Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"I would not have jumped if you would not have touched my dress. I am not that kind of woman. Now let my dress go or I will shout even when you are the owner of this place." she threatened him in the meanest voice she could muster. She did not even remember how many times her heart had started running a marathon tonight. It was no less than the ride they take in their local fair where others shout when the swing goes up and down with too much speed. She was afraid that her heart would burst anytime soon if this continued.

While on the other side, Leo's eyes widened. Her jaws gritted at the threat the girl was giving her. He was considerate enough to check his feet when he knew that she had climbed all the way up. He had noticed that she was walking a bit abnormally but he had dismissed the thought by blaming it on her fear of falling from the accident that had happened before.

"If you do not have the brain to think, it is not necessary to keep your mouth running. People will only think highly of you if you keep your mouth shut." he taunted with more ferocity this time making her tremble.

He held her legs tightly and before she could protest, he took off the heels she was wearing only to see blisters and red ankles. He was surprised that the girl even had the desire to see the estate with injured legs. Did she not feel the pain at all!?

Evan blinked as she realized what Leo was trying to do. But no matter how she thinks, she could not understand why a higher noble like him was touching the shoes of her and even checking her injured feet that were full of blisters. His behavior always bewildered her. For a moment he would turn into a warm and caring person that her heart would start beating fast for him. But only in the next moment, he would be colder than the north pole, giving her a cold frost breeze.

He was like a volcano and frozen lake at one and the same time with a mere occurrence of spring breeze in between. No matter how much she tried, she could not understand him at all. It felt like what she was seeing was not even the tip of the iceberg hidden inside the frozen lake.

"How were you even walking till now with so many wounds? Don't tell me you did not feel pain at all!" he broke her train of thought by his sarcastic question.

"I.. I am not habitual of walking in high heels." she replied awkwardly as he was still holding her feet. She was having trouble in maintaining her balance on one leg but he was showing no sign to let go of her feet and she did not know what to say to her, "I am fine, it is not that bad." she added what she could think of. It was not like she never had blisters. While working in fields of washing a lot of clothes, it was common to have small wounds or injuries. So, it was nothing new for her but the same could not be said about the man who had only thought that women could not bear even a simple prick of the needle until they were trained to be a knight.

"This would not do. Let's go back and get your feet treated. We will take the rest of the tour of the estate some other day." he replied as he took the heel from her other feet too. She had to hold his shoulder to maintain her balance at the sudden movement. But she didn't even notice the proximity they are sharing as she was only worried about his continued denial of roaming around due to one reason or the other.

"As I said, it is not a big deal. I am used to having these small injuries. You are forgetting that I am not a noble but a commoner who does all the house chores by herself. So, do not take it too seriously." For the first time in his life, Leo felt that cold water was poured over his body when she called him noble and told him that he would not understand the life of commoners.

He took a deep breath and looked into her eyes making her flustered once again.

"You can always see the estate some other day!" she shook her head at his repetition of words.

"I am sure our marriage will be cancelled after tomorrow's act. So there would be no next time.'' Leo felt a prick in his heart listening to her pleading voice.

"Do you want to see the estate that badly?" he asked, as he could not understand what was so great in looking at the woods and orchids in this darkness. But the girl nodded her head again and again as if she was afraid that he would not be able to notice it if she would do it only once.

"Fine but I have a condition then!" he added only to be nodded again.

"I accept it." she replied without even knowing what it was. She had nothing to lose from the start. Even if he asked her for money or other rare gems she had none. He could only ask her to be more wicked or do anything extra in the act of tomorrow so she nodded without any hesitation.

"Very well." was all she said, as he stood up again. He patted his clothes and then moved closer to her only to get her breath hitched. She only realized then how close they were all this time.

"What.. what are you doing?" she asked again in her shaky voice when his breath touched her cheeks making her burn.

"Has no one ever told you not to make promises so recklessly?"