̉̏̾̒̀̉́̈̃̚͞R҉͋̃͌̔̒̄̀͊̆͞R̸͑́̋̏͌̑̉͗̈́̋͊͊͆̚͝!̶̅̋̄̇̅͐̈́̇̓͒̉͒̕̚ E҉̽̌͒͊̎̓̿̋͐͑̒͐͐̓̕R̸̒͑͒̽̋͊̃̌̒͑͗̕O҈҇͋̌̓̒̓̎̄̆̍̓R̵̛̍͗̋̾͛͊͛͐̎̽͆̍̄͛R̸̔̀̿̄͐̋̆̎̒̐͝!҉̃̓̒̇̽͋̂͡ E̴̒̑̈̐̃̌͆̒̂̋̃́͝R̸̐̈́͑̍̎͆̏̑͌͐̈́͋̆̕R҉҇́̿͑̇̋͌̾̔̇̿̂O҉̛̄̇͑̄̄̃̐̈̇͋R҉͆͂̀̐̓̑̓̋̉̓̉͠!̴̛̆͗̉͛̃̀͌́̆̓͋̓̀
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[System: The game has entered safe mode. Many functions and interaction features are disabled. Please stay where you are. Currently, the minimum number of loading locations is used, an attempt to move to another location may become a critical error. You will get stuck between two locations and will not be able to return to the starting point of the quest using autosave]
[System: Restoring access to files...]
[System: An error caused fatal error in the game. But don't worry! After the reboot, everything will be restored. It will take time to restore the entire history of your actions]
[Loading...]
[System: Player status changed: ID1883771]
[System: Added new game files: Penelope.24435dialouge, Penelope243335event, Ivonne23232Dialouge, Ivonne3223232event, Callisto1223rtr4tevent]
[System: A new location has been opened! Eckart family Country house]
[System: New characters are open for interaction!]
[System: Dear Player, in order for you to continue enjoying the game, we have uploaded locations and additional locations and helper characters with important functions for passing. Unfortunately, many files are damaged and we won't be able to fully restore them if you don't help us find fatal error! Of course, we will generously reward you for your help!]
[System: If we manage to find the cause and fix it, the system will be able to reboot and restore all the important files for the game to work]
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[Your status and character stats have been changed. Over time, you will have side mudlets that affect your physical condition and the ability to use magic spells, keep this in mind when you complete quests!]
[B͐̀̇̓͝e͂͆̿͑̉͝ c̽̎͡ă̇͊͝r͗͒͡e̓̍͠f҇̐̄̚ǘ̄̎̓͡l̉̂̃͂͡!̇̌̋̐̕ İ͊̃̃̊͝f҇̍̌͊̐ c̿̋̾̋͞h̛̽̉a̒̒͆̎͝ř̊͡a̍̓͠ċ̛̆͛t̀̈͆͠e̐͋̍͠r҇̆͑̀̿'̒͌͒̇̍͠s҇̄͛͗ f͒́̎̿̇͡ḯ͑̈́̓͒̕n͆̎͝d҇̐́̇s͋̊̑̕ ȍ̃̓̿̚͞ȕ͛̌̂̑͝t͊̏͝ ă̏̓̽͠b̽͒͞ȏ̀͠u̒̄̕t̑́͛͌͛̕ y̾̀͞ö́̓͞u̿̈́̅͋̽͠r̐͌͠ s҇͆̉͒̅̒ẗ́̍̕̚̚a̐̆̍͝t̍̐̚͠ư̈̎s̽̎͠,͋̑̽͒͞ ṫ̾̇̍̕ĥ̾̏̊͡i̅̾͠ṡ̍̅̑͡ c͊̈̅̓͠ä́̏͛͒͛͝n̓͒̉͝ s͊͑͌͒̕p҇̐͆̋̓͐o͐́͠i̋́͑̏̕l̍̓̔͝ ṫ̈́̈́̋͝h̛͆̆̈̈́e҇̎̊̇ r̐͐̌̑̚͞e҇͛͑l҇̄̒͒̃ă̛̓̂̿͆t͆͊͑͝i̛̎̑o̐̄̀͝ń́͞s̏̾̓̽̇͞h҇̈͗̊i̋̀̍̑͝ṕ̛͑͐͊ w͑͆̆̿͞i͞t҇͌̈́͌h̒̇͋̉̑͠ t̅̕h̓̏͝e̽͂̑̊͠m̋̿̕ a͊̇̾̈̕n͌͂͡d̊͋͊͝ s҇̐͑h҇̓̽̇̽̈́u̇̑̕t̆̚͞ ṫ͒͑͝ḣ̛̒̿e̋͗͆͌̕m̽̏̀͡ d͌͐͝o҇̍̇̽w̾͛͠n̏́̅̀̕ ȓ͗̉̅͝o҇̂̚ơ̈́̿t͂͌́̕!҇̏̂̾̒]̏͆̕
[New mission: "Escape from the mad Crown Prince"]
[The evening turned out to be terrible and you need to rest. Your heart has been broken and The Crown Prince demands from you what you resist Fortunately, you managed to lie and not tell your secret before the he managed to guess. Get out of the palace through the main gate before your brothers find you]
[Mission: Escape from the palace and return home]
[Moodlets: Fatigue -15 and Drowsiness -20]
Penelope looked at the dozen notifications she received from the game in confusion. She did empty. No pain, no tears - nothing. She didn't know if she would be able to get out of the game if the system, due to a slight deviation from the main branch of the passage, gradually by destroyed.
"It was fault..." she thought, watching as the notification in front of her disappeared and the countdown for completing the task began. — "If I continued to stick to the game mechanics and didn't fall for my feelings… This wouldn't have happened..."
