Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Hearing the sounds of horses in the dark, Ethan, who was still tossing on his bed, stood up and looked out of his window at the entrance.

He noticed one eight horse carriage and six horses with knights entering the palace and wondered who it could be.

There was a layer of authority and power on the way they entered the palace. He had heard from maids about his young brother who had recently gained the title of duke. Though it should belong to the eldest son, that meant him.

Could it be him? Soon the door of the carriage was opened by the coachman and a man whose face was not so visible in the dark came out of the carriage.

But instead of leaving, he turned around and bent towards the carriage. With a frown Ethan tried to look clear but the night was dark when his eyes widened.

His cold brother was holding a woman who was unconscious in his arms and not only that another woman came out of the carriage and followed them in.

Could it be that someone was sick in the family. He knew that he should not meddle since he was not officially announced as the part of the family.

The butler had indicated that duke was doing an investigation on him. He would only accept him as his son when he would clear all the reports. Until then, he was just a guest. Yet his curiosity got the better of him.

He took slow steps towards the room as he decided just to peak closely,

"Do you think we should tell father? He must be worried too?" he heard the girl with green eyes asking the man as her eyes were still on the girl.

He peaked only to see that it was the same girl who had come to welcome him in the evening. Did something happen to her?

"No! He would be more worried. I can understand Eli, I have gone through same thing but it was easier for me since i have your love with me.'' The man had a worried expression on his cold face as he stared at the girl in his arms with worry that made him wonder if she was worried because her position was gone.

It was because he had come here. But in the evening she did not look wary of his presence. Could it be that she was only acting while she was not happy that he had come back like others.

The thought hurt him but he could not find any other reason for her to behave like that.

"Since the time her position of the empress was gone, she had turned colder. She is trying to hide her emotions and bottling them up.

This must have been a big blow on her. Leo, I think we should tell others. She needs love and care at this moment or she would not be able to handle it for long.

She is breaking down slowly." Leo stopped in his tracks and turned to stare at Evan who had a worried look on her face.

"Evan, I know that you are worried for her. But the Eli I know, she would only feel more burdened if you would start to show sympathy to her.

She had been pitiful. If you really want to help her then behave like nothing has happened. I will arrange a tea party for all of you. Go and socialize.

Since the society did not know about what happened yet, there would not be rumors and strange questions.

Everyone's eyes would be on you only to see how you are behaving after getting your new position.

That way, Eli would get a chance to save you and feel better." he offered as the girl lost in her thoughts while Ethan tried to wrap his mind around all the new information himself.

That girl was going to be the empress but now that she would be announced as a commoner, she would lose her position. He could understand that it was a big blow for her but even then, should she behave like that?

If she did not want him to come. She should have just told him so? Why was she behaving like a hypocrite!

It only made him hopeful that a few of them would support his presence. His hands clenched into a fist as he felt more unwanted than ever.

No one cared about him but only worried about how Eli felt.

"Hmm, then why have a tea party? Our marriage reception is due. Let's have a grand ball and give the responsibility of preparations to Eli.

I might get a chance to fulfill my promise there too." Evan rubbed her chin with a nod as a sly look passed her eyes making Leo frown.

He knew that look well, it was when she was planning something and shook his head.

"Whatever you are planning, just make sure that there will not be any more chaos or I am going to die of a heart attack and you will be a widow." with a sigh of defeat, he started walking again but the woman that should be his wife just laughed it off.

"It is fine. I still remember a few men who were head over heels to me. I will find another husband soon even if you die!" The image of Reynold and Aiden flashed past the eyes of Leo who had seen how they were looking at his wife and he stopped in his tracks.

"Evan, even if I died. I will turn into a ghost and follow you everywhere to make sure that you never find another man. If you do, I will haunt him until he leaves.

Either I die or stay alive, you are only mine.`` The cold streak that the man gave when he enunciated those words gave a fright to Ethan who took a step back and ran towards his room. With strange people like them around would he be able to survive here?