Ten

"Speaking of raven, I saw one waiting outside of your window this morning." Jeriel quickly changed the topic because she could feel her sister's annoyance, "I sent it away before we left for Marques Ebonics."

Jannah flinched in her seat, she completely forgot about what the Duke said! Her face paled a little and lets out a cough, "Did.. Did the raven have something on its foot?"

"I don't remember. I accidentally slammed the window against it and sent it flying away." Jeriel said, shrugging her shoulders as she stood up, "Anyways, I'll train for a while before dinner then I'll leave for the errand you gave me. Have Kirie fetch me if you need me."

Jeriel made sure that she scooped the remaining macaroons from the plate and walked out of the office, closing the door behind her in a hurry.

Jannah could careless about her little sister snacking, but the raven sent by the Duke? Jannah grabbed her head and groaned loudly, feeling ashamed of herself, ruffling her hair out of frustration.

How could she forget that?!

Ignoring a lower rank noble would be a breeze, but ignoring a Duke? She must have been so arrogant in the Duke's eyes! Jannah dropped her pen, standing up from her seat and ran out of her office. If she wants to make an excuse for sending the bird away then she might as well meet the person she scheduled to meet!

"My lady? Why are you in—"

Jannah run past Kirie who was walking up the stairs, leaving a dust in her trail.

"My lady?!" Kirie called out.

She was quick to get out of the door, holding the hem of her dress to avoid tripping and runs towards the spot where the carriage is being tended.

"The Countess is approaching!" Anthony exclaimed to alarm his fellow knights.

Jeremiah perked up, his eyes shining in delight as Jannah came into his view. She has a troubled expression on her face and is frowning, the young knight's excitement dwindled down upon sensing his master's bad mood.

"My lady." Haile greeted the Countess.

"Quick, prepare the carriage and go to Viscount Coleen's state!" Jannah huffed out and didn't wait for the knights to assist her inside the carriage, she went inside in a hurry and situated herself on the cushion.

"You heard the Countess!" Anthony barked towards Jeremiah and Haile, making them scramble to get to the front.

"Wait! Wait for me!" Kirie's high pitched voice called out, carrying a basket, parasol, and a coat. Anthony took the courtesy to open the carriage's door for her and nodded his head, he waited for Kirie to get inside before he closed the door, walking in front to signal for his fellow knights to start their journey towards Viscount Coleen's state.

Viscount Coleen didn't sent me a response so I'll just go to him. That way, he won't be able to send me off and ignore me. Jannah looked out of the window as the carriage shake slightly, the path towards the Viscount's state is a little rocky because it's located on the east. That won't stop her though, she had served in the war so she's not really picky when it comes to travelling.

It wasn't that long when she arrived at the location, Jeremiah opened the door for her and assisted her to get out of the carriage. Kirie opened the parasol, shielding her against the sun that was about to set as she walked briskly towards the gate.

"Countess Rafelon!" Viscount Coleen greeted her with a smile, rubbing his palms together with a sleazy look in his eyes.

"Viscount Coleen." Jannah nodded her head, acknowledging him, "You didn't respond so I took the liberty to visit you myself. You wouldn't ignore a friendly and kind noble who visited you because you're sick, would you?"

The viscount swallowed, the look on Jannah's eyes are menacing yet the smile on her face is very friendly. How could he deny the Countess' good intention in front of his people? Sending her away would make words come out and give him a bad reputation!

"How kind of you, Countess! Come in, come in! I have asked my servants to prepare you some tea because I knew you would visit a sick and frail man like me!" The viscount laughed awkwardly, glancing at his butler who nodded his head at him and went straight inside of the manor.

"My, how generous of you." Jannah kept her smile, chuckling under her breath as she watch the viscount scrambled to get her inside of the manor.

She glanced towards Haile, who glanced at her and nodded his head. Kirie got stopped by the knight before she could follow Jannah and had the parasol snatched from her by Jeremiah. The Countess nodded her head discreetly towards her knights before she followed behind the Viscount.

