Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"My lord, my lord!" The urgent knocks on the door took their attention and their gaze that was in the position of stalemate finally broke.

"I am busy. Come back later!" he shouted and the silence ensued.

But before he could ask her again the door knocked again,

"My lord. The lady is gone. His highness had called for you urgently!"

"........." Leo stood up abruptly. He knew that Eve was a fool but he had never thought that she would not listen to his warnings.

Hadn't he promised that he would take care of her needs! She is so stubborn.

"Is he talking about Eve? Where had she.. Oh my! Did she.." her unasked question was answered with a nod but that did not lessen the shock in her eyes.

He stood up and walked towards the closet as he took out a fresh set of clothing for her and then adjusted his buttons.

"I will send a maid to help you. Come down, father might need you and Eli to calm him down.

I am sure he must be going berserk." she nodded as she knew how big of a matter this was!

She was a commoner at that time, so her running away was not noticed but when it comes to nobles. It could ruin her whole life.

She would only be scorned and looked at with disdain if others came to know that she had run away with a man.

Not to forget that he didn't belong to their empire. What if his family did not accept a runaway bride. What would they do then?

"They should have at least thought about their positions!" he muttered with a sigh but she could feel the pressure in the air.

He must be suffering a lot with back to back bad news. She wanted to assure him but knew that the matter was too serious.

He adjusted his clothes and then opened the door. The night was already standing there with a pale face. A proof that things are not fine.

Leo gave her a last look before walking out of the room. Before she could stand, a maid entered and walked towards her. She helped Evan in getting ready and adjusted the complexion of her skin with the help of makeup.

"My lady, my lord, has asked me to feed you medicine before you leave." Just when Evan stood up, the maid brought a bowl of medicine.

She knew that Alex would not let her go without that, so she nodded and drank the bitter liquid in a gulp. The nauseating feeling filled her again but she tried her best to control that feeling.

She walked out of the room with hasty steps before the maid could stop her further and reached the meeting hall.

"What do you mean that she left? What are you all doing? Huh? Sleeping or smoking drugs?

How did you not notice that she left with that wretched man?

It is just impossible. I am sure it was planned? Either she had not left the palace but was hiding somewhere inside or she had gotten support from any of you." he pointed at all four of them, Leo, Ethan, Eve and Evan!

"So you think you are grown up enough to go against me. Huh? You even dared to help her in running away

Just let me find where she is and how did this. I will not forgive this time and force you to go into the prison too! You.. you!" he shouted with his trembling bodies.

His eyes filled with blood and his face was red with rage.

Before he could speak further, his body trembled and he staggered.

While everyone else was looking with shock. Leo ran and held his father in his arms. But when William noticed that it was Leo, he pushed him away with full force.

"Who needs your support?" he jerked his hands away and slapped him hard on his face.

"Do you think that I didn't know that she asked for your help? You must have known that I was listening, that was why you refused in front of me but you must have helped her behind my back.

After all, you are the only one who was strongly against my decision. When I didn't listen to you, you chose this method to go against me?

Is that why I have nurtured you? You are like a snake that bite the hands that fed him." his body started to shake again. Trembling strongly with rage when his hands reached to touch his heart and soon he fell down with his eyes closed.

"Father!" this time all of them came back to their senses and ran to get a hold of him. All of their eyes were filled with shock and anger.

"Why are you still standing there? Go and ask for a physician?" shouted Leo while everyone else was busy looking at him, Leo sent the maids when Ethan raised his head and stared at Leo with a cold look in his eyes.

"Did you not hear father? He did not need your help. He has a son that will take care of him. It would be better that you leave him alone since I think he was most angry with you.

If you would not have been here, he would not have become too angry to lose his balance. You should have thought about him before going against him. Now do not act like you care!" he replied in a cold and menacing voice as he stared at Leo with hatred filled eyes.

"Ethan, watch your tongue!" Eli snapped as Evan stood up to hold Leo's shoulder as if trying to comfort him and then glared at Ethan who just scoffed.

"A fake supporting fake! What a pair!" he sneered when Even walked towards him and slapped him but he held her hands before she could touch his face.

"Why are you getting agitated? I have said nothing, since talking to fool is a waste of time."