The sun was beating down on them by the time they teleported their picnic place, which was near a beautiful pond. The only reprieve from the heat was the slight shadows cast by the willow tree we sat under. The grass around us was pale green, speckled with short, white wildflowers that a few cream-colored butterflies fitted between. It was serene, a stark contrast to the gardens of the Agriche mansion.
Sandwiches, desserts, pastries and other food items were placed on the fluffy blanket.
"Eat up, kiddo. I know you didn't eat anything" Khalid smiled as he handed Penelope a glass of orange juice.
Both of them started eating. They began talking about random things, making jokes and laughing at it. They couldn't remember when it was the last time that they felt relaxed and stress-free like this.
After all the food was gone and the conversation slowed, Penelope asked if they could walk around the pond, which Khalid immediately agreed too.
Khalid followed as Penelope wandered down to the edge of the pond. The pond itself was large. Water lilies dotted the clear water, small fishes dodging through the stones lying on the pond bed. It was truly a beautiful sight.
"Do you remember that once when you were learning how to teleport, you teleported in the sky and directly fell into the lake near the tower" Khalid said teasingly. Penelope's face grew red when she remembered what happened that day.
"You were drenched and when you saw a frog in front of you. The way you reacted was- pfft" he started laughing before he could even complete his sentence.
"It was my first time trying to learn how to teleport!" Penelope shouted in embarrassment.
"And yo-" she quickly turned to face him but her heel dug into the soft soil at the end of the pond. The sudden stop sent her tumbling right towards the pond but before she could fall into the pond, Khalid held her wrist and pulled her back, resulting in him falling into the pond.
"Are you okay?" He asked as he sat up looking at her through his wet strands. After she made sure that he was fine, she kneeled on the shore.
"Right now you were making fun of me and now look at you, all drenched" she smirked as she reached out her hand. He laughed at her comment as he stepped on the grass.
He shooked his hair and slicked them back.
"Hey! You're getting water all over me" she giggled and covered her face with her hands.
Khalid stopped in his track and made an unreadable face. He looked down at his wet clothes and then looked at Penelope's clean and more importantly dry clothes. He narrowed his eyes and slowly started moving toward her, as if getting ready to pounce as her in any second. Penelope started moving back as she saw the wicked glint in his eyes
'don't tell me...'
"Uncle, don't you dare" she said as she started moving back cautiously. She bit back her smile.
"Now now, kiddo. I am a person who gets jealous very easily. And right now I am so very jealous of you clean and dry clothes, when mine is wet and dirty. So isn't it only fair for you to be in the same situation as me, hmm." He said, smiling.
Penelope snapped, she turned and made a mad dash towards the willow trees. Despite her head start, he caught up with her and half-jokingly grabbed her.
Penelope's leg tripped and she held Khalid's arm, making both of them fall on the soft grass. They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Khalid propped himself against the tree.
Penelope sat beside him, still dry. She plucked some grass and sprinkled it on him, sticking on his damped clothes and hair. Khalid scowled but didn't say anything. He flicked his fingers and TA-DA his clothes were now perfectly dried and clean.
"Aww, you looked good that way uncle" Penelope pouted, clearly teasing him, which was partially successful. Khalid laughed the matter off and stood up.
"Let's go to the meadows, they look the best during this time of the year." He gestured to Penelope to follow him which he obediently does.
"Uncle, shouldn't this place be crowded with people. I mean these flowers only bloom for one week in a year, so it's usually filled with people." Penelope asked as she gently touched the bright yellow flowers.
"Because i bought this place for you" Khalid casually said in a calm tone . But Penelope's reaction was completely the opposite.
"You did what?!" She exclaimed as her eyes grew wide. She knew that this place cost a fortune and he bought it for her.
Khalid smiled at Penelope, who stood frozen in her place.
"Well it was originally a present for your birthday but your mood was pretty down. So i thought this would cheer you up."
