Chapter 209

“What are you doing here?”

My heart was beating loudly inside my rib cage. His question echoed in my ear with a loud drumming of my heart. His jade-green eyes moved all over my face. Reading my face with his keen eyes. I could see he was paying attention to even the slightest change in my expression, and it scared me more. I just don't know what I should tell him. What if he could see through my lie? If he gets suspicious about me, then our plan will be ruined. I have to think fast about something. I can't let my carelessness ruin things for us when we are so near our goal. The first thing I did was pull myself away from his hold. I cleared my throat and pretended to correct my dress. I adjusted my hoodie back on my hair, hiding my raven hair from his gaze. I could feel his eyes on me observing my every move with his keen eyes. Once I was down, I bent down and started to gather all the tamarins that fell on the ground. I had put so much effort into getting them. I'm not going to leave them and go to the waist. I stood up and turned around, ready to walk once I had gathered all of them.

“I believe I asked you a question,” his firm voice came from behind me. Stopping me from taking a step further. I bit on my lower lip in more distress. Couldn't he keep his mouth shut for more than five minutes? I could feel his burning suspicious gaze on me.

“What are you doing here?” he asked me once again. In his firm tone. I took a deep breath to calm my heart.

“Why should I tell you?” I retorted back without turning my face to look at him. My face held a look of distress, and I didn't want him to get more suspicious. I was never good at lying. I heard a dark chuckle from his mouth when he heard me saying that.

“First, you are stealing from my land, and now you are being disobedient in front of army generals," he said in a firm tone and my body went still. He is an army general. How could I get myself in this situation? I heard the dry leaves getting crushed under his feet when he walked towards me. He was cutting the distance between us, and my body went even more stiff. I wanted to run away from here, but he had already seen my face. If I run, things will get even more difficult for us.

“You know I can hang you in public for talking to me like that,” he said in a firm tone that was darker than it seemed. A bad chill passed down my spine when he said that. No, Hera, you can't lose your calm. Be brave and handle the situation. You can do it. I motivate myself. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I asked the old goddess to give me powers so I wouldn't get caught.

“I didn't know the ego of an army general is so big that it gets bruised just by the way I answered your question,” I said in a firm tone. I am doing my best not to sound timid or sacred. Even if he gets a hint of it, he will get suspicious. He was the man who controlled all the demons' guards. At his one oder, they all could tear me apart. Of course, I won't let them do that to me, but if they summon blue flames, they will come to know about my identity. It was too risky. Why did I come out of the house? I should stay in until they return. Once again, a dark chuckle left his mouth, and I don't know if I had dug my grave more by opening my mouth.

“What about stealing? You know I can cut your hands for stealing from my territory,” he said, using his same firm tone. My face grimaced when he said that. I always felt so angry when someone accused me of stealing, even when I never did. In my village, many tried to put that accusation on me so they could get rid of me. I hated it every time because I worked hard to buy what we ate. I turned around and was surprised to find he was standing just behind me. My body slightly collides with his hard chest, making me lose my balance. He was standing so close. Before I could fall once again, he caught my elbow, stabilising my body. I pulled my elbow out of his firm hold. His jade-green eyes moved all over my grim face. I held his hand and put all the fruit I had in my hand on his.

“I didn't know this land belonged to you, so it was not stealing," I said firmly while giving all the tamarind I had collected. My hands were full with them, but all of them accumulated in his one big hand.

“I didn't intend to steal, and if they stay even a day more on the tree, they will be spoiled anyway, so you can have them,” I said in the last part while looking into his jade-green eyes. His eyes glinted in amusement when I said that. I gave him a tight smile and turned to walk away.

“You have still not answered my question,” he said. I'm a firm tone, but this time, I could sense a lingering amusement to it.

“I was just looking around. I had no intention of stealing,” I said in a firm tone to make it clear to him.

“What is your name, and who are you?” he asked in the same tone, making me blow air out of my mouth. I don't know why he keeps asking questions when I have returned all the tamarins to him.

“Hera! I'm a merchant trader,” I said in a firm tone because that's what had been written on the papers we provided before entering the city. I didn't bother to look at him while answering his question.

“If you are done general, can I leave now?” I asked in a firm tone because I didn't want him to stop me again. I looked at the sky and saw the sun had already started to set. It will be dark soon, and I need to be back at home before it. Once again, I heard the crushing of dry leaves under his feet. This time he came and stood in front of me. He pulled my hand, and it made me look at him with furrowed brows. He put the fruits in my hand.

“I'm giving you back only because you put so much effort into getting them,” he said, and my eyes widened slightly. How long did he watch me? The corner of his lips curled slightly up as if he knew what I was thinking. He knew I was just not looking around, but he was still not pressing me to answer him. Why didn't I notice his presence before he showed up? My heart started to beat fast inside my rib cage.

“Go home before sunset," he said in a firm tone, making my heart beat even faster. I took a shaky breath before nodding my head. Without saying another word, I started to walk fast. His burning gaze stayed on my back, and it made me walk even faster. My heart drums so loudly. A question gripped my heart in a firm grip.

Did he look past my façade?

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