Villainess Becomes The Knight

Abigail pov cont\'d..

For the first time, I was watching Isabella in a different light. If I have lost my mother in an incident. Then she had lost her father too. That also because her father was travelling with my mother and tried to protect her.

My father married her mother taking the responsibility of both of them. But I hardly see them sharing a room. Yet I always saw them as intruders who had entered my happy family to ruin it.

A lump formed on my throat as I continued to look at her distant eyes. She was younger than me, she needed comfort too.

"Do you miss your father a lot?" I asked, trying to get away with the feeling of guilt, grief and pain.

She nodded, still looking at the horizon. "This place was never mine to begin with, no one has ever accepted me. Brother Nicholas and father have sympathy for us, that is why they take my side, but when it comes to love and concern, it could be easily seen in their eyes when it comes to you." 

"It\'s not like that.. They care for you too. That is why they always scold me. They never scold you.`` Never in my dreams have I ever thought that I would coax Isabella one day. 

She just sighed and nodded as if she did not want to continue the topic anymore. Then she looked back at me.

"So, did you like the pendant? I can attach it with your bracelet if you want." she offered as she looked at the bracelet in my hands.

"No, I want to keep it for a special occasion but I have an offer for you." Although I was still hesitant to tell her my plans and make her a part of it, I still want to encourage her to improve her skills.

"An offer?!" she tilted her head as she looked at me. It was not only me who did not trust her completely, her eyes had doubts too.

Still we both were sitting there and trying to improve our relationship. It was a good start.

"Yes, I have a friend who designs jewels. She is thinking of opening her store. But she is only good at designing, she does not know much about the quality of metals and how to mix and form them, so she is hesitant to invest. Why don\'t you both start working together? She would design jewels and you can form them. 

Then you can sell them in the market. If you both earned well, you can once again buy your father\'s store and start it. Not because you need it for your marriage, I am sure father would marry you well. Start it because you like doing it ``I tried my best to encourage her, if we both would do this work together then I was sure we would be able to get success earlier than expected and Gerard would never be able to enter the business field.

"It is not that easy, jewels need a lot of investment. And a perfect market for supply. Nobles did not trust any source until its name is associated with any reliable family.\'\' She shook her head and looked at me as if I was a dreamer and did not know anything about the real world.

"You do not have to worry about that. Lady Amayra has a renowned business. If she agrees to support our business and buy jewels from us then soon nobles would know about us too. 

We will be the first store to give authenticity cards to the buyers. So they would love to buy jewels from us." my eyes turned dreamy as i planned for the further while she kept looking at me with pensive eyes.

"What are authenticity cards?"

"Well it is a parchment that would promise that the jewels we have sold are 100% pure. If they were found fake then we would give them jewels and return money too."

"Huh! What if someone tried to take advantage and knowingly changed the jewel and then claimed it is fake then?" she asked me, looking at me with disdain for my foolish idea.

"No, we will make a special mark and seal on all our jewels and metals. Something that only we knew how to make. So if someone would change them, we will come to know immediately. But we do not need to tell this to the customers in the beginning. By this way we can check who wants to take advantage of our scheme.`` I replied with so much excitement.

I could actually see the store in front of my eyes with so many customers that they have to make appointments before coming to buy.. And then money falling over both of us. \'sigh! I was still fond of gold and power, I could see that now.\'

"Well, the plan is perfect. From which noble family is your friend?" she asked, nodding her head, satisfied.

"She is not a noble. She is a commoner. Why?"

"Huh!" She looked at me dumbfounded. "How can you have a common friend? Let alone be friends, have you ever met a commoner all your life? Did you not always say that they are filth taking the place of the empire and then wasting it. And also, commoners and nobles should not mingle or else the servants would forget their place and think they could be equal to their master.`` I bit my lips as she continued to mimic me. I could even see she was copying my voice and tone and also rolling her eyes like I do.

Though I did not remember any of the words she was saying, I was sure I would have said those words.

"Did I not change in your case? Then why can I not change my views for commoners? My friend is very talented. If you would see the designs you would be her fan too.`` I returned and she nodded with a giggle.

"Then I would love to meet her."