Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Olivia was still lost in her thoughts. She was waiting for her servant to come back and give her the good news. She was sure that when Leo would know that she had not slept or eaten anything, he would surely come to coax her to eat and sleep normally. She had intentionally worn the dullest dress she had in her wardrobe. And left her hair a bit messy. She had even asked her maids to darken her eyes and make her look pale.

She was sure that her hard work and sacrifices would pay off once Leo would look at her. He would realize she loved him too much. That was why she had turned into this because of his cold behavior. Then he would feel regret and ask her for forgiveness. But for that, that idiot had to convince Leo to come and meet her.

She wanted to follow the servant and park her carriage nearby so that Leo did not need to face so much trouble for meeting her. But her father was adamant in sending her to the academy. He had not even once cared if she was going to the academy or not. Yet he was so determined to send her today.

She fumed once again when she looked at the other nobles around her that were passing gazes at her face. This was the first time she was not looking presentable enough because she wanted to look meek and frail. Yet they were enjoying the view. If it was not because of Leo, she would have shown them what she was!

No! She took a deep breath. Her sacrifices would bring her the chance to be the duchess, then she would show these nobles what it meant to laugh at her.

"Olivia, look there, lord Thawyne has finally come." Olivia was about to flare but when she heard the name of Leo, she stopped abruptly. She ran a hand in her hair and patted her dress to look a bit presentable but then she remembered that she had to look haggard, so she let go of the dress and stood up while acting weak and frail.

But no matter where she looked she did not see Leo coming towards her. She fumed, her hands clenched into a fist when she realized that her friend was making fun of her.

"Vienna" she called her through gritted teeth when her friend shook her head and pointed at the couple subtly.

Olivia wanted to tell that she was not in a mood to gossip and look at other couples when her eyes fell on the dark hair and a smiling girl with the man. Her eyes narrowed when she realized that Leo was not here alone. He had brought that beggar with him.

She fumed further, she stomped her feet on the floor and walked towards them with gritted teeth. They both were standing on the corner and talking about something when finally Olivia reached there.

"How could you do this to me?" tears started to well in her eyes as she looked miserably at Leo who had not noticed her presence till now.

He turned after hearing the sharp still only to find Olivia standing there. Her eyes were red and she had covered her mouth with her left hand's palm and muffled her cries as if she had faced heavy grievances.

His eyes narrowed on her face and she trembled. She felt a chill run down her spine but she soon composed herself. She was not ready to give up that easily.

"You.. Why did you bring her with you when you were coming to meet me? Do you want to create jealousy in me? If that is the case then you have already succeeded. I am jealous of her presence around you.

Now let the act go. Or I would really do something wrong.`` She moved closer with the intention to separate their hands which were still entwined but before she could take a single step towards them, she felt that icy gaze that she froze right there.

When she looked above, she found Leo looking at her with the intent to kill and she shuddered.

"I apologize for my behavior if I had tried to scare you by talking with other noblemen. But only you are in my heart Leo. I will not talk to other nobles. Now let this beggar go. It is affecting both of our images." she complained again with her heavy heart.

Evan wanted to applaud for the courage the woman was showing. She was the epitome of strength for Evan who was sweating with fear. Leo's murder intent was so strong that even she was getting affected, yet Olivia was standing there and continuing to cry and act.

Is she not afraid that she would not see another day! She did not know whether to clap for her bravery or felt pity at her untimely death.,

But when she was expecting Leo to burst out and send the girl to the pit of hell, he did nothing. Was he waiting for her act to finish? Evan frowned. If he was waiting for Olivia to finish her drama first then he should know well that it was not going to happen anytime soon.

She looked up at him only to see that he was already looking at her rather than Olivia. Her brows knitted when he looked at their entangled hands and then at the crowd that was collected to see the show. Her eyes followed the crowd and then looked at him confused when he gritted his teeth and moved his lips.

"Start acting wicked. This is your chance." he lapsed without making any noise and she finally realized that he wanted to use her as his sword to get rid of his enemy. Shrew! Saving himself from all the hassle by asking her to handle Olivia.

Had they not debated enough, yesterday? Evan knew that Olivia was not going to leave no matter how much she insulted him until Leo would ask her to leave. Yet the ice blizzard wanted her to deal with Olivia!