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Everything was mostly quiet around this time, the day having almost ended. The sunset was as beautiful as ever, how much she wished she could paint something like this.
‘But someone can’t be good at everything, right?’ She mused while drinking in the scenery, from the tall branch of the tree she climbed when peace and quiet were much needed.
She was good at most things so she certainly wasn’t complaining. Still, being more on the artistic side wouldn’t have hurt. Oh well, she already had her adored violin to vent her emotions with.
Exhaling softly and closing the now finished book she spent the last day and night reading, she finally decided to come down from the tall tree.
Penelope had been up there for quite some time, having rushed in the gardens shortly after dinner was finished. The ducal family ate earlier, so she managed to get a little sunlight to finish her latest book, thank her lucky star for that.
As much of a bookworm Penelope was, she’d rather not take anymore time out of her sleep schedule to finish reading. ‘This damned book had no business being so entertaining,’ she thought while huffing, stretching her limbs as soon as her feet hit the ground.
Once again her gaze shifted at the colorful sky. She couldn’t paint, but instead knew someone who could, and he was very good at that.
The corners of her lips lifted at the thought of the blond Prince who not long ago gifted her a portrait that was a spitting image of her person. Who would have thought that the ‘Crown Prince of blood and iron’ could be so good at art?
With that last thought, she made her way inside.
Soft footsteps echoed in the hallways, as Penelope walked to her room, telling Emily and the rest of the maids to preparare a warm bath.
This time she felt like being alone, so she decided to dismiss her maids for the night.
“But my lady! We must attend to you!” Emily protested lightly, and similar disapproving sentences could be heard among the group. Penelope only smiled, “It’s fine Emily, you needn’t worry about it.”
“I’d like some time to myself. You have the rest of the evening free.” She really was grateful for the thoughtfulness of her loyal maid, but lightly dismissed her and the rest nonetheless, with a soft refusal of their services.
It is true that sometimes, nothing is better than a warm relaxing bath. At last, she’s ready to embrace the warmth of her comfortable and cozy blankets.
Blinking tiredly, she beelines for the bed. Jumping face first into her lavender silk pillows, Penelope noticed that it was already dark outside, the stars had already started glimmering to life in the clear sky.
“Haa… it’s already dark. Did I take so long to wash up?” She murmured, asking no one in particular. Taking the blankets that seemed softer than usual, she wrapped herself into a cocoon to intercept the unwanted chill of the lower temperature.
Penelope felt so tired, it had been a while since she felt like this. ‘Note to future self, don’t stay up all night to read, even if it’s the most engaging book ever.’
She had to thank Yvonne for the book. Did she mention it was romance? If it was a romance recommendation, her older sister definitely had to be involved. A smile made its way on her sleepy features at the thought.
She inhaled the flowery scent ever so present on her bed to then exhale softly, already feeling sleep starting to claim her.
Penelope could finally rest.
But just when she was on the brink of being whisked away into dreamland, a soft tapping noise can be heard from the window.
tap tap tap
She was too worn out to process the noise. Maybe her tired mind was making up things. She ignored it stubbornly, or at least tried to.
The tapping on the glass progressively got louder.
Penelope furrowed her brows, groaning as she pulled the blankets over her ears trying to conceal the annoying noise.
tap tap
“Ugh… what?” Was it another of Reynold’s stupid jokes? Because if that was the case, she was not having any of it.
As she sat up, the noise seemed to stop. She strained her hearing and tilted her head towards the windows, where the annoying tapping was coming from, but nothing could be heard.
Huffing in annoyance, Penelope resumed her previous position.
The universe must’ve not liked her very much, because as soon as she was comfortable again, the bothersome tapping resumed, more intense than before.
TAP TAP TAP
Kicking the covers away and stomping angrily towards the windows, she decided that enough was enough.
As she opened the windows and stepped onto the balcony, a tiny rock flew past her head landing on the floor of her room, bouncing a few times before it rolled further on the ground.
