Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

It was so indifferent as if she was talking to a stranger. His eyes turned cold when he saw her indifference. Did she not even think it was worth asking him even if she had doubts?

He was trying so much to save them yet when it comes to her, she had let go of him so easily as if he never mattered to her. The more he thought about it, he could feel her heart getting clenched and felt suffocated.

"Oh.. that! There must be some error in the list but too bad all the grains had been distributed to the needy and now there is nothing left. So, miss Thawne, I can not help you!" her eyes widened with trepidation and her lips parted with fury. He was doing that knowingly!

How could their name be left?!! They were the most prominent family of the empire after the royal family. Each of the administrative members worked under her father and each of the knights worked under her brother! Yet the man had the audacity to say that the palace forgot about them! Was it not challenging their authority or an attempt to insult them!

"You mean we were forgotten and now there are no food supplies left for the palace?" she repeated and he nodded indifferently while staring at her face.

"Yes, I am afraid that is the case! But…" he stopped and looked at her with that devilish smile that showed he was planning something.

She knew those eyes too well. Whenever he took revenge on his enemies, his eyes glowed like that. Could it be that he had also started taking her as a thorn in his path. If he asked her to leave him then she would gladly do that.

In fact, she and her father were trying to do so all this time. That day also, his face was so cold as if he would rip apart everyone sitting there.

She could feel a lump forming on her throat but she could not show him how affected she was by his behaviour. If he loves someone else and wants to marry them, then do it for all she cares!

"But.. what, your highness.`` She still did not sit but continued to stand there, maintaining some distance with the table since she saw the crumpled parchment on the table. She would only feel nauseated if she would sit at the place where they were hugging and kissing each other.

"Each transaction had both sides, if you want something, should you not offer something in exchange!" he tilted his head and looked at her closely.

"Of course, I have never thought to take the favour of the royal palace. You can always send the bill to the family of thwayne. Even if it would be a bit expensive, I am sure we still have the capacity to afford it." her voice was filled with confidence and authority as she looked straight into the eyes of the man who had that crazy smile on his face.

He chuckled when she offered him money and shook his head as if he had heard a good joke that he could not even believe. Yet his eyes flickered with something darker as if he would suck her soul.

"Elizabeth! How could you still be so naive! Do you think the royal palace lacks gold or jewels? You would be the one to offer it and I would stop all my tasks and try to arrange the foodgrains for you!" he chuckled again at her naivety. She was still innocent to think that he would charge her some gold and then would let her go.

She frowned when he heard his reply. And the way he looked at her..!! She trembled for a moment when he looked at his eyes! As if he was not in his senses at all..!!

"Then what else did the royal palace need to ask the family of Thawyne?" she folded her hands in front of her chest as she looked at the man challengingly though her heart clenched. 

She could feel the dark aura coming from him. She knew that he was not the man she knew! Yet her pride did not let her back down. And most importantly she needed those foodgrains. 

They were loyal to the crown anyway. They could not refuse any request coming from the royal family as they have pledged their loyalty to them. Then why was he acting so strange. She could feel the palpitation of her heart and when he stood up, she felt a strange anxiety as the cold sweat started to form on her neck.

Why had the girl been so cold to him! Did she not see the dream of living with him all this time? The way she was showing him defiance was unbearable!

He knew why she did not sit and it was only infuriating him. He stood up and walked towards her with slow steps as if a beast was walking towards his prey to corner her slowly so that she did not realise until he would catch her off guard and then devour her.

She took a step back instinctively when he walked closer to her that way but when she realised what she had done, she stopped and stood there defiantly.

A smirk formed on his lips but his eyes were colder as he asked her while shaking his head, 

"My dear Elizabeth!! I do not want a single thing from the family of Thawyne. The matter is between you and me!" he whispered each word closer to her face as his hot and deep breaths started to caress her skin.

She shivered when she felt his cold eyes looking at her body. There was something strange in it. Her cheeks started to burn just by his heated gaze when he finally opened his pale and thin lips and spoke, 

"I want a kiss from you in exchange for helping your family!"