The Countess Lives Twice in the Apocalypse-Chapter 79: Sixty-eight

"As you all know, I have these abilities that help me with things." Jannah started, walking over to the main desk, taking a seat on the soft and luxurious chair.

"I’m pretty sure that everyone in this room witnessed what I did back then. The wall that I created around the town, the ability I used to kill those trash from Rye, the one I used to heal Dante and Kean— all of it came from the system." Jannah said, scanning the room to gauge the different reactions she got from them.

Marco, Kirie, and Lucienta looked calm, a small smile on their faces that didn’t emit any malice or ill intention.

Arthur and Polo don’t have any reaction, which was a surprise because Jannah was sure that the two of them didn’t know about her abilities.

On the other hand, Merlot and Clara have wary expressions, but it doesn’t seem like they don’t believe her. They do, but they just need further confirmation to back her statement up.

Then, Princess Huenazia and Prince Hanzo, kept sharing a glance, unreadable expressions on their faces.

Hanzo looked away from his sister first and looked at Jannah, catching her gaze, "May I know if this system thing is good or bad? I know it told me to go here, but I’m not sure if I can trust it."

"As far as I know, we can trust it." Jeriel answered his question instead of Jannah, her eyes narrowed towards the third prince for asking a stupid question.

Why would he ask that when her sister literally said that she healed the knights that were previously injured?

"She healed Dante and Kean, and if this system is really bad then I’m glad that it was my sister who had it. She won’t abuse the abilities given to her." Jeriel huffed out and crossed her arms.

"I agree with Lady Jeriel. She hasn’t done anything to compromise the safety of the people around her." Duke Eulicies said, immediately backing up Jeriel’s statement and stepped closer to Jannah’s desk.

Seeing this, Jeriel grew stiff and shot a glare at the Duke’s direction, "Doesn’t mean you can get close to her! Shoo, shoo!"

However, instead of moving away as he was told, he stepped closer to Jannah’s spot and stood on her right side, a triumphant smile settling on his handsome face, "I’m not doing anything wrong."

Jeriel walked away from her spot and went to Jannah’s desk, making the Countess let out a tired sigh.

"Alright, break it out, you two." Jannah said, stopping the upcoming fight from starting, sighing deeply, she called for her green haired maid, "Kirie, come here and stand between Jeriel and Duke Zacharias."

"Yes, my lady." The maid beamed at her, strutting over to Jeriel and Duke Eulicies, standing between them.

Jeriel was right beside Jannah with Kirie beside her and the Duke beside Kirie.

The new spot arrangements made the Duke frown and made Jeriel cheer internally, fist bumping the air. The previous glare on her face gets replaced with a playful and cheeky smirk.

Due to their momentary distraction, the serious and tense atmosphere inside the room changed.

"Anyways, I agree with my little sister." Jannah went back to the topic at hand and looked back to the third prince, "Though, it makes me do things that are tiring, it gives me good things in return."

"Are you going to let us know about those good things?" Hanzo asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

His question made Kirie, Jeriel, and Duke Eulicies glare at him. How can a person with royal blood be this dense and foolish?

Before things could escalate further, Princess Huenazia spoke up, saving her little brother from his impending doom.

"The capital got infiltrated just like you said." Princess Huenazia said with a saddened tone, "I should have listened to you. You gave me advice before you left and told me something important, but I didn’t act on it."

Jannah pursed her lips. She told the princess about what will happen in the capital because she felt a little guilty for not helping the people to prepare for the upcoming group of zombies.

If the princess decided to not act on it then it’s out of her hands.

What did you tell her? Jeriel asked through the mental link, she didn’t have any idea what the Princess was talking about and as far as she remembers, Jannah hasn’t told her anything about what happened with her meeting with Princess Huenazia.

I told her that I was sent back in time and we’re heading north. Jannah answered truthfully, keeping a straight face as she looked the princess in the eyes.

A look of contempt and hurt crossed Jeriel’s eyes.

You told her about it? What would you do if she can’t be trusted? What were you thinking? Jeriel wants to say a lot of things, but she knows that lashing out just because she felt betrayed wouldn’t do her any good.

So, she asked Jannah those questions, holding herself back.

How else am I supposed to think of a reason why I know what to do at the zombie in the castle and how I knew what was about to happen in the capital? Jannah retorted, a defensive tone lacing her voice.

She could feel an argument rising so she immediately spoke to the princess to avoid it, "It was your choice. I merely gave you advice, Your Highness, don’t apologize."

Princess Huenazia looked troubled after her response, but she was quick to mask it and nod her head, "May I ask why you asked for us to come here? It looks like the ones inside this room are your envoys."

The Countess perked up, as if she remembered something important, "You’re right. I called for the two of you to ask what would be your plan— that is, if it’s alright to share with me and my people."

The royal siblings shared a glance, having a silent conversation with each other.

It was silent for a moment, everyone let them speak with each other through their eyes, and they’re not even questioning it, they know for a fact that the siblings can understand each other because they have witnessed the same scenario several times.

Apparently, Jannah and Jeriel could tell what the other wants just by looking at the other— all they need to do is look— once, and somehow, they already know what they want.

It seems that it’s the same thing with the royal siblings.

Another moment of silence passed, Jannah waited patiently for the Le Mercuria siblings to finish their conversation.

"If we ask you to let us stay.. Are you going to let us stay?"

After a good while, Princess Huenazia finally spoke, her eyes shifting away from Prince Hanzo to look at Jannah. She shot the Countess a pitiful and pleading glance, as if silently begging to let her give them a chance.

Now, Jannah didn’t plan to take them in, but doing so will compromise the safety of her people, right?

"If I don’t, what will you two do?" Jannah shot the question back, instead of outright telling them an answer, she wants to know what they would do if she refused to take them under her wings. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Princess Huenazia straightened her posture as a serious and sincere look crossed her feature, "We’ll travel to the east border and build a base at Duke Zacharias’s dukedom."

So, if I let them go, will everything go down the same path as my first life? Jannah wondered, tilting her head slightly as she thought of the possible outcome of her choices— not that she has many choices, but it’s better to think about the outcome.

Ah, but if I let them go then I’m probably going against what the system wants, right? Jannah’s face twisted into a frown, feeling conflicted about the Le Mercuria siblings’ fate.

As she thought about it, her eyes unconsciously scanned the room, noticing the quiet and eerie atmosphere.

Merlot and Clara have their heads turned towards the crowned princess and the third prince, a wary expression on their faces.

Marco, Polo, Arthur, and Lucienta are doing their own things.

One was cleaning the book shelf, one was cleaning his sword with a dirty rag she doesn’t know where it came from, one was cleaning his monocle with a handkerchief, and another one was looking at royal siblings with furrowed eyebrows.

It was clear that some of them don’t care what happens with the princess and prince while some of them have mixed feelings about them.

Seeing the mixed reactions of her people, Jannah decided to go against the odds.

"Alright." She spoke up, voice loud and clear which caught the attention of the people inside the room, "I’ll let the two of you stay with us."

Princess Huenazia’s face brightened up, a hopeful and grateful look on her sunset colored eyes.

"But you have to do your fair share of work." Jannah was quick to add on to her previous statement, "If you’re not comfortable with this, feel free to leave."

Merlot looked at Jannah, his eyes wide in shock from what he heard.

"It’s either that or the door." Jannah said with a dismissive wave, already sensing the uprising protest from Merlot— not that he would acually do it.

Telling them that they have to work was just an excuse for any noble who would want to be taken under protection.

If it throws off the royal siblings then they’re free to leave, but the siblings are adamant.

"We’re okay with it."