She was bewildered to say the least.
Leaning on the balcony railing while looking down in the garden, she spotted a certain golden haired bastard, source of her annoyance lately.
A displeased frown could be seen on the girl’s face.
“Ah, finally! I thought I had to climb my way to your balcony, and knock on your windows to make you come out.” The boisterous Crown Prince crossed his arms.
The audacity of this man. Destroying her chances of much needed rest, trespassing into the dukedom uninvited at night, and he still acted cocky? She could finally say that she found her match.
Before Penelope could retaliate with a witty response her sleepy brain seemed to start functioning again. ‘Wait, it's nighttime, and Reynold’s room is right below mine… if he wakes up, everyone is going to find out!’
“Shhh! Don’t be so loud! People are trying to sleep. And so was I, for the record, before someone rudely interrupted my much needed rest!” Putting a finger on her lips in emphasis to shush the rude man, while whisper-yelling her complaints.
“Tch, I come all this way to surprise you and this is the thanks I get?” Callisto grumbled, but kept his voice down nonetheless.
Her eye twitched. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Your Highness, but I don’t think you understand the situation. It’s nighttime and you snuck into the Eckhart dukedom without notice. Even if you are the Crown Prince, there will be consequences if someone were to find out.” She explained her distress to the hot-headed blond.
He raised a brow, “You’re right, but no one will know.
I’m pretty sure you won’t tell on me, am I right my dear Princess?” That infuriating trademark smirk present on his face once again as he obviously teased her, if it were possible, she wished to smack it away.
Still, his response elicited a small blush from her, more specifically the ‘my dear Princess’ part. Even if they were together, she still had to get used to the random displays of affection. But since she wasn’t inclined in letting him have the satisfaction of having her reddening at his taunting words, Penelope tried to conceal her flustered reaction with annoyance. “Of course I won’t tell anyone. But it’s not guaranteed that no one will find out. What if someone sees you?”
“Thank you for always worrying about me Princess. However I’m very good at escaping and hiding. I won the war, remember?” He winked. Of course he had to boast about his achievements. His flirty demeanor was maddening, it drove her up a wall lately.
Rolling her eyes, Penelope realized that the reason for his surprise visit was still unknown. Asking was probably the best option rather than trying to guess. “Haa… how could I forget? But that still doesn’t give me an explanation on why you are here in my garden, under my balcony, at night .”
Penelope put her hands on her hips and glared at the insolent Prince. Said man was glad for the distance between them and the lack of light, because if not she could have seen how his ears reddened ever so slightly. Her attitude certainly wasn’t making it any better, he was trying to accomplish something that took a lot of work on his part.
Ok, so—maybe waking her up wasn’t the brightest idea he had, recalling stories from the battlefield of certain married men talking about their wives, and the unfortunate outcome of disturbing a sleeping woman. He cringed internally, and made a mental note of it for the future.
Penelope tapped her foot impatiently. “Well? Is my question going to be left unanswered?”
Running a hand through his golden hair, Callisto sighed, turning his head away defiantly. “I'm sorry if I disturbed your sleep, Princess. I just wanted to see you.”
That made her mind backtrack a little. “You came here… to see me?”
”Tsk—yes! I missed you! Is wanting to see you such a bad thing?” The words were slightly rushed, and his voice grew a little louder, but all thoughts of secrecy flew right out the window upon hearing the heartfelt response.
“Oh…” blinking a few times Penelope started to think this over. ‘That was definitely not what I expected…’
Although she could feel the sincerity in his words, Penelope felt that there was more to it. If that were to be the case he could and would have climbed his way to her balcony without hesitation. With that in mind she started to scrutinize him, and only then did she notice the larger satchel laying on the ground a few feet from him.
“What’s in that bag?” She pointed at the aforementioned object. His eyes widened only a little, seemingly startled by her question. Either he completely forgot about it, or thought and hoped that at this point she wouldn’t notice. Penelope didn’t know that it was actually a combination of both.
