Chapter 21: Chapter 21
Third Person POV
Henny woke up early and stopped in her tracks when she saw Felix setting a meal on the table.
"Sit, Master. Here's your food." Henny quietly ate until Felix spoke.
"I wonder what punishment you're planning for me, Master." She choked on her food as a sudden memory flashed in her mind.
"Are you okay, Master?" Concern was evident in his voice. Henny glanced at Felix's chest, noticing that three of his buttons were undone. Why was his shirt unbuttoned?
"Master?" Henny snapped back to reality when Duke Felix called her name.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go." She stood up and left the apartment.
Meanwhile, Felix felt himself blush. Did that work? Had he successfully seduced Henny? The wolf inside him started to wag its tail.
"Do you think Henny will love me someday?" He stared at his plate for a long time.
"Maybe I should buy a gift for her. I will go to the theater after I buy the gifts—" He was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching their door.
"Show yourself, peasant!" he said seriously as he sat down in his chair, arms crossed. Before him stood his shadow knight.
"Your Majesty! I'm here to give you a warning. The Finland Empire has sent an army to search for you." Felix burst into laughter at this news.
"Really? How dare they! What is the reason for searching for me?"
"They want to find you so they can locate the maid who abducted you, Your Majesty." Both men were startled when Felix slammed his hand on the table with great force, leaving a mark.
"Find those bastards and kill them all." Each word from Felix was cold and menacing, implying that their failure would cost them their lives.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" They bowed to Felix and vanished before him. Now that Felix's mood was completely ruined, he decided to leave the apartment and find Henny.
Henny's POV
"Hello, Henny." She looked up to see Claudia's manager standing before her.
"Good morning, Madam. What can I do for you?" Henny smiled politely.
"I saw you last time. You're such a brilliant singer, and your skills are extraordinary—"
"I'm sorry to be rude, Madam, but if you're interested in having me join the theater, I must refuse."
"Why? It's a shame not to use your talent."
"Yes, I hate this talent. I love my job here as a cleaner and prefer not to draw any attention. Excuse me." Henny left as her shift had ended.
As she stepped outside, she was immediately surrounded by soldiers. She recognized them as knights from Finland.
"Surrender!" They ordered as they forced her down onto the ground. They bound her hands and roughly pulled her to her feet.
She felt pain shoot through her legs but complied without protest; it was almost as if she had expected this to happen.
They led her inside a carriage, which soon came to a halt. Through the window, Henny spotted a familiar figure—it was Duke Felix.
To her shock, he burst through the door of the carriage with his sword drawn. He pulled the soldiers inside and mercilessly killed them all.
His expression softened when he saw her.
"Are you okay, Master? Are you hurt—" She stopped short when she noticed the bruises on his arms and legs.
He paused briefly before stepping out of the carriage and noticed that soldiers from the North Kingdom were present as well.
"ANNOUNCE THIS TO FINLAND! I FELIX DON BAUGHETTE DECLARE WAR!" Anger was evident on his face.
"You can't do that."
"I will, Master; they dared to hurt you—"
"It has nothing to do with you if they hurt me. You're neither my father nor my mother. So stop this nonsense, lunatic."
"For you it may not be a big deal, but what about me? I can't control myself if someone touches or hurts you. I go berserk if I can't do anything, Master."
"If you declare war, what about Peneloppe? She's your lover after all."
"I'll give her a mansion if you're worried about her. Everything, Master; I don't want you bothered by anything. If you want something, just ask me."
"I don't need anything except to kill you."
"You're really cold towards me, Master."
Lucas's POV
"Lord Lukas! I have bad news!" Carlos burst into my office looking terrified.
"What bad news could possibly frighten you so much?"
"Duke Felix has declared war on Ferland! He's calling for you at the palace." I was shocked by Carlos's news about Felix declaring war. Could it be because of Peneloppe and me?
I rushed to the palace only to find chaos everywhere.
"WHY IS THE DUKE ATTACKING US? HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE OUR ALLY!" shouted one of the high-ranking officials in Finland.
"As far as I know, the Duke is angry because my soldiers hurt the maid who is with him now."
"How could this happen? Isn't your son the Duke's beloved? How could he fall for some lowly servant?"
Was he referring to Peneloppe's maid?
"What are we going to do? If we don't act quickly, there's no chance we'll survive against the Duke!"
The room erupted into noise just as Peneloppe arrived, locking eyes with me.
"I'm glad you're here," she said softly without meeting my gaze.
"I want you to go directly to Duke Felix in the North Kingdom. Plead with him not to continue this war."
"But Your Majesty, I don't think Felix will listen to me—" She was cut off when wine was poured over her head. I wanted nothing more than to take off the Emperor's head right then but felt powerless just watching them.
"IF YOU HAVE TO SEDUCE THE DUKE TO STOP THIS WAR THEN DO IT! WHAT GOOD ARE YOU AS A WOMAN IF YOU CAN'T ATTRACT MEN?" Her father's shout echoed throughout the room.
Peneloppe felt immense shame at her father's words before leaving in silence as everyone began discussing strategies for our meeting.
"Prepare the entire army Lukas. We need to be ready in case Duke Felix doesn't change his mind."
