Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Evan had thought that after being left for contemplating, Gabriella would reply. But days passed and only one day was left for the noble trial, yet no reply came from her.

Evan had even gone to contract the men who had supported her father. Asking them to help in exchange of less punishment or even freedom, but it did not work well.

They all have no idea what happened so long ago except that she was the real daughter of duke Thawyne who was sent to the commoner house so that he could replace her with a son.

She was lost in looking at papers when her eyes fell on the portrait of her mother and her eyes dimmed.

She did not remember meeting her but Edward had told her that she had visited them a few times. She wondered if she had just left after looking at her from afar.

"Wait! That meant mother had visited me?" her eyes twinkled as she stood up abruptly and ran from there.

"My lady, his highness had just returned. Can you wait for tomorrow? It is too late!" Evan looked at the worried guards who had no courage to stop her yet they could not let her in.

"The matter is urgent. Are you challenging my position by not letting me in?" The cold eyes of Evan penetrated the guard, who felt like he would face death if he would not let the young girl go in.

She used to be kind and gentle but after staying with master Leo for so long, she had become just like him.

The guard could not refuse her again and moved aside to let her go in.

William was rubbing his forehead while a lot of papers were placed on the table. She could feel how exhausted he was yet he was not sleeping.

"Father!" William looked above when she entered and a frown formed on his face immediately.

"Why are you still up? You should be sleeping." she could see the displeasure in his eyes but beneath that worry for her that made her heart soften.

"Isn't father awake too. I have brought some tea for you so that you do not feel too tired." keeping the tray on the table, she sat on the sofa and started brewing the tea without waiting for his response.

Her eyes were lowered on the cup as if she was too concentrated but William knew she was trying to not get scolded further in case he would ask her to leave.

Though worried for her, a soft smile formed on his face, as he closed the file in front of him and went to sit beside her.

Just as he sat down, she handed him the cup she had just brewed with a soft smile on her lips that looked rather flattering,

"It could not be as simple as bringing tea for me. Could it be?" though he asked in a stern voice, he still took a sip with a proud look on his face.

It felt warm that the girl had not only forgiven her but she also cared for him. If only..

"Yes, i am here because i want to know the preparations of trail." he raised a brow as he had thought that she would at least talk in a roundabout manner due to her worried but the way she was looking at him, as if telling i am not as weak as you think and i can handle whatever you want to tell me.

"You do not need to worry about that. We have enough proof that neither I was present or your mother was awake when you were changed, so we are not at fault.

It is a conspiracy to steal the kid of our family and grow up later so that they could extort money from us.

There are several times when your mother has sent money to your father. We can say that he was blackmailing her to give more he would harm you.

And later he tried to trick me so that you could enter the palace and he could blackmail me later.

He even tried to kill all of us so that only you would be left and he could use you as a ladder to rise to the post of the duke.

The maid, who was helping her, decided to give a statement against him so there would be no problem.

Though everything is in theory, the other party did not have any proof either except the fact that you are my daughter and you have spent your life in a village.

Rather than that, the man who was keeping you has been proved a criminal. So, if twisted enough, we can still prove that we are not the one who conspired it.`` He took a big sigh as she placed the cup back on the table and then held her hands and rubbed the back of her hand.

"I know that you are worried and trying to reach me. I apologize for neglecting you but I was worried that I would have no reply to your questions.

And I did not want you to worry about things that are not in your hands. You have done nothing wrong and I will make sure that you will not be dragged in the mud." a grateful smile formed on her lips yet her eyes were filled with worry.

She was not worried about herself but them. She knew how dirty it could be when all the nobles were waiting for them to crumble so that they could take their place.

"Father, what if we tell the world that all the rumors are fake. Leo is your son and I am a distant relative whose mother cared about you, and when you came to know that I was being mistreated, you brought me here and took care of me.

My father twisted the truth and tried to kill all of you and when he did not succeed he was spreading all these rumors?

I have already talked with the nobles who my father had used. They all agreed to support us!"