Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"My lady, you returned so early!" The maid stood up and bowed her head after stealing another glance at the flustered face of Eve.

The girl who was still red with the scene she should not have seen, nodded absentmindedly. 

She only went to meet Evan since she felt it had been a long time since they sat together to talk. Especially after the winery incident, she had thought that she would give a tip or two to the girl to realize that Leo was in love with her but never had she expected that she would stumble on their kissing scene.

Only the thought of it makes her cheeks warm again.

"You are looking red, my lady! Did you catch a fever?" 

"Huh?" her hands instinctively moved to her face and realized that her face was burning, but she could assure that it was not due to fever.

"I think I am only feeling a bit warm. A walk in the garden would be better!" The maid wanted to point out that it was already winter and the palace itself was getting chilly. They had started using the fireplace again but in the end only nodded and followed the girl who once again halted in her steps.

"You do not need to come with me. I will be fine on my own. You can retire from your bed!" 

"But, my lady!!!"

"I.. I understand!" the maid scurried away looking at the cold face of the mistress. 

Though Eveyn was the chirpiest one among the three kids, even she turned cold just like her father when her commands were not obeyed. 

Evelyn shook her head when the maid disappeared from her sight and walked towards the garden.

"I am just taking a stroll, I am not going to meet him! Not going to meet him!" She reminded herself again and again as she walked towards the orchards that were rather deserted at night, when the kiss flashed in her mind again.

How the face of Evan had turned red and how her moan had filled the room. She never knew her brother was that skillful in kissing! 

"Hey, watch out!" a warm pair of hands held her and pulled her towards him only then did she come back to her senses.

"What were you thinking so deeply that you did not notice such a large tree?" Eve turned to see the large apple tree with his enormous branches and then at the man who was staring at her with knitted brows.

"Aahhh, what am I doing here?" she slapped herself abruptly surprising the man who was still holding her tightly.

He blinked as he stared at her for a second and then touched her red face.

"Are you having a fever? You did not look so good!" her face that finally started to cool down heated again when she felt his warm embrace and his hands that were touching her unceremoniously.

He had always been like that from the day she had met him as if he was… she shook her head and that thought and started to struggle to get out from the tight grip of his arms.

"Hey, take it easy, lady! You should say thank you for saving you from clashing into the tree and breaking this little head of yours!" she muttered in an aggrieved tone as he let go of her and placed his both hands on his waist and flared at the girl.

Suddenly losing the warmth, Eve felt empty in her head and cold on her body that she rubbed her arms with her palms.

"Sigh! You are not even wearing appropriate clothes for the winter. Just what were you thinking so deeply that you lost your senses?" Eve raised her head and stared at him, his voice finally having concern for her this time.

Or else he was just busy picking up fights with her and acting nonchalantly as if she was not a noble.

But it also gave her a feeling of comfort that she did not need to act in front of him.

"My brother! He is looking for you all around!" the eyes of the man widened but then it turned cold. 

"Well! I was not expecting this reply from you but.. As the head of the knights, it is only normal that they will look for me!" the man replied with a sigh which only increased her guilt.

She had not heard anything about him from Leo yet. She had just said that to take his attention away.

She did not like the way he was getting concerned and at the same time she wanted him to worry about her every passing second.

She shook her head at that ridiculous thought!

"Do not worry. They will never be able to find you here! So, take your time in planning your escape. Did you have dinner anyway?" Come to think of it, she had not come to meet him the whole day because she was trying to avoid his presence!

He had been in her mind constantly that she was worried, she was losing it. Even now, all the time she had thought that she would not come here. But when she was lost in her thoughts, her conscious mind brought her here only.

Maybe she was.. She was more worried about him than she had thought!

"Hmm, I have eaten a lot of fruit. Thanks to you, will I never end up hungry like before?" he scratched the back of his neck and his ruffled silver hair shone under the moonlight. 

Her eyes couldn't help but stare at him for more than she had thought that he smirked,

"If you continued to look at me like that, I would think that you have fallen for me, my lady!"

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