Penelope was shocked to have Callisto propose a marriage of convenience to her at his birthday banquet. After all, he was one of the MLs she had originally crossed off the list as unattainable due to always killing her in hard mode. Why would he suddenly wish to marry her?

She checked his affection score as a reflex and saw it was at 88%. After being betrayed by Eckles when he brought Yvonne to the estate, she decided to place her hope on Callisto. She semi-accepted his proposal to please him by saying it first needed to be approved by both of their fathers. It wasn't exactly a yes, but it wasn't a no either.

Her answer had the intended effect she wanted. His affection score went up 6 points to 94%. She left the banquet happier than ever that she was very close to her goal.

Just a few points more until it's at 100%, then I can leave this godforsaken game and go back to my world in Korea!

However, unlike when she used Eckles with no remorse, she felt very conflicted with Callisto. Oftentimes, she could go from feeling confident she could trust him to stressing out and overthinking in less than a minute. She was rather good at predicting Eckles' feelings objectively like she was playing a game, but with Callisto, she could never tell what was in his heart. She also didn't want to hurt him by being so cold.

It also didn't help that her eldest brother displayed a whole new level of assery when she returned from the birthday banquet. Upon finding out that she and Callisto were officially courting one another, Derrick banned her from seeing him ever again. Since then, she had not been allowed to attend any balls or banquets and was essentially confined at the duchy. She was sure that all letters from the Imperial Palace were also kept hidden from her. She waited patiently for Callisto to come to the duchy, just like he did after the trial, but he didn't come even after three weeks. She became more and more depressed as the days went on.

These were the times she felt utterly idiotic for even believing her new plan could work. He still had to get approval from the emperor and ask her father for her hand in marriage, both of whom would surely be against this marriage. Not only that but she wasn't born a noble; she was adopted. In other words, a fake princess. Her anxiety often had a way of convincing her that she wasn't good enough, or that Callisto would meet someone else and change his mind.

She hated these thoughts because she wanted to keep her thoughts about him strictly objective and strategic. She was just using him to get back to her world, after all. She shouldn't have to worry about being good enough to be queen because she wouldn't stay long enough to become one. All she needed was for him to say he loved her and that was it. End of story.

Despite her claiming their relationship was purely contractual, it seemed that everything reminded her of him lately-the gold lace on her dresses, the ruby red drapes in her room, and especially the golden sunlight that warmed her skin. She always found herself thinking of the Crown Prince fondly.

The morning three weeks after his Birthday Banquet was no exception. While stuffing her face with small cakes, she began thinking of ways to increase his affection score. I wonder what he is doing right now?

She tilted her teacup a bit too much while thinking and spilled her hot tea on herself absentmindedly.

"Shit!" Penelope muttered, grabbing her napkin and dabbing at her dress.

Emily let out a chuckle at her mistress' foul language. She walked over to her and helped her clean up. "It's not like you to make such simple mistakes, My Lady. Are you perhaps thinking of someone else?"

Penelope stiffened at her accusation. Currently, her relationship with the Crown Prince was kept a secret from most of the nobility, courtesy of the Eckharts' influence, so no one else should know about it. How did her maid know?

It doesn't matter. I need to deny it or it could ruin my plan!

"D-Don't be ridiculous!" She stammered unceremoniously. "I barely leave the duchy as is. Who could I possibly be in love with?"

She then opted to snatch her tea and sip it rather than continue to speak to her maid. This only served to make Emily's expression more smug.

Is it truly that obvious that someone is on my mind? Penelope thought to herself. I don't want my mind to be clouded by the thoughts of a lovesick girl. I need to get over these feelings of mine and keep my eyes on the prize: going back home.

Suddenly, a knock on the door caught their attention. After learning that it was the head butler, she quickly composed herself before letting him in.

"My Lady, I apologize for intruding on you so early in the morning, but I was ordered by the Duke to relay a message to you," Pennel told her after bowing.

"It is no trouble at all. What is it?"

"His Grace wishes to inform you that His Highness, the Crown Prince came to see you. Of course, he refused on the premise that you are still an unmarried noblewoman and it would be improper for him to do so."

The Crown Prince came to see me?

Penelope's eyes widened slightly before she rose from her chair. "It… would be rather rude to refuse to see a royal, would it not? Perhaps we should meet for a short time in a public area so as to not besmirch my reputation."

"Unfortunately, at this very moment, they are busy conversing in his drawing room," The butler replied. "The Duke would also prefer it if you remained in your room and did not cross paths with him."

That means he's ordering me to stay locked up in my room and not meet him, Penelope surmised from the elegant words meant to mask the harsh truth. Once again, I'm treated as nothing more than something to order around.

