Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Evangeline felt her body turning cold yet she persisted and smiled.

"Then I shall take my leave and see if there are others who can offer me the job." she replied with a smile while the lady kept staring at her with keen eyes.

"Hmm" came the nonchalant reply of the lady and Evangeline wanted to ask the boy how kind she was. Yet she maintained that smile and turned to leave when the lady continued, "but i have not completed yet." she added, making Evangeline turn back, "As i said i am already teaching them piano, but if you know any other instrument that i can give you a chance." added the lady finally smiling kindly.

Evengeline blinked, she had shattered all her dreams only to bring them back, why? She could have said that straight! Anyways, since she has been given another chance, I will do my best. With that thought Evangeline nodded.

"I can play any instrument you want me to." she replied, making the lady surprised.

"Well, then let's start with the violin. I wanted to learn it myself for a long time. And we already have a few girls there. If you can teach them confidently today, I will hire you." Evangeline almost jumped at her place with the news. She was so enthralled that she even forgot to ask for the salary or other terms.

It had been days since she had touched her babies, her instruments. Mere sight of them made her excited.

"Then come in." said the lady as she looked amusedly at the blissful smile of the little girl in front of her.

Evangeline finally came back to her senses and nodded. They both walked into the room full of girls who were chattering and laughing. They would be around 16-17 just two three years younger than Evangeline. Therefore when she entered, they took her as a new student and looked at her with a smile.

"Are you new here?" asked a girl with a smile and Evangeline nodded.

"Come and sit here, lady Parker is about to come and she is very strict." When the girl invited to sit with her, only then did Evangeline understand the meaning of her sentence, before Evangeline could decline and explain the owner entered. 𝒇𝑟e𝙚𝑤𝙚𝐛𝗻𝐨ν𝚎𝘭.c𝐨m

"Hello girls, this is Evangeline and she has volunteered to teach violin to all of us. I want your feedback after the class if she is good enough to teach you or not.`` Evangeline was thinking that she would ask later discreetly but her bluntness once again surprised the girl.

"Yes, miss parker." the girls replied in chorus without much surprise that made it clear to her that they were habitual of this behavior.

"So, shall we start." Evangeline nodded as she passed the violin. She sat on the chair and started with describing the part of the violin and then how to hold it. After that she started moving its strings with the help of the stick's hair.

The music filled the room making every spellbound. As if they were hypnotised, they could not move their gazes away. They were looking at the girl with their hearts in their eyes. There was only the sound of moving sticks on the violin, not even their breaths could be heard.

Only when did she stop, they realized how lost they were. "Now, you all repeat, and I will help you wherever you are stuck." Evangeline stood up and they all looked at each other embarrassedly.

"Ummm, this instrument is new for us, can you help us by playing a small party at a time." said Miss Parker, the owner of the place so Evangeline could only nod.

"Alright, let's play together this time…." It took her two more hours to Evangeline to make them learn a few notes.

"Alright girls, that is it for today. You can leave." Now that only both of them were left Evangeline felt her palms turn sweaty again.

"Hmm, you are good at playing the violin. Do you know other instruments too?" Evangeline nodded, making her nod in satisfaction too.

"Good, then your job is fixed. I will give you 30 silver coins, one for each lesson, and food at one time with extra tea." she replied in a fixed tone, but Evangeline was more than satisfied. It was a good amount to start.

"Stefan, help me in finding a cook too. Buying food from the market is expensive!" she grumbled when Evangeline smiled as she had thought of a gold level idea.

"Do you live here, miss parker!?" she asked and the lady looked back at her and nodded.

"I can be your cook too if you let me live here with you. And of course, I will have all my meals here only." Evangeline added with courage as she knew living in the inn was expensive and she would not be able to live there for long.

"You will help me in other chores too." added miss parker and it did not take a second for her to nod.

"But after that I am free to do whatever I want." since she has to find other ways to earn too.

"Deal, you can shift tomorrow. I will clean the other room for you." the girl nodded and left the place with a bright smile. Now she did not need to sell her other jewels for now. She could keep them for buying a house later.

They both walked to the inn and she held the hands of Stefan. The boy frowned but she smiled.

"You have helped me from day one. Come with me.'' She took the grumbling boy to the innkeeper.

"I will leave the inn tomorrow. I want to know if there is some coins left." the innkeeper nodded as he took out three silver coins.

Though Evangeline thought something would be left but she was still surprised to see three coins, she turned and gave one coin in the hand of the boy.

"This is for you, my benefactor."