Twelve

Count Nige is known to be one of the wealthiest noble in Starlian kingdom. He has four silver mine in his territory and the gunpowders in his possession is more than necessary.

His knights has guns because he's the main source of the Kingdom's gunpowder, making him a prominent opponent for the Rafelons.

Words can't express how corrupted the noble is. He has a network underground, seizing almost half of it under his control because of his rank. The four Dukes can't pin a post on his trail because for some reason, he always gets his hands cleaned.

There's no proof of his corruption. That's why there are some nobles who supports the Count.

It's either one of the Dukes is supporting him or most of the nobles in the kingdom is under him. Jeriel thought as she got lead to one of the rooms inside of the Count's mansion. She counted her footsteps as she got further away from the door, her blue eyes scanned her surroundings, burying the places of the decorative shields and swords in her mind.

She's wearing a dress, the hem behind her is getting dragged, her hair is on a tight up do, no hair falling to her face. She can hear the maids whispering, glancing in her way as she pass by.

"Here we are, Lady Rafelon." The servants that was guiding her stopped in front of a double door, "Count Nige is waiting inside."

The knights that is waiting outside of the room, opened the doors. Jeriel gave them one last look before she stepped inside, she's not nervous or anything, but the atmosphere inside the mansion is unsettling.

"Lady Rafelon." The man she needs to have a deal with have greeted her, "I was informed that the Countess will be with you, I guess my servants were mistaken?"

"No, no, the Countess originally thought of coming here with me, but she had fallen sick after she came back from her afternoon meeting." Jeriel quickly decided to make an excuse right on her spot.

The Count didn't respond, instead, he gestured his hand towards the couch in front of him and Jeriel wordlessly sat down.

"The Countess asked me to exchange the gold mine in her territory on the south for gunpowders.. I don't mind giving her some for free if only she accepted my proposal, you know?" The Count chuckled under his breath.

Jeriel noticed just now the cup he was holding. He swirled it slowly, eyeing the liquid inside the cup with unreadable glint in his eyes.

"I heard that you asked her hand in marriage." Jeriel threaded the water carefully, "I could help you set up the wedding in exchange for the gunpowder."

Almost immediately, the dangerous glint in his eyes disappeared and got replaced with a pleasant one. The smile on his face is friendly and easygoing, but she couldn't still make her herself to feel comfortable.

This guy is bad news... As if I'll really give her to someone rotten like you. Jeriel kept a small smile in her face, keeping her facade up.

"My, I heard the rumors that you don't like the Countess. It seems that it's really true." Count Nige stated, a laugh escaping his lips at how hilarious the situation is, "Sure, if you're that in a hurry to get your sister out of the way then I would be happy to cooperate with you."

I don't like her, I love her! The hell are you on?! Jeriel nodded her head, "I heard from the other noble ladies that a certain love potion is being brewed.. Have you heard of it?"

The Count's face lightened up even more, "Are you interested? I know the supplier myself."

Jeriel's smile got wide at the words she heard. The third prince has been on a hunt ever since the rumored love potion got sold and had the first princess as a victim. No one really knows who was the original creator, but it has a hundred of replica in the market.

The royal order of the knights seized the products, but some escaped their grasp and got sold secretly behind their back.

"I am interested. You see, my sister has a high standard when it comes to the men she associates herself with.. But what is there to say if she accidentally drink the love potion?"

"I'm interested with your idea." Count Nige smirked, "In exchange for the gunpowder, I'll have your sister, deal?"

You'll never have her, dumbo! Jeriel's thoughts are full of dissing and cussing, but outwardly, she nodded her head with a smile, "Deal. I'm the one who needs the gunpowder anyways, would you mind sending those in Rafelon's state?"

"Of course not, Lady Rafelon." The Count agreed without further resistance, much to her delight.

The two of them stood up from their seat and walked towards the door. Due to the Count's good mood, the servants outside of the room had physically deflated. All of them exchanged a glance before looking at the sister of the Countess.

"Walk the lady to the door and prepare the goods to be sent to the Rafelon state." Count Nige ordered to his butler who merely lowered his head and signalled to the other servants.

Seeing that everything is going smoothly, Jeriel apologized to her sister profusely in her mind for putting her as an exchange.

