Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Knock knock!" William, who was resting on the chair while looking at the photograph of his wife, stood alert as his heart beat increased.

He was hoping that she would come to see him but he was not expecting that she would come too soon.

"C.. come in!" he tried to take a calm breath as he found his voice quivering but every passing second only agitated him further.

He had thought it would take a lot of effort to gain her apology. But she has come to meet her on her own.

With anticipating eyes, he stared at the door, when it opened but his eyes turned dim instantly when the person entered.

A wry smile formed on his lips. What was he even thinking!

Staring at the brightening face that suddenly turned dim, Eli did not need to ask what happened!

She took a sigh as she walked towards her father. She was there to ask questions but looking in condition, it did not look like it was the right time.

"Father!"

"She did not come out. Did she?" Eli pursued her lips but her silence was the best answer he could receive.

"She is not going to forgive me!" His soft voice was full of disappointment as he stared at the photograph of his wife again as if trying to get assurance from her smile.

"Give her some time, father! It was a big shock for us then she must have been shocked out of her wits. She would be fine, I have sent Eve to talk to her!" no! She would not!

He had seen in her eyes, the look of disappointment and hatred! She would not forgive him.

But he did not want to worry her further. In this age, he should be the one handling them, but here are they.. Trying to console him for his mistakes!

"I hope you are right, Eli. Thank you! But I am fine. You do not need to worry about me. Go and take some rest. Today was too long and tiring for all of us." and a worse day is still awaiting us.

Leo had not come back, which was strange. He must have received the news of Evan by now!

"Father! Eli!! Eli!! Where are you?" The sound of gasps and footsteps with the yelling of Eve created a frown on the face of Eli.

William stood up abruptly and ran out as ominous feelings started to fill him. The panic in the voice of his daughter could be seen on his face now.

Eli stared at the running figure of her father. She had never seen him this worried except when her mother died. She could feel the pain he had, but she knew that forcing Evan for forgiving him would only bring more resentment in her heart.

Just as she followed all of them out she was shocked out of her wits to see that Evan had packed bags in her hands.

Her father was already standing on the door trying to convince her to not leave the palace but she was not even looking in his direction.

"Evan, I know that you are hurt and you did not want to see my face. But do not leave the palace.

If you want, I can shift in the annex building for a while or if you want I can even stay at the office for a while but please.. Please do not make rash decisions in haste." he was already begging her but she just turned her head away as her grip on the luggage tightened while her face was hard and cold devoid of any emotions.

"Evan, father is right! Where would you go at this hour? At least wait for Leo to come back.

What are we going to tell him? He would be so worried for you!" Added Eve as she tried to snatch the luggage but Evan took a step back and did not respond to her at all.

"I have decided that I want to leave. Since I am an adult, I could not restrain her without my will. Let me go!"

"But what about Leo! Do you not want to meet him. He would be worried for you!" Eve emphasized when Evan scoffed.

Her eyes turned gloomy. So gloomy that Eve took a step back.

"Ha! So you want me to wait for the man who had taken my place? I should be the one enjoying that position.

But even now when we all know, he is the only one who is going to retain that position. So why should I stay here?

To see how I would get ridiculed all my life for being an opportunist commoner who is leeching off on nobles when truth is completely different from the expectation.

If you think that I am a kind hearted and pure hearted person then you are wrong.

At most, I can stay away and forget that I have ever met you, then stay here and bear the hurt and disappointment all this time and turn myself into a toxic person." her piercing cold gaze was hurting everyone yet they did not have a single word to reply to her or console her.

They have thought that she would forgive and accept but..

"Evangeline, I have left the decision to you. If you want to tell the truth to society, my family and I would support you in it.

You can claim your rightful position and Leo would be the commoner husband. You do not need to give up on what is yours.

I understand that you have suffered, but I am ready to make up for all that time by accepting your every wish. But please do not leave honey.

Father will make up for everything!" the voice of so pleading that all the servants felt bad for their master. They have never seen him pleading so much.

He was an upright man who had always stood straighter and stared into the eyes of everyone with confidence even if it was a royal family. But right now, he was looking so weak and frail as if his backbone had been broken suddenly.

"Really! Then what if I did not want to marry Leo anymore?"