Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Duke William's eyes enlarged a bit when he saw Sir Valen standing there personally. The man never leaves the sides of his majesty and his presence shows the gravity of the situation. His eyes flickered with rage but he blinked and entered the room with a calm face. He welcomed the man with a smile on his face.

"I was not expecting to see Sir Valen here personally." he held Eli's hand and walked towards the other side of the table. The chair that represents the head of the Thayne house, the heir of the dukedom, where lord William sits personally, held Eli's hand and made her sit there.

Eli looked at her father with utter shock. Her eyes widened and her hands trembled for a second when her eyes met her father, but there was only a calm and assuring look on his face. She took a deep breath and nodded. Her father was trusting her so much. He was ready to give her all his powers so that she did not feel weak in front of the power of the royal family, so she had to live up to his expectations.

Valen raised a brow when Eli sat on the chair of duke. In their empire, women had never been made heir and the law did not provide them any support to be in the distant future. Only men have the right of inheritance and those who die without having a son, their properties were taken by the royal family only to be given to the husband of their daughters or grandson.

Wasn't it challenging the authority by giving Eli the chair in front of a royal messenger? A sneer formed on his face when he saw their warm interaction. He broke their heart melting interaction carelessly

"I apologize for coming unannounced but the matter was too big to be delayed." Although he was apologizing, there was no sincerity on his face.

"And the matter is?" asked duke Thawyne, a servant who had already palace a chair near Eli where he sat with a calm face. He had seen the man's expression but it didn't affect him even a bit.

"His majesty came to know that lord Thawyne was asking other nobles to support him to annul the marriage. Are you trying to wage a war against his majesty or are you asking everyone to go against his decision??" his voice turned sharp and accusing and Eli trembled. She knew that the matter would not be resolved easily but she had never thought in her dreams that they would be blamed for treason!! 

The only punishment of treason was to end their whole family on the guillotine. She wiped her sweaty hands from her dress under the table. But her face stayed serene. As if the man was only talking about taking a walk in the garden.

On the other hand, Duke Thawyne chuckled as if he had heard a joke. He looked at the man with an amused face, "if i did not know any better, i would have thought that you are accusing me for treason, Sir Valen. As the personal aide of his majesty, you should choose your word carefully,'' Duke Thawne shook his head with a chuckle again as if he was still laughing over the joke, but his eyes were sharp and filled with ridicule.

"I can challenge your words, and ask for justice in the royal court, sir Valen. But I know that it was just a slip of tongue. Right? Or shall I confirm from his majesty if the words were chosen by him?" came the sharp voice of duke Thawyne. The words were calm and serene, there was no sign of anger or ridicule but his eyes were filled with indefinite confidence, as if he was sure that no one could challenge his authority.

Valen had thought that those words would be enough to scare the old man but he was still standing there majestically and looking down at Valen, which made him furious. No one had ever talked to him in a high voice or challenged his words due to his position but duke Thawyne was treating him like any other messenger that was unacceptable to him.

But he could not accuse them for treason directly without the instruction of his majesty.

"I am just iterating what I have heard, Duke Thawne. Of course, I would trust your words more as you are loyal to his majesty.`` Duke Thawne nodded at the statement with a grave face and Valen's face filled with a proud smile. The old man could not win against him in wits. But his smile did not stay for long when duke Thawyne added

"As an advisor of his majesty, I was not expecting you to believe the rumors. Next time, choose your words wisely, not everyone is calm and understanding like me." Valen gritted his teeth as he was called dimwit indirectly. But he did not want to indulge in verbal arguments from the duke. 

Valen was sure that the duke would face enough in the royal court, he would make sure to laugh at him when that time comes.

"Of course, duke Thwayne is the most understanding person in the whole empire. I am here to pass the royal summon, you have been invited in the royal court regarding the matter of annulment of the marriage.  All the higher nobles and the crown prince are invited too.'' He passed a red envelope to the man who took no initiative to take that personally but looked at the knights who moved forward and Valen felt humiliated again.

But he kept his rage for later. Duke Thawne had always been this proud but he never gave a single chance to anyone to raise their finger on him but now that he was trying to favor his daughter, Valen was sure that Duke would receive enough humiliation in the meeting.

"Then i shall take my leave.. i will wait for duke Thawyne and his daughter in the royal palace."