Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"If that is the case, what would happen if I find a man to act as my husband?"

She mumbled unconsciously but then covered her mouth with both hands when she realized she had spoken out loud.

Her eyes widened and fear filled in. She could be sent to prison if he decided to drag the matter as lying to the royal family was equal to treason. He was part of royal nobles that followed the rule strongly. She looked at him from her peripheral vision and took a breath of relief when she did not see any changes on his face. But then he opened his mouth and replied in a blank voice.

"Then he will be the owner of your properties and you will rot in jail." she gulped and looked straight, too afraid to even say another word.

"Why don't you want to marry anyone?" when she thought that the conversation ended right there, he continued it again.

Though his voice was still blank, she still felt curiosity in it.

"I want to live a free and peaceful life.'' Though it was an empire, where women were dependent on man for everything, she still hoped to get a free and peaceful life. She had thought that he would frown or would scorn her, that is what man always did, yet he surprised her once again when he nodded his head in understanding. A smile bloomed on her lips when he agreed to her instead of behaving like others.

She adjusted on the saddle only to move closer to him. Her back rubbed his chest and her thighs were touching his as they legs stayed closer to each other. She stiffened as she moved closer and held her breath, afraid that it would only increase the proximity.

To her relief, the horse soon stopped as they soon reached the main palace and he finally jumped down from the horse. He turned and forwarded his hands towards her. Her face turned red, as she even forgot the count of the time they had shared close proximity today, yet every time she touched him, she felt the heat had risen in her body and she felt strange sensations.

"Do you want to sit on the horse all night?" Though he was not intending, his voice sounded cold like always. He did not understand why the girl was always lost in her thoughts. She had nothing to think about as she had nothing left then what did she plan all the time? And if she was still thinking of getting a fake husband then she would be in more trouble.

"If you are still thinking about having a fake husband then I must warn you, it could result in life imprisonment." she blinked as he suddenly threatened her. Did he not know that his cold and threatening voice was enough to scare her.

She nodded her head but then shook her head when the deep lines of his forehead increased.

"I shall go." she replied awkwardly to end the conversation again.

He looked at her face and then at his hand which she had still not held.

"By any chance, do you know flying?" Evan frowned at his sudden question. She was sure that no human could fly. Then why was he asking this type of question. Or was he joking? But looking at his blank face and dull voice she doubted that he even knew the meaning of the joke. So, she shook her head with the same seriousness, he was showing her.

For a moment Leo felt speechless at her reply. Could she not see his hand or did not feel the sarcasm behind the words? Of course he knew that she could not fly. Nobody could! Just how dumb she was in reality?

"Then if you would not hold my hand, are you going to jump with your injured feet?" this time his voice was filled with blazing fire, and she could feel the rise in temperature when he looked at her.

She pursued her lips and finally held it. He pulled her with a bit of pressure but she winced when she touched the ground. Her feet were still swollen and it hurt when it touched the floor.

He shook his head and held her waist once again. She knew that he was going to hold her once again but she shook her head and took two steps backward. Though he had held her before, they were in woods and an empty area. But here she could feel the eyes of a lot of knights on herself and she was sure they would bump into someone if he climbed footsteps while holding her in his arms.

A scowl formed on his face and she could feel the death stare burning her right there.

"I am feeling much better. I can walk by myself. See." she replied with a smile full of fakery as she tried to walk fast to show him. She tried her best to keep her face neutral yet the pain could be seen clearly.

But he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded. If she did not want help then he was not desperate to help her. A woman who wanted to live alone should be strong anyway.

She took a deep sigh of relief as he turned to walk towards his chamber which was in the opposite direction. But when he turned, her eyes turned into saucers again when she looked at his back.

"Wait!" She did not know that she could shout this loud and so did he, who had only seen her speaking with fear in front of him. She ran towards him completely forgetting about her injuries when his steps halted. Even the knights on duty were looking at the scene with confusion.

She took a deep breath as she looked at him with worried eyes. There was a lump forming in her throat as she asked him.

"Did that happen because of me?"