Useful

Evan could hear Harold's distant shouts, his empty threats that had scared her once and left her vulnerable. And now.. It all felt so useless. As if she was scared of nothing.

"Evangeline, are you okay?" She blinked and looked at Damien. He was standing in front of a bench. When she nodded, he slowly placed her on the bench.

"You knew Harold was there, right?" He did not reply, but did not refuse it too when he sat beside her and looked back at the palace where the man was struggling or had already been thrown out.

"I do not like scum like him. He needed to see it from his eyes that he had lost you." The words brought a smile to her face. She had seen the rage and insecurities hidden beneath that rage.

"But he would not divorce me now." she had a plan but it wouldn't work now, "i was going to ask him divorce in exchange for my inheritance. I was going to convince him that I did not want to be part of his affair anymore and leave for good." Her voice fell at those words when she felt his gaze on her.

He was looking at her but she did not turn to look at him. His gaze was burning her and for some reason, she felt guilty.

"Evangeline, only a fool will let you go for your inheritance. And I am sure Graystone is not a fool." What did he mean? He was in love with her sister. He was only using her for getting position and power. Of course, if she would give up on her inheritance, he would have no use for her.

Damien shook his head as if he had read her thoughts.

"But now he would create trouble for you, your grace. If he complained against you, it would…" She did not know what implications he would face. She had heard that he was not judged by the royal court but she didn't know how far the rumors were true.

"Forget it. Did you want to go with him?" she stiffened. Did she want to leave this place? No! She did not.

"But…" he held her hands and rubbed them.

"I do not want to hear if and but Evangeline. Did you want to go with him." Evan lowered her head and shook it slightly when he squeezed her hands. "And are you scared of me?"

She shook her head again, this time with more confidence bringing a smile on his face.

"Then.. you have decided on our marriage?" Those words snapped her head back in his direction. 

"Your grace.."

"Your answer, Evangeline. Do you still want to marry me, despite knowing that I can be scary and it will not be a marriage in name only?" She was a fool! Of course, she was.. To feel desperation in his voice. He was the strongest man of the empire and though families were afraid of him, there were many girls who wanted to marry him.

She nodded with an embarrassed look on her face. 

"But my divorce…" 

"I will handle it." Damien closed his eyes and held her hands tightly. She did not know what to do with those hands. With him, his actions. She knew she must do something but what?

 If Else would have been at her place, she would have known what to do with such emotions. So, she sat there straight until he opened his eyes and let go of her hands.

"Do you like gardens, Evangeline?" She looked at the bright flowers. Did she like them? They were just flowers used for decoration. What was there to like or not like about them. But would this response be correct?

"Haha! Evangeline, that was not a tactic question that you need to think so deeply on." he shook his head when Evan gulped. He laughed. But it did not sound taunting.

"I do not have much interest in flowers. I was just feeling stuffy in the room so I wanted fresh air." he nodded, smiled as if he wanted to assure her that her replies were welcomed. She looked at him and felt confident.

"I like music. The sound of violin or piano unbinds me and I enjoy painting. The vivid colors that let me draw any dream and for a minute believe that they were reality give me inspiration." Damien smiled at her relaxing eyes. The moment she had been brought, she was walking on eggshells. 

The physician had informed him that she had been forced. There were bruises on her skin, old and new and marks on her knees. It must be cane or leather. She had been beaten. A frail girl like her was injured. The thoughts unnerved him.

He did not know anything about her a few days ago. He would be lying if he said he did not entertain that idea that she was playing with him. She was using him to achieve something but now looking at her, he remembered the cat he had brought home when he was a child. 

The drenched cat was so scared at the start but slowly she warmed up and drank all the milk from his cup too. 

She is at the warming stage. She would soon be like his cat, unbridled and bold.

"I will ask Gloria, the head maid, to arrange painting materials in your room. If you need anything else, you can inform her. She is a meticulous woman." she nodded this time with a smile.

"Your grace." Gerald was standing in the corner. He did not approach them but his face had an urgent look when Evan stiffened again.

"It is okay. How about you enjoy the scenery for a while and I will order tea for you." She nodded, relieved that he made an excuse instead of blaming her. But even though she knew, she had to bring more than a child to get help from him. She had to prove herself useful.