"Yes, Your Majesty," I replied solemnly.
Henny's POV
"Master, are you sure you're okay?" He had been asking me repeatedly if I was "okay," like a broken record.
"Yes," I answered curtly.
We were now back at our apartment because he had escorted me home. He knelt before me as I sat down.
"Master, I want to tell you something." His expression looked guilty now.
"Speak." Honestly, I didn't want to talk to him; I still couldn't forget what he had done to me. I wanted him to feel what I felt back then.
"I didn't tell you anything about the North Kingdom. The Emperor who rules this place is my uncle and I'm his successor—"
"So what about that? As if I care?" I already knew that; I'd read it in books. I understood who he really was.
"Pardon me, Master; I'm telling you this because I thought you'd be upset if I didn't—"
"No! Just keep your distance from me. I don't want to talk to you."
He fell silent beside me while I stared out the window. My brow furrowed when I spotted a familiar carriage—and Peneloppe stepped out of it.
I immediately stood up but was stopped by the Duke's hand on my arm.
"Master! Where are you going?"
"Take your hands off me!" I snapped angrily and pushed past him down the stairs where we crossed paths with each other again.
"Are you happy taking away my husband? Did you f**k all night—" Unable to hold back any longer, I slapped her cheek for her vulgar words.
"I'm not like you," was all I said since I'd only come here hoping she wasn't with Lukas so that I'd have an opportunity against him instead.
"Where's Felix—"
"What are you doing here Peneloppe?" My hair stood on end at Duke Felix's voice; it sent shivers down my spine.
"F-Felix! I want to talk to you—just us two please?" She pleaded tearfully. Whoa! She really is soft towards him!
"Well if it's about my declaration of war then forget it—you can't change my mind."
"No! It's not!"
"Well then you can't enter our apartment without Master's permission." The Duke turned his gaze toward me.
"Do whatever you want," I replied coldly before walking away from them both.
Third Person POV
"What are we going to talk about?" Felix looked at Peneloppe seriously while noticing how revealing her dress was today.
"I just want you to know that I won't give up on you, Felix." Peneloppe trembled slightly under his intense gaze; she clearly feared him but pressed on anyway without speaking further about what she wanted from him next.
"Do you realize you're just fooling yourself here Peneloppe? You act like you love me but truthfully—you don't love me." Her eyes widened in shock upon hearing this revelation from him; it would be even harder now for her win over Felix's heart since he seemed aware of everything regarding Lukas' involvement between them both too well already!
"You're wrong Felix! I truly love you! What did Henny say? Did she slander me so she could steal away from me—"
"SHUT UP PENELOPPE!" His voice boomed angrily as he glared daggers at her while trying hard not lose control over himself again either!
"Do know what exactly it is that you're saying right now? How long will keep pretending like everything is fine between us? If Henny hadn't come into my life then perhaps—I would have killed Lukas right in front of your eyes!" He wiped his face out of frustration caused by Peneloppe's insistence upon coming back into his life again too soon after everything else happened recently too!
"Do remember our engagement day? Those moments meant everything because they were special moments shared together between us both—but now look where we stand today instead!" Her hands shook uncontrollably while recalling those bittersweet memories filled with longing desires unfulfilled yet still lingering deep within their hearts forevermore still…
"But alas—I found out that day when caught sight of seeing YOU & LUKAS together intimately within palace gardens nearby…You cannot even begin comprehend how painful this feels!"
Peneloppe gasped softly upon realizing what truths lay hidden beneath layers upon layers of lies spun around each other throughout years gone past now finally unraveling altogether…
"Thank goodness though—I met someone like HENNY instead who showed kindness towards ME so therefore there's no reason why should ever show face again around here anymore either way whatsoever!"
Henny stood up from where she'd been seated previously before approaching closer towards FELIX holding drink mixed sex potion inside glass cup tightly clenched within grasping fingers tightly too…If couldn't convince FELIX otherwise then perhaps needed find another way somehow instead…
"I smell chemicals mixed together coming from drink being held onto right now PENELOPPE…If planning something devious then better stop before goes any further!"
Felix knew immediately what kind of concoction had been brewed together within glass cup however never expected PENELOPPE would actually try use against HIM directly either way whatsoever…
"Get OUT!" All she could do was walk away defeated knowing full well couldn't convince FELIX again at this point anymore either way whatsoever…
Up Next!
Suddenly Henny felt warmth spreading throughout body due wine sitting atop table which she'd consumed earlier just moments ago…
"M-Master!"
"You f-f*cking lunatic! Did drug ME?" Furious words spilled forth from HENNY'S mouth directed straight towards FELIX standing nearby watching everything unfold around them both happening right now…
"No! Didn't drug YOU perhaps drank wine given earlier by PENELOPPE instead…" He stared wide-eyed shocked when suddenly found himself being kissed passionately by HENNY unexpectedly catching off guard completely too!
"Shut UP! Ju-just give ME bucket ice please! Need soak body down too—" Unable resist effects potion coursing through veins running rampant causing uncontrollable urges rising higher within self each passing second growing stronger every moment longer went by without relief whatsoever either way possible anymore…