House Beaufort. While their accommodation may not be as large as Salvador’s, Lysander still found them rather impressive for someone with a Baron’s title.

Under the pretext of business, he’d been coming in and out of the Beaufort House, hoping to one day finally catch a glimpse of the barony’s one and only daughter: Penelope Beaufort.

Unfortunately, a few days had passed with no such luck. Lysander let out a tired sigh as he leaned against the sofa, taking a small sip from his tea. It’d been a few minutes after he’d arrived at the barony, but this time not with a single document in his hands.

“Brother’s suggestions seemed alright, but at this point…Who knows how long this is going to take?” he frowned while fidgeting with the cup’s handle, “After that day…I just can't get her out of my mind. I want to see her again.”

Sounds of footsteps came from the door as it swung open. “Lady Penelope has arrived, sir.” House Beaufort’s maid held the knob ajar for the young lady to walk through.

Lysander had to suppress the urge to stand up, but he did not stop himself from staring at Penelope Beaufort as she made her way to the seat opposite of his.

If Esmeralda Goldwyn was seen as the golden fairy of the forest, Penelope Beaufort resembled a graceful dryad silently lurking within the trees. Her brown, curly locks rested by her shoulders, matching the colors of her rich terracotta dress. She’d adorned herself with minimal jewelry, yet even so, those few decorations could never outshine their wearer’s deep forest-green eyes.

Penelope held Lysander’s gaze as she curtsy, “Good morning, Lord Lysander,” her words rang like sweet honey, made even more pleasant by the small smile on her lips, “To what pleasure do I owe you this visit today?”

Lysander followed her movements as Penelope sat down. It took him a moment to realize that he had yet to answer the lady’s question. Clearing his throat, he responded, “I, the pleasure is mine, Lady Penelope, I’ve been wanting to meet you.”

“Oh my,” Penelope held her fingers to her lips, gaze slightly widened in surprise, “Then is there something you’d like to discuss with me?”

“...Firstly,” Lysander picked up a nicely wrapped box he’d rested by his side, extending it to Penelope, “I’d like you to have this. This is my gift to you.”

Now the lady seemed even more confused, but she accepted the box anyway. Curiously, she carefully pried her gift apart until she got to the contents inside. Seeing her expression lit up made Lysander let out a quiet, relieved sigh. “Oh! These are empty runes!” she picked one of the small, thin rock slabs from the box, eyeing it enthusiastically.

At first, Lysander didn't want to give mere stones as a gift to Penelope, but after Silas spent half an hour explaining that she’d been researching ancient runes, Lysander decided to put his trust in the expert. “I'm glad I listened to him. She's happy with it too.”

“Thank you for these, Lord Lysander, I’ll be putting them to good use,” Penelope flashed him a bright smile, and he swore he felt his chest tightened all of a sudden, “I'm glad you gave me the empty ones. The baron kept buying me used runes. How could I practice drawing them on my own if they've already been tampered with?”

Penelope placed the rune back and looked away, “Ah, my apologies,” her abrupt change in attitude confused Lysander for a moment, “I didn't mean to ramble…I was just so happy.”

“It’s alright, my lady,” he responded quickly. It’d not been until recently that Lysander learned about Penelope’s habits of speaking her mind. While the baron and baroness didn't restrict their daughter’s behavior, high society had greatly reprimanded her for being too open. “I…I do not mind it at all.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Penelope looked up at him, a slight hint of doubt visible in her eyes, “...Oh, do you mean it, sir?"

Looking at her expression, Lysander didn't even realize he’d given her a soft smile, “Of course my lady. Why would I stop you from speaking when you're sharing your interests with me?” he suddenly got conscious of himself, but didn't lower his head, “Instead…I, I’d like to know more about you; about what you like, and what you dislike. If you would…I’d like the honor of sharing a meal with you, Lady Penelope.”

When Penelope simply stared at him blankly instead of responding, Lysander felt his heart drop to his heels. He thought he may have rushed things too quickly. Or maybe he came off as pushy in some way. But then Penelope replied, smiling brightly, “Of course, Lord Lysander. Perhaps you have a date and place in mind?”

