The Countess Lives Twice in the Apocalypse-Chapter 91: Ninety

The sun sets slowly in the sky, casting its last warm light over the town of Philipia.

The sky is painted in hues of pink, orange, and purple as the sun’s light retracts, the colors fading as the night rolls in.

The day gives way to the evening and the once lively outdoors become still and quiet as the sun bids farewell for the day.

The sky turns a deep shade of indigo, the stars and the moon taking its place and lighting up the world below in a different, more subtle way.

The torches around the town flicker to life, its orange and red glow casting a light down to the people who walk by, emitting a shadow that seems to grow lighter as they pass by.

Jannah, where are you? The Marques called out to the Countess through their mental communication link, his eyes scanning the area ahead, but the familiar sight of his friend’s figure can’t be seen.

Town hall. Came a quick reply, sounding clear and urgent.

The Marques turned in his heels almost immediately and took a detour to go to the town hall.

Clara, his dearest and lovely wife, told him that Jannah called for him and needed his presence to talk about something important, but he had slept in and had forgotten about what his wife said.

He only remembered that Jannah called for him when he was walking down the stairs of the mansion and immediately rushed out to go to the gates, getting whiplashed by the nervousness he felt when he realized that he was almost three hours late to the meeting.

Please don’t be mad, please don’t be mad, please don’t be mad.. Merlot chanted in his head, his footsteps quick and heavy as he navigated his way to the town hall.

He knows that Jannah probably won’t be mad at him for sleeping in, but that woman hasn’t slept since yesterday!

Her mood always tips around the edge whenever she doesn’t have enough rest which makes it hard for people to talk to her.

If people would ask Merlot how he felt whenever he tries to talk to Jannah when she hasn’t had a wink of sleep, he would answer with the following..

"It was like playing dead so the bear would leave you alone."

"It was like standing in the middle of a group of hyenas who haven’t eaten for days."

"It was like getting hunted by a tiger, you just know that one wrong move will cost you your life."

Is he exaggerating? Probably. Is he really scared of his sleep deprived friend? Yes. Is he nervous to confront her after being late for the meeting? Absolutely, he’s about to go off on his pants if you ask him.

Arriving at the town hall in a span of five minutes, he didn’t waste any time to get inside and ascend the staircase to go to the second floor.

Knowing Jannah, he is a hundred percent sure that she would be waiting inside the office.

His claim was proven to be true, before he could near the door, it was opened and the person who opened peeked her head out, a scary expression on her face.

"My lady has been waiting for you." Kirie informed him, she was smiling, but it was obvious that it was forced, an icy and dangerous look in her lavender eyes as she watched him walk inside the room.

How could he let Jannah wait for him for hours?

Kirie kept the smile on her face, her stare pointed at the Marques as he took a seat in front of Jannah.

If looks could kill, he would be dead by now.

"Let’s keep this meeting short." Jannah said, raising a hand to her mouth and covering her face as she stifled a yawn, "I’m getting tired, but I need to discuss this with you first to get it out of the way."

Merlot watched as his friend muffled a yawn, guilt and concern washing over him to see the dark spots under her eyes, her face looking placid and slightly pale with her exhaustion clear in her eyes.

"Of course, what do we need to discuss?" He leaned forward, straining his ears to start listening attentively to the town’s leader.

"The sleeping arrangements." Jannah sighed out, rubbing her temples, sounding as if it was a burden that she needed to get rid of as soon as possible, but couldn’t.

"Understood, please start now." Merlot nodded his head, sitting upright.

"We will have the people fill up forms regarding their field of expertise, family or people they are close to, then ask those who want to move out their house, give it to the knights, and have them pack their things by tomorrow." Jannah’s voice was laced with exhaustion as she tapp the surface of the arm rest.

"Are you going to let those who are close with each other live in the same house?" Merlot asked, somehow getting what Jannah was implying.

Jannah nodded her head, lolling her head to the side, "We have fifteen knights so we need to get at least five houses to be emptied out. I’ll ask Princess Huenazia, Jeriel, and Duke Eulicies to read through the paper."

"I’ll post a notice on the billboard by the town square tonight so those who are early risers can notify others." Merlot murmured, his gaze glued to the table as he ponder what he needed to do and where to start. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"I’ll have Arthur expand the area at the back gates and build the training area there. Just like what I said a few days ago, the knights will teach everyone how to use a blade and let every single one of them carry their own." Jannah leaned her head back, closing her eyes.

"Even children?" Merlot asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Even children." Jannah confirmed and opened her eyes to look Merlot at the eyes, "We can’t always be too sure that we won’t be raided nor one of us would turn."

"Turn?"

Kirie and Merlot asked at the same time, unable to comprehend what Jannah was saying.

"I have no idea where the zombies came from and how they existed in the first place or what caused someone to become a zombie." Jannah said, her voice calm and composed.

"However, from what I remembered, those who get bitten or not, will turn into a zombie, the latter would take more time before they come back to life." She quickly added to her previous statement.

"What.. What do you mean?" Merlot’s eyes went wide as he let the information sink into his brain, "Are you saying that we’re all infected? One way or another?"

"Again, I’m not sure, but based on my observation, it was like that. It’s either we’re all infected, but whatever causes us to turn stays asleep or dormant in our body. However, if we get bitten, it becomes active and takes over our rationality." Jannah leaned forward and stared at him.

"Oh, dear.." Merlot murmured, his eyebrows furrowed in worry.

"Remember the crates we brought here?" Jannah dismissed the look of concern on her friend’s face.

"Yes? We placed those crates inside the town hall’s cellar, we weren’t sure what the contents were so I asked them to cover it with haystacks just in case." Merlot answered, straightening his posture.

"We’ll have one of those brought out and ask the herbalist from the group of women we came here with to take a look at it." Jannah said, leaning back again and sighing deeply.

"My people will stay in the mansion with us, we’ll have them choose a room on the first floor, but the second will be ours while the third floor can stay empty just in case."

"Understood." Merlot nodded his head, "Is that all? Should I start making the notice now and have it posted on the billboard?"

"Have the women who came from Rye meet me in the dining hall at the mansion as soon as I wake up." Jannah stood up from her seat and stretched her limbs, "You’re on night duty, right? Have half of the knights who are on night duty to pack their things then once they’re done, have the other half pack theirs."

"I understand." Merlot said, standing up from his seat and watched as Jannah walked towards the door that Kirie opened for her.

"Have a good night, Merlot." Jannah said her wishes and waved a dismissive hand at him.

"Sleep well, my friend." Merlot returned the wishes.

Before the door closed fully, Kirie turned to him and shot him a smile that sent shivers down his spine.

Then, she rushed after Jannah.

[Ding!]

[Reward for the side mission (Planning the sleeping arrangements ) sent to Player Jannah’s inbox!]

Jannah received the notification from the system, making her press the side of her head and receive the reward the system gave her.

[You have received a transportable landmark.]

Again? Jannah wondered, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, but didn’t question it because she was too sleepy to be questioning the system’s intention why it gave her another transportable landmark.

"Kirie, you should head to sleep, too." Jannah said, glancing at the green haired lady who she caught trying to hold her hand.

Kirie’s body stiffened and was fast to pull her hand away, putting it on her sides, "As you wish, my lady."