Villainess Becomes The Knight

Gerard pov.

"My lord, my lord." I felt annoyed as I heard my new aide shouting. It has been only three days since he started working here when my last aide died accidentally but he has already started annoying me. I think this one would face an accident earlier than the last one!

Could he not see the girl in my arms?

"My lord." he called me again as he finally reached me and stood in front of me.

"Can you not see that I am busy right now?" I asked as I finally let the lips of the girl go. She was still in my lap and her arms were wrapped around my neck. My hands were on her waist, tightly holding her at her place.

It was such a good moment yet all was ruined by this idiot.

He shivered listening to my cold voice but still continued to stand there. I took a deep breath, I could not kill him as long as the girl was there. For them, I am a very kind and benevolent person!

"What is it?" I asked, trying my best to sound like a warm hearted person.

"My lord, the whole store caught fire. And it burned all the clothes and furniture and.. Everything is ruined. Nothing is left except a dilapidated building." he stuttered yet I got the grasp of the situation and stood abruptly. 

The girl in my arms fell! Fool! Could she not see the change in my mood and move away.

"How did this happen and which store got burnt?" I asked as I had more than 5 stores in the capital only.

The man took a few steps back as his face bowed further.

"All.. all the stores my lord.`` His voice was barely above a whisper, but I could hear it clearly. It was not an accident then! Someone! Someone has done this knowingly.

"The lanterns that were left lit even at night, so that the guard could see if there was an intruder in the store, were not kept properly. Most of them were leaking so the oil caught fire and clothes caught it too. It started burning, passing the fire in the whole store and soon the flames increased burning the whole area. The.. the nearby stores are asking for compensation since the fire has ruined their places and goods too." said the man as he tried to be one with the wall!

"Great! So you mean to say that all of my stores burnt and I am the one who has to pay a fine too!" I could not believe this! They were asking me to pay! Me!

"Well, they have lost their goods due to your staff mistake. I understand that you have faced losses too. But it was your staff carelessness in the end." said the girl finally standing up properly and adjusting her clothes.

I took a deep breath and nodded.

"You are right. I apologise, I just lost myself in emotions. You are such a kind woman to remind me the facts.'' I replied, caressing her cheeks. Would she scream if I burned her cheeks too!?

A sweet smile formed on her lips as she leaned to my hands to get more of my touch while all I wanted was to strangle her! Could she not see my condition!?

"Elena, I think I should go and look at the condition of the store and talk to the nearby people to know how much compensation they are expecting. Shall we meet some other day?" I asked with a sad smile on my face as she looked at me. Her face filled with sympathy as she nodded.

"Escort the lady in the best carriage we have." I replied and the eyes of my aide widen. His face paled further as he looked at me and I raised a brow!

"What is it? Do you have any problem with it?" I added and even the girl looked at him with a frown.

"No, no my lord." he replied, shaking his head. As he gulped and left with hurried footsteps.

"You aide is a queer person." told the girl as she hugged me. I gave a kiss on her forehead.

"He will learn things slowly. We should give them time and a chance to learn. Though I still miss my old aide." she patted my back as she looked at me with further sympathy.

'This is the last sympathy gaze you are giving to others, darling. After today, you will be the one who will get all the sympathy gazes!' I smiled with satisfaction at that thought.

I saw her finally leaving and kicked the table so hard that it flew to the wall.

"What happened, would you explain it to me now?" I asked as the aide entered back. 

"My lord, I have sent the lady in the carriage with the broken wheel. I have even warned the coachmen to have a good accident. She will surely hurt herself." he replied and I threw the glass over his face.

"I am not talking about that dumb girl. I am asking you about the stores? How did all of them catch fire?" could he be anymore dimwit!

"Our knights were looking at the condition, do you want to visit my lord?" I nodded and walked out.

"Have we had any new competition recently?" I asked as I sat in the carriage.

"Yes, your highness. A few commoners have opened a new store recently and there is a rumor that they have already sold a few dresses to his highness. And I have also heard that the son of earl, whose business was closed when we started working, is also opening a new store in a week." he replied in a meek voice and i frowned.

"Both parties are weak to stand against us directly. But I still want you to collect all the information about them. If it is their work then they do not know they have enmity with the most dangerous person of the empire."