Cohen of the Rebellion - Volume 12 - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Dior Merlin’s eyes again were wide-open and glittering . Her vision was so piercing it nearly saw me through .

“Humph, petty thief, what are you up to this time? Let me hear it . ” She successfully read between my words .

Seeing that I did not scare her, I shrugged . As a matter of fact, I could not think of anyone that can deceive her now, for she had been tricked by me so many times .

“You know, the businessmen I met today have asked me to police the smugglers in the city . And I intend to further extort money outta them . Thus I will require a fixed amount of money turned in each month if only you cease all activities in the city . ”

“I can’t imagine how much money they’ve promised that made you value these people so much . ” Dior twitched her lips, “What then? Where am I going?”

“You’ll see yourself at my parents’ . Are all your future businesses planned and allocated to your most trusted subordinates?” I offered her the sweetest smile .

“Absolutely . I have 3 men who have been following me since day 1 . Because of your special requirements, it took me a while to settle all the candidates . ”

“Thank you, my dear . ” I poured a drink for her, “I have to say sorry in advance . Your fleet and guards are waiting for you . Ready yourself to set off tonight . ”

“Tonight? This hurry?” She frowned before sipping the liquid .

I could only understand her feelings because we have only met yesterday after a 2-year gap .

“I… I am sorry . Dior, I wish I could spend more days with you . ” I took her hands, “But I hope you understand because very soon, enemies’ spies will be all over this place . I don’t wanna put you in a dangerous situation . ”

She swept her eyes over my face with bitterness hidden within, “I know . I just want to stay a bit longer . ”

“When this war is over . After I help Raven take back his empire . I will have time to be with you until the day you’re tired of me . ” I approached and embraced her .

“Liar, petty thief . ” She talked and smiled .

Lily was long out of the room with Arnold .

“There’re 2 more months till the New Year . I have to get presents ready for my lord father and mother . ” Dior toyed with a cloth over my chest .

“Is it too soon to call them that?” I chuckled .

Her soft-touching body suddenly hardened then she bounced off from my arms, asked coldly, “Why can’t I? Tell me, am I not Cohen Kheda’s wife?”

“Hold your fury, let me explain . ” I was half annoyed, half amused, “I meant you will visit Dark City as my fiancée, it’s too soon to call them your father and mother . ”

She grew even angrier and was on the edge of an eruption .

I told you to hold your fire . ” I complained secretly, “You know I love you right? If I settle you into the family without proper procedure or a ceremony, imagine what your status will be, a concubine? No, I’ll not allow anyone thinks you like that . ”

“Humph, I can’t care less about being a concubine . Either way, you tricked me into marrying you from the beginning, and our marriage is linked to this god-forbidden smell of money nevertheless . ”

“That is why I want you to be there ahead of me as my fiancée . ” I took Dior Merlin’s shoulders with both hands to be face-to-face with her, “Listen to me, I’m gonna throw you a grand wedding to let everybody know that I am deeply in love with this girl, and you are no different than my 3 other wives . No one will underestimate who you are . ”

After a brief moment of silence, Dior Merlin gazed back into my eyes, “You were saying you love me for who I am regardless of the money I have?”

“Yes and that’s it’s unrelated to anything regarding money . I love you for who you are . ” I nodded and nodded sincerely, “Even if you’re a money-spending silly girl, I’ll make you my wife with everything I have . ”

Her eyes dampened and she went back to my hug .

“You should have told me that earlier, jerk . I’ve been self-doubting, that you marry me solely for smuggling and money” She nipped my forearm, said with tears .

She did have spent 2 years in hardship . Smuggling was only a petty and easy business for her . What she really cared about was how I look at her despite she came from a noble house at its downfall and for the fact that we did marry for money from the start .

It was not an odd phenomenon on this continent for nobilities or even royal members to marry for money and fame . Every nobleman and woman was valued on a money and power basis . Serving for his or her house is the only thing they need to do . If one aristocrat was e reckless or womanizing, his partner usually ended up in dissatisfactory . Among which, the most miserable type was if one of the couple fall for the other and the other person did not share the same love .