“Uh… it’s nothing. You know—I should take my leave. I apologize once again for my rude intrusion, and having bothered the Princess’ sleep. Good night.”
Her eyes widened.
“Wait! Don’t go!” He was in no way a coward. So whatever reason he must’ve had, it was pretty important to make him retreat like that, and she’d be damned if she wasn’t going to find out before the night ended. ‘Was he thrown off by my demeanor?’
Her rushed words made him stop mid-turn. Looking up, the Prince raised a brow in confusion.
“Please wait, Your Highness. Don’t go yet—actually give me a moment.”
He looked even more confused after her rushed word-vomit, but did just as told. Plopping on the ground when the object of his affection entered the room, shutting the windows as she did so.
It had been a few minutes, where Callisto stared at the constellations present in the clear night sky. A few minutes where he tried to strengthen his resolve, mentally scolding himself for almost chickening out. He came here for a reason, dammit! What the hell was wrong with him?
He heard rustling and upon better inspection, he saw her.
She is beautiful, that he knows, everyone knows, you’d be either a fool or blind to say otherwise. But it is when she stepped into the light, that the air got sucked out of his lungs.
She looked just like a dream. That was his first thought upon seeing his beloved.
Penelope always compliments his eyes, often comparing them to rubies. If his were rubies, hers were emeralds. The moonlight made that even more evident, and gave her a holy glint, he dared say.
Upon her nearing, he jumped to his feet.
When Penelope was in reach, Callisto grasped her hand gently, planting a chivalrous soft kiss on her knuckles.
“I can finally greet you properly Princess. Talking from a distance certainly isn’t the same as doing so face to face. You look as beautiful as ever.”
Her face reddened and her heart skipped a beat at his brazen confidence and compliments. It seems that whatever troubled him didn’t last for long.
She tried to prepare as fast as possible, throwing something decent on and hoping she was at least presentable, and that her slight dark circles won’t show too much. Doubting that she’d look even half as good as she did on a daily basis, Penelope expected some taunting that never came.
But she was never one to refuse compliments, and was certainly not complaining. “Thank you, Your Highness. You look rather dashing yourself.” And it was true. Up close he looked even more charming.
He smirked at her returned flattery, confidence seemingly restored.
“So? Are you going to tell me the whole reasons why you are here so late?” She pressed on the earlier matter, changing the subject before he could taunt her any further.
“I believe I already told you the reason.” He huffed, closing his eyes stubbornly, brows furrowing.
And a moment of distraction on his part was all she needed to make her way undisturbed to the satchel not too far away.
“Oh, is that so? Then you won’t mind if I take a peek inside the bag you brought. Is it perhaps another lovely present for me?”
His head snapped in her direction so fast she was surprised that he didn’t get whiplash.
“No it is not! And it would be quite rude to look through someone’s belongings without permission.” With an alarmed tone and hurried pace, Callisto tried to reach her but to no avail.
Penelope moved away just in time, and opened the bag. The objects contained were definitively not what she had expected.
At his horrified expression she reached inside and extracted a guitar with different patterns painted on. There were some parts where the black paint was chipped and the natural brown color of the wood could be seen, the golden patterns were also seemingly added later on.
All in all, it was a very beautiful instrument, and used quite a bit from its worn details.
At last, she noticed a slip of folded paper laying on the ground. That must’ve been inside the bag as well. Her inner musings came to a halt when the Prince snatched the paper from the ground, before she could even reach for it.
“Is this yours?” Penelope asked at last, lifting the guitar, stupor having somewhat worn off.
Callisto sighed, once again running a hand through his hair, stopping at his nape.
“Yes, I think that much is obvious.” He was getting a little testy.
“I beg your pardon… but if you didn’t want me finding out, then why did you bring the guitar here? And what is that paper?”
“I didn’t really think this through. And the paper—it’s nothing. You would probably think of it as nonsense anyway.” He avoided eye contact once again.