Lifting the hem of her dress, Penelope began to slowly walk down to the royal garden.
"Lady!" An unfamiliar voice called out to her, trying to stop her, but Eckart only quickened her pace, not wanting to stay in this unfortunate place for a minute longer.
***
Reynold watched the dancing intently, involuntarily trying to find the familiar crimson hair among the cheerful crowd. Although he tried to smile and even laugh, when Redfield once again made a stupid joke, and Mitchell raised another toast about his gay bachelor life, nervousness was noticeable in his gestures. Eckart was used to showing himself as a simple good knight, not wanting to listen to his father's tedious speeches about how to behave in public, but now, everything was going out of hand.
Reynold didn't know how to deal with Penelope. Their relationship was so confusing and incomprehensible that any attempt to start a conversation turned into another scandal. When they were kids, it was much easier than it is now.
Then he could understand what was going on in her heart. If she was angry or offended, she threw things at him and shouted loudly, which made his ears ring. And now what?.. Her eyes, like glass, look at him without any interest, unconditionally agreeing to all claims and insults.
Penelope did not accept his apologies, undoubtedly recognizing herself as a madwoman who had fallen on a noble knight-brother, who did not need such a burden, but simply did not need it. So did he to her.
That's for sure, fate has a special sense of humor, to settle a knight and a witch in one family and hopes that they will get along and become like a brother and sister.
No, blood is thicker than water and no one will like the idea of being related to a girl who has taken the place of a princess. What kind of knight is he then, if he does not fulfill his oath of allegiance to the beautiful princess?
Reynold tried to convince himself that his sister didn't need care, that she spit on him, just like he about her. But the more and more he tried to push the disturbing feelings away from him, the more he just wanted to see her and make sure that she really didn't need him.
Having lived under the same roof for ten years, Eckart could easily tell when Penelope was nervous. She kept an even posture and watched indifferently as people whispered behind her back, trying to keep the mask of the Eckart family bitch on face. But today, when Reynold met her gaze, dark green fear began to splash in her malachite eyes, somewhere in the depths, in the tiny reflection of her iris.
She was scared to such an extent that she destroyed all her feelings, trying to seem completely indifferent to everything. Father once mentioned at dinner that when Penelope reached the emotional limit, her face seemed to change at a click. For a second, from a contemptuous grimace, it ceased to express anything.
When he tried to shield her from the under-suitors and give her the opportunity to be alone with her thoughts on the balcony, Penelope did not expect this and clearly took care with hostility. Reynold was terribly angry, genuinely wondering why any attempt of his to show at least some care towards her, as a sister, turned into a scandal.
It was as if she felt exactly the same danger from him as from the others.
