Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Press it more on the corner. Yes, that is right!" Evan had a blessed face as she guided the fingers of Leo on the ground.

She covered his hands with her and then pressed his finger more on the corner. Once she was sure that the small plant had strong support of wet clay, she picked up the small pitcher from her clean hands and sprinkled water on the ground.

Leo was still staring at the small plant as if, if he would continue to stare, the plant would be full of flowers instantly.

"Leo!" She gave him a stern look and then touched the small stem of the plants and traced its length with her fingers.

"Red roses take time to grow!" she chided  but her voice was soft and full of warmth, "but I am sure they would grow until our daughter learned to run. I am sure she would enjoy the scenery full of roses." she laughed at her own foolish thoughts as she stood up.

"Maybe I should even make a small crown of red roses for myself. Would I not be the empress then?" she added with a raised brow as she extended her hand for him to hold.

He stared at her for a second before taking her hands and standing up. His eyes lingering on her belly.

It has already been half a week since they came here. And to his surprise, he was enjoying staying in her house.

Her rosy cheeks had returned and she looked more beautiful since the time she had come here. There were no others except four of them.

His father and Jenna take care of Evan and him. It felt so peaceful and warm to live like that.

"Hey, are you done, Evan? Aunt Martha is calling for you. She has made your favorite fruit pie." except this one! He looked at the pair of brothers with an annoyed look in his eyes as his demeanor turned cold.

Feeling the change in him, she elbowed and invited the pair of brothers in.

"Tsk! Look at the look he is giving to you. Why is Martin not getting married?" he asked her in a whisper as he wrapped his hands around her and rubbed her belly while staring back at Martin with a look of arrogance as if telling him to stay away.  The woman was only his now and so was the kid.

Martin frowned and looked away while Evan rolled her eyes at his childish act. She still did not understand why Leo turned so touchy whenever Martin was around.

She was already pregnant with his child. What else assurance did he need.

"You are making my clothes dirty, honey!" she said with a wide and sweet smile on her face. "Do not forget that you have to wash them later."

Since she was pregnant, she only does cooking. Cleaning, washing dishes and clothes and bringing logs from the woods, every other task is done by Leo with the office work Ethan sends and going to the training with knights.

She felt sorry for him sometimes but whenever she proposed the idea of bringing some maids from the palace, he opposed it completely so she could only give in.

It would be only two or three more months since she would be able to support him again.

Thank goddess the people here were friendlier with her now. They help her whenever she asks for help.

"Evan, the pie would be cold, are you coming or not?" asked Carl with impatience as he kept staring at the house of aunt Martha as if he could see the pie from here when Evan chuckled.

"Are you sure you would be fine with taking the father to the physician alone?" she asked with a look of concern when his eyes soften.

He nodded his head and patted her shoulders as if assuring her but it only dirtied her dress further and she stared at him with annoyance.

"Oops!" He laughed and then kissed her cheeks to tease her further when she elbowed him again and then walked towards the pair of brothers.

Though she complained, her face had a blissful smile and her whole face was glowing with love and care.

"You are getting more and more beautiful." said Martin in a loud enough voice that Leo could hear him as he held her hands for support when she walked on the wet sand but let go once she was stable.

But only this much was enough for Leo to burn. His face turned darker than the pot that was left on the fire for long.

He gritted his teeth but controlled as he knew Evan would frown again.

You just wait! Once my kid would be there, he would guard her in my absence. He decided to go for another child as soon as this one would be out to keep this annoying fly away from her pretty wife.

Once they could not be seen anymore, he walked back to the small house that only had two small rooms and a kitchen on the ground floor and one more room and music room on the first floor.

The first floor was used by Jenna since Evan and his father could not climb the stairs.

"Jenna, I am leaving for the village physician and Evan is already gone. Take care of the house until we come back." he said in a loud voice that brought the woman out of the kitchen with a ladle in her hands.

"Alright, master!" she nodded as Leo had referred her from bowing and calling him his highness anymore. They were not royals or nobles but simple commoners now.

He held his father who was conscious now but still weak and needed support for walking.

"Father, are you feeling better?" he asked when the old man nodded, he was still recovering and his senses had turned dull due to the consumption of poison for long.

"It would be a better day than you expected today."