Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Then she should deny. She is the one who still has the lingering feeling for the man and is not ready to give up." came the roaring voice of Duke William.

Though he loved his kids more than anything, he was not ready to bear that they were blaming him for their demise.

He and his mother had taught them thousands of times that the royal family are not meant to love, they were meant to bear responsibilities. Especially their eldest child, he was bound to get chained in the political marriage, just like him.

Yet Eli fell in love with the crown prince in the time being. And now that the boy had another love interest, she was not ready to let go. Out of everyone, she had never expected that it would be Eli who would do that. If it had been Eve, he would have accepted it.

"Let her be. She needed to clear her thoughts and make a decision. We will talk about it after the tea party. Now have your breakfast." Leo looked at the meal and then his father.

"I am not hungry anymore." he stood up and left, as he heard his father taking a sigh.

"My lord, the lady said that she is tired after waiting for you all night and wants to take a rest. She has denied letting anyone enter.`` Leo knew that it was all a lie but at the same time knew that his stubborn sister would not meet him if she did not want to.

So, he nodded and left for his room. Even he was tired with all the chaos and running here and there.

Evangeline rubbed her tummy with satisfaction. Even when they were angry at her, the food they served was the best she had ever eaten. Though they were not poor, they never spent so much on the meal.

She looked at the knights and then the hiding face of Evelyn came to her mind. She was sure that she was punished for her escape.

But she had thought they would not punish her as she was part of their family. But now that she knows about it, she feels guilty. She decided to take the responsibility and apologize to her. With that thought she stood up from the chair and decided to walk out only to see two knights stopping her way.

"I apologize, but you are not allowed to leave the room." came the buff voice of the man making her frown.

"But I am not going out of the palace. I am only going to meet lady Evelyn. If you have any doubt you can always follow me there." The knights looked at each other and were about to deny her when they heard the crisp voice of their master.

"She is not a prisoner here. Let her go wherever she wants to go in the palace. But make sure to escort and protect the lady wherever she goes." they both bowed their heads to Leo who went his own way passing the instructions.

Evan rolled her eyes the way he manipulated the words of keeping an eye on her. If she did not know any better she would have thought that she was a higher noble who needed protection from the assassins all the time.

When she crossed the passage, she heard the maids whispering, "Do you think the lady will let go of the position of the empress."

"She is so cold and devoid of emotions. She even punished her sister who always followed her every word. No wonder the crown princess did not want her as his wife."

"I heard that she is offered the position of concubine." she frowned as she heard the rumors.

She had thought that everyone liked Elizabeth here, though she always behaved strictly, but she had felt that she was always concerned about everyone and silently took all the responsibilities. That was why she looked so cold.

"Don't you know how to respect your masters? She is the one who makes sure that you all are paid on time and you do not face any trouble here. Yet it did not take you a second or two to gossip about the owner of the house?

If I ever heard that you have been talking like this. I will make sure you get the punishment you will remember all your life." though she knew it was not her place to interfere in the internal matters of the palace. She felt anger bubbling in her heart when she heard them speaking wrong about Elizabeth.

And before she could think or stop herself. She was already standing in front of them, scolding them for their misbehavior.

"So, you have already started behaving like the mistress." came the cold voice from behind.

"Elizabeth…"

"It is lady Elizabeth for you. What are you doing here?" Evangeline bit her lips as she did not want to sound weak. She knew that Elizabeth was angry at her and her red eyes were telling that what the maids were discussing had some reality in it and she was disturbed because of it too.

Though she was there to meet Evelyn, she did not have the heart to leave Elizabeth alone.

"I was coming to meet you, my lady." she replied in a chirpy voice making Elizabeth raise a brow at her change in attitude.

"I want your help in taking a very important decision." The flattering voice of Evangeline was telling Elizabeth that there was something wrong yet as the mistress of the house, she nodded.

"What is it? How may I assist you?" her demure and calm voice was completely opposite to her tearstained face and red eyes.

"I wanted your help in gardening. I can see rare flowers out there. Wouldn't it be better if we grow some vegetables too?"

"........."

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