Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"I know I have been a bit rude to you. But I have learnt from my mistakes. You do not need to leave with your father, since this is your palace from the start.\'\' He took a deep breath and stared at Leo, then at the files in his hands and then back to Leo with a lump in his throat. "Here!"

He passed a file to Leo with a smile on his face but his voice had turned wetter.

Leo\'s brows furrowed. He looked at the file but took no initiation to hold it when Ethan gave a wry smile.

"You are behaving like i will give you a bomb!" He chuckled but his voice was low, "I have signed all the papers that I did not have any right to properly and all the properties that belong to me are given to my youngest sister, Evan and her husband, Leo. so, as the position of duke." he said as he let go of the file that fell on the table again.

"I am leaving for the summer place. The only property I have kept is my name.

All the land that is used for growing flowers would be part of it.`` He took out another file from the cupboard and passed it to Leo again.

This time Leo took the file at once earning another chuckle from Ethan. "I can earn enough by selling all the flowers to rich nobles and others. And the land would be enough to live for my generations.

One of the maids that had decided to follow me would be enough. I will send the rest of the staff here since I can not afford them.

You can decide what you need to do with them!" he said as if he had planned everything, making Leo frown again.

"How could that be? You are the heir of everything. You can not live the life of a commoner?" he let go of the file and sat in front of Ethan while rubbing his forehead as if another headache was coming in.

"Ethan, my father and I have lived our life roughly while staying in war and in the administration office most of the time. We did not care about luxury from the start." he explained and then smoked, "and as long as it is about Evan, she is fine as long as she gets a few musical instruments in her small house and a small land to grow vegetables."

His face softened and his eyes twinkled as he said so, making Ethan envious.

He had never cared about the land of building. He had come this far just for this familial love and happiness but alas! It was never in his fate to have love.

"So, do not worry. I will still come and work with you to guide you until father wakes up." he stood up without waiting for Ethan\'s reply and tore the file that he was given. "This place only reminds me of the family that is broken now, anyways. My wife and I need some peace now.`` With that he gave one pat to Ethan on his shoulders and turned to leave.

"But I am not qualified for the post!" Ethan shouted, but Leo just shook his head.

"So, rather than running away, do hard work to make yourself qualified." His words were like cold water splashed over his face, "and as I said, I will help you as much as I can. Until you are ready, you can send important files to our new house or come over dinner. Evan would be happy to see you." his hands were already on the door when he turned to look at Ethan whose face was filled with guilt.

"No one is blaming you or abandoning you. It is only right that a woman leaves their house after marriage. It just happened late due to certain events. But this is the right thing to do." His face had an elegant smile.

Though he was leaving everything, he still looked majestic and regal as if he was the prince who was giving everything away but the aura of his could never be left.

"I hope you will be able to make the right decisions in your life too." with that he took his gaze away and opened the door.

His face looked relieved as if a large burden had been removed from his body.

Evan was already waiting for him at the door. She stood up and stared back into his eyes as if asking silently when he came closer and hugged her.

She hugged him back with a look of conflict on her face. She stared at the door of the room of Ethan when guilt filled her eyes.

"Shh! He would be fine. You can hold his hands and then expect him to learn." he rubbed her back gently as if he was trying to soothe her worries, "sometimes, it is better to let go so that the person could fall and learn from his injuries.`` She nodded her head with a heavy look on her face when he gently kissed her forehead and then used his fingers to smooth the wrinkles on her forehead.

"Now now.. Do not frown that much! Or you would look like an old lady.. That is also a fat one!" he teased but when she did not respond and continued to look hurt and upset.

He held her cheeks and raised her head to look back into his eyes when he added,

"What if I find a beautiful woman and cheat on you since you look that ugly now?"