She trust her big sister. If the apocalypse will happen in a few days from now then the wedding will not happen. At all. No matter what. Not like she'll let it happen anyways. She will never want someone like Count Nige as her brother in law.

The mere thought of it has sent a shiver run down her spine.

As she was getting escorted to the door, a commotion can be seen down the stairs of the main hall. Jeriel and the servant that was escorting her stopped in their tracks which was halfway down the stairs.

"Kyaaa! Lily bit Nigel!" One of the maids screamed.

Jeriel's body grew stiff, she leaned on the stair railings to have a good look at the commotion downstairs. True to the maid's words, a white haired maid did bite a male servants on the arm.

"Damn it.. Take Lily off of me!" Nigel exclaimed, pushing the maid who is biting him away as much as he can.

His scream seem to shake off the others from their shocks because the male servants was quick to take the aggressive maid away from the butler. She was snarling, growling, salivating, and shaking as she got dragged away from the scene.

"What is this commotion?! The sister of the head of the House Rafelon is here! Clean after yourselves!" Count Nige's booming voice has startled Jeriel and the servants.

She literally jumped in her spot, not hearing the Count's footsteps behind her.

"Pardon such unsightly behavior of my servants, Lady Rafelon." Count Nige apologized half heartedly. He was frowning, but she could see the two-faced look on his eyes.

"Ah, no, no, it's fine." Jeriel forced out a laugh, "Anyways, have the potion sent in the state. Send the item to a maid named Kirie and tell her to give it to me directly."

"Is there a maid with that name in the mansion?"

"She's a maid I hired to spy on the Countess, Count Nige." Jeriel smiled and lied through her teeth once again, "My big sister is too much of a secretive person. She doesn't trust anyone other than the servants that worked for almost 15 years in our mansion."

The silence between them was palpable after the revelation. The smile on Jeriel's face stayed still as Count Nige blinked rapidly, not expecting for her to reveal something big to his face. Then, slowly, a grin creeped to his face.

"Ha! You're full of surprises, Lady Rafelon!" The Count laughed obnoxiously, "I see! I see! Very well, I'll send the potion to a maid named Kirie to give it directly to you."

"That would be lovely." Jeriel hummed, "I'll send you a letter when the time comes to use it. Be sure to wait for it, my lord."

Chuckling, the count had escorted her to the door and opened it himself. It was obvious that he was very pleased with what went down, the wide smile on his face is a giveaway.

"I shall wait for it." The count nodded his head, making her return it slowly.

The talk ended there, three knights had went up the stairs to escort her towards the gate. Anthony was one of them. He held out his hand towards her and she gladly placed her hand over his, the pair walked out of the Count's property in a hurry.

"That was a disaster." Jeriel commented, mumbling under her breath to avoid being heard by the knights of the Count.

The inside of the carriage is dark and the door windows have a curtain. She could only hope that her sister didn't go out nor look out of the carriage because if she did, then Jeriel will be caught lying about her sick condition.

"How was she?" Jeriel asked as the two of them approached the carriage.

"She haven't looked nor moved out of the carriage." Anthony murmured, voice low in a whisper as he let go of her hand to open the carriage's door.

Alright, that's good. Jeriel thought, pulling the hem of her dress as she got inside the carriage.

As soon as the door closed, Jannah lunged herself forward and embraced her little sister. She kept herself hidden and stayed still inside the carriage despite being anxious about her little sister's safety.

"Woah!" Jeriel exclaimed loudly, grabbing her sister's waist and holding her in place, "Calm down. I'm okay, see? Nothing happened to me."

Jannah pulled away from the hug and looked at her little sister's entire being, checking if she's really okay. She turned her body left and right, turned her around and even went as far as lifting the hem of her dress to check her legs.

Jannah physically deflated when she saw no wound on her sister's body and sigh in relief. "Thank goodness.. I don't know why I'm so nervous."

"It will go away once we get home." Jeriel tried to comfort her, "Besides, the deal was a success."

A small smile erupted from Jannah's lips, "I'm so proud of you, I never doubted you for a second because I know you can do it."

"Well.. I used your hand in marriage as an exchange for the gunpowder—"

SMACK!