Jilted Guilt: the Mermaid and the Hunter - Chapter 18
“What? Why would he ask me for that?”
“Well, I’ve been quite noticeable lately, so I suppose he remembered your name.”
“Really?”
It meant that anyone working at the palace would recognize Mary due to the recent incidents, but Penny seemed to interpret it as if another man was interested in her.
In reality, Rosander had first approached passing Mary with the request. However, she had declined due to her busy schedule with the banquet preparations. Perhaps the man urgently needed help, and when she couldn’t, Penny seemed to have immediately come to mind.
Mary was about to say Penny couldn’t handle the task due to her nature, but considering the man seemed equally rushed, she unconsciously agreed. Mary decided to keep it a secret that Rosander had mentioned “a girl with many freckles and blue eyes” and not Penny’s actual name.
If word ever got out, Penny would go on a rampage, forgetting about her own wrongdoings and focusing on Mary’s. She’d probably berate Mary for a month or more, trying to argue that her freckles weren’t that noticeable. Mary didn’t want to deal with that kind of nagging over something she hadn’t even said.
“He said he had a bunch of slaughtered animals in the barn,” said Mary, “and he wanted you to throw them in the lake.”
“What?”
“Just what I was told, to give the mermaid something to eat.”
Penny’s flushed cheeks lost their color. Mary reaffirmed his request to her bewildered colleague.
“Mary…I can’t do that, even if it is to gain favor with Sir Rosander…”
“Then you can’t. Sir Knight didn’t say anything else. Just pretend you didn’t hear him. Or go with someone else.”
* * *
“Are you being cold to me now? Alright, fine.”
Penny, fed up with the situation, decided to abandon any pretense of politeness. She didn’t have the energy to provoke Mandy, who was as unyielding as a crucian carp. This was already her fifth rejection, and she couldn’t muster any more frustration.
Still, fate seemed to be playing games with her, as at that moment, she noticed Dan. Although she couldn’t ignore the request, she also couldn’t bring herself to venture close to the lake alone. Even if it meant swallowing her pride, she had to ask him for help.
“What’s wrong, Penny?”
“Why are you acting so cold, Dan…”
Busy carrying lumber, Dan called out to Penny in a detached tone. As he ignored her, she could see the looks on his colleagues’ faces, who knew about his relationship with Penny. It’s no wonder she’s standing in the way of the workers, annoying them, but she was in a hurry, too.
“Don’t you realize we’re done? You said we were done.”
Hoping to end the conversation as quickly as possible, Dan dropped the wood he was carrying and pushed Penny to the side. Penny decided to make the most of being left alone with him.
“I was wrong……. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Are you trying to brush it off again?”
The last time they made up, Penny flirted with the cartwright a few days later and then threw a fit because he had had one conversation with Angie. Dan had no desire to repeat the tiresome behavior, if for nothing else.
“No, this time, I’ll really, really do better.”
“What?”
Penny’s voice quivered as if she were about to cry again. Dan was at a loss. He wondered what was wrong with her, but he also felt a surge of courage that told him he’d give anything to f*ck her one more time.
“I think I’m going to lose my job if I screw up one more time after the nanny thing, okay?”
“Sure, I’ll help. What do you need?”
He decided to do Penny a favor. Favors come with a price, and Penny knew that very well. The problem was that she sounded too demanding.
“Feeding the mermaid.”
Penny hurriedly replied in the hope that he might change his mind. With Dan by her side, it didn’t seem as daunting. After all, with his sturdy physique, could he not protect her?
“Wasn’t that Rosander Wayne’s job?”
“I have to do it while he’s not around.”
Dan’s question melted away with Penny’s unexpected smile. As he casually scratched the back of his neck, Penny immediately wrapped her arms around him.
Instead of meeting the earnest gaze directed toward him, Dan found himself admiring the glimpse of skin visible through her deep neckline.
“You don’t think it’s going to try to get to you when you bring it food, do you?” Dan chuckled.
No man could act like a coward in front of a woman he wanted to impress. Penny clung to Dan’s arm and led him toward the barn.
