Chapter 426: Shameless (2)
"Princess, I am sensing there is a misunderstanding between us. Have I troubled you in some way?" Faye asked, playing coy.
"I believe I read you quite well, Miss Faye. I have received a few love letters to know what one looks like. No matter how innocent you try to portray it, a love letter is a love letter," said Penelope.
"I see. So my letter fell into your hands. Are you always so possessive that you read your husband’s letters? Had you tended to your own business, you wouldn’t have read about my feelings. Women shouldn’t get involved in the affairs of men," Faye advised Penelope.
"It’s best that women do not set their sights on married men. Should it be known to the town, it will never let you forget how shameless you are," Penelope said.
"You mean like how they would never let you forget killing Sarah? I haven’t forgotten. Thank goodness for the name you carried before, or you would not have had the chance to marry a prince. It scares me to think what you would do to him when angry," Faye said, trembling.
"You can stop the act. Innocence doesn’t suit you. I can see the real you within a short period of talking to you. Save yourself from the shame and find another man to adore," Penelope said.
Penelope’s advice would only come once.
"I’m afraid that since you married a prince, there is always going to be a lady to adore him. I had loved the prince for a long time, and had I been here sooner, I could have been his bride."
This tickled Penelope.
"I don’t have any interest in what could have been. I like to think of the present, and in the present, I am his wife. Our marriage doesn’t have room for one more. You may go," Penelope said, no longer interested in Faye.
"It will be your husband to decide if he has room for one more. It is not uncommon for a prince or king to have more than one woman. I would feel guilty had your marriage been a happy one, but from what I hear, the prince would be best satisfied with another woman," Faye remarked.
Penelope had an urge to slap Faye.
Faye knew nothing about what went on with Penelope and Tyrion’s marriage.
Penelope kept her focus on her surroundings. "Damien, inform the palace guards that Miss Faye and her family are to be escorted out of the palace."
Penelope’s order surprised Faye.
Faye was invited to the palace by a special person who ranked high above Penelope.
"This is going a bit too far," Faye said, watching as Penelope’s guard walked away. "Do you think I am the only woman present with these thoughts?"
"No, but you are the foolish one to say these words before me. Lust after him all that you wish, but I will not have any fear. You’ve always noticed him from afar, while I have been in his presence. I am confident you will embarrass yourself and your family name soon," Penelope said.
"I am confident it will be the other way around. It is best that you get used to having to share your husband. Love wears off fast. I would get along well with you if I were to be-"
Faye was silenced by a slap.
Penelope didn’t wish to draw attention to their talk, but she could not let the disrespect go on any longer.
The slap got the attention of the passing visitors, but Penelope didn’t look their way.
"I held back and gave you the chance to walk away, but you ignored it. Now, when others ask about what caused this, I will be as bold as you are now to speak of what you told me."
"I am not loved by many of my peers, but I do know they despise women who court married men," Penelope said, placing her hand back at her side.
Faye’s face was still tilted slightly in the direction Penelope struck her. A ringing sound filled her ears.
Faye gripped her dress.
"I don’t know who filled your head with the thought that my marriage isn’t going well, or that I would stay quiet during your disrespect, but you weren’t properly informed. I would leave now if I were you. They are watching," Penelope said, finally acknowledging the crowd.
Damien returned to Penelope’s side after hearing the echo of a slap.
Penelope stood her ground since it would be Faye who needed to leave.
Faye touched her cheek, her eyes filling with water when she saw her mother. Faye sniffled as she walked toward her mother, trying to leave the impression that she was innocent.
Hazel approached Penelope since there was a disturbance between two ladies.
"Carry on," Hazel ordered the crowd.
"I apologise for my actions. I shouldn’t take part in ruining Teo’s day," Penelope apologised.
"It is accepted, but I am rather concerned about what led you to slap Miss Faye," Hazel said, wanting to hear the reason.
"She was so confident to stand before me and speak of becoming Tyrion’s woman. She spoke of how Tyrion would have the right to bring another woman into our marriage. I had to silence her then," said Penelope.
"You needed to," Hazel agreed. "If you allow ladies like that to speak in that manner and do nothing, they will continue to disrespect you. The setting wasn’t the best for you to silence her, but it cannot be helped."
Hazel watched Faye being cuddled by her mother. "Her family has grown close to the Castros. Her grandmother is quite close to Tabitha, and she was once considered to be a bride for Tyrion, but I didn’t want to force a lady upon him. I don’t want you to be blindsided by this."
"Thank you. It gives me a bad feeling that her grandmother is close to Lady Tabitha. She is out of town," Penelope said, not wanting to think of Tabitha.
"She may be out of town, but she still has some strings she can pull here. I will settle this for you. I will not have the townspeople think you injured an innocent woman," said Hazel.
"Will you repeat what I told you?" Penelope asked, worried she was troubling Hazel.
"No, the maids will speak of it. It only takes one little whisper to get them going. I, too, faced women trying to get into my husband’s bed. I did not tolerate it for myself, and I won’t let this go on for you. Trust my son is loyal to you and trust me to settle this," Hazel said, holding Penelope’s hand.
With this little action, the townspeople saw that Hazel was on Penelope’s side.