Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Knock knock" 

The door knocked incessantly again making Evan more than annoyed. She adjusted her posture on the sofa that was large enough for her tiny frame and continued to sleep

She was studying till late yesterday night, even Leo left her room rather late too. He had already tortured her a lot and made her sleep deprived. She was not that sleep deprived even when she used to live in her small home and do all the chores by herself. Being noble was rather tiring than being a noble!

But now she has decided, she will sleep the whole day no matter who knocks on the door. Even if the whole palace burned in fire, she was not going to wake up.

When the knocking on the door did not stop, she pulled the cushion from the other side and covered her ears from it before continuing to sleep.

"My lady, everyone has already awakened a long time ago. You have to wake up too." came the voice of the knight from last night with the increase in the force for banging the door.

She did not care if they were awake or not. They have chores to do, while she would not do a single thing more even if god will come down on earth to request her. She was not a puppet of Leo!!!

"My lord had said that if you did not come down for breakfast on time, then he would give your reward as charity to all the servants of the palace. But if you come on time, he will give you all the rewards with a precious gift after breakfast." came the anxious voice of the knight again who did not add that he would be thrown out of the palace if she did not come for breakfast on time. He cried without tears! When had he become the messenger of a couple and a pillow they could punch while having a fight from a gallant warrior!

"...'' Evan only turned and continued to sleep. She didn't care about his nagging at all. She adjusted her posture and decided to ignore the sound completely when the words slowly started to sink in her mind. He would give all her rewards to others as charity!!!

Her whole body stiffened, and the eyes that were filled with sleep just a second ago snapped open with a start as if she had seen the ghost sitting on her bed! She let go of the pillow she was hugging tightly, it fell on the floor. Her face was aghast with shock, but in the next second it turned red with rage!

He was threatening her again! If this time he broke his promises again, she would slap him again and this time with full force and in front of everyone.

She crawled out of the sofa where she had fallen asleep last night after reading books till late. She rushed towards the door to open it while stumbling a bit on her own dress.

"What did you just say? An extra precious gift?" her words were filled with anxiety and rage.

The knights looked with surprise when she opened the door in wrinkled clothes and messy hair. He had never seen a lady showing her bed face to a stranger ever. He pulled a long face when he thought of her becoming the lady of the house. But he did not have the courage to disrespect the woman his master was taking interest in.

"The countess, his highness's elder sister is going to have breakfast with us. So everyone's presence is required. My lord had asked me to personally look that you reach on time with your maid on the breakfast table.

He had asked me to convey to you that you will receive an extra gift if you reach on time or all your rewards till now will be given as charity to the needy staff of the palace. Do not worry, you will still receive good wishes at the end of the day." he replied in a mechanical voice which was devoid of any emotions yet it was enough to annoy the girl. 

'What good blessings from the needy and what charity? She was the most needy one here and she needed the most charity. She had nowhere to go, nothing to wear or no money to eat? Could anyone compare to her when it comes to poverty in the palace? Hmph! Yet the man had the audacity to show his threat as a noble deed!' she stomped her food and closed the door with a "bang" on the face of the knight.

"........." he stood there stunned by the way the lady had treated him.

"Do not tell me that after fighting so many wars, my lord has developed an interest in masochism!!!" with that stunned face, he stood there like a door guard. While the girl inside the room was in a mad rush. She washed her face and then started brushing while lying in the bathtub!

"My lady, do you need my help?" came the sound of Dahlia but she was soo busy to open the door and let her in.

"My lady, only 4 minutes are left!" came the voice of the knight who finally came back to his senses!

Evan looked at the door with bloodlust. If she ever had the chance, she would kill this knight and then would target Leo.

Adjusting the first dress on her body, she was about to pick up the comb when the voice came again.

"You only have one minute, my lady!" and she let the comb go and rushed to open the door. Her rage was clear in her eyes as she started shouting without even looking at the knights as she adjusted her dress and scolded

"Do you and your master only know how to threat someone with seconds and minutes? If you were in so much hurry, then you should have come to wake me up earlier!!!"

"........."