“Well, Your Highness, you tend to be rather impulsive.” She quipped.
“Are you making fun of me right now?” Callisto frowned.
“Not at all. I merely stated a fact. And shouldn’t I see for myself if what is written truly is nonsense?” Penelope opened her free hand and wiggled her fingers in an inviting motion.
He groaned, but caved at last, placing the small object in the palm of her soft hand.
She cheered internally, finally able to find out what all this fuss was about. Careful but quick fingers made rapid work on opening the paper, and her emerald irises fixated on the beautiful calligraphy everything was written in.
‘Wait…what?’ Penelope’s brows furrowed, and her eyes widened. For the umpteenth time that night, Penelope was rendered speechless.
A few moments passed, and Penelope lifted her gaze, seeing the prince from a new perspective, yet again.
“Did you write this… for me?” Penelope asked, voice low, seemingly breathless from what she had just read.
Stubborn as he was, Callisto refused to meet her eyes, looking at anything but her face, his answer a simple
“Yes.”
Sensing his shift in mood, she attempted humor to lighten the situation. “Your Highness… are you blushing by any chance?” It was truly a very simple question, but despite that, the blond didn’t expect such inquiry, blood rushing to his face.
“You must be seeing things!” He was positively bewildered. His reaction resulted in her laughter, to his displeasure. “You dare mock the Crown Prince?” Callisto huffed in annoyance.
“Oh, I wouldn’t dare.” She responded once her giggles subdued, waving her hand dismissively.
At last, she put the pieces together. Callisto’s visit at night, in her garden with a guitar, (the very one she hadn’t let go of), and what seemed to be a love song…was he planning on serenading her?
That seemed the most absurd thing ever, and yet she liked the idea… very much. “I don’t think it’s stupid.”
“Pardon?” He furrowed his brows.
“You earlier stated that I would think this as nonsense, yet I think it’s lovely.” She smiled, and his eyes widened.
“Really?” He asked reluctantly, and she nodded.
“Well? Aren’t you going to sing it for me?” The playful lily of her voice broke him out of his stupor. Blinking a few times he recomposed himself and reached for the guitar she was still holding in her dainty hands, their fingers brushing together in the process.
He looked at her, just to make sure that she genuinely meant it, and she nodded her head encouragingly in response.
She was determined. And so was he. A true match made in heaven.
‘The crazy daughter of the Eckarts and the royal bastard of the empire’ really had a nice ring to it. Callisto still recalled how at the last year’s hunting competition his Princess pointed her crossbow at some ill-mannered noble ladies that dared to disrespect her. The incident branded her as ‘crazy’.
Truly a sight to behold. That was when he started to take a liking to Lady Penelope, as Cedric liked to put it.
Putting the strap of the instrument on, and taking a deep breath, he started to recall the exact same words he scribbled on the paper the lady of his heart was holding. Slender fingers moving swiftly on the strings of the black guitar. Gentle strokes creating a beautiful melody.
Penelope was already taken aback, and had yet to hear him sing. She didn’t know if she was prepared to hear his voice recite the words she read mere moments before, if only him playing the tune amazed her this much.
And then the verses started.
“Baby, this love, I’ll never let it die;
can't be touched by no one,
I’d like to see them try;”
Her eyes widened. His voice was soft, like a caress, unlike what she had expected. Were it not for the dazed state she was put in, she would’ve noticed how his ears reddened, rivaling the color of his eyes.
“I’m a mad man for your touch,
girl, I’ve lost control;
I'm gonna make this last forever don’t tell me it’s impossible,”
The tune kept on playing between the verses, and she found herself slightly swaying to the soft notes.
“ ‘Cause I love you for infinity,
I love you for infinity;
‘Cause I love you for infinity,
I love you for infinity;“
He sang those last verses to her like prayer, her being his Goddess.