Viscount Coleen, a two faced noble who sell drugs underground. He was arrested before the night of the outbreak and got his assets sold off to other nobles, with his wealth remaining inside the castle, his territory at west fell under Duke Manzaniro's authority. He's known as the Crazy Doctor throughout the continent as he was the first student to graduate from the academy before reaching adulthood. However, after dedicating himself to medicines, for some reason, the viscount had stopped his studies about it and locked himself inside of his mansion in the capital.

Many wonder why he had fell into a fit of despair, but there was one thing that the knights of order failed to notice.

"Viscount, I would like to order a bunch of Echinacea." Jannah said as the noble in front of her lead her somewhere. She's not worried that she might get ambushed inside his mansion, she was a knight before she resigned and took over the house Rafelon. She can take care of herself.

Besides, the moment she walked inside the house of the two faced noble, she has her grip tight around the parasol Jeremiah gave her before they got separated. She looked around the hallway, taking a mental note that the armors and swords that act as a display can only be counted in her hands.

"Echinacea." Viscount Coleen murmured under his breath and looked at her, "May I ask why you're asking for that flower, Countess?"

"I heard that it helps with cold." Jannah used its effects as am excuse, "You see, it's getting cold lately and I can feel my throat itching. I'm afraid that I might catch a cold. My little sister might be putting something in my drink as well since I forced her to join the knights of order, I can't have her poisoning me now, yes?"

The rumor about the two having bad blood was created by her servants. Her little sister is her one and only weakness. Jannah told her servants to spread rumor about her hating Jeriel to have the nobles avoid targeting her little sister. Thankfully, the assassination attempts stopped once this came out— not that one assassination attempts would ever be a success. Both sisters loves wielding swords, especially the sword that was passed down to Rafelon heirs.

The two trained since they were young to wield the sword. Only the King knows about it since he was the one who had the former captain of the knight to train them. Hence, the reason why Jannah got sent to the battlefield and received words that she will die. I mean, seriously? A lady without prior experience wielding a sword in war? How could such a beautiful lady wield a sword and take so many life at the battlefield?

She had shed blood and taken so many lives to get herself killed in another noble's house. She would be damned if she ever let Viscount Coleen leave an injury on her.

"It seems that you really hate your sister, Countess." Viscount Coleen commented, a snicker leaving his lips as he stopped in front of a room, "Then, let me supply you a dozen of dried Echinacea. Please wait inside this room while I fetch you what you need."

The viscount opened the door and smiled at her, a seemingly warm smile. She returned the smile without hesitation and walked inside the room, her eyes immediately doing a quick survey on her surrounding.

"Can you give me all of the Echinacea you have in your possession? I would pay you as early as I get back in my mansion." Jannah looked over her shoulder to glance at the Viscount's expression. Sure enough, he looked baffled after hearing what she said.

"Pardon?"

"All of them, Viscount. I would love to buy all of them." Jannah repeated what she said, "Don't worry, I'll even give you an extra amount for your generosity."

At the mention of money, the Viscount's face lightened up and nodded his head frantically, his large forehead shining as he sweat profusely at the thought of money filling his pockets, "Of course! Of course! Please wait here, I'll go and pack those flowers!"

She kept her smile as the Viscount turned in his heels and run down the hall, beeming with excitement. The maids that stood outside the door throughout the conversation had turned their heads to look at her, "Please have a seat, Countess. The tea will be here in a minute."

She did as she was told, sitting down on the couch and discreetly looking around. There are two armors with sword standing beside the door, there are two mirrors in the wall she's facing, and there are barely furniture inside the room. There are no trinkets nor decorations. The windows are closed and the curtains are slightly ajar, not giving the room enough light from outside.

As she scan her surrounding, the maids started move around. One of the maids poured her tea and placed it on the table, in front of her, making her look at the cup.

She picked it up, smiling softly as she inhaled the scent of the tea with a knowing look in her eyes. Poison, huh?