Chapter 319 – End The Rumors

Since the duke had come back. He was lost in his thoughts!

“Are you sure about it?” his eyes scanned the report once again as three deep lines formed on his forehead.

“Yes, master! Whole staff had received a letter on the very same day and each of them had claimed that the letter was wrongly posted and they did not understand the contents of the letter!” He had thought that finding the person would be easy since the letters to the staff were received by the guards first and it was entered in the register.

His eyes scanned the name of the staff with a grave look on his face when he heard a knock on the door.

His hands instinctively moved and picked up all the letters and reports and hid them in the lower most drawer of his table and adjusted his reactions.

He had called for both of them because he was sure that the man would try to contact Evangeline if he was not given the title of the noble, which was impossible even for him.

But even after waiting for a while the couple did not come and a deep frown formed on his face.

“Leo! Evan! Are you still there?” He was about to stand up when the knight shook his head and walked towards the door with hurried steps and opened it only to hear their last line and he was left speechless.

“Young lord, if you are done with planning your children, your father is waiting for you!” he tried to be polite, yet the words came out like sarcasm and only then did Evan come back to her senses!

They are not even engaged yet she was thinking about having kids with him. Her cheeks burnt and she lowered her head instantly so that she didn’t notice the smirk forming on his face.

His eyes were glowing like the predator whose prey was caught successfully!

The fear of being called suddenly grew in her mind again. What if he had finally realized that she was not worth the family. Or what if.. No! She shook her head and held her dress tightly as she walked in while her actions were only taken as embarrassment by both men who had the same thought in their mind.

With a smug smile on his face that he was going to have a girl, he held her hands and walked in.

Looking at the wide grin on his face even the knights shook their heads.

The girl didn’t even know that she was tricked! He never knew that the young lord was so sharp in tricking the naive girls.

“Father!”

“Your highness!” 

they both bowed their heads as they stood in front of the duke.

Though his face was still grave, his personality had his own elegance and charm. Even when he was just sitting there buried in the files, his aura was dominating that could force anyone to bow their heads in front of him. 

A frown formed on his face instantly and his manners only turned further imposing as he stared at the girl who flustered a bit,

“Your highness! When will you start calling me father, like others?” 

“Umm” under the gaze of the three men, Evan did not know how to reply to that. 

She had only called father to her biological one, to call someone else father would be a bit.. But when her eyes met the anticipating eyes of the old man, she could not get the heart to deny him.

Taking a deep breath, as if she was mustering courage, she parted her lips, 

“Feather” 

Though she called the word rather awkwardly the eyes of the man instantly shone with bright rays of light as if the rays of sun were dancing there. So many indescribable emotions passed them that even Leo, who was expecting a chuckle, narrowed his eyes at the expressions of his father.

Though he was the one who had chosen Evan and he should be happy, yet his reaction was too emotional. He did not remember his father being too delighted even when he had called him father for the first time.

“Father, you have called us?” The more his father continued to stare at the girl, the more uneasy she felt as she looked around but did not dare to look into the eyes of the duke. 

Coming to the rescue of his lover, Leo caught the attention of his father once again as he secretly patted her back, to give her some strength.

“Yes! I have given both of you enough time to understand yourself. Now that the whole empire is speculating about my decision and thinking that I am going to back away from it, I want to end all the rumors.

Yet I did not want to force my desires on both of you. All I want is your happiness!

So, I am giving you half a day to give me your final decision.

Leo,” he turned to look at his son whose face was filled with a bright smile just a minute ago but now it was stiff and rigid as if a bolt of lightning had hit his body!

Oblivious to the shock he had given him, the duke sighed as if he was tried yet continued,

“If you do not want to marry, Evangeline. I will not force you anymore. I will find a good man for him and marry her off since she is my responsibility now. All i want is your and her happiness. But i think this generation is strong enough to take their own decisions. So, i asked your aunt and my cousins and got other choices,

In fact, I have just the right man in mind. Did you remember your cousin Aiden, the son of the marquis and lady Grace!”

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