Family Reunion

"My name is Leonardo, and you are?" I introduced myself, still staring at her gorgeous hazel eyes.

"Oh, yes, my name is Penelope, and nice to meet you Leonardo," she said, her smile making my heart race.

"Uhhh, are you all right? Your face looks like a tomato," she inquires, and fvck, that's embarrassing.

"Y-yes, I'm fine, by the way, do you...perhaps want to go for a walk?" I ask, scratching my head.

Penelope's POV

OMG!! My bias invites me to go for a walk!

"Of course, I'd love that!" I exclaimed with delight.

"Great, but can you wait for me outside?" he asked, and I simply nodded and went outside to wait.

Leonardo Hail is the second prince of the Hail Kingdom and the story's second protagonist.

The villagers prefer Leonardo because he is an honorable prince who is sweet, considerate, and kind to his surroundings, rather than the crown prince, who is constantly serious and busy. For this reason, many villagers are hoping that Leonardo will take the throne in the future.

Unfortunately, he was killed in a war while protecting the heroine.

"Penelope?" I was deep in thought when I was interrupted by a call, and it was Leonardo, who was now carrying a bag full of swords.

"Yes? And woah, what are you going to do with those?" I asked, perplexed.

"I will distribute this to my subordinates," he said.

"Oh, okay," I said and ask again, "but are you going to carry it while walking?"

He responded awkwardly, "Well, yes, It is necessary for my training, haha.

We then started walking, but as we did so, a knight came up to us.

He looked at Leonardo and said, "Excuse me Miss, but I have to speak to the Young Master."

I replied, "Sure, I'll depart from you two now," and I strode off to the carriage.

Leonardo's POV

As we walked, I noticed someone approaching us, and da*mit, it's Helios, my right-hand man.

We came to a halt and waited for him to approach us, and when he did, he looked at me and said, "Excuse me, Miss, but I have to speak to the Young Master," which made me gulp.

Penelope replied, "Sure, I'll leave you two then," and she turned to leave.

D*mn, I want to stop her from leaving, but I can't because I still have a lot of work to do.

Helios inquired, "Have you perhaps already fallen for the lady?" My heart was racing so quickly that I chose to remain silent.

Helios chuckled as he replicated, "So, you really have fallen for the lady of the Constantine family, huh."

I was about to mount my horse and put the bag of swords I had just purchased together when Helios stopped me. "Shut up, Helios, and just tell me what you want," I said.

"You can't put that there!" He exclaimed as he stole the bags of swords I had purchased.

Putting on a curious face, I inquire, "And why?"

I just sighed in response to his saying, "Because it will be too dangerous if the swords fall, right?"

"Is there going to be a welcome parade for me?" I inquire, and he simply nods.

Sigh, this happens every time I return to the palace.

"Please excuse me, young master, and Sir Helios, but we have to leave before the people notice us," the knight said.

I replied, "You're right," and mounted my steed.

POV: third person

Fast Forward

People are throwing flowers at the second prince, who is now on his way to the palace.

In appreciation for the second prince's safe return home and contribution to the Hail kingdom's victory, the king commanded and declared that there would be a banquet to welcome him.

Fast Forward

After the parade, the second prince entered the palace and was greeted by his mother, his brother, their maid, and their butlers.

"Oh my dear child, I miss you terribly," his mother expressed concern.

He said, "Mother, I miss you a lot too; by the way, where is my brother?" as he searched the area for his brother.

"I'm here, you idiot," The second prince heard a voice and turned to look at his brother.

"Hah!? Who are you calling an idiot? I'm not an idiot, you know," the second prince said pouting, making the crown prince laugh.

The crown prince remarked, "Okay, okay, haha, your brother is lucky to have you because you have a cute face and a kind heart, you know," leaving the second prince momentarily speechless before his face darkened.

The second prince suddenly hugs the crown prince, which causes the crown prince to ask with a terrified expression, "A-ah, Leon, what's wrong?"

The second prince, who was a little tearful, said, "I miss you so much, brother, and *hic I miss how you said something like that to me."

"Oh, God knows how much I miss you," the crown prince sobbed as he returned the young man's hug.

Penelope's POV

I wonder what they're going to talk about, and I just hope Leon doesn't pass away like in the story.

Arrival at Constantine's Manor

The knight greeted me and then braced me for impact, "Miss, we have arrived."

I said "thanks" as I entered our manor, only to find my parents sitting on a chair with serious expressions.

"Mom, Is there something wrong?" I ask with a tense expression, and when my parents notice me, I can see that their faces have changed to ones of worry.

Mother said with concern, "Penelope! It's late now, what if something happens to you, huh?"

I said, "M-mother, I have an escort knight, so you need not worry about me," in the hopes that it would reassure them, but I was mistaken.

Mom shouted, "Yet! There's still a chance that you'll end up in danger!"

Father comforted mother by saying, "Honey, calm down. At least Penelope is home safely," but mother appeared irritated by what father said.

Mom said in an irritated tone, "Harry, can you hear yourself? Your daughter came home late, and you look like you're not at all worried."

Father explains, and mother appears to grasp what he means, "It's not like I'm not worried, Giselle, I just need you to calm down because we need to go to the second prince's welcome banquet."

Mother said, "Tsk, fine," before turning to face me and saying, "We will talk after this." Her words left me with a chilly sensation.

God, mothers can be so frightening at times.

"Penelope, go to your room and get change because we're going to a special banquet," Father instructed.

I muddled say, "excuse me Father, but what kind of banquet are we going to attend to?"

"It's a welcome party for our distinguished guest," father said.

"It is the...

... To Be Continued...