Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

The past few seconds were like a millennium for Eli who did not know how to convince him to not touch her feet. She did not know what took over him. He was looking gloomy and in pain. Should he not be relieved and thankful that she left his way. Why did it feel like he was suffering because of her?

No matter what she thought, she could not understand the reason for his gloominess. His face was looking like he had been abandoned by the whole world. 

She did not know how to get out of this situation. When she saw her father coming towards them.

"I am thankful for taking care of my daughter, your royal highness. I shall take her to the physician now." Andrew finally looked away from Eli. his face was cold when his eyes met William. Everyone took two steps away when they felt his gloominess. It felt like he would kill anyone who would come in their way.

"Shall I ask an attendant to save his royal highness too? You are not looking so well." William asked with a blank face. No concern could be seen in his eyes as he turned and held the hand of his daughter.

"I shall take her first. Steve, take care of his highness and serve him a drink." he instructed his aide who bowed his head.

"Come honey." Eli nodded and they both walked away while Andrew continued to look at their direction for a while. He was looking like a wounded beast, ready to kill anyone on his way. The nobles were trying to be one with the wall to avoid his rage. But he blinked and looked again with his calm eyes. No one would believe that he was so furious just a while ago.

"Would you like to dance with me?" he asked the girl standing nearest to him. Her happiness had no bounds when she heard the prince asking her to dance. She nodded and forwarded her hands towards his hands. She had a sweet smile on her face yet her eyes filled with pride. As if she was above everyone and they were beneath her. walked towards the stage with a sweet smile. No one would believe that he was the same man who was looking shattered just a while ago. His face had no more emotions of a hurt man. 

He continued to dance on the floor with a prideful smile on his face and the girl giggled and laughed with him. She was on cloud nine looking at the smirk on the face of Andrew. When he had asked her to dance, she had thought that he was just trying to get rid of the embarrassment he had faced due to Eli. like others she had also got his pain. She was stunned and furious at Eli. How could she make fun of the crown prince?

Did she not know that the royal family has the right to have many lovers. Eli should be wise and grateful that she was still getting the chance to marry the man she wanted. But now she was glad that Eli had rejected him.

If she could use this opportunity and impress him enough, maybe she would be the one who would stand by his side in the marriage hall. Her eyes gleamed like crazies just thinking about it. She smiled sweetly and her face turned red with shyness, as she continued to gloat inside. There was no way she would let the chance go! She would make him realize that she was better than Eli in every way. Soon, the tempo of the song increased indicating that the song was about to end. Leo and Evan, who were lost in their own thoughts, did not even notice the changes in the ballroom as they continued to look at each other while dancing to the rhythm.

The more Leo looked at Evan, the more he was sure that she was experienced in dancing. The heat between them had started to burn him. He could feel the heat rising in his body, but he could not be nonchalant towards her like before. Not until he knew what her intentions were. His eyes turned cold thinking about this fact.

When the music ended, and they finally stopped dancing, the ballroom had already covered itself from their initial shock and looked at them with awe. Wave after wave of applause filled the room when they bowed their heads a bit to show respect to the audience. The room was full of heat, and everyone was only praising them.

Many stood up from their stares while clapping and a few even toasted their glasses to them. Sound of Clinks of glasses and claps with full force filled the room. 

"That was so amazing!"

"They danced like the best couple."

"I must say that the duke had found a rare gem in the coal mine." the sound of praises increased with every second. But the one who was getting them was still lost in each other\'s arms. Evan was still leaning on his chest. Her face was full of sweat and her breath was still high. As her adrenal rush died down, she realized how she had danced like crazies with him. She really was possessed by the spirits.

He was still holding her tightly in his arms, his large hands were wrapped around her thin waist, securing her from the crowd. He was looking like a possessive lover, guarding his treasure while looking at others coldly. Both of their breathing was erratic. Though their bodies had stopped dancing, their heartbeats were still matching the rhythm of each other as it continued to drum under their chests.

Finally able to control her breathing, Evan looked at him with a face full of pride. She was looking like a kid who had won a prize in school and was now waiting for the praises of her father. Not noticing the change in his behavior, she smiled ear to ear as she asked, 

"My lord, my performance was good right?" She spread her feathers like a proud peacock as she continued to hear praises from the nobles who were looking at her like she was a pest. Now they all were looking at her with admiration. Though she knew that she should not be deviated by the way they treated her, yet she could not help but feel pride. This was the first time when she was the centre of attention of such a big crowd and they were all looking at her with awe.

But the man who should be equally proud and happy did not say a word. Confused, she looked into his eyes only to gulp. His eyes were frozen cold and his face was hardened. Forget about being pleased, he was looking like he was in a mood of massacre. He would kill everyone that would come in front of him.

She took a step back unconsciously, ready to run away from the demon who was there to take her life but he did not let her. His grip on her waist tightened and her movements only brought her closer to him once again. He was holding her in place with no intention of leaving her as he continued to look deeper into her eyes. Though his eyes were cold and brutal, piercing her soul into pieces, but his touch on her body was strong yet gentle, that was seeping warmth into her body.

But she did not understand why he was looking at her so intently with his narrowed eyes.

Was he not pleased with the dance? Had she embarrassed him? No! That could not be.. She could still hear the praises and see admiration in the eyes of others! But then as the single son of duke, he could have higher standards. 

Torn between the reasoning, she did not know who to do with the current situation when she remembered that flattery had worked on him in the past.

"My lord, you taught me so well that I was able to dance perfectly. If you would not have been there, then I would have made fun of myself." she flattered him without any sincerity on her face. All she wanted was to save herself from his rage and get her reward. The thought of losing it made her heart bleed. She had done so much just to get it. Now she could not part with it when she was so close to getting it.

When he consented to look at her brutally she felt at a loss of words. But when she looked around to find an excuse, she noticed that Olivia was not there anymore.

Did she left? Had she given up on winning? \'

\'Wouldn\'t that mean that I had won the match?\' That thought gave her relief and she looked back at the brooding man with confidence.

"My lord, even if I had not performed up to your standards, the condition was to win the contest to get my reward, which i had done well.. I am sure I have won the contest."