Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Adele and Maximilian were still looking into the eyes of each other when Andrew noticed they both were in no mood to reply to him.

He sat down on the chair and leaned his body forward putting his weight on his hands as he spoke in a cold voice,

"So, now the drama has ended, let's talk about business! I do not have much time."

He had no idea about how the trial was going on but one thing was sure: no matter how many proofs the Thawyne family gave, his father would manipulate their words and announce them as guilty.

He knew his father had set a noble trial to end their lineage. Just the thought of it infuitate him and made him guilty too since he was not able to tell the truth.

He was so worried about Eli in the past that he did not realize how he had become the puppet of his father for hiding one truth.

He had thought it did not matter if she hated him as long as she was happy with her family. He bore her every insult, every time she looked at him with those cold eyes, just to keep her dignity and her family intact.

But if he would stay silent today, he was not sure if the family would be able to survive.

"Tell me how you convinced my father to make you the empress! And do not dare to lie or say you manipulated him with your sweet words!" His voice was not loud but it was rather dominating.

It was so low and cold as if it was coming from netherlands. Adele finally came back to her senses and realized what she had done.

She was so overwhelmed when she saw the sword touching Max's neck that she was not able to stop herself but now when she looked at Andrew's face, she gulped.

"That.. I can explain." she let go of the sword from her hands as she was sure the man was not going to attack anymore.

But that does not mean their lives are safe. A wrong word and he would kill both of them.

"Save it! I know he was your knight and some higher noble in your empire and professed his love to you there.

When the empire was defeated and you were taken as a hostage, he secretly followed you and started working in the palace so that he would get a chance to save you.

But when he came to know that you are going to get married to me, he was stunned and confronted you.

Since then you both have been meeting privately. I must say you have used good excuses to call him to your room that no one would have ever doubted.

And the way he became one with the darkness at nights to come to you is tremendous.

I must say he is a skilled knight, too bad I did not trust him and so did you. So you both have to die.

I can take you to the royal court right now and tell the truth to everyone to distract them from the matter of Thrones?

Have you ever thought how commoners and nobles would be interested in knowing how their future empress was having an affair with a knight from her country and planning to kill me, the future emperor of the empire." with a vicious glint in his eyes he looked at both of them.

His sharp features were so cold at this time that Adele could feel the fear crawling into her skin.

If what he said was done, she was sure they would be beheaded. She had done all that to save her life but in the end..

No! Her hands clenched into a tight fist as she stared back at him. She was not going to accept this future.

"Adele is innocent. I was the one who forced her. I went to convince her but she did not come with me. She was not connected to me in any way." Max who was silent all this time, stood up, even the knights who were holding his shoulders were not able to restrain him as he covered Adele from his body.

Hiding her behind his back, he stared deep into the eyes of Andrew with no hint of fear.

"No matter what allegation you put on her, I have replied to your every word. So, do not think that you can threaten her." he enunciated each word slowly and with a dangerously low voice that even Andrew was silent for a minute.

It was clear that the man would not think twice before sacrificing life for her. He could take a life and give his life easily when it comes to Adele.

The intensity in his eyes was so strong that even Andrew felt lacking for a second.

"But who would believe your words? Are you forgetting that you are nothing but a refugee, a slave who had run away and deceived the palace by hiding your identity for getting a job.

There are many knights who would say that they have seen you and Adele in compromising situations.

Would the court believe you or the sacred knights of our empire? Huh?

And even if my father helped you and accepted you over the members of our nation, Adele would still lose credibility and you would lose your life.

Is that even worth it?" Andrew could feel that the man was about to say "yes" he did not care about her life at all.

What a troublesome one man! Andrew chuckled as he looked at the girl hiding behind him with a evil glint in his eyes as he continued,

"In the end, do you think she would be able to survive once you died? Do you think I would let her survive?

Why would I let a snake stay behind me? I can mix poison in her food, the water she takes bath in or ask my knights to kill her and then name it as an accident. Who will be there to protect her once you are gone?"