The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 158: Battle of women (3)

Tabitha wished for Priscilla to sit down and stop making a fool of herself.

"It is not the same, and you know it. Someone has died while they were left alone with Penelope," Tabitha argued.

"I thought there would be some hope for you. Do you not realise that when you speak out believing this curse, it not only affects her, but your grandson as well? You are in a position to stop such baseless rumours, yet you encourage them," said Priscilla.

"Since everyone wants to speak about what is wrong with Penelope, let us speak about others. Let us speak about the women who had to pull their last bit of money to get a dress for this gathering. They shouldn’t sit amongst us who could afford to be here," Priscilla said, eyeing the few she spoke of.

Priscilla continued, "The dressmakers talk. They spread news of the ladies who cut back on the finest materials so they could lower the cost of the dress, or those of you who will be quick to return a dress after you have worn it today."

"This makes no sense," Tabitha said, tired of Priscilla’s rambling.

"Oh, but it does. We are always trying to oust those who are beneath us, the odd woman out, or the woman we envy. Why does a curse only need to be about death? I have seen someone’s awful marriage rub off on others. Look at the fear," Priscilla said, pointing to the ladies present.

"They are hesitant now that a curse can be anything they experience daily. Curses do not exist. We simply have an unfortunate moment in our lives. You have nothing else to use against Penelope, so you came up with this curse," said Priscilla.

"Sit down," Tabitha ordered Priscilla.

"Need I remind all of you that the rumours about the duchess started because of her jealous sister? We have all seen that the duchess is not cursed. Everything you heard about her before she married my son was all a lie," Priscilla said, ignoring Tabitha’s order.

"You have all seen what happened to the people who spread lies about the duchess. They met a cruel end, or they are still suffering. I expect the same will happen to all of you who are doing the same to Penelope. If karma doesn’t get you, I will," Priscilla promised.

Priscilla sat back down. "Any lady who speaks of anyone in my family having a curse will have hell to pay. I will drag you down so far that neither you nor generations of your family will recover from it. I will go to any length to ruin all of you."

Tabitha shook her head, stunned by Priscilla’s behaviour. "You have no idea how you have presented yourself. You are abusing the power you have."

"No, I am protecting someone I care for. I don’t care if it portrays me as a monster. The difference between us is that I know the kind of lady I am, whilst you try to deny who you are. I don’t mind being a monster for the right reason. You’re a monster because you can’t get your way," said Priscilla.

It had been a long time since Priscilla killed someone, but if the king or Tyrion didn’t take care of Tabitha quickly, then Priscilla would do it herself.

"You must watch what you say to me. I am still Tabitha Castro," Tabitha reminded Priscilla.

"And she is Penelope Castro, yet you don’t show her any respect, so why should I give it to you?" Priscilla asked.

"Because I was a queen. A title which you would never understand the power that comes behind it," said Tabitha.

Priscilla smiled. "I almost knew it. Didn’t your husband tell you?"

Tabitha frowned. "That’s absurd. This is low, even for you to claim to be my husband’s mistress after what happened to you."

"Mistress? I would never be anyone’s mistress. I meant that I almost became his wife. Before Edmund, my father considered other men. Your husband was one of them. I met and he courted me before the queen’s selection started, but I had my eyes on Edmund. I was silly," Priscilla said, seeking something strong to drink.

"I would only make the same decision all over again to have my son and grandchildren," said Priscilla.

"I don’t believe a word of what you say. You are wrong to mention this when my husband is not alive to speak for himself," said Tabitha.

Tabitha wanted Priscilla out of her home.

"He is gone, but the men in the palace should know. There are others he met with before he went through with the selection and picked you. I never wanted to be a queen, so I don’t care about the power that comes with it. You’ve lost that power," Priscilla said.

"I have not," Tabitha replied.

"Then do as you wish to me. This gathering is quite boring," Priscilla said, bored out of her mind. "Have I ruined the main event of you questioning Penelope? You look disappointed, or is this how you always look? So tired and defeated."

"You are a married woman now," Tabitha said to Penelope. "You are not a child who needs her mother or grandmother to fight for her."

Penelope nodded her head, agreeing with part of what Tabitha said. "You are right that I am not a child. Therefore, you should stop trying to get me to bend to your will. I have my mind, and as a wife, I will decide with my husband what is best for us."

"Since I am not a child, you shouldn’t meet with my mother behind my back so you could have her speak with me and hopefully get your way," Penelope revealed her knowledge of the meeting.

"I cannot be a wife when you want me alone to attack me, yet I become a child when you can’t have your way, so you run to my mother. I am tired of your childish behaviour," said Penelope.

Penelope looked at Priscilla. "I am grateful to have a grandmother who chooses to help me instead of being the cause of more concern. You should take a page from her book concerning your grandchildren."

"I am doing what is best for my grandson. Tyrion was set to become a great king, and you distracted him," said Tabitha.

"You have grandsons," Penelope reminded Tabitha. "Tyrion doesn’t want to be king, but Teo does. While you push for Tyrion, you ignore what Teo wants and what he can do as king. I encourage you to spend less time worrying about me and focus on acting as a grandmother to the princes."

Tabitha shook her head, giving up on Penelope. "You are hopeless."

"Only if I listen to you," Penelope responded. freёweɓnovel_com

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