Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Clink"

"Clank"

"Swish!"

More than four swords were drawn out of the scabbard and reached his neck.

The maid who had run away brought the knights who were guarding the palace and they all attacked Chris at once since they found him kissing their lady forcefully.

The maids ran and stood by her side as if showing her that they were with her and all of them would make sure that he would be taught a lesson.

"For misbehaving and insulting the lady of the house, you are room arrested and then would be taken to the royal court for a trial.

You have every right to stay silent but if you speak it would be used against you.`` He felt like a criminal not because of the words of the knights but by looking at her face that did not have the expressions he wanted.

He just wanted to break the walls around her and make her realize that she loved him too but why did it feel like his actions have proved as a cement that strengthened the walls she had created.

It would be better if the knights would stab him rather than her pricing gaze that was cold.

"Evelyn.. I.." before he could say further their grip on the swords tightened and they pressed it hard on his neck and chest indicating one more word and he would be slaughtered right there.

"Let him go!" Evelyn's face had a strange calmness that gave him an eerie feeling. He felt himself shuddering with her cold look and her words startled not only the knights but him too.

"I said, let him go!" she repeated, finally taking her gaze away from his face and then staring at the knights who were looking confused and wanted to refuse.

But her tone was commanding and her eyes were domineering that they had to bow their heads even if they did not want to.

Taking their swords back from his neck, they continued to stand there guarding her.

"You all may leave. I will handle it myself." she added when she noticed that they did not have any mood to leave her alone.

"But my lady, this man.." this time the knights could not just accept her decision since he had forced himself on her. What if he would try it again if they would leave.

Though their lady was strong and confident, in the end, she was just a woman! They could not let her handle the problems by herself.

"Are you trying to disobey my orders or are you all having hearing problems today. I will let this pass at once but if you continue to behave this way, I have to strip you off from your title." though she knew that she was being a bit harsh to the one who cared for her.

But it was evident that they were not treating her like their mistress and taking her authority lightly. More than that, they think that she could not handle a ruffian in her own house.

Was she that weak in their eyes?

They continued to look at her for a few more seconds before bowing their heads and leaving from there. Not because they were afraid of losing their position. But they could not behave recklessly in front of a stronger person.

The position of their mistress was absolute. Maids followed the same procedure when they were stared at by Eve.

Finally she turned to look at the man who was standing there unsure of what he should do.

"Evelyn, i did not mean to force myself on you. I was just trying to convey my feelings for you. But i think.." his words died in his mouth when she stood too close to him for his mind to be working.

He could feel the heat from her body on his skin. Her actions were making his mind blurry.

He was about to take a step back when she held his collar and pulled it down. Her actions took him off guard and he was so startled to get break free.

Surprise made him recoil, "what are you…" doing! He did not need to ask that anymore since her actions had already given a reply to them.

She went on her tiptoes and smashed her mouth against his.

Astonishment felt so novel. It held him still as she rubbed her mouth against his and when he did not open it, She bit his lip, then pushed her tongue into his mouth.

Each action was like a slap on his face. Echoing what he had done to her. She mimicked his kiss so expertly that she turned it into mockery. A mockery of him. He had always imagined the moment she would kiss him on her own accord but never had he thought that his first kiss would come like that.

The kiss was intense, but hollow. He could not feel any of her emotion through it that made his insides clench.

His face turned cold when he tried to get free from her embrace. Feeling his struggle, she let him go. Though he would have gotten free if he really wanted to do that.

Her red face looked breathless when she raised her head and stared back at him.

"Forgive me," she said breathlessly. "I just wanted to see how a kiss could prove who is weaker and who is stronger! And I am done. But I did not feel strong or weak. Care to explain your point of view?" under her eyes that were colder, he felt his mouth run dry.

The tingling feeling on his lips was not what he had desired for. How did he end up like this?

He groped for a reply but found none. He felt . . . unnerved.

She turned and disappeared into the maze. For three long beats, he stared after her, until the whisper of insects, the hiss of the wind, and the whispering of the maids behind his back called him back to himself.

He turned away, frowning.