Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Yes!!" The knight felt like he had just signed the document of his death certificate when he confirmed Leo's words. 

"We.. we looked long enough but we could not find what her father did for their living. Except for roaming around the town and spending time with his friends, they did not seem to do anything. Though the lady had not spent her life in luxury, she had everything needed to live a peaceful life.

And surprisingly no one remembered where they had come from. They just took a house with one time payment 12 years ago. We tried to search a lot but the lady did not have any record before that. And there is no record of her mother, not even a portrait in the whole house." The aide had an uncomfortable face as he continued speaking when he looked at the darkening gaze of leo.

It was as if the whole family had fallen from the sky. Though the method was not developed. Each family had to be registered when they took a home in the town. It would have been impossible if it would have been a commoner, but if it was about them, the Thawyne family had strong sources and the final say in the work of administration. Taking out this kind of information was a matter of time for them.

If they were not able to find anything, it only meant one thing, either the name and details were false or the person hiding the details had a strong background like them! 

But wasn't she just a commoner whom his father had chosen for her because of a promise. He continued to look at the distance, lost deep in his thoughts. His fingers were tapping the parchments in his hands.

He still remembered how she had fallen in his arms when he had seen her for the first time. She had a pair of eyes that were still filled with innocence and her face was the mirror of her feelings.

  She was wild like an animal, not ready to give up. She still glared and scowled at him whenever he ordered her. And never felt delighted when he crossed paths with her, if any she cussed him to be a part of her life.

Even today she had cussed him instead of being thankful when he walked out of her room. 

He was surprised that he had never felt repulsed or annoyed even when she behaved greedily and only asked for money whenever she saw him as if he was nothing but a walking treasure for her. 

But when his eyes fell on the document in front of him, her image of completing his family song flashed in front of his eyes and his eyes turned cold again.

"Increase the workforce used in investigation. Take all the knights if needed and even my staff. Ask all the members of the town if needed but I want all the information about the family. Even with the information about their origins, I did not care if you spent my whole budget but did it discreetly." Leo's whole budget for a month meant all the earnings of his lifetime!!

Though noble, Leo had never wasted gold like others. He had always been wise and down to earth as he had spent most of his time in the warzone. Then spending so much to get information about a commoner girl could only mean two things.. Either she was a criminal. Or he was making sure that she was good enough to be his wife. The thought trembled the knight, if that was the case then he was unsure should he behave more suspicious towards the girl or respect her more.

"Are you even listening?" The knight came back to his senses when he heard the devil speaking on his shoulders and nodded his head. 

"Then I shall take my leave!" The knight bowed his head and left when Leo nodded and waved his hands for him to leave.

Leo stood up and walked towards the balcony, his tall and muscular body leaning on the door of the balcony as he looked at the empty seat in the middle of the room. His mother always came and sat there while waiting for him. Then he used to come and lean on the door while looking at her gazing stars with a look of longing in her eyes.

How much time had passed when he finally moved from there and walked to his washroom. Two maids were already waiting for him there. They helped him in bathing and changing their clothes. 

"Who is serving Lady Evangeline?" The question surprised both of them, as they exchanged glances with an embarrassed face.

"Dahlia, my lord." he nodded and lost deep in thought while thousands of stories started to cook in the mind of the maids. Though it was a simple question, Leo had never asked such a question. He has never even cared who was serving his sisters or father yet he was worried about Evan!

The maids were lost in thought when one of them did not notice that her hands had reached his abdomen. She only realized when the cold wind blew on her neck, freezing her instantly. 

"I.. I apologize, my lord." her words turned incoherent as she stumbled back. Everyone knew that Leo did not like touching women. They never touch him beyond his shoulders, or it would be disastrous for the maid.

She was shivering badly! When his gaze gaze fell on her, she turned white.

"Dismiss." Leo closed his eyes and uttered a single word but it was again enough to shock them. Was he forgiving them so easily? They looked at each other and ran out of the bathroom as if they were afraid that he would change his mind and call them again.

He rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath to calm himself. Coming out of the bathtub, he slid into his bathrobe and walked towards his bed.

He opened the side drawer of his mahogany bed and put the parchments in it.

"I will not give up until I find what you are hiding, Evangeline."