beta
Yeah, no.
Eloping is hard enough for people who love each other, they're fueled solely by their feelings, the consequences of their actions insignificant to the thought of finally being together. Penelope doesn't have lick of real affection for Eclis, there's no way in hell she'll take him up on his offer. She hardly even contemplated that this could be the 1% she needs. And honestly? Eclis doesn't have anything to offer, not even a personality to make up for his lack of everything. How could you expect Penelope to fall for him when not even his looks can make up for the flaws he has?
Also, his entire dialogue feels like he's spitting on Penelope's hard work. So fcking what if she's an Eckhart in name only, if her position isn't originally hers? She still has power, and over the course of the story, she managed to make a name for herself. He wasn't there when she truly only has a name and not the power to wield it, with the maids treating her as lower, and yet he has the audacity to act as if her name wasn't earned. The nerve to question her position when he's in the same situation. A knight only because Penelope said so. What a hypocrite.