Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Evan was surprised when she looked at all of them being so welcoming towards her. Even when she had been announced as the future wife of Leo, the higher nobles have never respected.

All she had got was the flattery of nobles to stay in her good books. That was also when other members of the family were present to see their efforts.

But there is no one now! So why were they caring so much?

"You all are too courteous. I am honored that you all welcomed me but I did not dare to disturb all of you for so long since you all have work to do. So, there is no need for the formalities." she replied in a courteous tone.

She was sure they all had a lot of work to do. Though Leo would have said to take care of her, it did not mean that she would disturb all of them and ask them to serve her. That would definitely be another gossip if it continued.

She did not want another headache to be forming when she was not sure what he had planned.

"Oh! This is not a big deal but if the lady is busy with her work, then she might leave after having tea with us!" offered the girl in a sweet voice even when she wanted to grit her teeth. 

She was sure that commoners did not have access to a higher level of education. The girl was only pretending to be busy in the room in the name of  work so that she would not make a fool of herself in front of everyone.

"Oh, no need, I just had tea a few minutes ago. You do not need to worry. I have a file to look into too!" Evan tried to excuse herself again as she thought that they were giving too much attention to her.

They all exchanged glances as they felt insulted of being rejected by a commoner again and again.

"Then maybe a glass of water or juice to give us company. Everyone is collected here only to greet the lady. Would she continue to deny us?" 

Evan finally realized that they were not on the same page. Where she was thinking that it was an office and not a social gathering she should not disrupt the work of everyone, others were thinking that she was too arrogant to not socialize with them.

They were seniors and higher nobles and would feel offended if she continued to deny, with that thought, she nodded her head.

"Alright then a glass of juice would be more than welcoming!" She smiled at the end of the reply to look more friendlier as she felt that a few of them had an ugly smile on their faces.

Leo had specifically told her to not create any trouble. What if any of them felt insulted and complained to him later. She didn't even know who was who as most of them were not the persons Eli had told her about. and she felt it would not be good to ask them.

She waited patiently with a smile as few of them have started to talk about the marriages or how they took her story as a fairytale where a rich man fell in love with a poor man and they both marry later. 

They were treating her as if she was a strange living thing that had changed the story. While a few nouveau riche was taking leo as knight in shining armor and her as damsel in distress, higher nobles thought that she was nothing but a sultry face which had gained the attention of the young lord and soon when he would be bored from her, she would be discarded.

All the nerves of her head started to pop open when she heard their description of her love story. Why did she feel that it was the adult version of the story?

"I am sure you would have enjoyed it when the young lord brought you in his arms?"

"Did he always carry you in your arms wherever you go?" 

The questions did not only fall on her like a barrage but she also felt that they were getting stranger and stranger.

"That.. I was sleeping at that time. And my lord was in a hurry. By the way, where is the juice? I am suddenly feeling thirsty!" She touched her neck and even cleared her throat to indicate that she was thirsty. 

"Oh! Did the girl want to bring the juice?" asked the girl who was sitting closest to Evan. Although she felt that Evan was a bit rude, she had already heard about her from the tea party.

"Yes, Elisa had gone to bring the juice personally!" someone shouted and the girl smiled as she turned to look back at Evan.

"Do not worry, lady Evangeline. It will come soon. By the way, what were you doing in the room with the files of the young lord?" asked the girl with a bit of a doubtful tone.

"Umm, i was helping him in sorting out the data. His assistant is on leave for a week so I was working at his place. My lord has a lot of burden after all." as she spoke the uglier the face of the girl turned as if she had eaten something that she could neither spit out nor digest it.

"Is there some problem with it?" Evan could feel their behavior was rather strange. She didn't even understand that when Leo knew that she had a lot of work, why had he even called them to take care of her! 

Even if he wanted to do so, he should have given her clear instructions before that!

"My lady, do you know how to read and write?" Evan blinked when she heard the question. Did all of them not?

Why were they asking as if she could run the empire! She did not know what to reply when she heard,

"The juice is here, my lady!"