Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Though the meeting was important for Leo, the marquis had still not arrived and Leo was feeling on edge, he himself did not know why!

He was feeling distracted due to Evan. it was the first time that she was brought here and she was not aware of how ministry work! Should he call anyone to go and give a look ?

Now he regrets why he had given the leave to Arden, he should have just asked him to work in the ministry secretly.

"Oh! Have you been waiting a long time, lord Leonardo!" The man finally came with an amiable smile on his face and shook heard with Leo.

"No! I should have asked you about your schedule before coming. I hope I have not disrupted your work!" Leo replied with an indifferent voice but there was sincerity on his face for the old man who chuckled and shook his head.

"Even when you are the one to apologize, the other person feels pressured, young lord. You should be a bit more relaxed and warm or other would feel so intimidated that he would run far away from you!" the man chuckled but Leo froze! Why did he feel like these are the exact words Evan had told her!?

He strained his lips and brought a big smile on his face. He should practice more since he has to be the warm man everyone likes.

The Marquis blinked! Though he was teasing, he had never thought that Leo would put an effort into it. But how did he tell the young lord that he was looking more scary with that smile on his face.

"That.. Why are you here? I thought your father is going to come in three days anyways!" The marquis changed the subject rationally with a smile on his face.

"I know, but there are a few urgent matters, thay we need to deal with. This is the weaponry report. His majesty thinks that the other empire could soon attack us as their prince was seen in our empire.

Though the knights were searching for him everywhere. We should be prepared. This is the list of new weaponry and the list of knights that were appointed to look for him!" Leo passed the file to the man who scanned through it with quick eyes.

"Hmm, I have heard about it but I thought that it was only a rumor since there was no curfew announced. Do you think that the prince had ulterior motives for coming here?

Could it be that he had only visited to explore the empire?"

"If that would have been the case, then why was he so secretive? He could have informed us and we would have escorted him and given him a formal tour.

Still we will wait and only decide when we will hear his side of the story. But we should be prepared for a war too!" the voice of leo had turned grave, he could not help but feel agitated whenever he thought about it!

"Then…" they continued for a while as they discussed the whole plan and its budget since the ministry is the treasury of the empire and a bill needed to be passed from there before spending it.

But Leo's eyes fell on the sand watch every now and then as he continued to feel uneasy. As if there was something bad going to happen.

"Thank you for your time. I am glad that you agreed so readily and I did not need to request you much!" Leo shook his hand again as he closed all the files and as the meeting ended, he instantly stood up from his seat.

"Oh! Are you in a hurry, young lord? I have ordered tea for both of us. If you have time we can spend a few minutes talking about other things too!" The man was not only the son of his head but also the commander of the knights. How could he let him go that way!

"Oh! I just had tea a few minutes ago. I am rather uncomfortable due to the injury. If you did not feel offended, we can have tea tomorrow since I am going to come for a few more days!" leo offered, this was the way a warm person would decline the offer, right?

The man frowned and scanned Leo from top to toe and only then did he notice the strange cloth that had covered his thighs and the rest of the pants looked painted in blood.

But even when he was concerned about his injury, he could not help the smile formed on his face looking at the bandage on his thighs.

"Oh! If you want, I have a spare piece of clothes and even your father would have that in their office.

I mean.. Did it hurt too much? I hope you will get well soon!" The man only realized that he was more concerned about clothes than the injury when he had already opened his big mouth.

"No! It is fine. I just want to finish the work and leave early if you do not mind!" The marquis shook his head and Leo stood up and nodded his head.

He walked out the room hurriedly with a smile on his face. He wanted to see her waiting eagerly for him. Would she be looking at the sand watch and door every now and then just like him?

Why had he not realized that not only he loved her but he was so habitual for her that even such a short amount of time felt like it was an eternity.

However he had not expected her to not be in the room but in the hall of the department and that also in such a condition when he would reach there.

He took quick steps towards her and hold her in his arms. his eyes narrowed on her face and asked in a low and worried voice, 

"Are you okay?"

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