Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

After allowing Evangeline to go out of the room, he came into his room but he was feeling restless. He did not know why Elizabeth still did not want to marry that scum. When he knew that she was his future wife then how the hell could he bring any woman to get married and then expect her to be his concubine. The more he thought about it, the more his bloodlust increased.

He wanted to kill that bastard, but he was afraid that he would hurt his sister in the process. He ran a hand in his hair and walked towards the balcony only to see Evangeline and Elizabeth walking there.

He narrowed his eyes on their conversation as he could see that Eli's expressions were not good. He knew that Evangeline was too outspoken and rude. She did not know the behavior nobles should have and speak whatever came to her mind. He was afraid that she would hurt Eli's feelings further.

So, he jumped three floors down from the balcony instead of wasting time in getting stairs. He lands on his feet with one leg bent on his knee. Patting his clothes, he moved towards them only to hear Eli saying that she could not let the marriage go as she was a noble and she had responsibilities towards her family.

"Do you think your brother is that weak that he needed your sacrifice to maintain his foot holding in the empire?" he had always thought that his sisters had trusted him enough that he would protect them.

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Elizabeth's eyes widened as she turned only to see Leo looking at him with disheartened expressions.

"I…"

"If you are worried about the wrath of his majesty. Don't be, I will handle it! You are not a lamb to be sacrificed to maintain the royalty. Tomorrow, in the party, you will deny the crown prince in front of everyone." his tone was telling that there was no place for discussion anymore. Elizabeth bit her lips as she did not know how to react to it. Should she be happy that she could finally let go of the chains that were binding her or should she feel the emptiness as the relationship that was filling her heart since long was finally going to end.

In the end all she could do was nod and hope that that was the right thing to do.

Leo knew that it was not easy for her. He pulled her closer and hugged her, only then did she let go of the tears she was holding for so long.

Evangeline looked at them with longing. When was the last time someone hugged her like that? When was the last time someone had shown her warmth this way. Her eyes turned misty too.

She just held her dress tightly in her hands and looked around. Turning towards the other side, she left silently.

Leo's eyes were on the girl this whole time but he said nothing when she left. He was trying to find a way to tell his father that he did not like Evangeline. She was not appropriate for their family as she did not have the qualities of a higher noble and she did not even want to change.

As the heir, his wife would represent him and the family in the social parties of the nobles. Even when he did not attend them personally, he knew how calculative women are there. He found them nothing less than crabs who try to drag the other down to reach the higher position.

Evangeline did not fit the position at all. She would be shredded into pieces and would be mocked for how she behaved and if asked, he did not like the girl too, she did not fit in the definition of the girls he had ever listened to. Yet he was grateful for her at this moment. So, he decided to give her another chance for now. If Evangeline would have known his internal thoughts, she would have cussed her bad luck for him to reach there at that moment.

Evangeline walked back to her house with a sigh. Her steps were slow and silent to not gain the attention of the knights who followed her like shadows. She felt suffocated in their presence.

Instead of walking into her room, she looked around. Last time when she was here, she did not pay attention to the palace. But now she was looking at every part with attention when her eyes fell on the portrait of a lady. She was sitting on the sofa, with her hands in her lap. There were too many girls sitting with her on the sofa while a young boy was standing behind her.

The picture was looking regal but that was not where her eyes stood! Her eyes stilled on the face of the lady which had a motherly smile on her face.

Her green eyes were so similar to Evangeline that she felt a strong bonding to the lady just by looking at the picture.

"Did you feel that too?" she hears the strong manly voice behind her but she did not feel scared. She just nodded to the man as she looked at him.

His eyes were filled with longing. There was pain on his face, pain to lose someone precious to you.,

"Our marriage was also a political one. But i have fell in love with her when i had seen her for the first time.'' The voice was soft and distant and the smile on his face was filled with grief.

"I am sorry for your loss." was all she could say. She had never seen his father crying over her mother, but she knew that he often talked to her photograph. She had always felt her mother's absence making her alone.

"She was a wonderful woman just like you. I am sure she would have been very delighted if she came to know that you are going to marry Leo."

"............"