The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 75: Offer (4)

"That is kind of you, but I have made plenty of preparations for life outside the palace. My siblings and I were frequently given reasonable allowances. I didn’t have many things to spend that money on, so it built up over the years," said Tyrion.

Tyrion continued, "I am nowhere as wealthy as you, but I have plenty."

"Take what I am offering. I might not be in a good mood again to offer you my wealth," said Edgar.

Edgar could not have Penelope under the care of a man who would start worrying about future finances. It was best to take the money and the men Edgar was offering now.

"Since gifts from you come very rarely to anyone outside your family, I will accept it, but only if you give it to Penelope. I don’t mind if she is the one with wealth," said Tyrion.

Edgar rolled his eyes, disgusted by the sweet talk. "Save that sweet talk for someone else. There are things you will need to do which must remain a secret from Penelope. Should you need to go to her for money, she will find out."

"It has worked for me to communicate with my wife, so she isn’t surprised by any plots on our lives, but there are little things to do in secret. Like when you killed Arthur," Edgar said, impressed that Tyrion wasn’t caught.

"I don’t know what you speak of," Tyrion replied.

"I’ve been hiding bodies around this town for years. I know when someone disturbs the grounds I used. I have eyes, Tyrion. I saw when you marked him for death. It impressed me," Edagr confessed.

"It did-"

"Don’t let it get to your head," Edgar said, ending Tyrion’s excitement. "You’re still the bastard who ran off with my daughter." fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"I know that you like me, Duke Collins. Why else would you have let me run off with her? You simply have a hard time admitting when you like someone," said Tyrion.

Edgar stopped walking since they were at a good distance from the front door. "I don’t have a hard time. Either I like you or I don’t. I have no issue saying which one it is."

"Then let’s settle this now. Why don’t you like me? Was it because I was the crown prince?" Tyrion asked, eager to finally get his answers.

"Who said I hated you? I promised your father that I would take care of you if anything ever happened to him. I wouldn’t take care of anyone I hated. You only annoyed me with your advances toward my daughter," Edgar clarified.

It was the same as Edgar felt with Tobias. The king annoyed him, but Edgar didn’t hate his old friend.

"Now that I am her husband, do I still annoy you?" Tyrion questioned, curious if their relationship had changed.

"Yes. When you ask me these kinds of questions, you annoy me. Penelope is the one you should be concerned about liking you. Should her interest in you fade, then I might dislike you. News of your wedding will spread by nightfall," Edgar said, looking out at the gates.

"Many stories will be spun, and there will be many assumptions of why you are no longer the crown prince. I know they will place Penelope as a big part of it. He’s a good king, but your father could not handle his enemies in his court and protect his wife," Edgar said, sharing his concerns.

Edgar didn’t want history to repeat itself with him being the one marching to the palace to kill someone.

"With all due respect, I am not my father," Tyrion replied.

"No, you are not," Edgar said, liking this part about Tyrion. "He’s silly at times, but your father means well. He’s the result of a prince who had no sibling to take his place, so he pushed through his years as king. He did more than you can imagine to protect you."

"I am aware. It seems you misunderstand something. I don’t hate my father. I know he wants what is best for me, but he is still the king before he is my father. Many of his orders clash with what I want from my father," Tyrion said, explaining the recent drift.

"That’s natural. I am warning you not to make your father feel like he has not done enough. He is annoying, but he is still my friend. Be careful with how you treat him. I shall talk with him," Edgar said, since he needed to go to the palace soon.

Tobias needed to know when to act as the king and when to act as a father.

Edgar stared at the carriage sent to Penelope. "The man who sent her that carriage, there is not much I can find about him. I don’t like what I have heard about him. He crashed into my carriage, and then he found an invitation to a private gathering."

"I don’t like him as well," Tyrion said, though he knew very little about Cassius. "Lady Linda is like an aunt to me. I will find out from her how she knew him and where he resides. I will burn that carriage. What would you have done?"

Edgar smiled.

Had someone been so bold as to send Alessandra a grand gift, it would have never made it onto his estate.

"Don’t bother yourself with what I would have done. We’re different," Edgar replied.

Tyrion followed Edgar inside to meet with Penelope again.

Upon entering, Tyrion noticed the glare he received from Elijah.

"Glaring at me won’t change anything. She is now my wife," Tyrion said, unaffected by Elijah’s gaze.

"Our friendship will never be the same. What a shame," Elijah shook his head. "I liked you."

Tyrion raised his brow, waiting to hear what reason Elijah came up with.

"I have three sisters who already meddle in my life, and now you are married to one. You’ll find yourself telling my secrets to Penelope. That, I cannot have," Elijah explained.

Penelope would tell Lily, who would then tell Isabelle. Once Isabelle knew a secret, Alessandra was bound to learn of it.

"I have no interest in sharing your secrets, and I am quite certain Penelope doesn’t care to know any. Your secrets are safe with me as long as you don’t meddle in my marriage," Tyrion said, extending his hand for Elijah to shake.

Elijah pushed Tyrion’s hand away from in front of him. "I’m her older brother. I should keep watch of you two."

"Then, the duchess should know of the young lady you have been courting-"

"I’ll stay out of your way. I never planned to intrude," Elijah said, shaking Tyrion’s hand in the end. "Running to my mother would be low on you."

"We’ve been friends all our lives. You must never forget how petty I can be," said Tyrion.