He was angry and nervous... because of that, right? Because of the feeling of complete helplessness in relation to a stupid witch who unknowingly pushed away any help and drowned in her own desire to be saved by someone?
But if he leaves everything as it is and lets her get bogged down in bitter feelings, won't this be the worst mistake that can lead to a sad end? The more he wanted to help, the more the pain in his heart became.
Penelope looked like she was tired of fighting and took every stone thrown at her. But then why do we need a knight, if he can't put up a shield and protect the would-be witch from the attacks of spiteful critics?..
Impotence and ignorance of how to do the right thing drove him crazy.
After all, Penelope... wasn't Penelope. Not the hysterical bitch who hated him so much that she was ready to rip a tuft of hair out of head and kick . Who loved him so much that she cried so hard, begging him to open his eyes when he pretended to be dead after falling from a tree.
Only now, after learning about everything that she had to go through before she got into their family and that for ten years, she had to go through becoming a member of the family, he realized that the witch did not replace any princess.
Penelope was forced to live by the rules of another world and pretend to be someone she never was. And she just wanted to survive and get a family, because loneliness was so scary and frightening that she was ready to endure years of attacks and disgusting food, behaving like a dog tied with chains to a booth.
Just not to be alone.
When Penelope, instead of the usual pretentiously bright dress, wore something faded and modest, Reynold began to suspect something. After all, quite recently, the Сrown Prince's assistant came to them with an insanely expensive dress that suited her.
Penelope adored jewelry and adored luxury. She had dozens of beautiful dresses and jewelry, so why didn't she wear it?
Thoughtlessly wandering around the hall, she attracted already close attention to her person. By her antics, Penelope aroused suspicions among the aristocrats about the financial situation of the Eckart family. And only the appearance of the Crown Prince silenced them.
But when he left the hall with Penelope, having had a fight with Derrick along the way, the hall was filled with ominous whispers again.
"Oh, did the Duke finally take up the upbringing of his children and start with the most problematic one?"
"Wasn't it easier just not to plan her debut? He should have punished her, as he had punished her before— to leave her under house arrest forever. Aren't he ashamed to let her out in public?"
"Judging by her pale face and shabby dress, he has already taught her a lesson, but what's the point?"
"The barbarian prince is the perfect match for such a crazy woman, so why did she refuse him? What, she wants to marry a well-bred nobleman with blue blood? Mudblood forgot where she come from?"
Reynold was angry, listening to another upstart, fanning herself busily supported gossip. He understood that Penelope herself was to blame for what was being said about for her, but this thought did not make him feel any better. No matter how brash and brusque she was, Penelope was still his only sister.
Loudly clearing throat, Eckart forced attention to himself. The people around were taken aback for a moment and calmed down, switching to a new topic of conversation. Just then, the couples finished dancing and the orchestra started playing a new melody.
But the heart was uncomfortably fidgeting and did not stop, as if it was waiting. No matter how cunning Penelope was, the Crown Prince was not a simple barbarian. After all, this man had won more than one war and had a reputation worse than her. Was it worth leaving her alone with such a person?
"Buddy, can you at least beat off my bet," Mitchell unexpectedly brought up a new topic of conversation "Is your sister really dating the Crown Prince? I heard that he called Duke Eckart "father"".
"What?" Reynold tried to laugh it off, but noticing the interest in the eyes of his friends, he realized that he was unlikely to be able to jump off the topic. "Don't talk nonsense."
"What kind of nonsense? Everyone has been talking about this since the hunting competitions. And don't pretend you didn't hear it yourself," the man nudged Eckart in the side. "I think Crown Prince asked for permission to take care of your sister, because of what might have been between them in the forest. Why not? The perfect place for a secret date. Romance, night, darkness, there is no one, and only she and the prince are in a deep cave where no one will hear them".
"Mitch," Reynold said dryly. "Haven't you had your face cleaned with a fist for a long time?"
"What did I say wrong? Hey, buddy, every dog in the capital is just talking about it. No offense, but I just repeated what everyone is talking about."
"Well, shut fuck up your mouth, before you say too much."
