Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Is it a rebel?" asked another with confusion but he just shook his head.

"No! It is an effort to save my loved ones, my family. If you are against it, you could go and complain to the lord or his majesty!" he said in a calm voice as she walked out of the room.

Many stared at his leaving back and felt a strong emotion. He was right! This is the only way to save their family.

Many clenched their hands into a fist and followed him. They would rather forget and save their family than be a traitor.

When Henry came to the assigned place, there was only one man waiting for him. His brows furrowed as he walked to him and asked in a cold tone,

"Where are the other knights? Have i not asked them to wait for me, here! If they would go and attack without preparation, they are bound to lose." the man raised his head and stared at henry who was still lost in his own thoughts,

"They did not attack. They left." he said as he collected his things. "I was only here because I wanted to inform you that we all are leaving because of a past bond.

Now that I have completed my responsibility, I am leaving too." with that the man turned and left leaving the dumbfounded Henry behind who was still not sure what did that left meant!

"Are you… starting a rebel?" he shouted when the man left near the door. He turned to look back at Henry as if he was looking at a kid busy throwing a tantrum.

"No! We are ending it and supporting the real heir of the throne." His voice was neither cold nor warm but still Henry felt that a cold slap was marked on his cheeks.

No matter how much he thought, their own knights have abandoned them and if the truth would be leaked, then it would only wage a war among the father and son.

Only the thought of how his majesty would react left him in cold sweats.

"My lord, if his highness would use these men against us. We will be ruined." said his assistant with a fearful tone when he gritted his teeth.

If that happened, he would be.. No! He would never let that happen.

"Kill them." two words that decided the fate of so many knights who were struggling to keep them and their family life was going to suffer a dark fate because of two cold words.

But the assistant shook his head.. "How! They are our secret knights and mercenaries. If they all had left, who is here to kill them?" it meant they were the best they had..

"More than that, they are trained one. It would not be easy to kill so many of them when they are together.

But even if we killed a few of them, what change could it bring? They would only be more blatant against us.'' Henry gritted his teeth. "What else, we do not know how far they have gone. Arranging someone to kill them at once would bring the suspicion of many after their act in the office today. They must live, no matter what!"

If any of them died they would be accused of it but if not..

"Then what do you suggest?" asked Henry with a sigh.

He had never faced this kind of situation before. But he knows the answer in his heart too.

"My lord, it is time to leave the sinking ship." said the assistant and he sighed. It was just that he was worried that the new ship would not need a small boat like him.

He waited for a few more seconds when he finally said, "if that is the case then send the recent letter of his majesty to Leo. Did he return back to his palace?" he asked when his assistant shook his head.

"Not yet, but I have an internal news that the new duke, lord Ethan, is going to announce his engagement ceremony. And the whole family would be collected back on that day." Henry's eyes narrowed.

If he was right, then the woman who was going to be announced as his wife was a spy too.

"Very well, write another letter telling them we have a news that we could trade with them if they give us the chance of their new financial head. Now we can only wait for their reply." the man nodded as he went to write the letter to send it when Henry stared at the distance.

Changing parties would not bring the war to an end. It will start a bigger war and he was not sure what George would do when he realized that everyone had abandoned him.

But his assistant was right! It was time to change the ships.

Once his thoughts were clear, he walked back to his office and processed all the files Andrew had given him urgently. Then he even arranged the judge and fixed a date of the trial.

He had never worked that proficiently before. Once everything was done, he closed his office with a sigh.

He waited for his assistant to return, but he did not. He frowned as sending a letter should not take that much time.

He walked to the carriage thinking of whether he should leave or wait when all the area started to turn desolate.

He was just about to enter his carriage when he finally heard the hasty footsteps behind him and turned to see that it was his assistant.

"What took you so long? I was about to leave you behind if you would have been any late!" he said with a stern voice when the assistant grinned.

His smile had something strange that Henry was not able to pinpoint but it gave him a creepy feeling when the man came closer,

"It did not matter. Since I am going to leave you behind too. Now that you think the same we are even."