Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

The party was rather eventful for the Thawne family. They all looked tired when it finally ended and went to sleep after having a meal in their rooms only. Where Eli was still lost in thoughts of Andrew, Leo was thinking about Evan too.

This was the first time in his life where he felt so bewildered about analyzing the nature of a person.

Her image of playing piano flashed once again in his mind. He would like it if he said that she was not looking breathtaking. He had skipped a beat looking at her too.

But when he remembered the way she was dancing with him, his expressions hardened once again. His hands roamed in his hair as frustration filled his face. He could not let this uneasiness go until he knew the truth. He stood up and decided to ask her directly, even if she lied he was sure of his skills to judge it by looking at her facial expressions.

Evangeline threw the dress on the bedside and slipped into comfortable clothes. She was tired just by wearing those heavy clothes and high heels. She was amazed at how Eli and Eve carry themselves in those kinds of clothes all the time. She had often heard girls talking about wearing expensive clothes and dancing in the ball, and she would lie if she said that she was not curious about it, but after experiencing it today, she would rather go and plant fruits in her garden in plain clothes. She yawned a few times even while having a meal. But when she rolled into the bed, she felt empty.

She had always missed her mother after her death, but after coming here and looking at Thawyne family closely, the emptiness in her heart was growing. She walked to the armchair in front of the window and sat on it. She looked at the desolate moon and muttered,

"Do you feel there alone too or the warmth of distant stars is enough to give you company?" She took the stars as the Thawyne family, who looked so close to her yet she knew how distant they were. She did not realize when her heavy eyes could not keep themselves open and sleep took her in her arms.

Leo hesitated a bit before walking towards her room. He frowned when he found the door of the room was ajar and the lights were still turned on. Shouldn't she close the door at night? Though the palace was a safe place, a woman should still keep her guards up!

"Evangeline! Evangeline!..." He called her a few times but she did not reply. After some hesitation he pushed the door open and entered in.

The bed was filled with the jewels and clothes she had worn in the party while she was sleeping soundly on the armchair. Her head that was leaning on the back of the chair was falling again and again while she was frowning in her sleep.

Moonlight was dancing on her face and a few tendrils were kissing her lips freely. Her lips were puffed up and she was muttering something slowly in her dreams.

He walked back to the door to come again tomorrow. Holding the knob of the door, he stood there for a while. His face was filled with conflict when he sighed and turned towards her.

He stood in front of her. She was sleeping so soundly that she did not even notice him moving freely in her room. Could this be a trait of a spy? Or was she doing this to gain their trust so that no one would doubt such an innocent girl!?

Her graceful dancing and piano skills could not be ignored yet the way she behaved was too innocent. She was like a pandora box, always creating a surprise for him. He could not help but doubt the cloud of mysteries covering her badly!

Since the night was chilly, her body was shivering and her face was filled with frown.

He felt helpless when he looked at her vulnerable self. He hesitated for a second as he had never touched a woman without her permission but in the end he could not see her trembling. He bent and took her in his arms again. When his hands touched her, her frail body snuggled in his arms. She rubbed her head on his chest and found a comfortable corner. Her face relaxed as she leaned on his chest. Her actions were so natural as if she had done that many times in the past and his face darkened just when the thought crossed his mind.

Before he could push her away, she clutched his shirt tightly in her hands. She was like a child that was filled with insecurities and needed constant consoling with hugs and pats on her forehead. She was looking so harmless and innocent that he felt guilty about having doubts on her. He continued to gaze at the girl in his arms for a long time and took a deep sigh. He did not have the heart to throw her away when she was looking so frail and vulnerable. He allowed her to hug him and they stayed there this way for a long time without moving.

His mind seemed to drift by the time he had found her in the clock tower. He was stunned to see her there too. At that time, she was looking like a frisked kitten who would bite even when anyone moved closer to her even a bit and now! She was the one who was trying to seek warmth from him. Even when he tried to move away, she was not ready to let go of him. Yet her presence there was suspicious. Forcing him to show her the whole estate even when she was injured. And being so adamant about leaving the palace soon. What if she was a spy who was here to gain the information about them and was anxious to move out safely after getting what she wanted?