Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"You are still not part of the Thawyne family, you can only call me aunt when you get married to Leo. But it is still a matter of far away in the future. First Eli and Eve would get married. Only then will Leo get the chance to hold his wedding. And no one knows what awaits us tomorrow. Let alone be the matter of a few years later. 

Till then you are living here as a guest. So, you better call me Matriarch or her grace!" Her voice was authoritative and full of arrogance. But Evan only nodded. She did not mean to set a close relationship, she just called her as others did. But her cold reminder made Even realize that she was getting attached to the family more than required!

She bowed her head politely, "yes, your grace. I will remember that in the future!" Though her face still looked calm, Leo still noticed a streak of pain that had passed through her face for a second!

His eyes hardened but he did not say a word, as it would only increase the irk of his aunt. But the atmosphere was turning chilly just by his gaze on everyone. As if he was a dynamite that would burst any moment!

"Evan, go and ask the maids to bring lunch." Eli tried to meditate and distract everyone and it worked. Evan nodded and left towards the kitchen.

Everything was already set up on the trolleys and by her indication, the maids started to pull the trolleys and started serving the dishes on the table.

When the last dish was served on the table, Evan checked that everything was there. Once confirmed, a satisfactory smile bloomed on her face and she wanted to sit on her seat, but before she could do so, the cold and authoritative voice interrupted her again.

"You are the one who is supposed to serve me the meal today.. So, where do you think you are heading to?" Evan was struck dumb for a second. Did she not cook and serve the meal just now?!

But when she looked at the empty plates of the matriarch, she got her point and nodded. 

Gabriella was finally pleased at the sight of Evan serving fish to her with her head hung low. She leaned back leisurely on her seat as she enjoyed the sight of her working.

"Oh yes! Leo, I did not see Aurora coming back from the training field? The girl is a little meek as she had not gone out of the palace many times. Why did you not bring her back in your carriage?" her voice was filled with a bit of resentment as if she was disappointed by his behavior, but he did not even spare a glance to her.

Leo looked at the soup in front of him with gloomy eyes and replied rather nonchalantly, "she was busy admiring the training area and decided to come later."

"Madam, I will arrange for someone to go and check up on the miss. She is new so she might be conscious if left alone. I will personally go and bring her back safely." replied the butler in a respectful tone as he bowed his head.

  As Gabriella had been the one who had lived here for long and had kept the discipline as the matriarch, the whole palace was very respectful to her. No one dared to irk either the staff or the members of the Thawyne family.

She nodded her head, finally taking her gaze away from Leo. she turned to look at the butler with a polite yet authoritative smile.

"Thank you, Ehazan!" Then her eyes fell on the girl who had almost served her a bit of everything rather meticulously. Gabriella had never gone to a commoner's house but she was sure that they did not have so many cutleries and serving etiquettes as nobles. They have only 4 different types of spoon and forks for eating the meal and many bowls and plates, each assigned for a particular dish! 

She had asked Evan to serve her because cooking was easy for a commoner but to know noble etiquettes was rather difficult. Her eyes squinted on the way she had served the meal so perfectly as if she had done it thousands of times! But how could this be possible. A wave of shock passed her eyes as her eyes enlarged, the way she meticulously cut the pie and served it on the side plate too but she hid it in the next second as she did not want the girl to feel proud over this small act.

Eli! Gabriella remembered Eli by the actions of Evan as if they were cut by the same cloth! So that was why Eli wanted to cook the food today with Evan? Her eyes narrowed on the smile of Eli who was looking proud and relieved! Was she the one who had trained Evan over everything?

'Ha! I will not approve of the girl so easily!' she felt betrayed by the way her own family was helping a stranger in settling well in the palace and getting her approval too! Her face turned cold and bitter with that thought as she looked at the girl with a sharp glare who was lost in her own thoughts while serving the meal.

"Give me another bowl of rice. This one had turned cold!" she spoke unhurriedly as she took a piece of fish and ate it elegantly. There was no sound created by the cutleries when she ate in a poised manner. Like a painting, her actions were too refined.

"...." Evan was sure that the rice was still hot from the steam they were releasing but who was she to argue with the goddess of the palace! Even if she says it was night, Evan would nod her head without hesitation.

She nodded respectfully and went forward to scoop another bowl of rice for Gabriella without any hesitation.

When everything was served and Gabriella did not say a word, Evan walked back to her seat to sit finally.

"Have I permitted you to sit? Hmmm?"

".........."