Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Are you leaving that early, brother? I thought you were going to stay for a few more days?" Chris held the hands of his newly wed wife as if he was showing his territory when Leo rolled his eyes.

Since they were already married and happy with each other, he could not do anything about it.

"No! Father would be too angry. He needed to be appeased and Evan… she is closer to her seventh month.

It has already taken two months to find you and complete this journey, now my wife is waiting for me." an arrogant smirk formed on his face as if he was boasting about his kids when Eve nodded.

"It still felt so surreal. I am still angry with her that she did not tell me about such big news.

When I come back, I will monopolize all of my niece's time as compensation. Hmph!" she pouted her lips just like she used to in the past when Leo shook his head.

"You just want to find a shelter to save yourself from the wrath of your father.

My daughter would not be part of it." he told her bluntly making her agape, "and you have no right to be angry since you are the one who left suddenly.

Father is right to be angry with you." he added when she sighed.

Her face turned downcasted as she thought of the time when her father was shouting at her and closed her eyes.

"I was a bit doubtful that you would not send men to help us in running away. But trust me he is wearing the uniform of your troop of knights and he told me that you have sent him to help us.

Or how would I have run so far?" she asked back when his eyes sank.

His face turned grave but he did not say anything.

"Alright, I will think about giving half of my daughter to you.

But you need to be a good girl for that." he ruffled her hair with the intention of messing with them when she frowned and pushed his hands away.

"Alright, leave. Are you not getting late?" Chris took the hands of her sister towards him and even tried to move Leo's hands away from her hair.

He was glaring at him as if saying keep your hands away from my sister. Bit only smiled when she stared back at him with confusion.

"I mean, it would already take half a month to complete the journey. If he would not leave by now, then he would not be able to reach the other town to spend the night and would be stuck in a dangerous place.'' He said it with such a serious face that Leo's lips twitched.

He could not believe that the man was lying so blatantly with his sister but when he noticed how she turned serious and how they held hands of each other and she leaned on his shoulders when she asked Leo to go in a hurry, he did not have the heart to say anything.

He hugged Eve for the last time and kissed her forehead gently, "if you face any problem of grievance here, write a letter to me and I will be on my way that very day.

I am always here to protect you." she chuckled when she felt her husband's hands tightened on her as if she was trying to show his authority when she nodded.

"Of course, but that would not be needed. If I felt that I was not treated well here, I would tru turn back to the palace that day." she heard her husband gasp and then glare at her when she rubbed his head as if he was a little pet.

He mumbled something under his breath as he glared at Leo but started silent and looked away.

With a heavy heart, Leo finally let go of her and left from there in the carriage with the group of knights he had brought with him.

"Sigh! I wish I could go back and look at my father. I have an uneasy feeling about it." Chris rubbed her back, shooting her and then kissed her shoulders when she leaned on his chest while still looking at the road where Leo had left.

"He would be fine. You should worry about being my family.

Though my mother is a calm woman. My brother's wife still has some arrogance since was the crowned empress.

My mother would expect that you would go along but I want you to only be happy.

If you feel like they could not match your standards or you can not sit and talk in an affectionate way then come back.

I have not married you for political purposes but I want you to stay happy." he reminded her gently when her face softened.

She would be lying if she would say that she was not afraid but she did not want him to worry because of her.

"You are thinking too much. I am sure that they would like me once they start talking to me." she said with such confidence that Chris could only nod.

He did not want her to be disappointed this soon.

"Hmm, I know you can win the heart of anyone but I am a very possessive person. I did not want others to get too affectionate with you.

It would be better that they did not like you so that they did not invade on our precious time." he said with a straight face that she did not know how to reply to him

She just punched him on his gut with her hands clenched into a tight fist but he didn't seem to care.

Best

"Come we shall get in." he muttered softly as he kissed her forehead when she scoffed but stood up to follow him.

"Eve, go and take a rest for a while before I complete all the rest formalities."