Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Adelaide's face turned ugly while her eyes turned cold when duke William called her stranger. The whole palace knew that she was the chosen wife of the crown prince. She was the daughter of the palace. Yet the man defined that they had a closer relationship than her! It was like a lump formed in her throat which she could not accept.

  But she knew that saying anything would go against her personality. She was a sweet and kind girl after all. She could not be cold and blunt like Eli who was not liked by anyone in the palace.

She closed her eyes and when she opened them, her eyes had already turned wet and her face turned embarrassed. She looked down apologetically as her words came out flustered,

"Oh! I apologize. We were having such a nice conversation that I did not notice how the time passed. I should not waste the  precious time of his majesty like this! I apologize once again for the trouble caused by me." her voice was soft and enchanting. It was like music was playing in the distance.

Her soft features were enough to get the sympathy of everyone and the emperor was no different.

"She is the future wife of the crown prince. How could she be a stranger, duke Thawyne? She is part of the family." his voice was a bit annoyed while his eyes were soft and kind when he was looking at Adelaide, it turned sharp when he moved his gaze to duke Thawne as if he was displeased with his sarcastic remark! But the face of duke Thawyne did not have any change of expressions. He was looking at the emperor with the same expressionless face from the start. 

The emperor frowned when duke Thawyne did not apologize to Adelaide or him. In fact, his lips curled upward as if he had heard a good joke!

"As you said, your majesty. She was going to be the future wife of the crown prince. She is not yet part of the royal family." he pointed out so plainly without any emotions on his face but it was like cold water was poured over Adelaide and a slap was given to the emperor who was clearly trying to show that she was part of the royal family now.

The emperor frowned. He felt like his authority had been challenged. An ugly scowl formed on his face as he asked, "what difference did it make? I have already promised her the position of the empress!!" came the sharp and cold voice of the emperor who looked at them as if he would not spare them if they would not apologize to him or Adele

The duke chuckled, a heart laugh that was. Everyone in the room looked at him with shocked eyes. They all could feel the pressure his majesty was emitting. He wanted the duke to bend on his knees, yet he was laughing. Could it be that he had turned into a maniac after what happened to his daughter.

They all looked at the duke with sympathetic eyes! They knew how shocking and tormenting it could be! His daughter would have been at the palace of Adelaide yet they were struggling for the marriage now. So, of course, he could not accept Adelaide, so easily. But then she was a much better choice for the post of empress than Eli according to them.

Eli was cold and expressionless like a snow queen. She did not have a kind heart and empathy. She would not have understood and cared about them as Adelaide would. She had a sweet and soft personality. If Adelaide was spring, filled with joy and laughter, Eli was winter, frozen and barren!

Though it may sound selfish, they were relieved that Adelaide was chosen as the empress!

"What does your laughter mean? Are you trying to insult the throne or me? Or are you laughing at my choice of words? Do you know your behavior could be taken as treason against the royal family!!'' His loud words thundered in the palace and everyone shivered. They could see that the emperor was really furious but they could not blame him. The way dule laughed was rather shocking and a bit exaggerated. They had never thought that the most loyal family to the throne would behave like that one day!

The duke finally stopped laughing yet her eyes were crinkling as if he was having a hard time muffling his laughter. Eli looked at her father with worried eyes. She did not want to face him any difficulty because of her. But the assured look he was giving her and the way he had patted her hands, did not let her speak. So she waited silently and prayed in her heart that everything would end on a good note for them.

"The marriage was set in stone yet it breaks so easily. How would I believe that the marriage that had been decided just a few days ago would surely take place? I apologize if you felt it as your disrespect, but my experience did not let me believe on it so easily!" finally the duke spoke when he had controlled his laughter enough. But his words were cold and brutal., though he had apologized there was no regret or sincerity in his voice. 

It was clear that he was blaming the emperor for being weak in tongue. And he was telling me that he could not trust his words anymore!

The emperor was stunned with the way he spoke. It was so cold as if he would have killed him for this incident if possible. It took him a minute to collect himself, but as an emperor how could he accept defeat so easily? 

So, he only smiled and replied,

"For the peace and unity of the empire, we often change our decisions if we find a better idea.. An emperor should be flexible enough to accept his mistakes and correct them."