Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Leo finally took his eyes off her and walked out of the room without even looking back at her. He felt wronged. This was the first time he had shown worry for someone except his family, yet all he got were glares and cold eyes in return.

But she was no better. When Leo left without even asking her to come with him, she felt like he was behaving like he had her own. Though she had always been aware that society was not equal for both of them, this was the first time that she was feeling the disparity. 

"Evangeline.'' Miss Parker called her with worry, she knew how difficult it could be to cope in a new family and new relationships. But she even knew how difficult it was to live alone for a single woman in this vile world. And she could understand the reasoning of Leo. she could see he was worried about her or else why would he waste all his time to come here and even argue with them for her. 

Evan brought a forced smile on her face as she did not want to worry others without any reason yet her bright eyes had turned dim. She bowed her head

"It was a nice meeting with all of you." her voice came out rather stained and then she walked out of the room following leo who had already passed the corridor without even waiting for her.

",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,," she looked at the increasing distance between her and she felt like her heart was stung.

'Could he not see that she was going to leave the palace. Yet he was talking like they were going to stay together forever! Why? If he already had someone in his heart then why was he being possessive of her!' she shook her head again and smiled. It was just that he had never heard no in his life so he was behaving like that. She had never wanted to study here anyway! So, it was better that her admission was cancelled this way.

  She walked out of the academy towards the carriage. She could hear the snorts and other remarks behind her but she was too lost to stop and listen to them or understand and reply to them. Her mind was filled with complex emotions she was not able to understand.

When she finally reached the carriage, Leo was already sitting inside. 

The knight opened the door for her and she passed a grateful smile to him who bowed his head with embarrassment. It was his duty to serve the wife of their leader.

The coachman gave a whip to the seven horses that were waiting for the command to move forward. They neighed and started running. Leo did not even look once at Evan. he closed his eyes the moment the carriage started while cold winds continued to emit from his body. 

Evan looked at him as her cheeks puffed up. His whole face was giving do not approach me vibes, if you would call me, you would die. 

She took a deep sigh and turned towards the window. The cold breeze coming from the window caressed her face and finally her emotions came into her control. 

She suddenly felt too exhausted with all the pretending. She was up late at night yesterday and the butler woke her up early in the morning for breakfast so that they could leave for the academy timely. Now she was drained of all her energy.

The cold breeze soothing her skin and rocking of the carriage worked as a lullaby and soon her eyes turned heavy and her breathing turned even. She did not realize when she had fallen asleep in the carriage.

Leo's eyes snapped open when he felt her even breathing. He looked at her face with the same cold eyes but there was an unfathomable ray of light that started to melt the frost and soon his eyes filled with her image.

A few hairs were falling on her face, her eyes frown every time they touched her nose but not even once did she open her eyes or move her hands to sweep them away.

'How could she sleep anywhere without even a care in the world. She had no sense of awareness. Yet she wanted to stay in the academy. Ha! Did she not know how naive she was? She did not know that she was protected by the knights of the Thawyne family and had their name added with her name that was why no one had approached her till now. 

Once all this was gone, she would be devoured without even bones leaving behind. No! He would rather force her and keep her at home. It was not like others did not call him devil prince. So she had started to call him that too! 

His melted eyes started to harden again when he decided to not give in to her whims. His hands unconsciously moved and tucked the tendril behind her ears. A satisfied smile brought on her face and she continued to sleep peacefully. 

How much time had passed when he continued to look at her face and finally turned to the other side when the knight called him.

"My lord," he turned and moved the curtains on his side of the window and looked out at the man who was looking at the carriage hesitantly while the horse's reign was held in a tight grip.

Leo's eyes narrowed at his actions, "speak."

"My lord, are we not going to the training field today?" His voice was calm, but he was full of panic which he was trying to hide but the sweat on his face and the movement of his eyes gave him away.

Leo, who had planned to go to the training ground after escorting her to the palace, did not even think about twitching before shaking his head in denial.

"No! I am going to take leave for today." and as expected his face turned pale. He looked like he had seen a ghost in front of his eyes. But Leo did not react; he wanted to see what the knight was up to.

"Why is there some problem?"

"...."