Penelope was annoyed with his calm tone. "Oh my god... You are insane" she mumbled as she sighed.
"Insane for your sweet sweet love" he dramatically placed his hand on his chest and faked a teary face.
She stomped her foot and started walking ahead of him with a fast pace, with Khalid trailing behind her.
After sometime they were at the end of the meadows. Penelope's eyes glittered with interest as she looked in the bird called Plapopinu. The bird has long magenta feathers which reminded her of her hair.
"You want it?" Khalid asked as he saw Penelope's interest in it. Penelope mindlessly nodded as her eyes were still at the bird.
Khalid smiled and went forward to capture it. And that was his biggest mistake. The moment he went ahead to get the bird, a magical circle appeared under Penelope, catching her off guard.
Khalid spun around as he felt a magic force from behind him. He dashed toward Penelope but it was too late. Penelope was gone, she disappeared. Khalid's eyes widened, he went blank. He couldn't process what just happened, his niece got abducted.
He gritted his teeth, his mind running wild.
"I will kill them!"
•••
Penelope groaned up as she sat up, massaging her head. She looked around, an unfamiliar room that she felt like she had been there before. She can't seem to remember when she saw this room. She got out of bed and walked to the window.
The window faced directly at the garden where some maids and gardeners were tending the garden. Their uniform didn't help much to recognise where she was.
Penelope decided to teleport back to the tower but it didn't work. Her magic was working at all, she was shocked.
'why isn't it working!'
She felt a new headache start again. She was totally frustrated and tired right now. She kept on trying to teleport again and again but couldn't, she finally sighed in defeat.
Penelope wasn't shocked about her kidnapping as it was not the first time this happened. But she was able to use her magic during those times but right now she was completely helpless.
A soft knock was heard and she turned to the door. The door opened, her eyes widened and her breath hitched. Her body trembled, she didn't know if it was fear or anger that she felt right now.
"Penelope, you finally woke up" a elderly man with black hair and blue eyes approached her with concern. She knew him, she knew him very well. After all he was Duke of Eckhart, the very person who destroyed the original Penelope's life, who was the main reason why she had to go through all the sufferings.
"Father, I think she needs more rest" behind the Duke was his eldest son, Derrick Eckhart. One of the love interests and the heir of the Eckhart Duchy. Whenever the original Penelope would cause problems, he would punish her and blame her for ruining Eckhart's reputation.
'This bloody bastard!' Penelope gritted her teeth.
'i could never forget the disgusted look he gave me that day'
"Yaa she looks like she could faint any moment" Reynold Eckhart, the second son of the Duke, was also the love interest in the game. Right now he was looking at her with a worried expression but she knows very well how he used to verbally abuse Penelope and always mock her. The very person who accused her of stealing, who made the original Penelope's life a living hell was looking at her with worry right now.
Penelope smirked, she looked at them with a sarcastic look.
'why the hell i am in this dreadful place'
The Duke reached out his hand to hold her, he missed her a lot. He knew that he hurt her a lot and now he wanted to make up for it. The Duke's sons felt the same way, they were guilty for how they treated her.
The moment his hand touched her shoulder, it was slapped away by her. Her eyes held no emotion as she looked at them. She stepped back from them, keeping a fair distance. The three Eckhart were shocked after seeing her expression.
"Penel-" the Duke tried to call her out again but he was cut off in between by her.
"If you want your hands intact, better keep them away from me" she said in a cold tone. Her eyes glowed, just like her uncle.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" Reynold shouted, he didn't want to get angry at her but he hated the way she treated his father, treated their father.
"Protecting myself from a kidnapper. Be grateful that I only slapped his hand away, not cut it off." Reynold closed his mouth.
Three pairs of blue eyes were staring at her with different emotions but she found it disgusting, utterly disgusting.
'a moment ago i was living the best version of my life and now it's back to hell again.' she wanted to laugh at her luck. She was back to the hell she escaped from.
'fate is never on my side'
To be continued ~