[Part 2] Death Is The Only Ending For The Villain (FOR OFFLINE READING PURPOSE)

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My mind went blank for a moment.
'Why does the Duke come to me at this hour…?' As soon as the thought came to my mind.
Hnock, knock.-

He knocked one more time. "Penelope, may I come in?" "Ah, yes, yes. Come on in."

I couldn't keep the Duke outside forever, so I hurried. Click.-

The door opened right away. As he entered the room, he suddenly stopped walking when he saw me. The Duke's eyes shook slightly.

"…Father?"

When I called out to the frozen Duke, he soon closed the door and entered completely.

The Duke went to the table in front of the window and sat down, exactly like when he came to talk about the transfer of the mine the other day. Standing in front of the desk, I followed him and sat on the opposite side.

When I tried to deal with the Duke in an unknown situation, I felt like I was in a quandary and hopeless. I took several deep breaths to calm my trembling heart. And when my breathing became a little calmer, I opened my mouth.

"…Shall I ask for some refreshments?" "It's fine."

The Duke dismissed me briefly. An awkward feeling settled in the room. When he showed no sign of speaking first, I reluctantly spoke again.

"What…brings you here?"

At my words the Duke made a rare embarrassed face.

"Didn't you ask me to come and greet you on the morning of your coming-of-age ceremony?" "Ah."

I did ask him to do that, yeah. That's what I said before the heroine appeared. I had forgotten. It didn't actually mean it that much.

At that time, I was a little sad for the Duke who was about to lose his foster daughter, who pretended to be mature for a while, and I was still hopeful that I would be able to escape today.

'I don't know what's going to happen now…'

Of course, now that I think about it, it's all bullshit. I answered casually, trying not to show my prickly feelings.

"Thank you for listening." "Today…"

The Duke hesitated a little.

"You are very beautiful today, Penelope."

The Duke wasn't originally able to express the feelings of praise. So I was a little surprised by his praise, which he had unexpectedly said, but soon I became a little wretched.

"Thank you, Father."

The appearance of a grown Duke was indeed overflowing with grand aristocratic dignity. Looking at the black jacket with the Eckart's silver pattern clearly engraved, I answered in a dull, dry manner.

"Father looks handsome today, too."

"I've never seen this dress and accessories before… You said you didn't want to get it through the Empress' tailor, did you buy it separately?"

"…Yes."

"It looks good on you. It's pretty."

The Duke repeated the same words twice but I just accepted his words because I couldn't tell him it was a gift from the Crown Prince.

I felt more and more strange. My stomach was about to feel nauseous again, so I tightened the grip on my fist.

"By the way, what's in your hand?"

Suddenly, the Duke glanced at one of my hands. I lowered my gaze along with his, and saw a long string of silver sticking out between my clenched fists.