“Oh darling my soul,
you know it aches for yours;
and you’ve been feeling this hole
since you were born,”
His tone was so full of raw emotions, however she was not prepared for when he lifted his eyes from his guitar to look at her with such intensity. His gaze fixated on her.
“ ‘Cause you’re the reason I believe in fate,
you’re my paradise;
and I’ll do anything to be your love,
I’ll be your sacrifice;
‘Cause I love you for infinity,
I love you for infinity;
‘Cause I love you for infinity,
I love you for infinity;“
The words he was singing did something to her heart, stirring something she wasn’t even aware of to begin with.
They hadn’t started their secret romance too long ago, but he made her feel like she had never felt before. Like she was on top of the world, standing on the tallest mountain.
He made her feel wanted , not that she felt unwanted. But with him it was a completely different feeling. He treated her like royalty already, and the thought rendered her lightheaded already.
“Meet me at the bottom of the ocean,
where the time is frozen,
where all the universes open;
love isn’t random, we are chosen;”
With every verse, she inched closer and closer, until the two had only mere inches separating them.
“And we could wear the same crown,
Keep slowing your heart down,
We are the gods now;”
Mindful of the guitar he was still holding and playing, she stopped just close enough to be able to extend her arm towards him, placing her warm delicate hand on his face, stroking his cheekbone softly with her thumb.
“ ‘Cause I love you for infinity,
I love you for infinity;
‘Cause I love you for infinity,
I love you for infinity;“
By the time his fingers halted on their strings, the two were gazing intensely at each other. He wordlessly removed the guitar's strap from around his neck, laying it on the ground.
The paper, long forgotten, fell from her grip on the grass beneath.
He pulled her closer. They were chest to chest. Face to face, breaths mingling together.
“I love you Penelope,” he uttered huskily.
Her eyes widened slightly. That was truthfully the first time she heard that from his lips, without any implying, riddles or word games.
“I love you too,” she responded on instinct, without much of a second thought.
He inhaled sharply, bringing her even closer.
“Penelope,” He rarely called her by name, and she decided she rather liked the way her name sounded uttered from his lips.
“Yes Callisto?” He very much liked how she said his name as well.
“May I kiss you?” At his question, she looked at him with mirth and adoration. Despite what everyone said, he was a true gentleman, and she felt herself melt into his arms.
“You may.” Answering firmly, her emerald irises glinted in the moonlight, eyes halflidded.
Their faces inched closer, meeting half-way, and their lips finally touched at last.
They shared a lovely moment, kissing the other tenderly, smiling as they parted. It didn’t last long but it was truly sweet and unforgettable, being not only their first kiss as a couple, but each other’s first kiss ever as well.
Penelope’s hands slowly went from resting on his biceps, to making their way to his broad shoulders, slender arms wrapping around his neck to bring his face closer to hers once again.
Following her lead, his strong arms tightened around her slim waist, hands gripping her hips, their lips coming together once again.
While their first kiss was sweet and more innocent, the second one was passionate and more heated, full of yearning, the two of them having waited long for such a thing.
Penelope’s fingers buried themselves in his soft golden hair, and Callisto’s calloused hands started running over her spine and hips in soft motions.
So busy they were indulging in each other’s presence, they barely registered the sudden slamming of a window.
Only when the lovers heard a boisterous yell, the two broke apart, panic settling in, looking like deers caught in the headlights.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING WITH MY SISTER?!”
“Rey—Reynold!? What are you doing up at this hour?!” Penelope asked in trepidation.
“I could ask you the same question Penelope! And why is this churl here?!”
“Reynold, don't be impolite! Watch your mouth!” She scolded.
He gave a sardonic laugh at his little sister’s scolding. “Me? Impolite?! Ha! You know what’s really impolite?” He pointed an accusatory finger at the Crown Prince, who was looking at the younger Eckhart Lord in astonishment. “This tool coming into the dukedom in the middle of the fucking night to shove his tongue down my little sister’s throat!”