"Dear Lord, are you seriously offended?" Redfield tried to intervene."Your sister is not an angel, what is the cost of last year's incident at the tea party, and you yourself understand that she is to blame for what everyone is talking about. Wouldn 't she—"
"A beautiful lady from the ducal family?" Eckart interrupted him. "You seem to have begun to forget. The incident last year was the fault of Kellin, who turned the lady's on my sister and poured a dozen dried mosquitoes into her tea".
"What are you mad about? As soon as you didn't call her, and now you suddenly stood up for her? Why all of a sudden? Did your father make you do it again?"
"It's one thing when I or my older brother do it, it's another when my friends, a little fucked up from arrogance and kindness of heart, start calling my sister a whore in front of me."
"I didn't call her that, Reynold, calm down already at last".
"Oh, I'm sorry, it's just that your face is also to blame for the fact that I want to punch you," the pinkhaired man started up and went at his friend.
"Guys," the young Viscount intervened, stepping between them. "We are not at the training ground now to solve all issues with our fists. Disperse and cool down, otherwise all of us will get into serious problems if we continue in the same spirit."
Reynold snorted and stepped back, glaring at Mitchell. After not standing for a minute, Eckart turned around and left, leaving the company.
"What the hell am I doing?" he reproached himself in his thoughts. The man wondered how everything had come to the point where he was protecting crazy Penelope, who was constantly ruffling his nerves. But events, like a dashing turn on a slippery road, flashed through his life too quickly for him to keep up with understanding what the hell was going on around him.
"Have you seen Penelope?" — Reynold, looking for his sister in the hall, lost his feet, trying to figure out where she went after dancing with the Crown Prince. But it seems that after his loud cough, everyone turned their eyes away from her, afraid to run into a scandalous brother. Therefore, the man found his brother in the crowd and tried to find out if he had seen her.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has gone with her to the balcony," Derrick replied dryly.
"She's not there, and neither is the Crown Prince. Damn her, where did she go?!
"Don't shout," older brother shushed, wincing." I'm sure she's with him somewhere right now…"
"Stop talking nonsense," Reynold snorted back. "You don't want to help, well, to hell with you".
The younger Eckart ignored Derrick's glance and decided to go around the hall and the surrounding areas again. Not finding anyone, the pinkhaired man began to worry if something bad had happened to Penelope, as he encountered a servant cleaning dirt from the floor.
"Did a lady pass by here?"
"Ah, "the man was taken aback, clearly not expecting to encounter guests here, and getting up from knees and shaking off the dust from them, stood up. "I'm sorry, sir. Are you looking for Lady Eckart?"
"Have you seen my sister?"
"Yes, she passed through here. Apparently, the evening did not go well and she did not want to go back to the hall. I wanted to suggest that she call the coachman, but when I dared to approach, she immediately headed for the central gate. I tried to call out to her, but she didn't pay any attention to me."
"Gone? That she decided in her heels that she would get there herself?" Eckart thought pursed his lips, trying not to be sarcastic. "Idiot, from here to the duchy to walk a few hours through the dark forest, where did you decide to go in this form?"
"When did you see her?"
The man scratched the top of his head, trying to remember.
"It must have been about two hours ago".
"Two hours?! Fuck!" Eckart turned pale and rushed back to the hall to Derrick, realizing how much he was late. But before he threw open the doors and burst in with the usual bang and shout about what a stupid idiot his sister was, Reynold remembered how Derrick had behaved lately and the least he would want was for Penelope to be locked in the room again because of another stupid and impulsive prank.
They just started to establish relationships and communicate... and spoil everything with a stupid trick?
"Tsk, this is the last time I'm covering for her in front of big brother!" turning around, Reynold returned to the servant, who once again shuddered when his eyes collided with him.
"Old man, I need a horse".
"I-I'm sorry?"
"I need a horse!"
"I... I can't just take the horse and bring it here, sir... can I call the coachman?"
"I don't have time for your coachman, damn you!" Reynold took a deep breath and was about to boil and yell, but pursed his lips and exhaled noisily.
"You don't want to help, well, to hell with you, where is the horse stable here?"
"H-horse stable?"
Reynold gave him an evil look and slightly moved his shoulder so that he noticed the coat of arms of his house. The old man turned pale and confusedly opened and closed his mouth and, finding no other way out of the situation, pointed with his finger where the stable was located.