Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Evan rubbed her lower back as she tossed on the bed once again.

She tried to sleep but she could not since she was worried about the royal trial. She had tried to ask other knights more about it but everyone told her that it was fine and she did not need to worry.

She had asked the maid to bring books related to the rule of inheritance from the library, but she did not find anything new to it.

The rule of inheritance states that only a man is qualified enough to run the family since women could not earn or handle the properties because only men are educated in the empire properly.

That is why if a family did not have any son and the father is at the age of retirement or died, the family would end up in the hands of the royal family, who would help daughters in managing the properties.

The daughters would receive a monthly allowance from their properties until one of them married and then their husband could take over.

Though the rule sounds like a kind way to take care of a weak woman, it was actually a curse.

The women could not inherit the properties so they lose their noble titles and have to find a man who would help her in getting it back but most of them are greedy.

They did not treat their wife well after gaining everything that belonged to her since they knew that she had no choice but to bear with it.

Even if a few women are lucky to have a loving husband, they still felt upset over losing their name and lineage since the title would be transferred to the name of their husband.

The condition of commoners was worse. All the administrative officers that are assigned to give monthly allowance are not fair persons and they often take a part of what belongs to the poor girls, making it hard for them to maintain their livelihood since they even lose the right to live in their house and look for temporary roof.

She had hated the rule since the start but now she was despising it more and more.

"My lady, are you okay now? Lady Elizabeth had asked me to give you a message if you are still sore!" Evan blinked and came out of her thoughts with a face full of embarrassment.

The scene of her threatening and Leo letting her go flashed through her eyes. The man! He was so shocked that he instantly retreated his hands without making sure if she was able to balance herself or not, resulting in her falling on the ground in front of everyone.

Though he had immediately crouched down and helped her with a shocked look on his face that filled with guilt instantly. She could not forget how foolish he was.

Therefore no matter how much he had apologized to her, she had not let him enter the room.

It would serve him well if he would spend a week in the hall, not let alone on the sofa.

"My lady!" coming back from her thoughts she shook her head making the maid more concerned who had noticed how Evan's hands had instinctively reached to her lower back and rubbed it there.

"No, I am fine. Where is father and Leo?" She asked to change the matter of discussion but the maid was quick to shake her head and left.

Taking a deep breath, she stood up only to notice another maid coming with her medicines and sighed.

"My lady, are you feeling any better!" looking at the worried face of Jenna who was always terrified these days as if she was walking on eggshells, Evan nodded with a soft smile on her face as she did not know how to assure the girl.

Taking the medicine and drinking the water, she patted the shoulder of the worried girl before leaving from there.

"My lady, do you need anything?"

"Would you like to have some snacks or a walk into the garden?"

Just as Evangeline walked out, all the maids who were working around her gathered to ask about her well-being but it was evident that they were trying to keep her occupied.

"No! I am going to meet my father. If you want to bring tea, bring it to his office. We will have tea together!" she announced as she did not let them block her way and took brisk steps towards the office.

"My lady, his highness is not in his office. He had gone out.`` This was the third time in the past two days that he was not available.

Evan frowned as she felt that he was doing it intentionally to keep dodging her questions.

She was glad that they all loved her, but they were treating her like a kid. And she had had enough of it.

"Is that so? Then I feel suffocated while cooped up in my room all day. Prepare a carriage, I will go out to the town.`` Everyone was sure that she was going to explode so they were already prepared with a bunch of excuses but were stunned to see a smile on her face.

Though confused by her sudden change in mood, they were glad that she was having a change in her schedule. These days she looked paler and they were sure it was due to the worry for the family.

"Of course, I will prepare a carriage right now."

"Let me help you in getting ready. What kind of dress do you like?"

Getting dressed in a formal way, Evan rode the carriage but just as they were enough distance from the palace, Evangeline knocked on the inner window gaining the attention of the coachman who turned to look at her with confusion.

"Is there any problem, my lady?" with a worried look on her face she nodded and mumbled in a soft voice.

"I forgot that I have an urgent matter to discuss with my aunt, i will go to her palace before going to the market."