Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Leo had held Evan in his embrace. Her slender body was completely in contrast with his strong and masculine body. Yet they both were looking picture perfect in each other's arms. William finally entered the room. He was expecting an uproar, a lot of gossip as he came to know about the bet.

But the room was in dead silence. He looked around with a frown as this was not the scene he was expecting. They all were standing like statues and looking at the centre of the room while holding their breaths. He followed their gazes, only to see Evan in the arms of leo. His eyes turned wet while a smile full of longing formed on his lips. His eyes flashed a thousand of emotions, that confused Eli who was walking towards her father, to intimate him about the whole matter.

"... I am nervous," she whispered lightly as guilt crossed her eyes. 

He raised a brow, his eyes gleamed with mirth and a smirk formed on his lips, "continue to think of me as if i am a walking statue of gold and you would not be nervous anymore."

"..."

She glared at the man who was in a mood to make fun of her even at this dire moment. Wait, did he just utter a joke? So, he did know what humor was! 

She was still cursing him when the music started filling the room and her body instinctively stiffened. She was worried that she would lose the round and would not win the prize, she was worried that she would be the joke of the day when an arm held her tightly. He still had a smile on his face, but that was not looking mocking anymore. "Look into my eyes and forget about everything. Just follow my footsteps." his voice sounded deep and hypnotic that she followed his command instinctively. She looked into his eyes, the eyes that were always looking at her mockingly or devoid of any emotions were looking so serious and concerned. As if they could not see anything but her.

  She could see her glimpse in the tranquil eyes which stunned her. It felt like the whole galaxy was covered in his tranquil eyes.

Surprisingly even when she was stunned, the look gave her assurance that she would do well, so she nodded her head obediently.

Though Leo had promised that he would guide her, he knew that it was not easy for a person to catch all the steps at once under the pressure of so many eyes. So, instead of dancing difficult steps, he decided to take it easy, and dance only basic steps.

Both of them were dressed in a couple dress, were dancing under the chandelier and looked no less than a fairytale couple that should be captured in a painting. And that was what William did. He ordered the painters to draw them from every angle. 

Evan, who was so nervous that her body was stiff, felt better when she was able to match his steps and they were dancing together perfectly. The way they were coordinating, it did not feel like they were dancing together for the first time.

Her body started loosening as if she was flowing into the rhythm and her body could feel the groove. Soon, she managed to capture the rhythm and started dancing like a pro. Leo, who was knowingly keeping his steps slow and simple so that she could catch up to him, was surprised when she increased the difficulty level of the dance. 

The way she twirled in his arms, holding his hand, shocked him. He was glad that he knew how to keep his face neutral and his emotions in control no matter what happened. So he was not worried about looking foolish, but a strange gleam flashed his eyes when he looked at the steps of the girl.

There was no way that she did not know how to dance. She must have taken a formal training of dancing for years to dance like that. Her footwork was so perfect, as if she already know the whole rhythm and music,

Her steps were so flawless and graceful as if she was meant only for dancing. She was looking like a fairy that was dancing in the air. Her flow was like water from the fall.

It was so stunning that it was impossible for the audience to shift their gazes away from her. They had thought that even if she was able to dance well, she would only do slow and simple steps and there was no way that she would be able to win. They felt sympathetic for Leo who was dancing with simple steps too in the start, but who would have thought that she would be the one to dance better among both. 

She was the one who was pushing his limits, and dancing like a fairy lost in magic. They could see sparks and magic in their dance, it was so eye capturing that many did not even blink, in fear that they would miss an important part.

Leo's hand that was holding her waist tightened unconsciously when she twirled again. He looked at her with complex emotions. How was she so familiar with the dancing styles of nobles. Even though many commoners learn dance too and so as people of rich society, they were not taught the style of nobles. It had a huge difference, but she was dancing just like a higher noble. Her posture and movements were so perfect.

If he did not know any better, he would have felt that she was a princess of foreign land acting as a pauper. Yet the smile on her face was silly like a kid excited to see a fair for the first time. Her eyes were so clear that it could not be filled with malice or wrong intentions.. It hurt his mind and heart as they both were facing strong conflict because of the girl in his arms.