She felt a pang of sadness at this realization, but she carefully masked her emotions and sat back down gracefully. She then waved him away. "Very well. You may leave now."

The head butler bowed and said one last thing to her before taking his leave. "Of course. Thank you for your cooperation, miss."

Emily felt a bit of pity for her mistress. Though she didn't show it, it was clear to anyone who knew her that she was eager to meet the Crown prince and likely also wanted to know what he and her father were talking about. The way her mistress' eyes widened slightly at the mention of him was all the confirmation she needed. Emily just wished there was some way to help her…

Wait, there is!

Emily's face lit up with joy. "My Lady, please don't look so sad. You may not be able to meet him, but perhaps hearing his voice will be enough. I know of a certain vent in the Dukedom where one can clearly hear every word spoken in the drawing room. Would you like me to show you where it is?"

At this, Penelope couldn't help the big smile that pulled at her lips. She quickly cleared her throat and relaxed her facial features, trying not to show any form of excitement. "I suppose since you are offering, how can I refuse? I do need to make sure the Duke doesn't say anything treasonous, after all."

Emily barely managed to stifle her laugh. She's so cute when she tries to hide her true emotions. I wish she would be more open and honest with others.

In the drawing-room, the Crown Prince and the Duke sat across from each other with obvious tension. Callisto had just finished informing the Duke of his intentions to wed Penelope, but the stubborn father was unwilling to give him his daughter's hand in marriage. Now, he was trying to politely kick the prince out of his residence.

"Your Highness, I do thank you for taking the time to come here, but I am sorry to say that you wasted your time." Duke Eckhart stated. "There are many women who desire a proposal from you. Unfortunately, my daughter is not one of them."

The Crown Prince leaned forward with his chin on two clasped hands. "I see. But wouldn't you agree that this is the Princess' decision, not yours? Perhaps we would do well to ask the lady for her opinion on the matter rather than assume. She did ecstatically accept my proposal, after all."

"My dear daughter no doubt appreciates your offer of marriage, but as she has only just recently come of age, she is still very young and does not understand the ways of this world. She shouldn't trouble herself with such matters. I know what's best for her."

What does this bastard know about the first thing she wants? He never bothered to even ask her before!

The Crown Prince was livid inside but he managed to hold back his anger. He just reminded himself that his dear Penelope hated violence. He didn't want to make her reject him again.

"If I didn't know any better, Duke, I would think you are greatly opposed to this marriage," His Highness stated with a smirk, tilting his head in mock amusement. "I should remind you that you are speaking to your future sovereign and thus, you shouldn't dismiss me so easily. Furthermore, you would do well to know this is perhaps the most advantageous marriage you could possibly hope to arrange for your daughter. She would become the future empress. Wouldn't that be the best for your dear daughter ?"

During his last remark, Callisto made sure his sarcasm was painfully obvious. Though Penelope didn't share much with him about her life at the duchy, the little she did share made him sure that this damned family didn't care about her. He wanted to sweep her off her feet and carry her to his palace immediately.

If only she'd let me.

The Duke glared at him once again. "I care not for power nor wealth, and neither does she. I would let her marry a peasant if only he treated her kindly. That is why I cannot let her marry you; I've heard about how you've treated Penelope. How dare you put a sword to her neck-?!"

"And I've heard about how you've treated her as well," Callisto interrupted in a snide tone. His eyes suddenly took on a murderous look-the same look he gave all his enemies before he struck them down without mercy. "About how you've neglected her and tossed her aside as if she meant nothing to you. About how you let her brothers mistreat and insult her. And about the abuse she endured at the hands of many others in this duchy."

The prince's hand subconsciously tightened around the hilt of his sword. I can stomach his disrespect toward me, but he's lucky I don't kill him here and now for everything he put my beloved through!

"That… Well, you see…" The Duke stammered, words not coming to him easily. He coughed in slight discomfort. He was not expecting an outsider like him to be privy to such private matters of the duchy. "Penelope knows how sorry we-"

The Crown Prince held his hand up to stop him from speaking. "I have no desire to hear your pathetic excuses, Duke. Nothing you say will ever undo the harm you inflicted upon Penelope."

His condescending tone made the Duke's face flush with anger. He stood up very quickly with his fists clenched. "You have no right to address her so informally!"

"And you had no right to mistreat her, but you did," Callisto snapped back as he rose from his seat. "How dare you all treat her with such disdain? I ought to open an imperial investigation on this wretched family and throw you all in jail!"

Court etiquette be damned, I will not sit back while these bastards continue to mistreat her!

"You'd risk alienating the Eckharts and many other houses," The Duke retorted. "You would then lose your throne to the Second Prince. Would you really like to challenge us, Your Highness?"

