Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Arden and Olivia sat on the table when Evan brought a few cookies and tea from the kitchen. Olivia looked at Evan with amazed eyes.

She had always thought that being the wife of Leo meant a life full of luxury but looking at the simple dress of Evan and how she was working at things with ease!

She could not explain if she would have been able to do it or not. The house was nothing like the palace where Leo lived.

Though the place was cozy and warm, it was simple and did not have much space for things.

The whole house was smaller than their ballroom.

She felt the hands of Arden covering her palms and blinked to see Evan was already sitting and staring back at her with amused eyes.

Her cheeks burnt and she felt embarrassed.

"Have you asked for the permission of the duke?" asked Evan feigning ignorance to the look Olivia was giving to the house.

Olivia turned to look at her and nodded her head. "But he would never agree to it. He had told me that he would forget that he had a daughter if I married a count." she gave a self deprecating smile to her when Evan rubbed her hands and squeezed them.

"But mother is happy! She said it was better to marry a man who loves me instead of running behind a cold blizzard who could only hurt me." she shook her head as she finally realized how cold Leo was to her.

"Well, in the defense of my husband, he is warm and kind to me. He even washed my clothes these days." Evan said with a serious look on her face when Olivia blinked.

She couldn't even imagine the scene where Leo would be washing clothes without tearing them apart with that cold face of his.

"But everyone has a designated partner. I am happy that you both are together. And I will support you in every way I can." she assured when Olivia felt guilt emerging in her heart.

"Even if I can help.. I will." Evan shook her head before Oliiva could say anything.

"Though the house looks small, we are happy here. This is the place where I have grown up and I am lucky that my daughter will grow up in the place too.`` She had a smile full of motherly love and her face was glowing with affection that surprised Olivia.

She looked at Evan with confusion. Though she did not understand her since she had always lived in luxury, she respected her decision.

"I have organized my birthday party in three days." She took out the invitation card from her small purse. "It would be an honor if you can come. I want to have a new start with you." she said softly with a bit of hesitation.

"Though I know that I do not deserve it. But.. I am looking forward to our new friendship." she said in a low voice that lacks confidence but Evan smiled and welcomed the girl.

She smiled back and nodded her head.

"What are you talking about? How can we be only friends." as she looked at Arden who looked back at Evan with confusion, "you are going to be the wife of my brother in law. So, we will be sisters soon!" she said as she hugged Olivia.

"Welcome to the family."

When Leo came with his father, he was surprised to see a carriage waiting at their door. His eyes turned colder in an instant.

He jumped from his carriage and then helped his father in coming out of the carriage.

As he walked in with a frigid look on his face. He saw that the door was already open.

Evan was sitting on the small sofa with Evan. Both of them have a small napkin in their hands who were doing embroidery while sharing their ideas on how they will look after the girl.

"I want to give her a simple name. How about Eva?" asked Olivia but Evan shook her head.

"No! I want to call her something different, how about Renata?"

"Hmmm, what kind of name is that?"

He walked in with a look of confusion when he saw Arden in their kitchen with Jenna. They were cooking dinner together.

Jenna walked out as soon as she saw their master.

She helped William by sitting on the chair and then brought a glass of water for him.

"Oh you are back." Evan placed the small handkerchief in her hands on the sofa and came to him while holding her belly with both hands.

"We have a guess today." she whispered when he took her in his arms and caressed the belly as if saying hi to his daughter.

"They are getting married soon and came to invite us for Olivia's birthday party. They will announce their engagement there." she said in a chirpy voice.

Though Evan had never stopped smiling, Leo felt like her voice had extra enthusiasm today. As if the small mist that had started to cover her eyes were cleared today.

He felt a thread that was clenching his heart for a few days was finally loosened but as the words of the physician rang in his ear, his eyes hardened.

"I am glad that they came here and invited us." he started when Evan held her hands and brought her to the sofa so that they could sit together.

Arden brought the dinner on the small dining table and sat beside William who smiled at the young man when he bowed his head.

"My good wishes are always with them. May they get married and live happily ever after." he said in a bit of a cold voice that worried Arden who knew his master very well but said nothing when he noticed the eyes of Olivia that were full of hope. "But there is no way that we are going there. We will not be part of the nobles again."