“REYNOLD!” Penelope was bewildered and angry at her brother’s peculiar choice of words, it would most likely backfire on him later.
The Prince only laughed at the situation, grating on the second young lord’s nerves even more. “You dare laugh after you trespassed into our home?!”
“Brother calm down!” Penelope tried to calm her hot-headed brother, but to no avail.
“Do I look like I want to be calm?! Actually, you know what? I’m going to come down there, just you wait!”
And with that, her noisy brother slammed his balcony doors closed.
Someone was bound to notice the commotion that had just taken place, because they by no means had been quiet. And like clockwork, multiple lights flickered to life inside the mansion.
Panic once again settled between the two.
“C’mon! We have to get you out of here as fast as possible—before someone sees you!” Acting quickly, she tugged hurriedly on his sleeve, dragging him away in the direction of the training grounds. Remembering at last to pick up the guitar and satchel off the ground.
“Your brother saw us already! And where are we going?! Thanks to your nosy brother, the guards are probably already on their way,” Callisto complained, but followed her lead.
“I’ll handle my brother, that jerk doesn’t know what is about to hit him, and I mean that literally in the worst way possible! And we’re going near the training grounds, there’s a hole in the wall we use to sneak out. It’s the fastest way for you to escape without getting caught!” She explained hurriedly, huffing in between sentences.
He laughed at her threat against Reynold. How he’d like to witness the moment, but at the time being, escape was more important. If the Duke were to find out, Callisto doubted he’d be allowed near Penelope anytime soon.
“PENELOPE!” An enraged Reynold could be heard screaming from a distance.
“Fuck!” She cursed.
“I didn’t know you had it in you to curse Princess!” He laughed at the unexpected display.
“Hardy har har—for your information I don’t enjoy acting like a foul-mouthed sailor! And me cursing is the last of our problems, we have to run faster! That idiot is catching up with us!” She accelerated their pace.
“STOP RUNNING!” Her menace of a brother was apparently not intent on giving up.
The two of them managed to make it to the hole in the wall in record speed.
Callisto shoved his satchel through the dog-hole first. “Are you going to be alright?” He asked worriedly, already preparing to part.
“Yes, I’ll manage. This isn’t the first time that I handle a mess akin to this one. I’m good at making up excuses. Worry about yourself instead.” Okay, maybe she somewhat lied about the excuse part, but he didn’t need to know that. He still worried about her, even as he was the one at risk.
He nodded. “Alright. And—before I go,” trailing off, he pulled her against him once again, kissing her for the third time that night.
“Until the next one, my Princess.” Winking, he hurriedly made his way through the hole.
“Don’t make me wait too long!” She responded hurriedly, and his laughter resounded at her words.
“I won’t!” His voice could be heard one last time on the other side of the wall, before his hurried footsteps got fainter with distance.
She stood there until she couldn’t hear Callisto’s presence anymore.
Turning, she came face to face with a fuming Reynold.
He opened his mouth to probably say something annoying, but his sister was faster than him. She didn’t care for what he had to say. As soon as she had the chance, she socked him right on the head.
“OW! What was that for?!” He asked angrily, rubbing a hand to the side of his head, where she had just hit him.
“You still have the audacity to ask?! You dumbass! The whole household is awake because of you! What if someone saw him?!” Penelope pointed an accusatory finger at him, poking his chest.
“That’s not my problem! He can’t just sneak in here, attempt to seduce my little sister, and expect no consequences! I can’t believe you helped him escape!”
She pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. Her brother was testing her patience. “You idiot! He wasn’t trying to seduce me!”
He rolled his eyes. “Aha, sure! You expect me to believe that when I saw with my own eyes how he was sucking your face off!”
“Ew—you’re making it sound so disgusting! He was not! And we have been in a secret relationship for some time now, that is about to be not so secret anymore!”
At that he paled. “You WHAT?! Since when?!”
That got him another whack upside the head. “Will you stop that already?!”
