Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Andrew looked at Eli with hesitation. He had thought talking to her would be easy. He was adamant to meet her privately and talk about their marriage. But looking at her blank face and silence, he did not know how to initiate the conversation.

"I heard that your family is trying to annul the promise of our marriage?" She looked at him with the same blank face and nodded. Though she felt confused as to why he was asking so obviously. Was he expecting that she would still accept him with open arms when he was marrying someone else! Though their marriage was a political alliance, she had always thought that they loved each other. But now that he discarded her without even thinking twice, all the love she had for him died. Yet the pain she felt in his presence could not be explained in words. Only she knew how she was enduring sitting too close to him. She wanted to hug him and cry. She wanted to slap him and run away. A storm was hitting all her emotions hard, yet she decided to stay strong like always.

"Why?" she blinked at her sudden question. Was he really asking her why she denied to marry him? Had he lost his senses with time or after meeting that girl?

She could not help but look at him with confusion.

"I do not want to be a concubine, your royal highness." she replied calmly even after having a strong desire to scream at him and tell him that he was the reason behind her decision.

"But have you ever thought about the result of your decision? It could create rifts between two families or even wage a war?" he challenged her. He knew that she was the most considerate person found in the whole empire. She would not let her family suffer because of her so as her vassal families who had always looked up to her.

"I am sure that his royal highness would not be that petty to wage a war when he was marrying a girl of his choice. He should thank the Thawyne family that we were letting go of our pride and accepting the annulment of marriage rather than forcing his royal highness to marry me as his legal wife which was decided by a royal decree." she knew that this question would be asked. Though she did not expect it to be asked by Andrew.

In her opinion, Andrew had always been a kind and wise ruler. He had always spoken each word after proper consideration. Though he was outspoken and social, they were good qualities of a ruler to get everyone on their side.

Not even once had she thought that he would threaten her.

"If you are worried about the loyalty of Thawyne family then I swear on the name of my ancestors that the Thawyne family had always been loyal to the crown. And we would be loyal to the royal family till our last breaths. My brother had spent half of his life serving at borders and unified many kingdoms to the empire as a proof of our loyalty towards you." she could not help but think that was the reason. He was afraid that they would turn their back against the throne and betray them.

That was the reason he did not want to let go of the marriage even when he fell in love with anyone else.

Her eyes turned teary with that though as she felt a sting in her heart. She looked away as she did not want to show her weak state to him.

Andrew's hands clenched into a fist under the table when he saw her wet eyes. He was not blind to not see her struggle. He knew that she was hurt and he wanted to console her but he knew that none of his words would be enough to do so. She was broken because of his one wrong decision and no matter what he did he could not mend the trust and love she had for him. If only he could tell her that he was in pain too. He shook his head when he realized that he was still thinking of himself even at this very moment. How selfish could he be!

"This is not my concern. I know that Leo and Duke Thawyne are loyal to the crown and I am not worried about your resentment too. I just wanted to complete the promise that had been made by our parents. We are obliged to marry since it was decided by our grandfather when we were young. Do you not feel any obligation and respect towards the dead?" he tried to use the emotional card towards her. She blinked as she did not know how to reply to that. Was he blaming her that she was insensitive towards her elders and the promises made by them?

"The obligation was to be the empress of the empire not to be the mistress of the empire. I can not believe that you are trying to force me to be your concubine, Andrew. I am highly disappointed in you. To think that I have always assumed that you would be a just ruler and kind emperor. I am ashamed of myself who had always seen you in high regards." he blinked as she stood up and cussed him. This was the first time that she had raised her voice in front of him. Yet he could not retort to her any words.

He knew that he had broken her trust but the damage was more than he had expected. He had thought a bit of emotional blackmailing and a bit of threat would work out and she would agree to marry him even as his concubine but her blazing fire was telling a different story.

He felt a lump forming in his throat when he stood up like her and asked her in a low voice, "do you not trust me, Eli?"