The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 85: Punishment (3)

"I don’t need you to speak for all of the court, Solomon. I have not placed you in charge of your peers. From the moment this meeting ends, anyone who speaks of my family shall be punished. Know that your tears will not sway me," Tobias warned the group.

"This meeting is now over, and no more shall be called to speak of Tyrion unless I order it. Dismiss," Tobias ordered the men. "Find something more useful to do with your time."

Solomon had much he wanted to say, but when it came to Tobias, he didn’t take the king’s threats lightly. He got what he wanted with Tyrion spending more time outside the palace than in it.

Solomon glanced at the young prince who approached his father. It was about time he sank his claws into Teo, so he had no time to speak on Tyrion.

Salomon was among the first group of men to leave the courtroom. The king’s orders didn’t upset him since the town was going to keep speaking on the marriage and Tobias couldn’t order the kingdom to not speak on it unless he wished to look bad in the eyes of the people.

Teo walked up to his father, pleased that he had finally mentioned harsh punishments to get the men present to behave. "Tyrion would be pleased to know what you have done today. You should tell him when he arrives. Or, if he arrives."

"He just married the woman he has loved for a long time. I wouldn’t expect your brother to come to us today or to join us for dinner," Tobias replied.

"I know most of his time would be given to Penelope during the early days of their marriage, but he never said he would not join us for dinner. He only said he wouldn’t bring Penelope, which I think is fair," Teo said.

Tobias grew curious about the conversations Teo had with Tyrion. "You do not think we could protect her while she sits for dinner? She has been here before, and nothing happened to her."

"That is true, but there is so much that has changed these days. She is now Penelope Castro, and Tyrion has a target on his back. Not only from the men of the court, but from upset fathers who feel their chance was snatched away," Teo explained.

It was better to be safe than sorry.

"Are you agreeing with him because he has given you the chance to be king?"

Teo shook his head. "Tyrion has made it quite clear that I do not owe him this opportunity to prove myself. I agree with him as a man who has to find a wife to bring here and as the son of a queen who was fed something to ruin her chances of carrying an heir."

Teo continued to say, "We have never once forgotten what happened to our mother, and we don’t want it to happen to our wives. You must understand us."

Teo wished he could say the palace was a safe place to be, but it wasn’t and he wasn’t going to lie about it.

Teo was all for Tyrion’s plans to kill all the men in the court or to decrease the number of men allowed in it.

"I would like to carry on with this talk, but I promised Hailey that I would give her some of my time. She missed Tyrion, so it is left to me to distract her. Excuse me," Teo said, leaving his father’s side.

While Teo didn’t want to disturb Tyrion’s time with Penelope, he needed his brother to come around to have a better talk with their father and share their plans.

On his way out of the room, four guards followed Teo.

Teo was not yet used to the other two guards assigned to him, but since one was placed by Tyrion, he did not send them away.

"Ah, crown prince!"

Teo slowed down, ready to change direction when he saw a familiar face.

Teo’s lips folded into a thin line since he was too close to ignore Ronan and his daughter.

"I did not think I would have the pleasure of crossing paths with you. Congratulations on your new title, Crown Prince Teo. I wish a lifetime of health for you and all your family," Ronan said, showering Teo with praise.

Like many others, Ronan wished to be on the good side of the crown prince since it would help his status and his business.

Amelia smiled, curtsying when Teo looked in her direction. "Prince Teo," she said, greeting him in the sweetest voice she could muster up. "I also wish you good health and a long reign. I can rest now that I know the kingdom shall be in good hands."

"You did not think it would have been in good hands with my brother as king?" Teo asked, his right brow raised.

Teo had seen Amelia around the palace many times, and each time, she was waiting for the arrival of his brother. Yet, now she stared at him like she had been stranded somewhere without food, and he was her way of getting a decent meal.

Amelia smiled even though she was faced with a challenge.

Ronan stepped up to save his daughter. "My daughter was careless with her words. Amelia has always thought highly of you, Prince Teo. She has mentioned your skills in archery. She is delighted to stand before you."

"I’m afraid that my skills with archery have always been poor. I succeed more with swords, but this is a reminder for me to pick up a bow to train today. I insist on you both not listening to loose chatter," said Teo.

Amelia gripped her dress, blaming her father for giving her the wrong knowledge about Teo. "My father misunderstood my compliments to you, Prince Teo. I admire your determination to get better at using a weapon."

"There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding between the two of you. You did not practice this well, did you?" Teo asked, humoured by their intentions.

Teo wanted to laugh at the idea of Amelia suddenly acknowledging his presence and showing interest in him now that Tyrion wasn’t the crown prince. Teo had thought Amelia was in love with Tyrion, but now he realised that she was only in love with who would be king.

It was scary how quickly Amelia could change her love now that Tyrion was out of the palace. It was also scary how she thought Teo would forget how much she wanted his brother.