Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Evangeline was not expecting Evelyn to sit normally in the room assigned to her when she came back after bidding goodbye to her father. In fact, all the way she was thinking of sneaking out of the villa once everyone would be asleep. Though she was sure there must be some knights on the night duty.

She had still thought to try how far she could go without being detected. So that next time she could make better plans. Even if she got caught, she could always make an excuse that she was lost when she decided to take a walk around. Everything was well planned without any flaw.

The only hurdle now was the girl who was sipping tea in her room.

"Lady Evelyn, do you need my help or want to discuss something?" Evangeline asked with a smile as she took the other chair in front of Evelyn.

"Yes! Since you are going to be the lady of the house, you should learn a few manners and etiquettes" said the woman, finally putting her cup on the table.

Evangeline frowned, she was not expecting her to agree this early when she was against her marriage just a few minutes ago! But she could only nod as she did not want them to be suspicious about her intention. Gulping all the frustration down, she passed a fake smile to the girl who had not only come uninvited in her room but was also sitting like the room belongs to her. Yet she was the one who was talking about manners and etiquettes.

A chuckle escaped when she thought about the absurdity of the situation. The whole family was crazy and too pushy. They have not learnt about the word "consent and will" ever in their life.

"What are you laughing at?" asked Evelyn as she raised a brow. Though she and her sister were against having a lowly commoner as their family member. She also knew that her father did not listen once he had decided. And tonight she had seen how serious her father was towards the girl.

She looked at Evangeline's face, which was much like theirs. Those golden rose locks and deep green clear eyes made her different from those commanders who she had seen. She even felt that there was a glimpse of her mother's features on her face.

Was that the reason why her father was so forgiving towards the other girl? Did she make him remember their mother who has died recently. That was the reason even Elizabeth was flustered when this woman cried.

Even now, she was not here to teach Evangeline anything but to see her more for a while. To make sure, that she really has those eyes that belonged to mother.

"I am just wondering how the lady changed her mind so easily when she was against my marriage in the palace." asked Evangeline, not even hiding her sarcasm and Evelyn blinked.

She did not expect the meek girl who was crying her guts out a while ago would comment on her.

"It is not like if i ask you to run away, you will agree and leave the house." said Evelyn rolling her eyes but she saw the spark in the eyes of Evangeline.

She knew that look too well! Her eyes sparkled the same way when she was planning something wicked!

"Don't tell me you are planning to run away from the palace?" Evelyn jumped on her feet as she looked at Evangeline with curious eyes.

She could not believe that a mere commoner did not want to get married in the nobles even after getting this golden opportunity. Did she already have a lover out there, that was why she was so desperate to run away? Evelyn nodded and the thought and her eyes sparkled too at her discovery of a secret that no one knew!

"When did I say that?" asked Evangeline stunned as she was sure she had kept her mouth shut all this time. But Evelyn was not able to believe in the girl a bit.

"Tsk tsk.. Your lies have caught a young girl. But then how will you run? The palace is protected by father's loyal knights 24/7. And even if you pass them somehow, how are you going to reach the nearest town which is miles away from this place? Wild beasts will shred you into pieces even before you are able to enter deep into the forests.

Not to forget that you have nowhere to go. Even if you reach your destination somehow, that would be the first place where my father will search for you.

Do not go for warm smiles and sweet words, he is a stubborn old man who didn't listen to anyone when he had made his mind over something. Or else why do you think I was here to teach you a few things.

Even if we fight with him for all our lives, if he wants to marry you with brother, no one can stop him. Since my brother always follows his every work like a command." replied Evelyn, shaking her head. Evangeline was more naive than she had thought. To think that she could freely runway after entering into the den of the beast. How gullible could commoners be!

Evengeline gulped. Though she had a rough idea that it would not be simple, she had never thought that matters were so complicated that even after reaching her house safely, she was not free anymore.

"Is there no way to get rid of this whole fiasco?"