Suddenly multiple voices could be heard in the distance.
Penelope’s blood drained from her face. She had to make her brother keep his mouth shut or Callisto would get into a lot of trouble. She will just have to resolve on threatening Reynold, and at the moment that wasn’t such a good option. She went for a bargain instead.
“If you promise to keep quiet and follow my lead, I promise I’ll tell you everything you want to know. But please don’t tell anyone that Callisto was here!” She whisper-yelled while gripping his shoulders, giving Reynold a little shake.
Her brother looked genuinely surprised and confused at that. “Just how close are the two of you to call each other by name?”
“Please Rey!” She pleaded desperately with her brother, brushing the question aside.
He sighed in resignation. ‘Ugh… I’m too soft for you and Yvonne.’ Reynold thought to himself as he gazed at his sister’s worried features.
“Tsk… fine! I’ll close an eye, but only this once. However, you have to answer all of my questions. And I am by no means doing this for that bastard. Understood shorty?”
At that she brightened, and hugged him tightly on impulse. “Thank you so much Rey!” Penelope was so relieved, that she didn’t even pay attention to the nickname about her height that alway got on her nerves.
They started to move away from the wall where the small escape was.
“Yeah yeah, I’m the best brother ever, I know.” His boosting was cut short by their father.
“Reynold, Penelope! Can I know what in the heavens’ name are the two of you doing outside at this unholy hour of the night? And what was all that screaming I heard before?” An angry Duke, still in his sleeping clothes, crossed his arms, waiting for an answer.
Behind him, some knights were standing, looking on high alert.
Yvonne was still rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, giving a small yawn, and Derrick stood just a couple of feet from their father, glaring at them. Penelope and Reynold almost burst out laughing at their older brother’s wild bed-hair and their father’s attire, but managed to hold it in to not anger them further.
“Well?” The Duke insisted, his foot tapping on the ground impatiently.
Before Penelope could come up with an excuse, Reynold intervened “It was my fault.”
“How so?” Their father questioned.
“I woke up suddenly. I thought I heard something so I looked out of the window for anything suspicious, and effectively saw a figure standing in the gardens below. I panicked thinking it was an intruder so I got out on the balcony and started to yell at them, only to realize later that it was only Penelope. Then I got angry, thinking she was sneaking out, and came outside.” He lied a little too smoothly for Penelope’s liking. He was almost too good at that, but then again, he lied his way out every time he got caught sneaking outside the duchy.
Derrick arched a brow at his explanation. “Then how come you are so far away from the gardens under your balcony?” Their eldest brother was clearly not buying it.
Penelope was the one to do the talking this time. “I got mad because I was just taking a walk, and Reynold started to yell at me. We started to argue because he didn’t believe me, and upon realizing we were being loud, we decided to move away from the mansion, to avoid disturbing anyone. Turns out that didn’t really work out.” She gave a sheepish laugh, feigning innocence.
The duke rubbed his forehead, seemingly satisfied with their short story for the moment. “We will talk about this in the morning. Until then please go to sleep. It’s really late.” He dismissed the guards and turned away towards the house, while sighing tiredly, “kids these days.”
Derrick only glared at them one last time. “I don’t know what the two of you were up to, but that is definitively not it.” He turned away, going back inside as well.
Reynold huffed. “Ugh, Dirk is such a stick in the mud. Didn’t remember him to be so cranky.”
Penelope chortled, “Shh! Keep it down, you know he hates it when you call him ‘Dirk’. And what did you expect? We interrupted his beauty sleep.”
“Honestly I couldn’t care less about his ‘beauty sleep’.
Did you see the look he gave us?! You’d think his face would be stuck like that already.” The pink haired man rolled his eyes.
That made the remaining group laugh. The two troublemaking siblings finally noticed their company.
“C’mon Apprentice, we have training tomorrow. It’s better if you go and rest.” Reynold looked at Ecklis.
