Villainess Becomes The Knight

William pov

"Your highness, the guard did not tell us any address, then where are we supposed to go?" she asked as we started walking.

"Lord Theodore, either be in his lodgings or at the knight's training chamber or his office. There is no other place where he could be." that Theodore should have made the guard more convincing. He did not even tell me what the emergency was! 

"By any chance, are you and lord Theodore close comrades?" She always wanted to know everything. Her every question was related to politics. 

How in the world, a novice like me would be able to distract her from political matters and start a conversation that would win her heart!?

"We both studied knighthood together.'' I replied curtly.

"How could that be? Isn't he older to you and now he is one of the masters in the academy while you are still a student.'' I rolled my eyes at the difference of tone she used to define him and me. 

"We started together, but then I left while he persisted. Yes, he is older to me. But isn't every knight older to you too? Yet, you are here!" I replied as I passed another lane.

"Little bird, did you even think about anything else but knights and empire?" Although I was asking her, I already knew the answer somewhere.

"I do, your highness. About my family, your ascension, your enemies, and the future." her last words came through gritted teeth as if she was facing a lot of grievances. 

That was not the first time I have felt this way. I always felt a dark aura was covering her and she was filled with so much wrath and revenge.

"What about the future, little bird?" I asked, trying to avoid the negative topics as we stood in front of a tall and wide door.

"A lot of things, your highness. How would I spend my life after your ascension? How we will deal with your enemies. How.."

"How will you spend your life, little bird."  I asked to cut her as her eyes told me the other topic would only be negative, the way her eyes were glowing with killing intent.

"My future?" she repeated like i was talking about something so distant, so unbelievable that she was at loss of words.,

"Yes, little bird, your future! You told me that you think about it a lot. So, what will you do after I ascend the throne?" I asked patiently, giving her the time to collect her thoughts.

"Well, I will start a lot of business and then live a leisurely life with all the money." I blinked at her reply, this was not at all in my expectation from the woman who was the most hardworking and who is always ready to fight with her sword.

"Why is there no knight or guard?" she asked, looking around.

"I do not know. Let's knock the door first.'' I replied and she nodded as she knocked on the door with all the strength she had.

"So, you will leave knighthood?" I asked and she nodded.

"Once you will be the emperor and your enemies will have lost, I will leave the knighthood." she replied with a nod and I smiled.

"Does it mean that you are a knight only for me, little bird?" I moved closer to her and looked into her eyes as I asked the question but she shook her head mercilessly.

"I am a knight to take revenge, your highness." her reply once again caught me off guard., 

"Why are you so full of revenge, little bird? Has anyone hurt you or something happened that I don't know about?" I asked as I cupped her cheeks, getting her off guard.

She continued to look at me with a loss of words. 

"I didn't mean it. I mean there is so much political tension, and I do not want my family to be affected by it. Once you will start ruling we will kill all those enemies and then peace will ensued.'' I shook my head at her blatant lies. She was once again hiding the facts.

"By enemy, you mean lord Gerard, right?" I asked , tilting my head and she nodded.

"Then, if I kill him. Would you marry me?" I do not know what came over me and how I got the courage to ask that when we were not even friends. My hands turned sweaty as the words left my mouth and I looked at her with some hesitation.

"Pfft hahaha." She started laughing, holding her stomach and I cursed myself to be so direct.

"Lord Gerard is much stronger than you think, your highness. And he is the nephew of her majesty. So it is not that easy for you to kill him. Even if you did, her majesty can accuse you and send you to prison. So, I advise you to let the thought go.

And I apologize, but I am not thinking about marriage, anytime soon. So, I let the proposal pass too." she replied with amused eyes, as if she was dealing with a kid.

"That is what I am talking about." I said and she tilted her head.

"No one opened the door, are you sure there is someone in there?" she asked as she knocked again.

"You know about my character well, I can not be loyal to one. And you are not interested in love or affection.

But it does not mean that your father will not force you to marry someone. Why don't we make a deal and marry each other?

That way you can be free to not love and live life on your terms and I will be free to love as many girls as I want.

You will get the power to take revenge from your enemies and I will get the support of a strong empress to run the nation. It is a perfect deal for both of us. What did you say?:``I asked as she looked at me with widened eyes and mouth agape.