Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"I have checked all the grains. This is your amount, count well before accepting!" Leo passed the pouch of gold coins to Martin as he kept his gaze away from the girl who had puffed her cheeks and looked at the other side.

Even she ignored him as if he was a pandemic as she kept her eyes on the Carl and concentrated on their small conversation.

"Thank you, my lord. It was nice talking to you!" Martin bowed his head and placed the small bag in his pocket, when Leo raised a brow.

"Will you not count the money?" this was the first time that the businessman had not counted the money. He knew that it was his whole year income, he was not going to have any other income since he had sold everything he had and it would take him a long time to grow crops again.

"Oh, that would not be needed. Since Evangi trust you, there is no way that i would not!" Martin did not trust him because he was the head of the knight or a higher noble but he only showed faith because Evan trusted him.

Instead of feeling better, Leo felt a sour taste in his mouth.

"If my wife would not trust me, then who would?" he asked with a smirk on his face and Martin blinked.

The words struck in his mouth, but not a single voice come out. Did he just say wife? If it would have been even lovers, then he would have tried to digest it but the word fell like a huge blow on him.

"That.. i did not know! I apologize for my folly." it took him a few seconds to find his voice again as he felt a lump had formed in his throat that he could not let go.

His eyes instinctively when to the ring finger of Evan but frowned when he did not find a ring there. All the fingers of her hands were empty. And by the face of her and the way she talked, it did not look like she had already burdened the responsibilities of a married woman.

There was something amiss. But he could not dare to infuriate a higher noble for it may cause their demise. It would be better that he would observe for a while and talk about it from Evan when he would get a chance.

Oblivious to his thoughts, Leo only remembered his ashen face and quivering congratulations that sounded like a heart break and finally felt better. He did not know why he was so agitated when there was nothing between both of them.

It was only because the girl was infuriating him to death, he concluded as he nodded his head.

He walked away from Martin towards Evan with an attempt to leave this place as early as possible. 

He was sure after hearing his words, martin would deny to have dinner with them. After all, which lover would still have the appetite to have dinner after knowing that the woman she was in love with was already married. 

The frost in his eyes dissipated with that thought and his spirits rose.

Evan raised her head when she felt his footsteps behind her and was surprised to look at the smiling face of the man.

Was he not spiting fire just moments ago! Then why was he such a high spirits in a few seconds.

"You seem to be happy!" she asked when he reached closer to her and his curved lips turned straight.

He narrowed his eyes and glared at the girl as if she owe him her life and snorted.

"We are getting late. Let us leave now!" he walked past her without even giving her proper reply.

"Why did i even asked him!" she regretted when she fond that the smile disappeared as soon as she asked about it.

Martin looked at them from afar but did not find them behaving like a newly wed couple and it had been less than a month since Evan had left them. Then how could it be that they had already reached the stage of an old couple where they have lovers spat.

"Brother, why are you still standing there. We all are leaving!" Martin finally came out of his thoughts when Carl shouted and even Leo turned to look at him, waiting for his denial.

But Martin looked at Leo and then smiled warmly, "give me a minute, i will lock the shop first, then we can leave together!" the smile that had formed on the face of Leo, turned stiff and his eyes narrowed at the face of the man who had already turned to lock the shop.

He was sure that the man was broken hearted then what changed his mind to still follow them. 

Martin walked towards them with hurried steps and stood beside Evan, "did i make you wait for so long?" his voice was loving and full of warmth that brought a sweet smile on the face of Evan instinctively.

"Of course not. It only took a few seconds." she did not understand why he was asking her such a stupid question and concluded that it might be because Leo was glaring at him with his cold face, that might have made him flustered.

"You should not worry over small things. Even if it would have taken more time, we would have waited for you here." her bright smile was like cold water splashed on the face of Leo.

She had never passed that smile to him even when he had spent night giving her tour or even when he had take her falls. 

She did not even looked at him that sweetly when he had saved her from his aunt or had taken her side in front of Olivia! He could not help but frown at the biased girl who never treat him specially.

"I think we should leave, the sky is getting dark and it might rain!"