Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

His eyes flickered and as his eyes turned to her face instinctively to see how much she was affected by this so-called Martin. If Arden would have been here, he would have been shot by Leo to not inform him about Martin, who the hell was he?

Though his face still appeared to be calm, a whirlpool seemed to be forming in his eyes and traces of anger could be seen in it.

Even Evan did not know how to reply to it. She felt a bit flustered as she looked everywhere but him.

"Anyways, come with me. I will treat both of you to a good meal. Even Oliver would be happy to see you." oblivious to the awkward moment, the lady continued to talk in a happy tone as she held Evan's hand to drag her with her.

"That.. I will come later, aunt. We have an urgent work to handle in the town.'' Though she could have spared a few minutes, she did not know what else the old lady would say and then she would have to bear the brunt.

She could feel the chill emitted by Leo even now, who knows where it would end.

She did not want to end up in a calamity so soon.

"Ohh.. then promise me that you would come back after finishing your work. I will treat you and your husband with a tasty meal. Such a fine looking gentleman he is!" the lady looked at Leo with satisfied eyes that made Evan only more flustered.

"That.. i will" Evan was still raking her brain for thinking of a best excuse when Leo cut her short.

"Of course, we would have dinner at your home after finishing our task." 

The lady beamed and nodded her head as she took her bags back from the stunned girl who was still looking at Leo and giggled,

"I know that he is handsome but he is your husband only. Why are you staring at him as if you have seen him for the first time? Silly girl! You look like a girl who has recently fallen in love." she shook her head but her face had turned warm and full of happiness.

".........." 'What if she says that she was looking at this strange man for the first time! And who the hell is in love with him. She was right, the aunt needed to change her glasses.

"I will wait for you then." She hugged the girl and patted the shoulder of the man with a nod and left with hurried steps to go and make a sumptuous meal for them.

Evan looked at the disappearing figure of the aunt and sighed. She knew that she was going to have the most awkward meal of her life tonight.

"Why did you say yes to the aunt for a meal?" she asked as she turned to look at the man and blinked at him with her big animated eyes but the eyes of the man narrowed at her face as if he was looking at a culprit who was trying to hide his crime.

In a cold voice he asked, "why? Are you afraid that she would inform me more about the men who were going to propose to you or more about your secrets?" his face had turned hard and his tone was rigid that she blinked.

"......" why did it feel like the man was jealous! Or was he infuriated!? And what did he mean about the men! There was only one man who had proposed to her and her father had even liked him.

Why was he behaving so strangely today? Her hands instinctively moved and touched his forehead with a frown.

"What are you doing?" he asked in the same cold tone as she took her hands back after a few seconds.

"I was checking. If you have any fewer or are you suffering from menopause because you are seriously not behaving normally." 

"Ha! To think that you would still blame me!" He took a deep breath and closed his eyes when he realised that he was getting affected by her actions. 

Why did he even care, whom she likes and whom she does not. Since they were not going to marry anyway, she was free to go and like anyone.

"Oh my Evan.!! you are finally here after so long?" The boy came running towards the girl and hugged her.

"You! How could you run away like that? Do you know how worried we were about you when we came to know that uncle is no more!? Where have you been?" The boy raised his head but still did not remove his hands away from her waist as he continued to hold her tightly in his arms as if he was afraid that she would vanish the moment he would let her go.

His eyes were glaring at the girl but there was pleading in it. Evan's eyes softened looking at his worried face.

"I have gone to live in a big place which you always dreamt of. You know there is even a small lake and garden and a lot of horses. 

There is even a small gazebo where you can have evening tea and there is a wish fountain too." she added as she patted his head and he blinked.

His eyes turned wide as he blinked and looked at the girl with parted lips.

"Really?" Leo looked at the boy who looked shocked as if he had heard there was a fairy living in the palace.

"Yes, yes. You can even see swans and a lot of birds sitting on the trees in the evening time. It is a beautiful scene." Evan continued to describe the palace animatedly and the boy listening without even blinking.

"That must have felt great. I wish I could have joined you too. I envy you now, Evan. you have gone to such a great place while i am still spending all my time studying and working with my brother in his shop." his lips turned downwards and he replied with a deep sigh as he suddenly felt downcasted.

"But you can always come to meet me there and spend time in the garden with me.

We will eat a lot of sweets while watching birds." 

Though Evan knew that it was not possible, she still did not want to break the heart of the boy who was suddenly looking disheartened. 

If she would have known that he would be so upset, she would not have told him. Her eyes filled with regret as she felt bad for him.

"Really, will you take me there with you then?" the eyes that had turned dim, suddenly lit up again as he looked at her with eyes full of hope that she knew what was going to come. 

She bit her lips as she did not know how to reply to him without breaking his hopes.

"That, I will have to ask your mother first. You know how strict she is! She would not allow me to make decisions.`` She raised a brow and the boy sighed but he did not let his hopes go.

"I understand Evangi. I will ask my brother to deal with her. You do not need to worry, I will surely go with you. If she denies me again, then I will ask my brother to come with me too. Then mother would not deny me." he patted his chest with assurance and Evan giggled at his antics.

"Yes, yes! Then I will wait for you to come.`` She nodded her head, mimicking his actions with a smile, though she still felt guilty for hurting the feelings of the small boy by lying to him.

"Yes! Then I shall go and talk to him now. Wait for me here!" He was about to run when she held the hand of the boy who looked back at him with a frown.

"That.. we are here to meet your brother only. Can you take us too?" she asked with a sheepish smile but the boy's eyes twinkled.

If that is the case then Evan could help him in convincing his brother easily after all he always listens to her.

"Sure, come with me. I will even treat you with corn and fruits or will ask mother to make good tea for you.'' He held Evan's hands and started dragging her with him when Evan turned towards Leo who had been silent all this time.

She was surprised to notice that Leo was looking at the boy with a dark face as if the boy had owed him a lifetime of gold. It felt like he would beat the kid any moment.

Thinking that he was not happy that they boy wanted to visit the palace, she regretted again as she told him, 

"His brother is a diligent farmer with the biggest land in the town, he would shortly have a good amount of grains to offer us. I am not wasting your time, I promise!"