Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Why.. Why were you staring at me?" in a state of panic, she blamed him and moved forward to leave with hasty steps to get rid of the awkward moment. 

She was in such a hurry that she did not notice that the road was uneven, not like the palace where she was living these days. 

In a state of anxiety, her legs fell on the stone and her legs slipped. Her entire body fell towards Leo who stood in front of her. She fell straight into his arms. Because of the impact, he took a step back and the horses that were standing them took a few steps, making him fall on the ground while she was over him.

Her eyes widened, what was that?! They both were in such an intimate position!

She did not dare to look at his face as she could feel his gloomy aura and his gaze full of bloodlust. She wanted to dig a hole and hide there until the incident was forgotten.

"Do you still want to accuse me for it?" he asked in a hoarse voice and she felt further embarrassed. Her face turned so red as if blood would spill out of it any moment. She did not know why her luck was so bad that she kept falling on him every time she wanted to move away from him.

"That.. my lord, the ground was uneven and my foot fell on the stone. I didn't do it on purpose!"  she replied in a meek tone completely opposite to the fierce glares she was giving him before but his narrowed eyes did not move away from her face.

"Then why are you still not moving and standing?" he asked in a stiff voice as she continued to press him on the ground.

His face turned grim at her unawareness on the impact of her actions. Could she not feel how stiff he had become as her soft and warm body kept pressing him.

Her warm cheeks and glow on her face was making his breath hitch.

Before she could react and move, he had already pushed her away. Though his actions looked rude, his touch was gentle and he made sure that she would not get injured or affected at all.

She looked at his ice cold dark face and pursued her lips. It was too awkward to talk even further.

"Would you stand up or walk or shall I ask the coachman to get the carriage ready?" The dazed girl finally blinked and waved her hands in front of her face and took a deep breath to make her expressions normal again.

"That would not be needed." she shook her head as she looked at his blank face. Did he not feel flustered at all?

"Is it you, Evan?" a voice turned her head towards the other side where an old lady was standing and adjusting the glasses on her nose to make sure that she was not mistaken.

"Yes, Aunt Martha. How are you?" A pleasant smile formed on Evan's face as she stood up and ran towards the old lady to help her in holding the large bags of vegetables and bread.

"Silly child! Did you fall again? When would you learn to walk properly?" the old lady shook her head but there was a kind smile on her face that reached up to her eyes.

"Yes! I am sorry, aunt. Were you going home?" the lady nodded and then looked at Evan with worry.

"Where have you been, girl? I heard that your home was confiscated by the royal family under the rule of no man in the family. 

I even went to Martin to ask if he could have a flash marriage with you for that reason only?" she shook her head and took a deep breath. "If you are having difficulty, you can always come and live with me for the meantime.'' The woman's eyes were filled with concern and her face had motherly expressions that made Evan emotional unconsciously.

Her voice turned softer as she shook her head, "you do not need to worry, aunt Martha, i already have a home." Evan did not realize how naturally she had called that place a home but the old lady noticed it and she looked at Evan with surprised eyes.

Only then did she look around the girl to notice a carriage that belongs to nobles and a man standing behind the girl. Though he did not say a word till now, his strong aura can not be taken lightly.

He was clad in expensive clothes and he had a regal and elegant touch on his face.

Leo, who had walked closer to them was about to bow his head and address the elderly as he addresses his family when he saw that Evan was closer to the woman. But just when he reached there, he heard the woman asking about Evan's marriage with a man named Martin!

  His face turned darker and the words that were on his lips rolled back to his throat. His face darken that instant but decided to stay silent for a while until they were alone again to ask for an explanation. But the cold air he was emitting could not be stopped until he heard Evan.

"That.. is he…?" the old lady adjusted her glasses again as shocked filled her eyes.

"Aunt, he is my future husband, Leo. he.. He is a knight!" Evan felt embarrassed to lie but she did not want the old lady to be flustered.

Though it had been taken as a good sign to know the nobles and have high contracts. Their simple town never had any connection with the capital and nobles.

She did not want all of them to behave differently with her.

"Oh! My dear! You never told me that you have found another groom for you and that also such a qualified and handsome man!

I am very happy for you. But poor Martin! He would be heartbroken to know that!"