Chapter 303: Helping hand (3)
"Yes, it is what the palace maids do. They won’t be in here for long, so you may rest on the bed or be seated until they are done," Tyrion said, unaware of what went through Penelope’s mind.
For a split moment, Penelope forgot that Tyrion wasn’t a stranger to having maids bathe him. As the former crown prince, he was used to maids washing every part of his body so he wouldn’t need to lift a finger.
"I think I will go look out on the balcony so the maids don’t face any discomfort with me sitting inside the room. I shall keep my eyes wide open for the ladies so bold to climb up to see you," Penelope said jokingly.
"There should still be guards placed below the balcony to keep watch of those ladies," Tyrion replied, uncertain if the guards would be below.
Penelope’s smile fell, her joke quickly ruined. "They would go that far?" She asked.
"They would go to great lengths to find themselves in my chamber. Some didn’t have fathers or relatives in the court, so they had to find other ways of getting here. I wish I could promise you that their efforts would stop now that I am married, but it won’t," said Tyrion.
There seemed to be some silly thought that he was seeking a mistress.
"They would want to place themselves as a mistress? I could see it happening. As for you, should you think that you are entitled to having as many women as you please, I shall have Winston prepare you a warm supper and have you fed until you are full," Penelope said, the scene playing in her head.
"I will have Matilda prepare the bed and have the fireplace warm the room. Then, as you find yourself so comfortable that you will drift off to sleep, I will stab you. Not shoot you, no," Penelope shook her head. "That would be too fast. I will make you suffer."
Tyrion smiled despite being faced with a threat.
Again, Tyrion didn’t need to worry about anyone’s threats since there wouldn’t be any lady in this world to captivate his heart as Penelope did.
"There is only one girl I could think of loving as equally as I love you. Perhaps a few," said Tyrion.
Penelope’s eyes widened, her anger blinding her momentarily. Thankfully, that boyish grin calmed her. She knew what he spoke of.
Penelope’s anger went away. "Calm yourself and get out of those bloody pants."
"Will you help me?" Tyrion asked.
"You are not injured, therefore you do not need my help," Penelope answered.
"I see. It would take me coming home wounded for you to take care of me," Tyrion said, taking note of this. "I should have stabbed myself before returning."
"You mustn’t injure yourself so you can be taken care of by me. I am not a doctor," Penelope argued, but she knew Tyrion wasn’t listening to her. "If you purposely wound yourself so I can care for you, then I will shoot you. Only then will I care for you."
"You are the only one bold enough to speak of shooting the prince while you stand in the palace. Well, you and your father. You have some time before the maids arrive to decide if you will be so kind as to help me. I was wounded, but it is where you cannot see," said Tyrion.
"I don’t believe they have come up with ways to heal the heart," Penelope replied, walking to the door after.
"Then, it is time that I get undressed for the maids," Tyrion said.
Tyrion left Penelope alone and went to the bathing chamber.
Penelope tried not to think of the maids coming to see Tyrion naked as he was born and sat down on a chair.
The maids had washed Tyrion before, and each time he decided to be in the palace, they would wash him then. Even Penelope had maids who washed her, yet Tyrion wasn’t jealous, so this wasn’t going to rile her up.
Penelope stood up and walked over to the bathing chamber. She found Tyrion raking his fingers through his hair so it would be out of his face.
"Came to join me?" Tyrion asked, excited.
"You are only like this because it is ladies who bathe us both. What if I were to request to be washed by men?" Penelope asked, but it was something she sought.
"Go on," Tyrion’s surprising response came.
"What?" Penelope replied, certain she heard him wrong. "Would you allow it? What if it were to be one of your knights that I request?"
"I would not stop you from making the request, Penelope. There would be a man present to wash you, and there would be others prepared to be covered in dirt. You should be careful with your requests. I cannot promise I will fulfil them as you wish," said Tyrion.
"I should have known," Penelope spoke softly.
"I also know that you are only joking. If you don’t want the maids to be present because you are jealous or possessive, I will send them away once the water is poured," Tyrion said, enjoying Penelope’s possessiveness.
"That is not what is happening here. I know that you are used to having maids bathe you, and I think nothing of it. I will go back to my plans of looking at the view. You must hurry so we aren’t late meeting with the queen," Penelope said.
Penelope grew more annoyed with every passing second as Tyrion smiled at her as though he could read her thoughts.
"You have not won anything, so you shouldn’t smile so much," Penelope said, wanting to wipe the smile off of Tyrion’s face. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing. My wife has created quite the predicament for me, and the maids shall be here soon," Tyrion replied, needing a hand to fix what Penelope started.
"What?" Penelope muttered, but her eyes soon found the problem. "You! You should take care of it. I heard a knock at the door."
Penelope turned around to leave to hide her flushed cheeks.
"You may enter," Penelope informed the maids. Her back was turned to them so they wouldn’t see her face.
The door creaked open, and in walked four maids carrying the warm water meant for the prince’s bath.
"Princess Penelope," the maids did their best to curtsey.
"The prince awaits you in the bathing chamber," Penelope replied.
Penelope turned around just in time to see the maids carry the water to the bathing chamber. They wore smiles on their faces and whispered something to each other. It was likely that they were all eager to serve the prince.
Penelope imagined how flustered they would be after seeing Tyrion’s body. She was used to the sight, but even then she blushed when she saw him standing naked before her.
"He is awful," Penelope said, walking toward the chamber.
It was unfortunate that Tyrion won this time.