Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Ethan stared from the distance as Eve dragged her tired body towards the stairs.

He had seen the woman laughing and enjoying every moment. She was full of confidence and sparks yet she was looking like a tired soul right now. He felt bad for her but knew that his interference would only worsen the matter.

The way Leo was looking cold, it was clear that he did not approve of her choice of man too. But why? He had thought that his father was liberal.

If he was so much against the prince of another nation, would he accept Hannah as his wife? What if he disagreed? A bitter taste filled his mouth when the thought crossed his mind.

Leo turned and their eyes met. They both kept staring at each other for a few more seconds before Leo turned to leave.

"Why is father against her marriage?" Ethan did not want to have a conversation with Leo after the last accident but he could not help but ask. He was baffled and worried. He did not know if the anxiety was wholly because he was afraid of his future or her tears had affected him. But he wanted to help if he could.

"He is not from this empire and if Eve married Christian, she had to follow the rules of the empire and leave the nation with him to never return back!" Aiden could hear the sigh and pain in his words.

As if he was trying to hold his anger, his body trembled a bit while his eyes turned colder at the end of the sentence but his actions only brought more bewilderment on the face of Ethan.

"I did not understand. It is given that she would leave with her husband for the palace he lives at. But why did she not come back?

On certain occasions, she can always come back and visit us. No?" is it also one of the gimmicks of nobles.

He remembered well that daughter visit their homes on many occasions and they celebrate festivals together. Or is it because of the distance or change in culture?

"Even if the empires are on friendly terms, there is always a chance of war since humans are greedy.

Therefore if a woman marries another empire, she has to forget about her past. What if the marriage was just a facade to spy on the other empire.

Or what if our empire was using women to get information about their empire.

With so many doubts and casualties, the women are forbidden to visit the other empire so that information can never be leaked. And those who had still tried to cross that land were announced as traitors.

Our empire never prefers marriage between two empires like other nations to keep their intellect to them." Ethan nodded, that means, Eve would be announced as a spy if she ever tried to come back. And if once married, they would never be able to see her again.

Now he could see why they were looking so worried.

"But what if it had been a commoner? Would my father have accepted it? `` Leo nodded as he was sure that father did not care about wealth and status. He wanted all of them to stay near him so that he could be assured.

Father did not believe that they both fell in love so easily. The man must be trying to trap her.

But Ethan felt that Leo was patient enough to reply to his every question and even ask if he had any other query. Could it be that their relationship is improving?

A smile formed on his lips when the thought crossed his mind. But before he could say thank you, the man had already turned to leave.

Ethan opened his mouth but closed it again when he realized how worried and busy Leo was. It would be better if he returned to his father's side.

They could thank each other later. He waited there for a few more seconds before returning to his room.

He sat on the plush chair near the window as he thought about Eve. She was looking heartbroken. Should he go and try to console her? But what if she felt that he was mocking her!

"Knock, knock." The sound of the knocking door and a maid standing there took his attention as he cleared his thoughts and nodded.

The maid walked in and took out a letter from her pocket.

"My lord. There is a letter for you." She passed the letter to Ethan who waved his hands and she bowed and left after closing the door once again.

"Ethan,

It has been two days since you last met me. I wonder if you are busy or you are disappointed that I always ask for money when I meet you.

I feel embarrassed too but I have no choice but to ask you since I know no one but you in this vast world. If my mother would have been in good health, I would have invited you to meet her.

But alas, i did not have the money to pay for the hospital charges any more so i brought her home.

Now, I am not sure how long she will be able to live. Everything feels like a burden to me. If only you would have been here to hold me in your arms and tell me everything would be fine.

I miss you, Ethan. So, come home when you finally remember this lowly self. Mother would be happy to see you too.

Yours only

Hannah!" a tinge of guilt filled his eyes. He was getting so busy with the affair of the palace that he forgot that she only had him. What conditions she would be growing through when she had to bring her mother back without getting any treatment.

No! He had to help her with the expenses so that her mother could be saved. But how? Father was too angry to ask for money and Leo would not help him.

He felt helpless when he took a deep breath and looked at the ceiling but then his eyes sparkled and he stood up with new enthusiasm.

"Don't worry, Hannah. I have found a way!"