The Countess Lives Twice in the Apocalypse-Chapter 60: Fifty-nine

"I mean, I’m not complaining, but what would your men think about this decision of yours?" Jannah sighed out, "Just because you’re their master or their benefactor or the nobleman they serve, doesn’t mean you have to decide like that without asking for their opinions."

Truth to be told, a rebellion is often organized as violent and loud uprising against people with authority.

The cause of a rebellion is always different depending on the reasons and circumstances, but some common thing include political cruelty, hardship, social inequality, religious persecution, and discrimination.

Rebellions can be motivated by a desire for independence. She had encountered rebels who partakes in many former battles in the war with soldiers that fought for their freedom from a ruthless ruler.

Jannah thought back to Baron Juan’s rebellion— she almost forgot that a rebellion may also be sparked by a charismatic leader or a certain event that rouse public opinions against the existing leader of the group.

She probably did something that made her former people side with that excuse of a man and betray her.

If Marques Ebonics hastily make a decision just because she has shown him a great deal of proof of good leadership— which she hopes that she really did— and forced his people to serve her instead of him, especially if his men are loyal to the bones, then a rebellion might happen.

That rebellion can risk and harm many innocent lives, and she doesn’t want that.

Merlot shook his head, a small smile emerging in his face, patting his shoulder like he did a good job, "I have already asked my men about this when we first came here. They don’t mind. They know that you were worried about me and my wife so I could only guess that it was enough for them to take a liking on you."

"What will you do if that wasn’t the case?" Jannah narrowed her eyes towards him, "I’ve heard those reassuring words before, and it didn’t end well."

Is this about the betrayal from your previous life? Jeriel asked through the link, her face straight and showed no emotion.

Yes. Those are the exact words that Juan told me, nit ultimately led a rebellion against me. Jannah stared at Merlot as she answered her little sister’s inquiry, It would have been alright if I was the only one who got affected, but I ended up leaving you behind.

You didn’t. Jeriel sounded so sorrowful that it made Jannah glance at her.

I did, sis. Sure, you have me in this life, but the you in that life is all alone. Jannah’s gaze softened slightly, ceasing her petting session on the leopard cubs, it was the last thing I hate to do, but I couldn’t stay because I was bitten.

You stayed with me until the end, right? Jeriel could feel her throat tightened and her heart ache, imagining her sister leaving her because it was the right thing, but feeling so guilty about it, is breaking her heart.

Of course, I did. Jannah chuckled through the link, though, her face is still emotionless just like her little sister’s. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Then I’m sure Jeriel in the previous life is thankful for that. Jeriel’s voice through their link was dripping with sincerity and gratitude. She knew that her big sister had made her safety her priority based on the words she said.

Jannah demanded for the third prince to let her go home the moment she was sent back in time, brought resources that could last them a whole while, prepared thoroughly to build a sturdier walls around her, and was mindful of what she wants.

Isn’t that enough proof that her big sister thinks of her first more than anything?

If her version of self from the previous life of Jannah became ungrateful and resented her for dying then Jeriel will need to have a word or two with her—

"Jannah? Jeriel?"

Merlot’s voice had snapped the sisters out of their mental communication link, simultaneously blinking rapidly as they get pulled back to reality.

Oh, shit.. We most likely didn’t catch what he just said, did we? Jeriel sweat profusely as she cocked her to the side, feigning a reaction to show Merlot that she heard him.

We should refrain ourselves from talking like this for now. Jannah suggested, chuckling nervously.

I wholeheartedly agree. Jeriel responded with a nervous laughter of her own.

"So? What do you think?" Merlot raised an eyebrow at Jannah, making her swallow the newly formed bump in her throat.

How the hell would she explain that she didn’t catch what he said because she way busy talking to her little sister through the feature that the system had bestowed upon them?

Screw it. I’ll just lie again—

Jannah was quick to throw that thought out of the window when a hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder, startling her in her seat.

Duke Eulicies leaned down to her ear, making a curve using his left hand to cover his mouth so no one would be able to hear what he’s about to say to her.

"Marques Ebonics suggested on making arrows, bullets, and crafting logs for the walls for tonight. He wants you to oversee the sleeping arrangements of the townsfolk and the people under your care. He also said that he will follow what you will come up with due to the fact that he’s here with his wife, alive and well, because of you, my lady."

Jannah listened carefully to every words the Duke had uttered, willingly filling her in with the informations she had missed while having a conversation with her little sister.

Jannah nodded her head along with his words, showing him that she’s attentively listening.

"He wants you to distribute the weapons in the weaponry he bought with him since he noticed that some of the people in this town knows how to use a weapon or two. Based on his observations as well, the town’s folks are good hunters and farmers."

"I see." Jannah murmured, her hand resuming on stroking the leopard cubs’ chins.

"That’s all, my lady." The Duke whispered, his warm breath fanning to her ear down to her neck, making the hair on her nape stand up.

She could feel the sweat run down her back with her face heating up slightly for some reason. She cleared her throat, forcing herself to look at Merlot in the eyes.

The Marques was raising an eyebrow, a knowing glint in his eyes as he looked at the Duke and the Countess.

"I actually came here to discuss the sleeping arrangements for our people, but your suggestions regarding the weapons will be done by knights and hunters alike." Jannah stated with a calm voice even though her heart is beating like crazy inside her chest.

"Understood. I shall ask the hunters to gather in the town square as soon as we’re done." Merlot nodded his head, seemingly enthusiastic with her decision.

"I will have to go around the town to look at the interior of each house, and since money has no value now, the stores will be used as a house as well." Jannah added to her previous statement.

"That leaves us with the bed and clothes." The Marques murmured.

"We can make a bed, don’t worry about it. Food, on the other hand, is limited. Winter is around the corner and the crops will need more cautious tending to them, I brought seeds from the capital, but I’m not sure if those are good for the soils here." Jannah frowned, voicing out her concern about the possible food shortage.

"Maybe Charles can teach them a thing or two? That old man has a lot of knowledge about plants." Jeriel suggested, finally getting the gist of the conversation.

"Unfortunately, he can’t." Jannah looked troubled, "Our dear old Charles is a gardener."

"There’s a man named Leonardo that recently got into the town." Merlot said as he looked down on the floor, "When I told him that you sent me here to oversee the construction of the walls, he approached me and told me—"

"Oh, yeah!" Jannah physically brightened up when she remembered the man with beautiful green eyes, "I hired him and told him to pack everything in his store, get his family, then travel here."

"So you know him?" Jeriel turned her head to look at her.

"Yeah, he wasn’t confident about his planting skills, but I was desperate at the time and hired him. He knows a lot about the seedlings he’s selling, I’m sure he can be a lot of help around here." Jannah smiled at them, feeling the tension in her shoulders relax.

She shifted in her seat, making the leopards cubs mewl in protest and for the mother leopard to let out a chuff when Jannah accidentally disturbed her sleep.

"I take it that you started working on the walls the moment you got here?" Jannah asked Merlot and leaned back to her seat.

"About that.." Merlot kept his gaze downwards and started fiddling with his thumbs, looking like a guilty child who got caught stealing lollipop.

"Oh." Jannah blinked before she closed her eyes and sighed, "Well, whatever. We can start with the walls tomorrow night. For now, I would like to rest with my people."

"I’m sorry, Jannah." The Marques apologized, his voice sincere and trembling ever so slightly, "I was so arrogant when you told me you can trust me, but I couldn’t even do the task you gave me."

"It’s alright." Jannah shot him a smile, "I understand, really."