"Yes, I would." The Crown Prince took a threatening step toward the Duke, keeping his gaze steady on him. "I don't care if I put the whole nobility against me. I don't even care about losing my throne. It all means nothing if I can't have the woman I care about by my side."

I almost lost her once when she was poisoned, he thought as the memory of Penelope on her deathbed resurfaced. I won't let it happen again.

Duke Eckhart became slightly confused at this sudden outburst. He had previously thought the Crown Prince was only after Penelope so the Eckharts would support his accession to the throne, but it seemed as if he couldn't care less if they did or not. From his words and actions, it seemed like the prince truly cared for his daughter and nothing else.

I need to make sure this is true. I'll give him a little test first, the Duke thought.

"I… admit that we were wrong in treating her so horridly before," the Duke admitted hesitantly in an effort to calm the prince down. "However, I've made sure to fire any workers and knights who mistreated her before and also made sure that her brothers know I will not tolerate any abuse toward her. But I can only ensure she is safe under my own roof. How will I know she won't suffer the same unjust treatment at the palace? After all, the empress and the second prince won't stand for this marriage. They'll kill her!"

The Duke knew that what he had just uttered was straight-up treason. However, he knew that the Crown Prince also didn't like them and hoped that he could be trusted. He also hoped that by sharing one of his many worries, he could discover the prince's true intentions with his daughter.

"I'll make sure that never comes to pass. I won't make the same mistakes as you," the prince stated confidently. "Unlike you, I'll listen to Penelope. I'll believe in her when she confides in me. I'll make sure she's never harmed or hurt because I actually care . While I cannot erase the pain you lot have caused her, I can help ease it by providing her with the care and support she deserves. I won't let anyone prevent me from doing so, not even the empress."

The Duke was taken aback by his words and stayed silent for many moments. "Your Highness, do you truly care about my daughter?"

"Yes, I do," He answered immediately, his voice unwavering. He had never been so sure of anything before in his life.

"Then promise me."

"What is it you wish for me to promise you?"

"Promise me that if she marries you, you'll make sure she'll always be happy," The Duke asked sincerely, though he phrased it more as an order than a request. As a father, he hoped for nothing more than the happiness of his children.

The Crown Prince laughed at his insolence. "I'm only going to say this once so listen closely. I will do whatever it takes to ensure her happiness. Whatever she needs, whatever she wants, I will provide it. Because she deserves the world and more."

Duke Eckhart couldn't stop his eyes from watering ever so slightly. The Prince's words reminded the Duke so much of the love he felt for his wife, the former Duchess. She was born a commoner, just like Penelope, and worked as a singer for the nobility. The first time he heard her voice, it was like he was listening to angels sing. When he later met with her privately, he saw how calloused her hands were from playing instruments and the bruises on her arm from her father, and he had a sudden urge to protect her. When he later proposed to her, he made the same promise Callisto made to protect his love from everyone and everything that could harm her.

Not that she needed protecting; she was a fierce and capable woman, just as Penelope was. He knew that she would make a wonderful empress someday.

He didn't want to let his precious daughter go, and he certainly didn't think this barbaric prince was good enough for her, but he knew that she would be in safe hands with His Highness. When she was poisoned, the prince brought the best physicians in the world to treat her because he was distraught at the possibility of her dying. He even hardly left her side unless absolutely necessary. How could the Duke ever doubt that the prince cared about her?

Plus, if this was what his daughter truly wanted, how could he ever say no?

The Duke coughed exaggeratedly before wiping away his tears discreetly. He then held his open hand out respectfully, and the prince gave him a firm handshake. The former then looked the latter in the eye before saying, "You have my blessing to marry my daughter. I shall also support your accession to the throne since I wish for my daughter to become empress. But if ever I hear that she is unhappy, I will storm the Imperial Palace myself and make sure you regret it."

Callisto laughed dryly at his last remark. "I would expect nothing less. I normally would not tolerate threats of any kind from anyone since that is treason, but since you'll soon be my father, I will let it go this once. I'm rather pleased we have finally come to an understanding."

They discussed the next steps to move this engagement forward as well as general plans for the wedding. Eventually, the Duke relented and let him see Penelope before leaving. After saying polite goodbyes to one another, Callisto made his way to the greenhouse where he would be permitted to see her.

Little did Penelope know that his affection score was now at 98%.

Notes:

So I got the idea from this fanfic by thinking, "What would Callisto do once he found out about what Penny endured at the duchy? What would he say?" And kinda worked from there. Also, I needed a break from writing my depressing Cha Siyeon fanfic and decided to write some fluff.

I will be posting the next 2 chapters soon so be on the lookout! They're already written, I just need to edit them.

Thanks to the peeps on the VADD discord who proofread the first draft! It truly was terrible lol