Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Sir Arden, would you please escort lady Olivia to the waiting room, I am on guard shift!"

"...." her face turned pale when she heard the name. She had not expected to run into him the moment she would reach here!

She felt like someone was stepping on her heart and she could not breathe as the steps came closer towards her!

"My lady, this way please!" that! She had downcasted her eyes because she had no strength to look into his eyes when he would ask her why she was here!

"Arden, I was…." her mind frantically searched for the right words but when her eyes met his, they were hollow!

As if he was standing in front of someone whom he didn't even know and was just doing his duty that stunned her!

For a long time she just continued to stand there even forgetting what she was about to say.

"Lady Olivia, are you okay? Shall I call a physician for you?" everyone had seen how she had fainted before and Arden had escorted her to the palace.

So, the guard was worried that she was still weak. They did not want another incident to happen!

Olivia finally came back to her senses when she heard the sound of the knight who had called Arden and snapped back to the man in question.

Arden was standing there silently as if he did not see her condition. His face had no warmth or emotion that used to overflow from there!

"No! I am fine! Shall we get going!" with her voice hardening a lot, she replied to him with the same nonchalance he had on his face.

"After you, my lady!" The man bowed and asked her to take the lead. His voice was calm and professional just like it should be with guests.

She was worried about what she would say if he would ask her, but he did not ask her anything! Yet.. his nonchalance pierced her heart more than she had thought.

Why did she care what he thought about her! After all, he was nothing but a pawn in the game of chess who proved useless! She was about to discard him anyway!

It was good that he understood by himself! Yes! It was good that he was not crossing his boundaries! Clenching her fists she reminded herself about the difference in their status as she walked with a heavy heart!

As they reached the door, Arden came forward and knocked on the door for her.

"Come in!" The deep and soulless voice was no less than a grim reaper and Olivia knew that instant that she could get killed just by being there alone!

But it also confirmed the possibility that the contents of the letter might be true!

She had not even once trusted the letter. She was just taking a chance because she was feeling too frustrated and abandoned!

Even her mother criticized her! She was here to marry Leo and show her mother that she could have a happy ever after with him even when he did not love her in the start!

With her efforts and actions, she could always make him fall in love with her after marriage! And then she would show the world and her mother who had mocked her love for him!

With that thought, she ignored her palpated heart that was scared!

"You can let go of my hand if you are feeling better now, my lady. If anyone would see it, they would misunderstand!" her eyes widened and her head snapped back to his arms she was holding!

She was stunned to see how tightly she was holding his arms as if her life was depending on it when she heard Leo's voice!

"I am sorry!" she let go of his hands and took a deep breath to apologize, but he had already bowed his head and left!

He just left without saying a word!!! So, even he thought that she was in the wrong!

She clenched her fist and her eyes filled with determination. She would show all of them that she was not in the wrong.

Holding the door knob tightly, she opened the door and walked in! Even if she had to cross hell, she was not going to give up!

The room was dark with no candles lit in it. The only source of lighting was the fireplace.

The crackles of fire and the flames that rose though it were giving an eerie feeling to the room. Leo was sitting on the armchair in front of the fireplace and the light of fire was dancing on his face giving him a scary aura!

He didn't even ask her to come and sit or greet her with courtesy. In fact, he did not even turn to look at her even when he knew that she had entered the room!

"What do you want from me??" she felt her throat run dry when she heard the soulless voice again. There was no emotion, no warmth, no concern! It was so cold that she could feel her bones getting frozen though it even when the whole room was warmer than needed.

"So the contents of the letter are true! You are not the real son of lord Thawyne!" never in her dreams had she thought that such an absurd letter could be true!

She was expecting him to lash on her when she had heard his voice from the outside but who would have thought.. The shock was so evident on her face that Leo's eyes flickered!

He should have denied it in the first place! But then he was afraid that she would discuss it with others and in the end, he wanted the truth to come out too!

He did not want to take the place that belonged to others but he had to wait for the marriage or else Evan would lose her rights! He had to guard the position till then no matter what!

"I am asking for the last time, what do you want! Do not show me the act that you did not believe the letter or you are here just to show concern!

We both know what you truly are! You can fool Arden with your soft acts, but I know the truth. So spare me with those fake words and concern!

You are here to demand something in exchange for hiding the truth! So speak and save both of our time!" his eyes were filled with disgust as if he was looking at something filthy!

His scornful gaze was so strong that Olivia felt humiliated just by looking at him.

"You are not even a noble now! What gave you the right to say such words to me! Did you forget how a commoner should behave in front of a higher noble!" using all her strength she demanded in a cold and confident voice but he just scoffed as if he had heard a joke!

"What the hell do you want Olivia, speak up!"

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