Lysander somehow contained his laughter of joy, instead his expression remained as stoic as ever, leaving for only a slight tug of his lips, barely visible at all. “...There's a restaurant my brother recommended near Salvador March. If you don't mind a bit of traveling, I shall come with a carriage by evening tomorrow.”

“I do not mind the slight distance,” Penelope chuckled, bringing her fingers to her lips once more, “If it's Lord Silas’ recommendation, then I am sure it's quite worth the trip.”

Lysander only asked for a few places in case he’d managed to find Penelope, but he didn't think that she would agree to it because it was Silas’ choice. “...Has my brother gotten famous in high society lately?"

“Of course!” Penelope clasped her hands together, a slight blush hinted on her cheeks, “Lord Silas and Lady Ruelle’s love story is all the rage in the circle~ every lady wished to have a man like Lord Silas!”

Lysander froze the instant he heard that. A second later, he found the strength to ask, “Why-and why would that be, my lady?”

Penelope blinked. “I thought you would know, Lord Lysander, since he's your younger brother. Lord Silas clearly took great care of Lady Ruelle, even though they only got together because of an arranged marriage. Even ladies that still stick to old-school thinking now wish to have a marriage filled with love like theirs!”

Silence filled the air between them, but Penelope broke it soon after. Her eyes had gone wide from a sudden realization. “Ah! Lord Lysander, please do not take this the wrong way. I’d still love to have dinner with you.”

“That…” Lysander stared at Penelope, his expression now back to its usual stoic look. Even though he knew she simply admired his sibling’s love life, he couldn't help but feel frustrated. His words came out too quiet for anyone to hear. “...I’ll be even better than him.”

“What was that, Lord Lysander?” Penelope tilted her head, but got startled when Lysander suddenly looked up at her.

“I’ll be even better than him, my lady!”

“???”

“I’ll be so much better than Silas that you need not be envious of their relationship anymore!” By the time Lysander had blurted out those words, it became too late to stop his face from heating up beyond his control, “I implore you find it within you to give me a chance even after tomorrow’s dinner, my lady. I swear by my honor as a knight and heir of the Salvador March that I shall not disappoint you!”

Another blanket of silence befell the two of them. Speechless, Penelope could only stare at Lysander with slightly parted lips, widened eyes still remained fixed on his flushed face, as if trying to read his thoughts. Eventually, her merry laughter broke the tension. “Oh my…was I afraid of you for nothing, after all?”

“You…You were afraid of me?”

Before Lysander’s horrors could settle in, Penelope cut him off, “I thought you were a cold man with nothing but swordsmanship on his mind. I am sorry if such thoughts have offended you, Lord Lysander, I should have gotten to know you more before coming to a conclusion.”

“It-It is alright…” Truthfully, Lysander didn't know whether it was a good or a bad thing.

“I would have denied your advances tomorrow if you hadn't asked me to spare you a chance~”

Lysander flinched, his muscles tensing up in an instant. “Definitely a good thing! I’m glad I said all those embarrassing things on impulse!”

A chuckle escaped Penelope’s lips, “It's a jest, my lord. While I was afraid and confused as to what purpose you’ve asked me out for dinner, now I know that you're simply trying to court me.”

Lysander flinched again, this time because he did not expect Penelope Beaufort to be this much of a straightforward person. “I thought she was reserved and shy…She's…not what I expected at all.”

He found himself advertising his eyes from Penelope’s intense gaze. Not even his father's stern looks could phase him this much. “I…Yes…Yes, Lady Penelope, I am courting you.”

“Thank you for your honesty,” Lysander couldn't tell from Penelope’s smile if she’d meant it as a joke, “I look forward to the meal tomorrow, my lord.”

“...” Lysander only held her gaze briefly before looking away once more, his only response came in the form of a short nod, and for some reason it earned him a few lighthearted chuckles from Penelope.

In the end, they ended up the opposite of each other's expectations.