I Will Be The New Me
CHAPTRE 31

"Again, Dad. I'm guilty."

Vincent takes off his coveted violently until Penelope staggers and finally falls to the floor for the second time. The man with matching hair with his daughter was throwing a riled breath while massaging his forehead. "Either what I thought of raising the child of a lowly woman. I must be crazy."

The man's narrowed eyes stared out the door, "What is that?" Vincent sees an unusual large box placed in front of the door.

He then walked to the package and asked two servants to open it. "Hoo painting yes. You all look so happy here. Too bad I didn't want to keep this ugly painting in my house."

No hesitation, Vincent tore the painting using a knife to form no more. Less satisfied, Penelope's real father broke the expensive figura that Bastien had prepared to hang at home. "You're just bringing trash home?! you are indeed not much different from your lowly mother!"

"It was a gift from Savero's grandfather and uncle. They have it too."

"Then what? I should feel moved and send a letter to thank you, right? huh! they don't understand that we both don't deserve it."

"I don't understand what you're saying, but they're all always asking me about Dad." Penelope knew if she kept replying to her father's words then she too would end up battered again.

Vincent looked up at Penelope's bitch, "You're just as useless as your mother. It's a big mistake, why should I marry such an undignified woman. He just left me a heavy burden." he lamented incessantly.

Whenever Vincent was angry, he would curse and berate his late wife. Penelope was sick of hearing the scolding coming out. "Dad doesn't have the right to talk to mom. Did you ever force Dad to marry her and raise his status? My own father did all that. Don't constantly blame Mom as if she's the one with the curse."

"You dare to answer me?! the child does not know himself! you should be grateful for raising you and feeding you! if I were a bad father, I might have thrown you in the street once your mother died!"

Vincent stomped on Penelope's ankle very tight, the owner just acted by tightening his embrace on the waiter. His bones felt cracked, but Penelope had too often received Vincent's tantrums so that there was no more excessive reaction he showed.

Penelope cried in silence, she and Lily hugged each other to protect each other. "Your Majesty, please stop! I can replace Lady Penelope, please don't hurt her anymore."

The innocent girl prostrated herself at Vincent's feet begging for forgiveness for the agonized miss. "Lily, what are you doing?!"

"A good idea. You don't care if you lose one leg, do you? hey, you over there, bring my sword here."

In such a tense atmosphere, Vincent's personal Butler enters the house while carrying a gift box with a dark red ribbon given Raiden. Penelope was stunned, she was afraid that the gift would be ruined by her father. "Don't gift it!"

Seeing Penelope who had been silent just now turned frantic made Vincent sneer cunningly, "Hoo, is that as important as the contents inside? Ben, bring the box here."

The Butler immediately replied, "Your Majesty, this is a gift given by the Ethereal Crown Prince specifically to the Lady," it turns out that Ben had read the contents of the letter in the box and handed it to Vincent.

The man in his forties was shocked. "What did you say?" Vincent reads Raiden's letter and the signature at the end of the letter signifies the authenticity of the letter. "Hahahaha," Vincent's laughter filled the room. Anyone who heard began to stiffen with the fur of my sitting standing.

Penelope gasped to see her father walking closer. Vincent crouched down before Penelope, he pulled back his daughter's fine blonde hair to return his gaze. "Good, good. So as long as I let you walk around unclearly, you've managed to get the Crown Prince's attention, eh?"

"W-we're just friends, I'm not sure Prince—"

Plaques

"Not many reasons. I don't want to hear anything". A hard slap landed on Penelope's right cheek. His smooth white cheeks now looked very red, the corners of Penelope's lips also looked broken, blood began to drip. The beautiful girl almost fainted because she could not withstand all the torture given by Vincent. "I didn't expect you to finally find your purpose."

"..."

"You can be useful. If you are already close friends, why don't you try to reach the position of Crown Princess? you can be the princess I'm proud of."

As always, Vincent was always after treasures and high rank. This isn't the first time Vincent has had Penelope approach a noble man. Already a dozen times Vincent tried to match him with the noble old man whose caste was higher than theirs.

Now, having found out Penelope is friends with a Crown Prince, what else needs to be targeted other than the position of Crown Princess? "Listen. You must take care of your beautiful face for the Prince. Don't let him turn away from you, understand?!" Vincent stood high in front of Penelope who was helpless to say the word. "If you fail again this time, I'll throw you out on the streets!" strictly not kidding.

"Ben, send a doctor to take care of my daughter."

"no need. Let Lily help me."

"It's good if you want to be independent."

Lily took Penelope to her room. Penelope's cry was represented by Lily, she continued to sob sadly considering that her master who had just returned home from a long trip was immediately beaten by the Viscount.

