Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Evan continued to stare at Gabriella, in comparison to the poised and elegant Eli and Leo whose aura dripped with royalty, the aunt looked only egoistical and full of oneself even when she did not share the same name.

Eli raised her head and then looked at Evan and then back to her food. She did not reply to her aunt about her marriage, yet even felt an unnerving feeling when Eli looked at her. As if she was the reason for her grievances.

"I will take care of it, aunt" was all she replied and continued to have a meal of her own.

Aurora looked at Gabriella with her small eyes as if waiting for her permission, her face was filled with hopes and finally Gabriella nodded with a sigh! Her eyes sparkled and a bright smile bloomed on her face as if she had won the rarest treasure.

"My lord, when will you train today?" she asked as she fluttered her eyes but Leo did not even turn to look at her when he replied in a dry voice, "after breakfast!" 

But his silence did not dampen her spirit even a bit. She was here to gain his attention and she would not give up that easily. With more vigor, she replied.

"I will get bored alone in the palace. Can I come to see the training too, my lord?" she replied with both a nervous and an excited tone as she rubbed her sweaty palms with her dress.

Finally Leo shifted his gaze away from the food and looked at her. Flashing her best smile to him, Aurora slowly continued, "I would have spent time with Elizabeth,  but she is going to help in cooking and me and Evelyn did not have anything in common to give each other company. So, I was wondering if I could come and see your practice. I have always admired your skills in sword wielding." she bowed her head with a shy face, yet she continued to look at him with a look filled with admiration and worship. 

"Sure,." The one word was a hard rock thrown in the silent lake, ripples started to form on the faces of the spectator. He took the handkerchief and wiped his mouth with his long and elegant fingers.

" I will ask my aide to escort you. If you would excuse me now!" with that he nodded and then left the dining room. 

"My lord." his aide bowed his head when he saw Leo approaching him. "I will make sure that the lady reaches the training grounds." replied the aide as he bowed his head with full of respect, though he was confused with the sudden decision, he was not the one who would meddle in the affairs of his master.

"Are you not tired from the overwork you have done today?" asked Leo as he looked at the man with a shocked face. The aide nodded his head instinctively. He was indeed tired from the continuous argument with Evan in the morning. It was not easy to lie to the girl that she was late for breakfast when the sun had not even risen.

But didn't Leo offer the girl that he would escort her to the training ground? A look of confusion formed on his face as he looked at Leo whose face was still nonchalant.

"Then you need not hurry. Go and have your meal and take your time. A lady should be understanding enough to wait for you for a while." he gave him a meaningful gaze and the aide shivered. He knew the meaning of that gaze clearly after working with Leo for a long time.

He was smart enough to read in between the lone and nodded his head.

"I suddenly remembered that my carriage needed servicing too. I will be a bit more late.`` Finally satisfied with the reply, Leo nodded his head and left for the training in his carriage leaving his aide to suffer the misery alone.

In the dining room, Eli was about to stand up too when Leo left, but before she could stand up, the piercing gaze of Gabriella fell on her.

"Elizabeth, I want to know what happened in the palace yesterday." Her tone was so full of authority that Eli did not dare to leave, ignoring her orders. But she did not even say a word, as she looked at the girl sitting beside them.

Following her gaze, Gabriella looked back at Aurora whose face was dancing with joy. "You will be late for the training if you continue to have breakfast this leisurely. Go and get ready, I will ask the chef to prepare a picnic basket. You can have snacks with Leo there.`` Though she was cold towards the three kids, she respected them too. Her brother's kids were more important to her than her own child.

Aurora nodded. She was beyond ecstatic with the arrangement. Though she was reluctant that she missed gossip, spending time with Leo was a golden offer, she did not want to give up on it. 

"Alright, as you say! Aunt." Her joy knew no bounds as she stood up and left the room with bouncing steps.

The moment Aurora left, Gabriella looked back at Eli with questioning eyes, "now tell me what happened yesterday in the palace!" Her tone was impatient and cold but it had been more than a decade since Eli was facing it, so she was calm and collected, her face still had the peace she was known for.

"His highness had denied the annulment of the marriage. I am still bound to marry the crown prince on the due date, that is after three months.`` Eve and Evan, who was sure that everything was sorted, looked at her with shock. Their eyes widened but at the same time filled with worry.

"Eli" called Eve as she clutched her dress like a lost kid trying to hide behind her mother. Eli gave her an assured look but was not able to comfort Eve when Gabriella looked at her with colder eyes.

"How dare he force you? Did he forget who we were initially?"

"..........."