3 CHAPTER 3

The next day, Penelope woke up early which surprised her nanny a lot. Lisa knows her little miss values her sleep of all things. She is sometimes experiencing a small problem waking up her young miss every morning. But today, Lisa cannot believe it when she saw her little miss is already awake and just patiently waiting for her.

"Good morning, nanny!" Penelope greeted her with a smile. "Look! The sun is so bright today!"

"Good morning, little miss." Lisa greeted her back. "But why did you wake up early today? Did something happen?"

"Oh... I want to eat breakfast with daddy today!"

"I see. Then let's get you to dress first, okay?"

"Okay! And oh! Please make it pretty! Very, very pretty!"

"Of course, little miss."

"And nanny?"

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I love you, nanny!" Penelope said with a bright smile.

Lisa's heart suddenly turns soft. She sits next to her little miss and gives her a hug. Penelope automatically hugs her back and rubs her chubby cheek on her neck. Lisa let out a contented sigh before kissing Penelope's forehead.

"I love you too, little miss." Lisa replied in a soft and affectionate voice.

And Penelope knows it's true. In her first life, her nanny did everything to save her life. But unfortunately, a young lady and a small child don't have enough strength to escape from five huge men who were running after them. That day, Penelope has no idea that it was going to be the last time she will see her nanny.

At that time, her nanny hid her in a small cave near the forest. After coaxing her to stay there and remained quiet, Lisa promised Penelope that she will return after diverting the attention of their kidnappers. After that, Lisa borrowed her coat and wrapped it on a wood they saw nearby. When she stepped out of the cave, Lisa intentionally made a sound, and those huge men quickly followed her.

Lisa's plan worked since their kidnappers followed her immediately. Penelope quietly stayed inside the cave and forced herself not to make a sound by covering her mouth. After that night, the little girl did not try to leave the cave. Penelope stayed there for two days straight and ignored the hunger and thirst she felt.

But on the third day, Penelope was found by an old couple who lives in the deep forest and brought her back to their small cottage. Those old couples were also the ones who told her that a lady was found dead on the cliff covered with severe injuries. She was also holding a wood covered in a child's coat and was brought by the knights to cremate her body.

When Penelope was old enough to understand what was happening, she can't help but blame herself for what happened to her nanny. Because she tried to save her, Lisa died in a miserable way. Her nanny loves her so much and did her best to send the danger away from Penelope that night.

And now that she has been given a chance to live again, Penelope will do everything so the past events will not happen again.

"Let's go and change your clothes now, little miss." Lisa said while patting her hair.

"Okay!" Penelope happily replied.

Lisa is quick and efficient on her tasks. She quickly brought a basin with lukewarm water and a clean towel to wipe her little miss's face and body before choosing a pretty dress from the closet and helping her to wear it. After that, Lisa expertly braids Penelope's hair and put a ribbon with jewels on it.

"I look so cute, nanny!" Penelope said while staring at her reflection in the mirror.

"Of course, little miss. You are the cutest little girl in our kingdom!"

Penelope didn't reply again and continued looking at her reflection. She is sometimes touching her face and makes several expressions. Lisa didn't think too much about it and continued braiding her hair. She's thinking that the little girl is just playing around like the usual.

But Penelope is having a different thought right now. While staring at her reflection, Penelope promised that she will take good care of herself this time. In the past, her face was ruined and her body was too thin and frail. Penelope will never let herself be like that ever again.

When her nanny Lisa is finally finished dressing up her little miss, Penelope twirls around and smiles cutely in front of the mirror. She also holds the skirt of her dress to do a small curtsey. Seeing her like that, her nanny Lisa can't help but laugh at her cute appearance.

"We should go now, little miss. The young duke and the duchess are probably in the dining room now."

"...Okay." Penelope slowly said. "But can you carry me, nanny?"

When Penelope lifts her arms in the air and pouts her lips, Lisa can't help but chuckle seeing her little miss acting so cute first thing in the morning.

"Of course, little miss." Lisa replied with a smile before she easily carries Penelope in her arms.

"Nanny, what is the date today?"

"Today is the seventh of May."

"Oh."

While they are walking towards the dining room, Lisa did not notice the sudden change in Penelope's expression. The little girl's eyebrows are furrowed and gently biting her lips. There are two things that changes her mood this morning.

First, Penelope realized that Amanda will join them for breakfast. She is actually looking forward to eating her breakfast with her father again for the first time. But because that witch is married to her father, of course, she has every right to eat breakfast with them.

Second, Amanda will plan her abduction two days from now. That day, her father has to go to the Royal Palace to greet their foreign visitors. Amanda suggested for them to go out and have some mother and daughter bonding while visiting the plaza. The people around them are probably not expecting Amanda to have a vicious plan against a little girl like Penelope since she has a reputation for being gentle and kind to other people.

If there are no special changes that will happen after two days, Amanda is definitely going to continue her plan and get rid of her. Her stepmother will surely pay those men to kidnap her again. Since Penelope knows what will happen next, she should also make a plan to prevent it from happening. She will not let that evil witch succeed once again.

"Miss, we're now here." Lisa informed her and gently put her down.

When her nanny opens the door, the image of her handsome father greeted her in an instant. With a huge grin on her face, Penelope quickly runs towards her father and hugs him on his legs.

"Daddy!" Penelope greeted him energetically. "You're here!"

"Good morning, my princess." Clementine greeted her too before picking her up and kissing her cheek.

"Daddy, I love you so much!" Penelope suddenly declared before kissing her father on his cheek and hugging his neck.

"And I love you the most." Clementine immediately replied. He put a hand on her back to prevent his daughter from falling before turning his head to see her face.

"Daddy, I really, really love you!" Penelope said again that earning a chuckle from her father.

"What's with you today, Loupie?" Clementine gently asked. "Hmm... Maybe my little princess wants to ask something from me?"

"Yes!" Penelope replied. "I want to ask daddy to stay with me forever."

Clementine didn't notice the seriousness of Penelope's words. He just merrily laugh again since her words can really warm his heart. Penelope is his treasure and he will never trade her for anything. Seeing the cute face of his daughter that resembles his first wife a lot, he can't help but kiss her chubby cheeks again and hugs her soft body.

"You two are really affectionate with each other."

The mood between the father and daughter duo is now ruined because of that woman. Penelope pursed her lips and look at Amanda through her peripheral vision. She is standing not too far from them with a soft smile on her lips. Amanda looks like she is happy to see the two of them being close first thing in the morning.

But she will never deceive Penelope again. Behind that gentle face of hers lies a venomous and deadly personality. Amanda is just trying to be good in front of her husband but she's secretly planning to get rid of his biological daughter. Who knows what kind of vicious and evil thoughts are playing inside her head while looking at them right now.

Ignoring her for now, Penelope sees another person inside the dining room. There is another child standing behind her stepmother. She is acting shy and quiet while watching Penelope and Young Duke Clementine being sweet with each other. Penelope subconsciously balled her hand into fists seeing the face of that child. How can she easily forget that one?

The child hiding behind her stepmother is none other than Emilia, Amanda's daughter from her first husband.