Penelope smiled, "Don't cry, your eyes will disappear" to cheer. Lily was even sobbing hearing it. "Lady, how can you still joke when you're doing this? do you care about your body?" nagging Lily with her watery nose.

"You can drown this one house if you don't stop crying. Your voice makes me dizzy." Lily immediately held back her crying voice, her lips quivering as it was still difficult to control the feeling of sadness in her heart. "Hurry and help me apply this medicine."

"You've brought in another new drug, Lady?"

"Yes, I think the old medicine is less powerful."

"Before Lady, we should compress the swelling on your face first," Penelope nodded in agreement with Lily's opinion. "I'll get you some water now."

The bruised girl breathed a sigh of relief when she found out Vincent had not damaged the gift dress he had received from Raiden. Though Penelope does not want Vincent to know his closeness to the future King even though the purpose of the father and son is the same. If Vincent had interfered, Penelope would not have been able to do what she wanted, again she would have been just a puppet of her father.

His glance changed direction to the painting on the wall of his room, a picture of Penelope's mother smiling happily while holding little Penelope. "Mom, I'm sorry I could never save mom's self-esteem in front of me..."

Like his brother Savero, Vincent also married a commoner woman. Rowena is a dancer from a performance group. Her beautiful dance equipped with a charming face makes anyone who watches instantly captivated. Her famous nickname was 'The Phoenix Bird of Beauty' because of her talent that many people recognized.

Vincent is one of hundreds of men who won in getting Rowena's heart. They fall in love with each other and Vincent buys his woman a royal status. Both are very romantic couples. However, after giving birth to Penelope, Rowena fell ill.

Rowena who used to be very active moves and cheerful can only sit limp and do light things. Even so Rowena never once asked the waiter to help her take care of Penelope. Since Rowena was born from ordinary people, she had always wanted to imitate her mother how to take care of a child.

When Penelope was two years old, Rowena died. Penelope's love can stop there. After Rowena died, Vincent saw his daughter like a nagging pebble. He felt that Penelope's presence did not help, even making him tormented.

Penelope was taken care of only by the servants who worked in her home. Vincent was turned back and blinded, assuming Penelope had also died along with his wife. The man never visited or even asked Penelope if they were home.

Every time Penelope tried to get attention, all she got was a punch. That continues to this day. "Don't you ever show up to me if it wasn't about important business." one sentence Vincent said back then has been stuck deep in Penelope's heart.

Every time Vincent scolded him, he would carry Rowena around and insult his late wife. It was very painful for Penelope. Whereas Vincent once loved the figure of Rowena, but this is how to talk about the figure of the perfect wife, by insulting, demeaning, and even demonizing the profession of Rowena as if she was a woman 'comfort'.

Countless times he tried to escape and chose to stay in seclusion, but Vincent kept him in his room. Vincent's goal of not letting his daughter escape was to boost his name among the elite later when Penelope reached the ripe age for marriage. Vincent was trying to find a man whose noble status was higher.

Selling bouquets is the reason that Penelope can get out of the house for a moment to feel freedom.

"What do I have to do now. At a time like this all I remember are Quinn's words. Ugh, that sucks!" Penelope still doubts her cousin's abilities. Even though he had heard the ugly rumors spread, he still doubted the way it would work. "She was right about her dress. He was also right about my name that would be fine. But she's just a weak girl who only knows shelter in grandpa's name."

Penelope recalled that Quinn had talked about Vincent that afternoon and asked him why he looked scared when Savero and Bastien asked about Vincent. "I can't say anything about that. He will definitely make me feel the most pain and boast of the happiness of his family."

Penelope clenched her grip on the bottle containing the ole potion, "But my life is in Quinn's hands," her heart was in a dilemma right now.

"Eh wait a minute" an idea flashed through his brain. "I can use Quinn's help to free me from Dad. Besides, that kid also said that he'd help me with Raiden. Quinn is innocent and very easy to fool. Now who's using who, huh?"

"Yes, for now it's better that I follow Quinn's wishes."

Not long ago, Lily came with a small tub filled with water and also a towel to compress the former slap Vincent. "Lady, I've prepared it. Lady can start compressing it while I rub the medicine on your wound."

"Thank you, Lily."

Lily smeared the medicine with great care so as not to make her master in pain. Occasionally Penelope will grimace to hold the pain when the drug is exposed to new wounds. In order to distract from the wound, Lily tries to find a topic to discuss with Penelope.

"Lady, are you really close to the Prince? I'm so glad to hear it."

Single daughter Vincent Van Marchetti chuckled softly, "Why are you happy? I'm still mediocre because we just met and enjoyed tea together."

