Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

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"Even I lost my patience when she came to meet me last time. But I will find a way to meet her again. But this problem is urgent, sir Simon. If not, my father would be successful in his plan and I can not let that happen, sir Simon or else I would not have contacted you. Would you still not help me?"

Sir Simon sighed as he listened to the lord, "how could it be, my lord. Your subject is always at your service, my lord. I have already informed the lady that my brother is helping me so that she does not become suspicious. 

But looking at her trustable eyes, I am sure that she would not recheck it but what if his majesty came to know that you went against his commands?" there was a hint of worry in his buff voice as he looked at Andrew with worry.

He felt bad for that young body. At least, the family of Thayne had a love and cordial relationship. The kids had grown up in a warm environment. But when it had come to him, there had never been a person who had even looked at Andrew kindly. 

No matter how much hard work he did, no one ever stroked his hair and told him that he had done well. 

"If you continued to look at me with those eyes, I would think that you are in love with me, sir Simon. I am afraid to say that I am still straight!" Andrew chuckled at the end of the sentence and sir Simon frowned,

"This is not the time to joke! I have been so worried since you have contacted me." the man bellowed as he looked at the carefree man in front of him.

"I know Sir Simon and I will remember your help. I owed you this one. I promised that I would return the favor soon!" Andrew waved his hand and soon a man entered with small bags in his hands.

"These are the samples you have promised Eli. and these are the rate charges. I have confirmed them with the market. Do not look at me like that! 

If you do not ask her for a price, then she would be suspicious!" Simon took everything with a grave face and nodded his head solemnly.

"Then you shall leave. No one should know that we have met here!" Andrew stood up and Simon nodded and stood up too.

Taking the bags in his hands, he left and took the local carriage to go home.

"My lord, what if your majesty asked us about the staples?" the knight could not help but shudder at the thought. 

He did not know how they would give an answer.

"You do not have to worry about it, I have arranged it well. But not a single word of this meeting should go out!" the knight nodded and retreated leaving Andrew alone in the inn.

"If only we would not have been at a point where we can not talk freely. I would have hugged you and told you the truth, Eli." he muttered under his breath as he looked out of the window and walked out of the inn but did not go to the carriage.

Arranging his cloak, he roamed on the roads leisurely, enjoying the view.

Standing at the distance, where a few kids were playing, he stood up and looked at them with longing eyes.

unbeknownst to him, there was a man following him, who stopped  too when he diid.

The old man kept looking at the prince with alert eyes from the other side of the road, but soon a carriage passed by.

Once the carriage was gone, the crown prince was no more there. The old man frowned and looked around. He ran towards the other side of the road where the crown prince was standing just a minute ago.

But no matter how much he looked, he could not find his highness.

"Hey, did you see a man standing here?" he asked but others shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders.

He frowned and gritted teeth and looked around while running a hand on his hair.

But just then his eyes fell on the cloak the prince was wearing entering a bakery shop.

Taking a breath of relief, he ran towards that direction and opened the door hastily. He even forgot for a second that he had to work stealthily.

He opened the door and looked around but before he could find the crown prince, he winced.

"Aahh!!!" a shriek escaped his lips and he held his head with both hands and soon fell on the ground.

"What shall we do with him now?" 

"I do not know, first take him away from the town and place him in an underground dungeon, then we will see!" He heard a few voices around him and tried to struggle but soon his body truend heavy and his eyes closed and he lost his consciousness.

"Sigh! Why did it feel like we have been on an undercover mission today?" 

"Are we not! Do you think we are having fun here?"

Both of them started squabbling, completely forgetting about the presence of the old man whose body was still lying there.

"Both of you, can you ever stop fighting with each other!" Andrew shook his head as he pinched the space between his eyes and sighed.

He was feeling more exhausted with their squabble rather than all this drama. But he could not believe that the girl had so much daring! To think that she even hired someone to follow her! What a guts did she have!

"We apologize, your highness!" with them both of them bowed their heads and turned silent.

"Send him to the underground prison and torment him until he spills why was he following us! If not, make sure to keep an eye on the princess and see if she sends anyone else to follow me!"

"Yes, your highness!"