Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"My lady, this is an urgent matter that needs your attention!" Evelyn who was already buried under the piles of files and making a budget of every expense separately so that she could compile it later felt annoyed when she heard there was more work for her.

Haven't they decided to prepare it together? She could understand that Leo was busy with official work but what about Eli and Evan?

They have not come even once to ask her how everything was going on or did she need any help.

Only the servant came knocking on her door every now and then with more work. Now she had started to wonder, were they taking revenge on her or it was just a coincidence.

The girl flinched when she saw Eve glaring at her and bowed her head immediately.

"What is it? Hurry and speak up, I have other work to do too!" covering her face with her hands she sighed as she tried to soften her voice when she noticed the maid got started with her voice.

She used to be the most friendly and approachable person in the palace. Do not tell her that even her image went down the drain due to so much work.

"My lady, there is an envoy from the Nexusguard empire. He is here to meet the duke and congratulate him for taking over and for his marriage but his highness is not here.

He had gone for lunch with other envoys. I told him but he said, he is not aware of the places here and would rather wait here.

And then asked if there is any other family member to give him company.`` The maid could see the frustration forming on the face of the lady who was worried that she would be blamed later, so she hurriedly explained further.

"I went to call lady Evangeline first, but she was sleeping and her maid told that she was feeling sick.

There is no one else left in the palace except you, my lady." The voice was filled with pleading that Evelyn did not know how to reply.

She could not blame the maids for her excessive work and there were still a few vassal families who had not left the palace. She could not give them a chance to mock their family further.

"Alright, escort the envoy to my meeting room. I will be there in a minute.'' Thank goodness at least she had changed her indoor clothes before starting to work or she would have made fun of herself.

Giving a look to herself and asking a maid to adjust her ruffled hair, she walked to the guest room.

Nexusguard empire! She had heard the name before from the mouth of Christian. Was he from there?

She wondered what he would be doing now?

'Ha! Snap out of it, he would have already forgotten about you otherwise, he would have at least written you a letter.' chiding herself to still think about a stranger who had nothing to do with her, she held the door and opened it.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting. But we were not expecting guests today.'' She walked in with a polite smile on her face as she sat in front of the man who was busy eating snacks before she had come. How rude and ill mannered!

Hiding the deep annoyance, she tried to maintain the smile on her face, when the man finally raised his head.

"No, of course not. It is my fault that I come without informing every time.

I apologize to trouble you always, my lady." he smiled charmingly and held the hand of the girl who was looking frozen as not a single word came out of her mouth while her whole body was rigid as a log of wood.

Taking the hands closer to his mouth, he waited for her to react but when she did not, he kissed the back of her hands warmly.

"Chris?" the words came out as a whisper as she felt she was in a dream. She remembered the man telling him that he was a runaway thief from her brother and wanted to hide there since he was sure that Leo would never search for him in his own palace.

When she had asked what he had stolen, since he did not look like a thief, he had told her that he had tried to steal the hearts of many young and beautiful nobles and Leo was jealous of him.

She had not felt any threat from the man. And he looked really like a prince at that time. So, she had accepted his request and let him stay in the orchids.

But she had wandered around to keep an eye on him and had started to chat with him.

She had not realized what he was for him until he left him. She had felt a strange void forming in her heart once he left and was not able to fill it no matter what.

But she was sure that she would never see him again. The man with torn and dirty shirt and ruffled here who did not look anymore than the ruffians who wander on the streets, he was looking completely different.

His hair was made perfectly to stay behind. His golden and red uniform was shining under the light of the chandelier and his smile.. As if he was mocking her for being a fool! No, she could not let him do so!

"There is nothing to apologize, it is our duty to greet the envoy that has traveled so much just to congratulate us for our better future.

I would be glad if i would assist you. l would you like to have a cup of tea, mr?" The smirk on his face froze and his face turned rigid.

His eyes that were shining like stars just a moment ago filled with bewilderment,

"My lady, I mean Evelyn. Did you not recognize me?"