Lily nodded in surprise, "Eh really? has the Lady ever had tea with the Prince? well, I wish you were a match with the Prince. It's gonna be like a fairy tale that's come true!" Lily is hysterically happy because the girl she serves has a connection with an Ethereal Prince, the most admired young man in the country. "Are you not happy with that, Lady? why do you look so ordinary?"

"I'm happy, Lily. Don't you think no rival will fight over Raiden's heart. You also know, Quinn is the girl closest to him. She's the one who's most likely to be chosen as Queen."

Lily shook her head steadily. "How can you say that? no one knows how ahead. If the Prince is fooling you, Lady Quinn can what? trust yourself. In my opinion you are more deserving because you are an honorable noblewoman."

No, it was Penelope who was trying to match up with Raiden. As powerful as God would tie a common thread to others, Penelope would desperately try to snatch the thread. But no one knows Penelope's hidden intentions other than Quinn.

"By the way, the Prince gave you what gift?" ask Lily enthusiastically.

"Dear. She gave me a very beautiful and luxurious dress, she also asked me to wear it at her birthday party." Penelope explains it with red cheeks.

"Gosh, Lady~" Lily was anxious herself hearing it. He was thrilled to know there was hope for Penelope to get out of this prison-like home. He always prayed that Penelope could be happy, feeling what it was to have someone else who loved her sincerely just once.

"Hey, Lily. Don't make me feel too confident."

The two girls immediately silenced each other's mouths when Penelope's bedroom door was opened by someone. He was the butler, "Lady, you asked the Viscount to prepare for lunch together. It just so happens that he is free."

"Yes, I understand."

The woman with the face of the judges entered the room with a lacy yellow dress. "Viscount prepare this dress for you, Lady. Please use it later."

Penelope had no interest in seeing her father's gown. "Yes" answered Penelope briefly and lazily.

"Then I'll let myself go now."

Lily took the initiative to see what the dress was like. "Well, Lady. This looks like a newly purchased dress, the smell is still very pronounced."

"What the fuck? she immediately acted like a different old man," Penelope glanced at the bright dress disdainfully. He knew it was a gift from Vincent because Penelope came home with good news. "Oh yes, Lily. Can you make me some warm milk? I need something to fill my stomach before lunchtime arrives."

"Good, Lady. I'll do it soon."

As soon as Lily came out of her room, Penelope immediately picked up the paper and pen. She plans to write a notice letter to Quinn regarding the dress that Raiden sent her. Penelope also slightly touched on the character of her father during this time for just an opening. "I don't have time to tell Quinn all about dad right now. I'll call you back later tonight."

Long story short, lunch time has arrived. All the sumptuous and tantalizing dishes are neatly presented on the long table of the dining room. The puff of smoke from the cooking made the saliva unable to bear to drip out.

Penelope thought she might be able to spend half of the meal on the table, but after knowing she had to eat with her father it greatly reduced her appetite. "Eat a lot. I asked the doctor to check on you. Sorry, I got too carried away."

Since when can you talk so softly? because I know it's all just acting, watching him keep up this lie makes me want to puke.

"I'll let you out freely, but not for the night. It's too dangerous for a young girl like you to go out alone."

Penelope smiled wryly, "I get it, Dad."

Vincent nodded in satisfaction with the princess's answer. "Oh yes, I wonder how you can be friends with the Crown Prince."

Penelope stopped slicing the meat on her plate. He returned Vincent's gaze, then said, "Maybe it's because I inherited mother's charm so I'm easily befriended by a figure who is highly exalted by the entire Ethereal society," he replied in a sarcastic tone.

If it wasn't for Penelope bringing him some good news, Vincent would have thrown the plate at his daughter. But it had been a very long time that she did not feel her mood this calm, so she decided to be patient. "Hahaha it could be so. I hope you understand that you must strive to be the Crown Princess."

"Um, how do I tell Dad. I know Prince Quinn myself. She's the girl closest to him, I don't know if I have a chance to—"

"No need to think about anything. Just get rid of him. No matter how many enemies you have, I will help you occupy the position of Queen in the future." Vincent's gaze turned cold and sharp in harmony with the sentence that came out of his mouth. "I am willing to support you forward and get rid of all your rivals. You can trust me."

"Pff!" Penelope couldn't help but tingle in her stomach.

Look who's playing a hero to his daughter. Basic silly.

"What's wrong?"

"No, I'm sorry, Dad. I'm just too happy to not be able to express this feeling. I'm so happy that Dad finally wants to support me." Penelope lied so as not to make Vincent angry.

"Is that so? I'm also glad that you finally made a profit for me" Vincent sipped his wine until the glass became empty and continued saying, "If you will, if you will, I can speak directly to Quinn not to run for the Crown Princess candidate."

"...."