The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 39: The things we do for love (1)

Tyrion entered a room on the second floor, which was out of the way from where the other guests were walking around.

The music played by a well-known band mixed with the chatter of guests would let their conversation remain private.

Arthur entered the room behind Tyrion, keeping the door open for his safety.

"Close the door, Arthur. What we shall speak about shouldn’t be heard by anyone passing by," said Tyrion.

Arthur looked at the door. He didn’t trust Tyrion.

"Well-"

"Close the door," Tyrion spoke over Arthur.

Arthur reluctantly closed the door. He had come with others who would notice he was missing and not rest until they found out what happened to him.

"Repeat to me what you said to Penelope. I was unfortunate to miss pieces of your art," Tyrion said, waiting patiently for the show.

"Well," Arthur said, rubbing his sweaty hands together. "I let Miss Penelope know that we have decided she is innocent in the incident that happened. I also shared with her father that I agree she doesn’t belong in the palace as queen."

"Go on," Tyrion said, waiting to hear the rest of it. "I’m sure there was more."

"I don’t want to see her time be wasted and your name sullied by all that is said about her. It has spread quickly that she is cursed like her mother. We cannot have the Castros be tied to such talk," said Arthur.

"This town is so silly. You will ignore how foolish the gossip sounds, so you can speak about someone. Speaking their names over and over, adding lies to each story until you have broken that person," Tyrion said, annoyed by the way gossip travelled.

"Tell me," Tyrion said, glancing at the large windows which were opened to bring a breeze into the room. "Since when do you get to walk up to any woman and tell them about what the court feels? Better yet, to tell them that they should stay away from me?"

"Well-"

"I thought I was the one doing the courting and informing the candidates that they don’t have a chance. That doesn’t fall in line with your position in the court. It feels more like you should start acting," Tyrion said, starting to approach Arthur.

Arthur backed away to the door. "Like I said, I was only concerned."

"Concerned about who? Penelope was just roped into some mess, and then here you come, speaking loudly about something that doesn’t concern you. How were you trying to help me by adding to the gossip? Tell me," Tyrion said, walking toward the door.

"This isn’t a matter that should end with violence, Prince Tyrion. This isn’t the place for this to happen," Arthur said, his hand frantically turning the knob behind him.

Tyrion stood before Arthur, placing his left hand on the door to stop it from opening. With his right hand, he grabbed a handful of Arthur’s shirt, pulling him away from the door since their talk wasn’t done yet.

"What else have you said to her when I wasn’t around?" Tyrion asked, pushing Arthur against the wall beside a large bookshelf.

Arthur choked up. "N-Nothing. This is the first time that I spoke to her."

"I wonder what you would get from bringing that princess here, or for placing certain women from around the town before me. You don’t care about the greater good of the kingdom. You are thinking about what you will gain. I don’t need you," Tyrion concluded.

The palace would be better off without the likes of Arthur.

It was Arthur’s actions which sealed that fate.

Arthur laughed, taking Tyrion’s words for a joke. "Now you are getting a little too serious, Prince Tyrion. The king-"

Tyrion pushed Arthur up until his feet dangled off the floor. "I am not my father. You must stop making the mistake of seeing me as him. Why are you so tense?" He asked, settling Arthur back down on the floor. "You seem on the verge of pissing yourself."

Arthur didn’t know how to respond to Tyrion. He was certain that he had peed a little when Tyrion lifted him.

The look in Tyrion’s eyes a moment ago was scary. For a moment, Arthur feared the prince was going to harm him, but of course, Tyrion wouldn’t be so foolish.

"Don’t smile, Arthur. I brought you here intending to push you from that open window. I wanted to test what state you would be in after," Tyrion spoke softly.

Arthur once again had an unsettling feeling.

"Unfortunately, if I kill you now, then the gathering is disturbed, and I don’t get my dance. Be careful with your neck," Tyrion said, walking away from Arthur.

Every time he took his eyes off Penelope, he returned to some fool crowding around her.

Tyrion left Arthur to think over his actions. His talk with Arthur wasn’t finished. It was simply too bright out with too many eyes around them for Arthur’s death to be linked back to him.

Tyrion returned to the place where the guests gathered, searching for Penelope. Since the last song was coming to an end, pairs were preparing to join the next dance.

Tyrion returned to where the Collinses stood and offered his hand to Penelope. "Would you be so kind as to share a dance with me now, Lady Penelope?"

Again, Penelope wished she could step on Tyrion’s shoe.

Instead, she placed her hand on his, accepting the dance. There was nothing more that Penelope hated than the charming smile Tyrion wore now.

"Didn’t you hear your court? You should stay away from someone like me. Little does he know that I have been trying to get you to move on to someone else. Why must I suffer?" Penelope asked, speaking softly.

"We both know that your heart would not be able to take it if I were to be with another woman. Also, ignore what Arthur or anyone from the court says. What a dead man had to say shouldn’t be of any concern," said Tyrion.

Penelope looked up, surprised. "Dead man? Did you kill him?" She asked, looking around for Arthur.

It couldn’t be so since there was no way Tyrion could get away with killing anyone at a busy gathering like this.

Penelope faced Tyrion, trying to decide whether he was telling the truth or making a joke. "Are you lying to me?"

"I would never lie to you, Penelope. I don’t want to break the trust you placed in me. And he isn’t dead now, but I cannot say he will be alive much longer. These are the things I will always do for you," said Tyrion.

"Your love for me is turning you into a murderer? That isn’t good to hear," Penelope replied, not knowing what to make of what Tyrion planned to do.

"Turning me into one?" Tyrion chuckled.

"Then, you have killed others before?" Penelope asked.

"I do what I must to keep the people I care for safe," Tyrion answered.