Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Let me ask my friends then." She turned to look at the nobles and gave them a signal. Many averted their gaze when Olivia asked them to dance with Evangeline when she walked to Chester and winked. The man smirked and nodded.

"Chester, would you be kind enough to dance with the lady here?" she asked in a sweet tone and the man gave a treacherous smile to Evangeline. Evangeline churned as she looked at the man with an awkward face. 

Though he knew that the girl was betrothed to Leo, his eyes were set on the couple. Leo did not take any initiative to dance with the girl and let Olivia arrange a partner for her. He concluded that even if their marriage was decided, it was an arranged marriage which was forced on Leo.

"It would be my pleasure to dance with such a beautiful lady." he replied as he took Evans hand in his hands and kissed her gently. She knew that it was common for nobles to kiss the hands of the ladies, yet she felt nauseated when he kissed her. There was something in him that was making her uneasy. 

Leo looked at the whole scene with calm eyes. No one knew what was fathoming in his eyes

"Eli" Eli finally blinked when Eve elbowed her. She had never thought that Evan was talented enough to create an uproar in the society. When her father had told her that Evan used to teach music to the students. She had thought that she could play to a basic level.

When they both decided to compete. She had planned that even if she would play a bit better, She would present a lot of statements in her favor and save the pride of the family but she had never thought that she would win unparalleled.

"Eli, ask Leo to dance with Evangeline. Chester is not a good dancer." Eli nodded and walked towards Leo whose eyes were still on the clasped hands of Evangeline and Chester.

"Are you not going to dance with her?" she asked him as she felt his strong gaze. Leo looked at her and then at Evan who was passing a smile to the man who was still holding her hands.

He tidied his suit with his long and slender fingers and put the glass on the table in front of him. Then, he stood up calmly and walked towards the group. He silently extended his hand towards Evangeline who blinked.

"You will dance with me." That was an instruction. Like always his tone was cold and authoritative. It lacked the gentlemanliness a young man should show towards a young lady.

"..."

Looking at the hand that was extended before her, she felt his grim aura. That was not looking like a dance proposal at all. A dance should be done merrily not with that face, which was speaking dance or die! Why did it become a punishment all of a sudden?

She had already played piano and was ready to participate in the dance competition. If dancing with him was also the condition of reward, then She would rather not get any rewards!

When she finally came back to her senses, she immediately straightened her back. With her most solemn attitude, she said, "my lord, I think that i will..."

"You will get one more of it.."

"..." She couldn't dance with a stone because of money, although she really wanted to do so.

"Two more of it as a reward," He said slowly. He seemed to see through the struggles on her face, and the corners of his mouth rose.

"..." She needed money and needed it badly, but if she agreed just like this, wouldn't she appear to have a lack of integrity?

"Five times worth of jewels as a reward. If you are unwilling, then..."

"I agree! I agree!" She held his hand hastily as if she was afraid that he would take back his offer and replied to him without any hesitation.

He would give her five times the treasure than before. She would dance for days for that price even with the ghost let alone be this normal dance with him. they are talking about three months worth of salary as a reward now! Now she would make sure that she would dance like someone possessed by spirit. As for integrity, why think about something that she had not shown him since they had met even once! 

A mocking smile formed on his face when her face shone with money. Gold could be seen in her eyes.

'Capitalist! Taking advantage of the needs of the commoners!' Evan cursed him silently in her heart, but when she looked at him her expressions changed immediately, she had a flattering smile on her face, like a lackey.

"I will do anything that the Young lord orders!" He was her only hope to run away from this house with a treasure in her hands. He was her personal feudal lord. So, she must listen to him until she receives all the rewards he had promised to her. Whenever she looked at him, all she could see was a giant gold statue that she could sell in the market and fulfil all her wishes!

Leo narrowed his eyes and glanced at Evangeline, who had instantly adopted a fully bootlicking expression on her face. Her bright and brilliant eyes emitted an enchanting ray of light.

He was used to seeing people who constantly flattered him and especially hated these kinds of people.

When he saw her face full of flattery, however, he indescribably felt that she was cute.

It was just like the adorable look on Eve and his mother's face when they asked him to do anything he did not want to or when he promised them something they needed.

Leo looked at Chester who was still standing there with a stunned face and then looked at others retracted his gaze from her face. He felt strange sensations whenever he looked at her.