Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

She had even left Chester behind when it came to clumsy dance. How could she even think of winning the competition with this level of dancing. He sneered at that thought. 

His eyes fell on the dancing fairy and he felt regret for not choosing her as his partner when she came up to him. 

"How dare you complain to me? Do you know who I am? It is your good luck that you got the chance to dance with me. Hmph." she snarled at the man. Taking her grievances and anger out at him, she screamed hard that the man lost his last string of patience. He moved his hands away from her waist.

"I do not think that I need your grace or this kind of good luck!" he replied in a cold tone that had left her stunned. Not even in her whole life had a man dared to talk to her in that tone. They all had fawned on her. Loved her! Cherished her. Even if she had thrown a handkerchief on the floor. A large crowd of men had come forward and fought to pick it up and give it back to her. And now even a count had the audacity to leave her on the stage alone. 

She looked around and saw the mocking gazes of the ladies. That was the first time that she was at the receiving end. Hadn\'t it been she who had mocked others for their foolishness all her life. After all, she was perfect. How could anyone find a flaw in her?! Then what went wrong? 

Her eyes fell on the center again where the couple were still dancing. They both were looking lost in each other\'s eyes as if they were the only two in the whole room. Her nails dug hard in her arms. That was all because of her! That was all because Evan took her place! If she would not have interfered then she would have been the one dancing with Leo. She was more beautiful, more graceful and better in everything. Yet he had chosen that bitch! No! She could not let that happen! She could not let Evangeline trample on her pride.

Her eyes burnt with determination as she walked towards the couple, ready to split them apart and threw that dirt out of the palace. How could she stain my lover! But before she could even take a step further. She felt a strong grip on her wrist.

Ready to slap the man who dared to hold her, she turned only to find the glaring and brooding eyes. She cowered under the scrutiny of the gaze. She knew when to move forward and when to give up. And right now she knew that nothing could be done to appease the man who was ready to slap her right there.

``Fa.." she called in a voice that was telling her grievance. She wanted to tell me that she had been wronged. But before she could even whisper a word. The man raised his hand in the air and she gulped all her words down her throat.

"Come with me." he ordered, his aura strong and overbearing. She could not look straight into his eyes. So she bowed. Without speaking another word, he turned and dragged her along with him. She wanted to defy but one look from her father and she knew there was no place for protest. She gave one last look to the couple and promised to snatch Leo back from Evan in heart before leaving the hall.

"Shall I have a dance with the lady?" asked Andrew as he walked closer to Eli who was so immersed in the performance that she did not even notice him coming closer to her.

She nodded instinctively and her hand moved forward making him jump with joy. A goofy smile started foaming on his face as he rejoiced that she was still ready to dance with him. But it did not stay for long. 

The moment his hands touched hers, she stiffened. She knew the touch of these calloused hands so well. She turned to look at the man in the red royal dress with the broch of the lion in his dress, showing his authority. The smile that was adorning her face, faded when their eyes met. 

Something in him broke when he saw the look of her eyes. Her twinkling eyes lost their shine when they met his eyes. Did she hate him so much? The thought was enough to kill him thousands of times. He could not even explain to her how he felt in words.

Eli was in a dilemma. She did not want to dance with Andrew, being in close proximity with him only reminded her of the time they had spent together and the pain she felt when he was not hers anymore. But she could not deny him according to norms as she had already accepted his invitation. She could only blame her carelessness for this condition.

  She tried to form a formal smile on her face like before but miserably failed. She did not understand why she was being so emotional now!? What had changed. She should have had more control on her emotions.

His hold on her head tightened. His eyes filled with fear, he knew if the hold losen, he would lose her forever. And he was not ready to let go!

Eli started moving with him towards the stage but she did not want to go. She braced her heart as she had only one choice if she wanted to deny dancing with him. Though it was a bit extreme, only this was the way.

She looked around if anyone was noticing them and took a breath of relief when everyone\'s eyes were fixed on the dancing performances that no one noticed them. Her eyes fell on the man for the last time and she noticed that he was not even looking at her.

She took a deep breath.

"aahhhhh"