Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Evan was sure that this was the last blow. He would soon throw a tantrum and she would be thrown out of the palace. So, her level of pride increased.

"Who are you to ask me that? Bow down your head!" The man looked at him dumbfounded and she gloated. He must be shocked to hear the attitude in her voice. 

"What? Did you not hear me?" she asked again as she raised her head high.

"Father." Both girls held one hand of their father and the man finally blinked.

But instead of shouting or arguing with her, he turned and glared at his daughters.

"Can't you see that she was the chosen duchess. As marques our family had to bow their heads in front of her. So, what was the issue here if she had asked you to bow your heads?" He scolded his daughter, making not only them but even Evan dumbfounded.

Her jaw hit the floor when she listened to him. Wasn't he supposed to be furious at getting command from a young girl, a commoner at that!?

"We.. We apologize , father!" the girls replied with a trembling voice as they looked at the menacing eyes of their father.

He snorted, showing no mercy to his daughters, "apologize to the duchess, not me!" he added and the girls looked at their father and then at Evan who had finally recovered from her initial shock and mimicked the haughty expressions again.

"We apologise, your highness." they both bowed in front of Evan who stood there unsure of what to do!?

"It is okay, but remember to not repeat your mistakes. I am not that forgiving." She continued her act and the girls nodded.

Evan cried in her heart at her bad luck. Now she had to find another bait.

"Do not worry, your highness. I will make sure to educate them over this matter and as an apology, kindly accept this small gift from me." Evan who was wailing over her luck looked at the beautiful sapphire ring in the hands of the man. Its shine was blinding to the eyes but should she take such a precious gift from him. 

She looked at his face that had a flattering smile then looked around for Eve or the duke but no one was around to guide her.

But then a thought crossed her mind. If she would take bribery and precious gifts from the nobles then she would be announced as the greedy and wicked woman. So, she nodded with a haughty smile.

"How could I deny your kind intentions, marquees?" she took the ring as he nodded his head, giving her another flattering smile.

"I knew that the lady is wise and forgiving in nature. Then I expect a good future alliance with you in the future." she nodded her head with a degenerated smile.

"Of course, I will be looking forward to it." The man finally left her alone. When she looked around, everyone's eyes were set on her actions. They only turned their faces and pretended to be busy with their partners when she looked at them.

She looked at the beautiful ring in her hands and wore it unceremoniously. This was the reward of her hard work today. Alas! She had to return it to Leo later.

"I did not know that the lady had an affinity towards jewelry. Or I would have presented this set earlier.`` She turned only to see another man whom she did not know well standing there with an opened box in his hands. It had a shining pearl and diamond necklace.

"This is a small gift from the humble house of count Envida." he bowed his head as he forwarded the gift towards the girl who gulped.

Evan wondered how they were even arranging rare jewels in the middle of the party. They sure were not magicians, right?

The man looked into her eyes when she did not initiate to take the jewels.

"Is the necklace not up to your liking, your highness?" he asked with a nervous smile and Evan blinked. That was going out of hand. She did not want to take the responsibility of so many rare jewels. Just the name of being greedy was enough!

"Yes! How did you even think that I would be pleased with a simple jewel like pearls? Do you think as the archduchess, I will wear this kind of jewel?" I looked at the man with disdain.

He looked at me and then at the jewels with a loss of words. Though I was right that pearls were taken as cheap jewels by higher nobles. There was no way that a commoner could afford that! Even the lower nobles like Viscount and Baron can hardly afford the pearls of this quality that were shining brightly. I knew that because my friend used to work in a jewelry shop and often told me how pricey these jewels were!

"I apologize, my lady. I will bring better jewels next time. Please take them for now as an installment." installment! Installment of what? Evan was at a loss of words. She did not know how to respond to that. Then she looked around only to see that others were taking out the gifts too. They were silently waiting for their turn to arrive so that they could offer her jewels and other precious things. She gulped when her eyes fell on a man who had the reins of a beautiful black horse in his hands.

  'Was that for me too.' her eyes stilled on the horse and the man had a triumphant smile on his face.

  He walked closer to her as he was not afraid of breaking the line and offering her the gift first.

"This is the best horse you could find in the vicinity, my lady. No one had the knowledge of horses better than me." he told her proudly as he touched the back of the horse with affection. "This is my humble gift to welcome the presence of my lady."

"........"