Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

She had thought that others had forgotten when she asked for the bet again, but who would have thought that Evan would embarrass her like that.

She felt deeply humiliated. But she would not give up that easily. 

There is no way that a commoner knew more about the laws than Leo, the son of the duke who manages administration.

If Leo would deny, then she did not care what Evan said! What right did a mere commoner have to talk about laws and art? Why did she always act like she was an expert?

"Leo, is there such a law?" she asked in a hope filled voice as she gazed at him with silver rays of hope in her eyes.

Leo, who had been looking at the girl all this time with a complicated gaze, finally raised his head and looked at Olivia and his gaze flickered.

When she looked at his bright eyes, she felt hope again. She knew it! There was no way that Evan knew more than her. How could she know about the laws and even be able to find the name on the painting this easily. It was all a show to gather complements.

But even when he raised his head, he did not speak for a long while as he continued to look at the name of the artist, as if he was trying to bore a hole in it through his gaze.

After what felt like an eternity, he spoke, "there is a law that you can not call others things as yours. So, only the real artist can have his name on his artwork. Imitators did not have any right to write names on their copied items!"

He replied in a calm voice but his eyes were filled with a strange whirlpool too.

Olivia's face turned ashen when she heard that there was actually a law like that!

"But what if the name was imitated too??" she asked abruptly as she could not bear to lose this time. Especially when Evan had mentioned that she had lost Leo twice in front of him.

She would not be able to stand and look into his eyes if that happened. If only he said yes, then she would make sure to offer a large sum to the owner and prove that the painting was fake even if it was real!

With that thought some color came back on her face. She looked at Leo who nodded.

"There might be a chance that the imitator had done so. But it was against the law." he replied with a dark gaze but that was all she needed.

"Then let us go and confirm with the owner of this place about it." She urged them to come with them but then halted.

"You all wait, I will ask my maid to go and bring the owner then!" She tried to run away as fast as possible to get a chance to guide her maid and get an upper hand. But before she could take a step further. Leo raised his head.

"I will personally go and ask the owner to solve your query." he could read her thoughts easily but he could not let her succeed.

He looked at her with a stern gaze and she did not dare to refute and pursued her lips but then she shook her head and replied respectfully,

"But. .you, why would you personally go, my lord! We are here to do these menial tasks!" Olivia shook her head as she took a step further but the piercing eyes of Leo froze her right there!

"If that is the case, then Raymond you would go and request the owner to come here!" Raymond, who was looking at Evan with awe, finally raised his head and looked at them in a confused manner.

But when he saw the dark face of Olivia, he realised that the matter was not as simple as he presumed, so she nodded and bowed his head.

"Yes, my lord!" he bowed his head and left when Olivia fidgeted in her place while stealing her gaze away from Leo.

In the meanwhile, Olivia glared at Evan, a girl with no origins and background, got it right and defeated Olivia in front of Leo that also twice. Her face turned ugly but all she could do was find a way, a way to get rid of her by changing the answer of the owner.

She was still thinking of the ways to get a chance to talk personally to the owner. She was sure if she offered the right sum, the owner would not deny her.

Soon, the footsteps could be heard and Olivia gazed at the door with anticipation. Raymond entered and then bowed his head and welcomed the owner behind him.

Soon, an old man came with a big moustache and white hair. He was looking around 70 with his old face yet there was a warm expression on his face.. Once they saw who he was, all of their eyes widened.

They looked at the man with a stunned face, and if there was still a silver hope in the heart of Olivia, then it broke right there!

Raymond and Evan looked at each other with confusion and then at the stunned face of Olivia and Leo.

"You are the owner of the palace?" asked Olivia in a shocked state. Could her luck be any worse!?

The man smiled as he looked at them with a warm gaze even when they did not even greeted him like others

"Yes, this is my inn, my lady. It is my honor to have you here and It is my honor to meet you too, my lord.`` Then he looked at Evan who was standing there with a confused gaze as he tilted his head and looked at all of them. Was she missing information?

"I guess you don't know me. Give me a chance to introduce myself, My name is Lord De Caprio! And who are you?"