Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

They all were stunned when they heard the word of maids and looked at Aurora with shock. But the girl did not have an ounce of guilt or fear in her eyes.

"Ha! To think that you will make such a foolish story to support Evangeline? Weren't the dishes of the aunt the same color and size? How did they even feel that they are special and why would they believe me?" she asked in a confident voice even when her heart was jumping out of her ribcage.

"So, you were not the one who ordered the special dishes?" asked Leo with a smirk on his face. No one knows what was running in his mind but Aurora shook her head confidently. There was no way that she would accept it.

She had confidence that if she would not accept it, no one could prove that she had done it. Everyone would listen to her, no to the servants.

"No! Of course not!" she replied in a confident tone and the man nodded.

"Aunt, the red dishes you were served in were of dark colour. That was why you did not notice the coating of spices. But you should still have noticed that everyone was eating on different plates. 

Why did you not ask anything? It made me feel that you are the one who had planned everything or you are trying to save Aurora!" His authoritative tone shook everyone who was not expecting this result. 

They all exchanged glances and looked at Gabriella and Aurora with doubt when Aurora gritted her teeth. She was fuming by the fact that he was lying only to support Evan! While Gabriella bowed her head in silence. Her eyes were filled with complex emotions.

She knew what Leo was trying to do but she was scared of the result. She was afraid that she would lose the respect she had accumulated all these years once the result would be out. Yet she wanted the matter to continue with silver hope that Evan was the culprit.

"What are you talking about? Aunt, why don't you tell him that your cutlery is not of red colour. It was the same as others. There was no difference in the size of color!" she was frustrated with the silence of her aunt who did not say a word!

"Why are you so silent, aunt?" she asked in an annoyed voice as she looked at her silent aunt, who raised her head slowly, but when Aurora looked into her eyes, she felt stumped. Their eyes were so cold that she froze at her place.

Yet she failed to understand why her aunt was so angry? Should she not support her when it was the most needed? Her gaze turned cold and aggrieved too as if she had been bullied by her own family.

Leo chuckled when he heard Aurora who was still oblivious that she was caught. 

"You do not understand why was she silent? Then let me explain to you. How do you know the color and size of the dishes when you were not present there? Don't tell me that ain't even told you that when you were having dinner?" finally Aurora realised that she had spoken more than necessary and her actions were out in the public.

"That.. that was because.." he shook his head when she still tried to think of an excuse but his eyes turned cold and he scoffed.

"Arden, bring more witnesses!" His words astonished Aurora who had thought he could not have any more excuses.

"Yes, my lord." Arden nodded again and went out. Everyone was holding their breaths to see how the drama would unfold further.

"Aunt, why are you not saying anything?" Aurora knew if anyone could support her here, it was her aunt. Everyone else did not care if she was alive or not. Among them or not!

But Gabriella did not listen. Her eyes were swirling as if lost in a hurricane! There was no way that they could come out unscathced. How could her own niece be so vicious and dumb! Her hands had clenched into a fist.

Soon the footsteps could be heard again. Arden had returned with the maid who had found the earrings in the room of Evan. they did not need to be the head of the em0ire to know what the matter was.

Audible gasps could be heard and soon the maid was standing where others were.

"So, you are the one who found the earring in Evangeline's room?" asked leo tilting his head and the maid bowed her head respectively as she nodded and accepted it.

"Where have you found the earrings?" asked Leo again but the maid panicked when she looked at the number of persons present there. She did not want to face troubles.

"I.. I have not found the earrings there. The earrings were with me when I returned to the room. I just took them out of my pocket and accused the lady that she had stolen them and I had found them while checking her room." she replied in a scared voice as she continued to bow her head, unable to look in the eyes of anyone. 

She was ashamed that she had broken their trust.

"Why did you do so? Do you have any kind of enmity with the lady?" he asked again but the girl still shook her head.

"No! My lord. I was asked to do so in exchange of these jewels." The girl took out a few gold coins and a gold necklace to show everyone.

The murmurs and gaps increased as everyone looked at them with astonished eyes.

"Who has asked you to do so?" Aurora took a step back, hearing the cold voice of Leo. she could see that the trust other had on her was lost as she could not see her getting exposed so easily. If possible she would have killed the girl there and then! 

"I was asked to do so by lady Aurora."

"........."