The younger guy nodded. “Yes Sir. See you in the morning. Good night, Lady Penelope, Lady Yvonne.” Nodding his head towards the three siblings he turned around making his way back towards his dorm. The two sisters bid him good night as well.
“This night was really something.” Penelope sighed, the sleepiness starting to once again sink in. She hadn’t noticed just how tired she was.
Reynold agreed with her. “Tell me about it.”
Yvonne was just confused, “What exactly happened?”
Reynold shook his head. “If shorty over here wants to tell you, then fine, because I’m not up for tale-telling right now. I think I’ll go too, good night sisters.” He patted their heads a few times and went on his rapid way.
“Night brother!” Both of his sisters replied.
“I think we should go too.” Penelope suggested, and her older sister agreed.
As they walked towards the mansion, Yvonne started the conversation. “He was here, wasn’t he?” She gave a smile.
Penelope blinked, “How did you know?”
It was at that moment that Yvonne pulled a small crumpled paper out from her nightgown’s little pocket. “I have a good memory, and happen to have been with you when the Prince sent you letters. I simply remembered his calligraphy.” She waved the piece of paper in emphasis. “And I also happened to see a small part of your secret meeting. The two of you weren’t as silent as you thought, my room is right above yours, remember?”
By the time the oldest of the two finished her small proud speech, the youngest was as red as a tomato, snatching the paper away. “So you saw us…”
“Kissing? Yes! And I heard part of the song he wrote for you! Who would have thought that His Highness could sing so well? That was so romantic!” Yvonne skipped several steps ahead and gave a small twirl.
“Love really is in the air tonight. I just wish Reynold would have stayed asleep. He really ruined the moment, such a party pooper.” She sighed somewhat disappointedly.
Penelope shook her head. “Honestly, me too. We really had a nice time. But I’m glad that Reynold didn’t snitch on us. However I’m not saying that I approve of the fact that you were spying on us, well—at least you were quiet about it.”
Yvonne patted her back. “Sorry about that, but you know I’m a sucker for romance. I almost gave myself away when Rey insulted the Crown Prince, ‘churl’ and ‘tool’ made my night. I couldn’t help but laugh,”
That made Penelope chuckle too. “If I think back now—it was kinda funny. I just hope Callisto isn’t too angry about it.”
Her older sister gave her a look. “Naah. Penny—the man was too invested in you at that point to even care what was happening around him. Your kiss really knocked him into dreamland. He probably heard wedding bells already!”
“Gods, what are you saying?! Stop being so nosy!” Penelope shoved her sister away lightly, as embarrassment finally seemed to present itself.
“Sure Penny, whatever you say. Tomorrow I want all the details.” Yvonne winked suggestively.
“Yes yes, tomorrow. But not now. I feel like I’m about to collapse from sleep deprivation at any moment.” She agreed only to get out of the situation quicker, very much aware of the fact that Yvonne will grill her for the whole story in the morning.
By the time they finished their talk, they arrived at Penelope’s room. “Goodnight Penny. Sweet dreams.”
“Goodnight Yvee. Sweet dreams to you too,” after the two hugged, they went their separate ways.
Once again Penelope threw herself face first into her bed. This time she was determined to fall asleep for good.
Rewrapping herself into a cocoon, she fell into a serene sleep. That night she dreamed of ruby-red eyes, golden blonde hair, a dashing smile and secretive words of love whispered with devotion, meant to be heard only by two people.
Somewhere not too far away, at the imperial palace, a certain Crown Prince was having similar dreams. He hadn’t slept that good in ages.
In the morning, his demeanor was so good that the servants got genuinely worried, because never had the Crown Prince smiled so genuinely and brightly. Even the Second Queen with her fits of rage could not tear down his good mood if she tried.
He already started to write his darling Princess a letter, asking for a secret meeting somewhere in the capital.
His Princess was thrilled to say the least, and accepted immediately. The only thing left was to set a date for their secret little rendezvous, the two already looking forward to their next meeting.