"If you would let me leave, then no one would be harmed. You not only burned my hand with the tea, but you ruined Melody’s dress," Melanie said, pointing at the stain on Melody’s dress.
Melody frantically used a handkerchief to wipe away some of the tea that had spilt on her. It was hot, but she didn’t want to speak of her pain when there were other important matters.
"I am fine," said Melody.
Melody wasn’t angry that tea was spilt on her dress since what Tyrion did stopped her mother from throwing the tea on Penelope.
Should the tea have landed on Penelope, Melody was confident her mother would face consequences she could not get away from.
"I think we should stop here," Melody said, regretting that she had come here with her mother.
Nothing was resolved from this talk, and there were things said today which could not be taken back.
"I told you that we shouldn’t have come here. She has married a tyrant. This kingdom is lucky that you will not become our king, but you," Melanie said, looking directly at Penelope. "You will suffer. You will not do well to have so many of these men around you."
"Hold your worry, grandmother. I do not feel like I will need to run away," Penelope replied, throwing a jab at Melanie.
Melanie shook her head. Penelope was dead to her.
Melanie couldn’t tolerate Penelope after the things that were said today.
"I truly hope this marriage will end as you say it will," Melanie said, certain Penelope would eat her words.
Penelope had not just married an ordinary nobleman, but a prince who had to follow the ways of the palace.
There were expectations of Penelope that she could not fail. If she failed, the men from the palace would eat her alive.
Melanie had a long, boring life once, where she smiled before men she didn’t know to please her husband, and now Penelope was going to be thrown into that world.
"Let me leave, and no one has to be attacked," Melanie said.
Melanie would rather be with her husband and her son’s family. There, she was never insulted over her past. Everyone else had moved on.
"Penelope, would you be so kind as to leave us for a moment? You had your talk with my grandmother, and now it is time for me to have a one-on-one talk with your grandmother," said Tyrion.
Tyrion stayed quiet for most of the sit-down to give Melanie a chance to reconcile with Penelope, and seeing that wasn’t going to happen, there was something he wanted to say to her.
Penelope didn’t think it was a good idea, but it was only fair that Tyrion got to have his talk since she had pushed to speak with Tabitha.
"I would not like to be following behind the town guards to get my husband," Penelope said, hoping it wouldn’t come to that.
Penelope gave one last look at Melody before walking toward the door.
Melanie stepped closer to Melody to protect her.
"What now? Will you kill us because we didn’t agree with your wife?" Melanie asked, shielding Melody from the prince’s gaze.
"No, I would kill you because you tried to spill hot tea on her," Tyrion replied.
"My mother meant no harm-"
"Stop," Tyrion said, holding up his hand. "I don’t like it when others do this. Your mother is present to speak for herself, and she has said plenty. It could not be that she has suddenly turned mute."
Tyrion noticed how Melanie held Melody’s hand like she was plotting to run away.
"Leave us for a moment, Miss Melody," Tyrion said, his issue only with the older woman. "I don’t need to speak with you."
Melody gripped her mother’s hand. "With all due respect, I want to stay here."
"With all due respect, you should leave while I am asking politely. I have the means for you to be taken out of this room by force. Such a sight would affect your work here in town," said Tyrion.
Melody couldn’t believe the prince would bring up her work.
The wrong gossip about Melody could affect her work with families around the town.
"Go," Melanie said, letting go of Melody’s hand. "I am not afraid of a prince who acts like a child. I will be out soon."
Melody didn’t want to leave her mother, but her hands were tied. She hoped to have a word with Penelope whilst the prince wasn’t at her side to convince her to end this matter peacefully.
Melody left her mother’s side with a plan to end this.
When the door closed, Melanie was the first one to speak up.
"Say what has been on your mind, or kill me if you wish. I am not afraid of you. I know what to expect from men like you," Melanie said, but truthfully, she was afraid.
"You don’t know me. Your second mistake is thinking that you do," Tyrion replied.
Melanie was puzzled. "And what was my first mistake?"
"Troubling my wife. I take that matter very seriously. I could kill you for it. I should," Tyrion considered it.
"She cannot be angry with me when I am right. Men like you disgust me," Melanie spat. "Women cannot escape this behaviour."
"You were married to a man who probably used his influence to make you behave as he wanted you to. I use mine to protect my family. You’ve bothered me from the start by comparing me to a man like the baron," Tyrion said, feeling insulted.
Desmond Barrett was a man who died with debt and lost his title. He wasn’t of any honour for a prince to be compared to him.
"I’ll leave you as long as you stay quiet. Live quietly where neither Penelope nor I can see you. Should I hear a squeak out of you about my wife, I will ruin your life. I am cruel, as you say, to ruin your husband’s life as well," said Tyrion.
"My family doesn’t have anything to do with this," Melanie said, frustrated that others were being dragged in.
"That doesn’t matter to me. Speak of any private matters concerning Penelope, her siblings, or parents, and I will ruin your life. Either by meddling in your husband’s work or by having you hanged by the palace gates. Both options please me," said Tyrion.
Melanie stepped back to get away from Tyrion. "You’re a monster. You’ve fooled the town."
"Fooled?" Tyrion chuckled, humoured by the repeated accusation. "I’ve always been this way. You’re just getting to know me."
"I have a feeling," Tyrion said, going around the table to be closer to Melanie. He drew closer to her until her back touched a wall.
Tyrion reached for Melanie’s neck, which was calling for him to create a long, pretty slice there. "You’re going to become well-acquainted with my gun if you don’t listen."
Tyrion leaned forward to whisper, "I urge you to misbehave so I can have the pleasure of ending your life. I rarely give second chances. Upset her again, and I’ll be the last face you see before you die."
Melanie looked up at the prince, afraid to be alone with Tyrion.
Who did Penelope marry?