"Edgar, don't leave yet," Tobias said, trying to stop the Collins from leaving so soon. "With death, the ball is over, but you are welcome to stay. The children may enjoy themselves," he said, looking at the twins.
Lily or Penelope would make a good match for Tyrion, tying the Collins and Castros together once again.
The issue was that Edgar did not give Tyrion the chance to speak with his daughters.
Tobias stood in Edgar's way to stop him from leaving, but it resulted in him being pushed to the side.
Penelope quietly watched the interaction. She was used to her father pushing around the king because of their long friendship, but the crowd around them was not.
"Get out of my way, or the palace court will be scrambling to get a bullet out of you," Edgar warned Tobias.
Edgar hardly had the patience to deal with Tobias.
Tobias ignored Edgar's warning and tried to touch him.
"Get your hand off of me," Edgar said, close to reaching for his gun.
This caused Penelope to worry, but her mother somehow managed to swoop in and save the day.
'The children will speak another day, but for now, we must go," said Alessandra.
To hear someone dressed up as her had died made Alessandra uncomfortable, and given what the town had experienced before, Alessandra didn't want to stick around to find out the backstory.
Tobias wasn't thrilled they were still going to leave, but he didn't doubt Edgar would shoot him. It was a mistake to allow the use of guns to a man who killed so easily when it came to his family.
"Very well. I will send an invitation for you and your daughters to visit the palace. Tyrion still needs to pick a wife-"
"His wife will not be one of my daughters. Plot for someone else to marry him," Edgar advised Tobias.
Though the king was a childhood friend of Edgar, it was forgotten when it came to his daughters being courted by the prince. Edgar had spent many years alongside the king, witnessing many evil plots done in the palace. He knew not to send his daughters there.
The plots for Tobias's wife in the past to lose her children or the doctor who tested on who he could take to his room were two good reasons. Two problems Tobias faced in his early days as king.
"Still," Tobias persisted. "You should consider it."
'I've considered it, and I will kill you if you push it," Edgar replied as he walked around Tobias. "Playing with my daughters' hands will be playing with your life. Good night."
Penelope shared one last look with Tyrion and curtsied before she followed her family to the door.
Tyrion remained with his father, watching as Penelope left. "You must stop before the duke kills you. He is not afraid to do it. I'm sure he will bring an army to your door if you keep this up."
"Edgar once brought an army to my gates for his wife. I know he will do it for his daughters, but it would do good for the palace if you were to marry Penelope. I've been a fool in love before. I noticed how you look at her, and he noticed it too," said Tobias.
Tobias already knew it was why Edgar came to dislike Tyrion once he got of age to marry.
"I don't know what you speak of," Tyrion replied as he walked away.
Tyrion didn't feel the need to share the news with his big mouth father who would further upset Edgar with his meddling.
Tyrion needed to get far away from the ballroom to not be courted again, but he wasn't so lucky.
A young woman blocked his path.
Tyrion stopped as she curtsied.
"Prince Tyrion, would you do me the honours of dancing with me?" The young woman asked.
"No," Tyrion bluntly replied. "A woman is dead. The music only continues to play to keep the guests calm. As that woman lies lifeless, you would want me to waltz around the room with you? Is that what you want?"
The young woman didn't know how to respond. She searched for her mother, who was nearby but not close enough to provide her with an answer. "I thought her body would be moved and the ball would continue. If I may start over."
"No," Tyrion replied, walking around the young woman. "You've already shown your heart, and I have no interest in you. I am saving you from wasting your time."
Tyrion headed in the direction of the mazes, hoping to lose anyone who still dared to follow him at this point.
"Prince Tyrion," Tyrion soon heard another young woman greet him. This time, it came from someone whose voice was familiar.
"I knew you would come this way," said Amelia Prescott, the daughter of a known merchant in Lockwood.
Tyrion continued on his way for a moment, but the sound of footsteps following made him stop. "I don't have time for your courting. You should find someone else inside to court."
"The men inside are no match for you," Amelia said, her eyes twinkling in the dark as she intently watched Tyrion.
Tyrion was the perfect man for her to marry, and she intended to have her way.
Amelie's beauty was far greater than her peers, as her mother would say, and her father was a well connected man who would have much to offer the palace.
"It is a shame I did not get the chance to dance with you. I witnessed that most of your time was given to Lady Penelope. It is no surprise that you did. I admire Penelope," Amelia said, taking careful steps towards Tyrion.
"I admire her confidence to dress the way she does," Amelia said, followed by a chuckle.
Tyrion smiled, giving Amelia false hope before he replied, "If you like your tongue, I suggest you do not speak of Lady Penelope before me. I have very little patience when it comes to matters concerning her. Do you wish to keep speaking or be on your way?"