Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"You returned earlier than expected!" Andrew was waiting for her in the room though he was sure that she was not going to come back.

Leo who was standing beside him narrowed his eyes on Eli.

"Is father and Ethan already sleeping?" only this could be the reason that she did not stay there for long but returned.

"He ordered the maids to escort me back to my room and my meals would be served only here." she muttered as she stared back at the maids whose heads were still lowered.

Elizabeth had a habit of keeping everything within. She hardly shared her emotions or problems and sometimes it was difficult to know what was running in her mind. As she was taught to be a perfect empress, she had always kept her face neutral and a blank look that sometimes worried her family.

And that Elizabeth is complaining! Only this could explain to them that it must have been too humiliating for her.

Andrew tilted his head and stared at the maids who felt like they could not breathe. Though Andrew showed the world that he was a warm person with that small smile always blooming on his face.

He was cold and cruel when it came to things he liked and Eli was his biggest weakness and strength. He could not bear it when she had been hurt.

His eyes turned fiercer as he took a slow step towards them but it was enough to bring them on their knees. They could not bear the aura he was leaving, it was suffocating.

But who should they beg! Though Leo was letting Andrew handle it, his face had turned completely darker and black cloud started to form over his head.

And though Eli was silent, she was the one who had suffered. She was treated like the next matriarch just a few days ago and now.. She was no less than a prisoner in her own house.. No! The problem lies just here. This is not her home.

"We.. your highness we are bound by the heir of the family." they explained with their shivering bodies as they did not want to lose their life when they heard a slow chuckle, but it was worse than Leo's frown.

It sounded like the death bell to them.

"No matter what, insulting the next empress is no less than treason. But it should be known first by the person who dared to command that and then I will deal with traitors like you."

"Andrew, you do not need to explain to him. He is not in a condition to hear anything." Eli held him by his wrist when he tried to go out of the door.

She was sure that the maid had already started clinging to him and playing another victim card.

She was a vicious woman and Ethan would insult Andrew too since he had lost all his senses to her.

Though he had not been kind to her, she did not want to hurt the son of her father. "Let him do what he wants, after all, it is his palace and I am a guest here." the words came out in a low voice as she looked away but this was enough to pierce Andrew's heart.

The woman who was fighting so much with him to stay with this family upto the point that she was considering giving up on him.

The woman who had loved this family with her bones all her life was calling herself a guest here! How much did she hurt to think so.

He held her hands that were holding on to his wrist and pulled her in his embrace. He did not say a word as he continued to assure her that he was always with her through his warmth.

Leo stared at the maids who were still there and pointed at the door. As if given an amnesty by the king, they nodded their heads vehemently and left in an instant when Leo turned to look at them.

There was nothing to say anymore. What right did he have to interfere when Eli was treated this badly and he could not do anything to protect her.

He knew that if something happened to father, Ethan would take the chance to use his powers as the elder and only son of the palace but he had not thought that he would react this fast.

He gave one last look to the couple and closed his eyes. He had to leave for the search of Eve before it became too late. Or he was sure that father would never forgive him.

Andrew, whose eyes met Leo when he looked at them, narrowed his eyes on Leo when Leo nodded as if giving his consent to whatever Andrew was planning.

Since Leo could not protect her anymore. He had given all the right to Andrew whose rigid face finally relaxed when Leo nodded his head.

He rubbed her back as if assuring her. When she did not struggle or let go of his arms, he was sure that she was broken but she would never accept it and if he let her go, she would go to that family again.

He saw how Leo left the room silently. This was his chance to explain to her that she did not belong here… at least, not anymore.

He created some distance between their upper bodies and cupped her cheeks. She raised her head to stare into his eyes that was filled with love and care for her that her eyes flickered,

"Eli, if you are a guest here, then it is time to let go of this family. Be the empress and come back here to protect what is precious to you. Then no one would be able to humiliate you or go against you. come with me to your home. The place that would be controlled by you.

I promise that your father will be protected by the royal guards after our marriage."