Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

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

His words were no less than a lightning that fell on Olivia.

"Oh" Evan smiled like a Cheshire cat when she looked at the man and then at the white face of Olivia, her eyes filled with the evil glint.

"Oh my, it is our honor to meet such a great artist. Have you made this painting??" she asked as she looked at the man with a bright smirk on their faces.

Just when Olivia had thought that she would pretend like last time that it was a tie and she had not lost completely. The matter was still vague, the presence of the painter did not even leave that chance.

"Yes, my lady. I am a retired painter. A few months ago, I lost my inspiration. Therefore I opened this inn and decorated it with the hope that I will get my inspiration back soon.

Did you like the painting, my lady?" he asked, surprisingly from the time he had entered, he had not even once spared a glance to others after greeting them once. But his eyes were still staring at Evan and looking at her with a deep gaze.

"Yes, I must say it is a beautiful painting." Even though she felt strange by the way he was only talking to her and asking for her opinion, she let the thought go as she was adamant to prove that she was right this time and get rid of this nuisance name Olivia forever.

"Then take it as a small gift from this old man!" Before anyone could understand the meaning behind his words, the servants that were following him took out the painting and took it out of the room.

"They would send it to your palace, my lady. The palace of Thwayne, right?" Evan frowned when he said that with so much security even when she did not have introduced herself.

Leo, who was still trying to not interfere, could not accept it anymore. He walked and stood in between both of them.

"That is right. She is my future wife! And I did not like to take free gifts. Since she liked the painting, you must send the bill with the painting and i will make sure to give a generous amount of gift with the main price.`` Evan blinked when she heard him.

Though she did not have much knowledge about the arts, she was sure that the person standing in front of them had a great personality. Yet Leo was treating him like he was a small worker.

She elbowed the man, but he did not react or turned to look at her. Her face turned further embarrassed when she looked at the stunned old man who chuckled after a few seconds.

"You are funny as your father used to be when I met your mother.

Is she really your fiance, not your sister?" The question made both of them frown and confused.

Looking at their stunned faces, the gaze of the man flickered but in the next second, he just chuckled.

"Oh my! Why are you taking this old man so seriously? I was just teasing both of you. Are you here for lunch?" he asked amiably as if he knew them for years.

His tone was so gentle and his face was so warm that Evan nodded her head instinctively.

"Well, then as the lord paid a hefty sum for the painting, give me the chance to offer you a meal." Then he looked back at the staff.

"They are my personal guests, treat them as if you are serving me." his tone was stern, completely opposite to the sweet voice he had used for them and turned.

"Now this old man is tired. I will go and take a rest." without waiting for them to reply, he turned and walked towards the door. But just as he reached the door, he turned and stared at confused Evangeline once again but then shook his head and left.

His gaze was so complex that Leo's eyes narrowed but even he was not able to fathom what was in the heart of the man. 

While Evan was the center of attraction, Olivia we almost forgot. She felt humiliated that the artist did not even pass her a second glance. Though Leo was the son of the archduke, she was the elder daughter of the duke too.

While Evan was nothing but a commoner. She got all the attention because she had the name of Thawyne's with her. If only Leo had not announced her as his future wife then no one would have even spared her a glance.

Very conveniently, she forgot the fact that the man had even ignored Leo and was only paying attention to Evan. even when Evan had not announced herself as part of the family of Thawyne.

Her hatred and jealousy was towards the girl who had always taken the limelight.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, though no one gave her enough attention, at least they had forgotten about the bet too as the old man had taken all the attention of Leo and others.

All she had to do was to not raise the topic again and somehow be alone with Leo after this suffocating meal.

With that thought she felt a bit better and brought that shy smile on her face. But just when she had thought that the topic was forgotten and they would order their meals, Raymond who was silent all this while ran in front of Evan and looked at her with admiring eyes,

"I am amazed, I have thought that since commoners did not have much source to get education. I have never thought we could gain much knowledge about the skills of nobles.

But who would have thought that you would have the skills to even defeat a noble when it comes to the recognition of art."

"........"