Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Then.. does it mean that you will be back in the town after a while? That is great. I will buy your house back so that you can live here freely!"

Leo's whole face darkened and frost covered his eyes when he came out of the room only to hear those words from Martin. Was he trying to court her by using her sentiments!?

Did he not tell him that Evan was his wife now!?

But his steps halted for he wanted to know what she would reply to him. Did she feel the same as he did?

Evan blinked hearing his enthusiastic voice and shook her head.

"I will not come here after leaving the palace. I have a lot of memories from here but I can not forget how I was treated after my mothers death!

  I have found a new place to live. It is in the north. I do come to visit a few times though!" her voice suddenly turned low when she remembered the past and Leo frowned.

"Sigh!" Martin took a deep sigh and nodded.

"Then I will come to meet you there. Do not forget to send me the address in a letter later." she chuckled and nodded when he said so.

"Yes! I miss all of you too. I will send a letter soon." 

Leo coughed as he took a step forward and Martin who was looking at Evan with adoring eyes turned to look at Leo and soon his expressions turned normal. But there was a triumphant smile on his face.

As a man he was sure that Leo had feelings for her, but as she said that she did not want to get married to him and would leave the palace soon. 

That affirmed that the girl did not have any feelings for him and only lived there because she was forced to.

Leo's eyes narrowed on the goofy smile of Martin! But more than that urged him the loving and longing gaze of Evangi!

Evan turned to look at them and was surprised to see his fixed gaze on her. He was looking with an accusing gaze as if he had found his wife cheating on him! She gulped the lump formed in his throat and moved her head away from Martin in a flash.

"Are you done?" his pale lips parted as he finally started taking steps towards her, satisfied with her reaction, even his face looked better.

"Mmmm, it was a tasty meal!" She wiped her mouth from the napkin and stood up since she knew he had already jeopardized a lot of his time for this meal.

"Mmm, it was!" his eyes instinctively moved towards his lips when he said so and her face turned red.

If she did not know any better, she would have thought that he was flirting with her. She could not wait to leave this place and ask for an explanation for what he had done with her in the presence of everyone!

"Then shall we leave now?" he asked as he turned his head towards Martin again, "I will send a knight with the carriages to get all the sacks delivered!" 

Martin nodded his head without saying anything further. He would hide a letter for Evan when the knights would come to take the goods then he would have another chance to talk to her.

"Hey, what about me?" Carl, who had just come out with the glass of water in his hands, interrupted the conversation of a happy family with a frown on his face.

"I have not forgotten it! You can come with the knights to make sure that the bags reach the palace safely!" he said in a solemn tone and Carl stood straighter than before. 

He saluted Leo as he nodded his head with a solemn face.

"Do not worry, captain. I will take full responsibility for the first mission assigned to me!" His voice was grave and his face was so serious that Evan could not help but chuckle. He was looking so adorable with that serious face of his!

Carl glared at her when he heard her laughing and she covered her face to not hurt the kid.

"Then, I think it is time to leave!" Her voice turned soft as she stroked Carl's hair and then turned to hug her aunt who had wet eyes.

"Mmm, but I hope that you will visit here often. I miss you dearie!" The lady hugged Evan back and patted her back with motherly love.

Evan did not reply because she did not want to lie to her. She knew that it was just a matter of chance that they were here. Asking Leo to bring her here often would be a fruitless effort as they were busy in their own matters.

Even today, she thinks that he had to work overnight to cover the time he had spent here.

Turning her head, she noticed that Leo had already reached the door. Then nodding at Martin who was still staring at her intently. She took hurried footsteps towards the door.

Giving one last glance to all of them and waving her hand, she turned and walked towards the carriage with Leo when Martin called her.

"Wait, Evangi!" She turned only to see him coming closer towards them and forward a tulip to her.

A bright smile formed on her lips when she looked at the flower and took it without much thinking about it and whispered thank you but it only made him clench his hands tightly as he looked at the efforts Martin is making in winning her heart and the words of Martha rung once again in his ears.

"We shall go now!" Leo reminded her and she nodded and walked out of the house finally without daring to look at them once again.

Once in, her eyes were still staring at the town she had spent her whole day, yet it felt like it was only a matter of minutes.

"You can come here sometimes with Eve or with knights if you want to."