Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"I agree with you father!" Ethan sprang up from his place with joy as he raised his hands too. He wanted to show his father that even when no one would support him then he would, his real son.

Both of them were fake and did not care much about him as he did.

"I understand your worries. You have already lost your kids twice and lived with strangers all your life thinking that they are your child and now they are asking you to let go of your one and only child who grew up with you." he shook his head with a look of disappointment in his eyes.

"They did not understand what relationship and family is since they did not have any family. But I understand your worries and support you. You did not need to send Evelyn away.

Though she would be angry and blame you for a while, she would realize your reasons in the long run. You are her father, not your enemy. So whatever decision you would make would be for a better future.

You do not need to listen to them. They still did not know about love and family and must have less affection with Evelyn after knowing that she was not their real sister." he looked at both of them with a look of disdain in his eyes as he adjusted the collar of his shirt.

"......." Eli's face turned red. She opened her mouth and closed a few times as she did not know how to refute him. She wanted to tell him that though she was not Eve's real sister, she had loved her nonetheless but she didn't want to sound desperate.

On the other hand, Leo's eyes turned colder. If it would have been only about him then he did not care. He was hearing a lot of rumors recently in the training field and his father's office that he was a greedy man who had taken the rights of family when he was not even a real son.

And that he knew the truth from the start. That was why he wooed the real heiress and married her. He never loved Evan but only married her for wealth. If that was not enough, then the rumors had turned bizarre since Ethan had come back.

Everyone wanted him to return the position to Ethan but no one would believe it if he told them that he wanted to get rid of this burden too. But he could not until his father agreed to it.

He had already suggested it so many times but every time his father shut him out by telling that Ethan needed more time and training. Not to forget he always asks for money for god knows what reason. And he had to shut his mouth but calling Eli greedy was beyond his imagination.

He took a step forward to give that foolish man two cents but Eli held his hands and shook her head when he stared back at her.

"If that is the case, then we should not have been called here in the first place."  Leo stared at his father who was silent. He had expected that he would correct Ethan for his words but it looked like he was only listening to what he wanted to listen.

He felt a surge of anger in his chest. It burnt him so much that his eyes turned so fierce that his aura was leaking.

The knights were having trouble standing straight and even Eli felt her knees going weak. Ethan staggered and fell back on the sofa with a shocked look in his eyes.

"Leo! What are you doing?" the voice of his father came with so much force as if he was having trouble breathing.

He frowned and looked around only to see that everyone was kneeling. Bewilderment filled his eyes as he did not feel like he was doing anything but everyone was staring at him only as if he was the culprit.

"Leo! What.. happened?" Eli coughed hard as she tried to open her mouth and fear filled the eyes of the knights and Ethan pointed at him with his shaky fingers.

"What are you, a demon? How could your aura be so dark? And your eyes. Your eyes…" he did not continue as he lowered his head with fear when Leo turned to look at him.

Leo frowned when his father still did not correct Ethan. Did he think that he was a demon too? Even Eli. She was coughing and looking away with fear while her body was trembling slightly.

When he tried to take a step towards the door, the knights crawled away as if they were scared of being closer to him.

His hands clenched into a tight fist and then unclenched a few times but he was not able to control the surge of anger. He shook his head and left the room. He was not going to stay at a place where he was not needed.

He walked out of the room and closed the door with a thud. A strange feeling was burning his chest as if someone was whispering in his ears that he was not loved. He was not welcomed here. He should leave them alone since they fear him.

He tried to get rid of the noise but it only increased with time and made him cover his ears while his whole face filled with pain.

"Brother, are you okay?" He had trouble opening his eyes. He blinked a few times to clear his vision and finally the strange voice subsided.

He nodded his head and tried to stand properly when he noticed that Eve was standing there in a dark cloak over his body and he frowned.

He did not need to be told to know that she was trying to run away from the palace.

"Eve, where are you going huh?" he held her hands tightly and she blinked. Only then did she remember that she was trying to run away when she saw Leo staggering. He was looking in so much pain that she could not control herself.

"I.. I need your help brother!"