Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"I understand that your matter might be urgent. But his majesty was already talking to duke Thawyne when you entered. You did not want to interfere when two elders were talking. Do you?" her tone was soft as if she was coaxing a small kid. She even smiled brightly when he finally turned to look at her. But his eyes were cold and hard, his whole body had turned rigid.

"Then I would sit here and listen to their matter first." he said nonchalantly and before anyone could react, and turned and sat on the seat of Adel beside Eli.

"..........."  Adel looked at the couple that were matching each other's temperament and looked like a perfect pair, with misty eyes. Her eyes turned aggrieved, yet she kept her best to maintain her smile. And walked towards the second line. Though she was sitting behind Andrew, she was looking at him with a face full of longing as if he was too far away!

Andrew sat there with a bored look, though he did not say a word, his presence had disturbed everyone in the room. Even Eli was not expecting to sit him beside her. But she did not react. She did not even turn towards him, but greetings were mandatory.'

"Your royal highness." She bowed her head a bit when he came and sat beside her.

"How are your feet now, Eli?" The tone was so different from the way he spoke to the emperor or Adel. all the snow of his eyes melted, and spring arrived. His tone was soft and tender. For a moment Eli forgot what he was asking about. 

The look on his face was just like before. No! Better than those times. He had always been a bit tender towards him but these days, his face was filled with longing whenever he looked at her.

"It is better, your royal highness." it took her a few seconds to reply as she was too surprised that he remembered such a menial thing even when they were not in a relationship now. 

His eyes moved towards the bandage in her feet and then at her face he opened his mouth to say,

"Cough cough.. So I was telling you, Duke Thawne, the marriage was fixed by our elders. My father, the old emperor, loved Elizabeth as a child and that was why I had offered you the marriage of Andrew and Elizabeth. She is a wise girl that always makes the right decision. Despite her cold personality, she had completed her duties as the finance of the crown prince all these years without even a single mistake.

But as you know we had recently started a mission to unite all the boundaries in our empire to create one strong empire. And Adel, is the princess of the largest empire.

Though we have defeated them due to our strong army, the chances of rebellion are too high. They are not ready to accept us as new rulers. So, I had decided that marriage between both families would ensure that their rulers did not change. 

And the chances of rebellion will decrease. When I offered the chance to Adel, she sacrificed her future, without even thinking twice. But for that we have to sacrifice a bit too. Elizabeth is a wise woman, she could understand the need of marriage and accept her position.

I did not want to break their marriage as it would be an insult to Elizabeth. I wanted her to accept her position as the second wife of Andrew. Why are you making the situation difficult by continuously going against my decisions? Or is that you care about being your daughter's empress rather than the peace in the empire?

Do not tell me that you enjoy your son being called a war hero?" His words were filled with double edged swords. If duke Thawyne still asked for the annulment of marriage, that meant he was enjoying how Leo was getting more and more glory through winning wars and if he did not ask for the annulment of marriage, then Eli had to be the second wife of the crown prince, which was no less than a lover with a fancy title.

A cold smile formed on the emperor's face when he looked at the face of the duke thawed and then at Andrew whose eyes were colder than he. He snorted and rolled his eyes at the protectiveness of his son. He could not believe that his son was thinking from heart rather than brain? Had he over indulged his son by fulfilling all his wishes?

"I understand the position of the empire, my lord. I even accept that marriage is needed by their empire, and I would be the happiest person if it ended the rebels. 

To send my son to war may be glorifying but only I know how I had spent those 2 years in dread. He is my only son. If he would die, I would have no one as my heir. Which father would want to send his son again in the war at the risk of losing him just to get some reputation?" Although his words sounded like he was supporting the marriage and his wise decision, he challenged the claim of trying to win the power for his son through war.

It was a witty reply to avoid being called greedy and accused of treason.

"But I wanted to ask, what does it have to do with my daughter's marriage with his royal highness? I never forced or asked you to fulfil the promise made long ago. I accept lady Adelaide as the future empress. But as a father I want the right to marry my daughter legally with someone else who would love and cherish only her all his life. I will not accept my daughter to be the second wife of any man even if it is a royal family proposal!" His words were resolute and calm. He looked straight into the eyes of the emperor when he spoke.

"I will not accept my daughter to be the second wife of any man even if it is a royal family proposal!" his words were resolute and calm. He looked straight into the eyes of the emperor when he spoke. His face was filled with determination which silenced even the emperor for a whole.

The emperor had thought that he would accept the decision if he would be threatened by his position and the accusation of treason. But not only was he not afraid or flustered but he even told subtly that how much sacrifices his family had done and were ready to do in the future by sending Leo for war even if he was the solo heir of the dukedom and could have enjoyed all the luxury by living in the palace.

And now taking back Elizabeth and accepting Adel as the empress for the betterment of the empire. If he would still not accept the decision then he would be the one to be called unreasonable.

"Are you not afraid that Elizabeth would be insulted in the society and would hardly get an offer for marriage. Even if she would be the second wife, she would still be part of the royal family. Many noble ladies would die for that position. You know better than me how many families were vying for this position." he offered again, trying to be kind and concerned towards Eli.

He looked at Andrew with annoyance. If not for his presence he would have accepted the annulment of the marriage long ago and got rid of this forceful marriage. Duke Thawyne already had riches equal to them and his son was a war hero, everyone lived. The whole knighthood was under him.

Now if their daughter would be the empress. Wouldn't the strongest family in the empire be Thawyne's instead of him!?

"I understand that, your majesty. But I am not vying for the position but for the respect of my daughter. I want her to stay happy in the future. That is all. So, I am ready to accept any condition that you have set for us to accept!!" he replied confidently with the same smile on his face. He looked at her daughter and assured her with his eyes who bowed her head. She had never wanted her father to suffer because of her. The whole discussion was looking absurd to her and so was the behavior of the man sitting beside her. He was emitting a warm and cold gaze every second as if there was a switch of hot and cold over his mind that was being pressed consequently.

"A condition?" Andrew tilted his head and looked at his father with an unfathomable gaze? His gaze was strong and piercing. But his father stayed calm and only nodded about his query.

The emperor knew the great he was trying to give through his gaze, but he was not even worried a bit. He had already found the weakness of duke Thwayne, which he could use to bring them down.

"Then I want you to marry my daughter with your son instead. So that the relationship between two families continues to exist!!" 

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