Truth be told, I deeply loved Dior Merlin, that was not a lie . I had intended to let her know that on my way to Winper .

I expected she treated me gently .

However, the pinching, nipping, and fisting were hurting me, and I pretended to not care but I cried a little nevertheless .

“P… please, I… I told you… I was… b… busy…”

Only after all of my visible skin was black and blue did Dior Merlin ceased torturing me .

“If you continue, I’ll be dead for real this time . ” I hissed, “Why can’t you thank me for something I did?”

“I did, just now . ” A smile was still on her face decorated with tears .

I nodded to surrender .

“Petty thief…” She gave me a quick look, blushed and landed a kiss on my cheek with lightning speed .

“Come back, you . How dare you sneak up on me! . ”

“I did! So what?” She covered her eyes with both hands but let a thin gap to see through between her fingers .

I took advantage of the moment and touched her bright-red lips with mine .

After a long kiss, she was out of breath .

“Didn’t feel right, let’s try again . ” I pretended dumb, “I was told a kiss is supposed to be sweet . You were not 100% into it . Again, Dior . ”

“I was… ah…” She kissed back as counter-strike, “Okay, I can’t, you petty thief . ”

“No, I was also told a lady’s lips are cool and soft . Why does yours so hot?”

“How do I suppose to know that?” She was still out of breath, “Who told you that? I’m coming after him!”

“Can’t tell you . And let’s try again . ”

“Help, perv!”

She finally straightened up after I was done kissing .

“Young Lord, Captain Malphite wants you to know the fleet is ready . ”

“Good, come in, Lily . ”

“Are you seeing me off?” She asked, “Listen, the waltz is playing . ”

“I’m seeing you off . ” Said I with a smile, “All the people in the front hall worth less than one of your single string of hair . ”

With a little smile, she adjusted her garment with Lily’s help .

After exiting the mayor mansion’s back door, Dior boarded the carriage .

“I will try visiting you as soon as possible . ” I touched her hand for one last time, “Behave yourself in front of strangers . I have told my parents, they know about you . Therefore they will treat you like their own daughter . Don’t panic . ”

“However…”

“What’s that?”

“Can I count on your words? I shall see you again soon?”

“Absolutely . ”

“You take care . ”

I squeezed her hand then let go and closed the carriage slide door .

I kept my eyes on the vehicle as it moved forward onto a turning route .

“Sir, your wife will be safe with our protection . We’ve made a thorough cleanup job of the city 3 hours ago . There are 10 IGT’s best soldiers both in the front and back of the vehicle . After exiting the city gate, there will be an entire battalion’s extra guards for her . ”

“I know . ” Exhaled I, “I’ll be back to the party . ”

Party in the front hall was halfway through and the music has become smooth .

My re-appearance brought the second round of salutes and courtesies . I returned the manner then I gazed over only to find the dancers were either lesser characters or bored ladies . Influential individuals have formed little circles, immersing themselves in hot discussions .

I assume my decision to strike smuggling activities have circulated .

As I approach one of the circles, I found Kirk laughing to the ceiling .

“What’s with the laughter?” Asked I .

“Lord Viceroy, it’s about your intention to purge the smugglers . ”

“It’s a thing I should have done years ago . It actually gave you this much happiness? I am astonished . ” I joked, “How flourishing, you flowers . ”

“Purging smugglers is not all, Lord Viceroy . Here in the city, there is another equally important lady beside the one who smuggles . ”

“Oh, and who is she?” I leaned aside my head .

“And of course the answer is the beautiful and graceful Ms . Lucy . ” One laughed, “Hey, Lucy, Lord Viceroy wants to meet you . Over here!”

(What a rude guy . )

She elegantly stepped back into the hall with a lady friend of hers from the patio .

“Apology for my ignorance, Lord Viceroy . ” She said, feathered-fan fluttered before her . Her demeanor has put most men around half on their knees .

“We were talking about you, Lucy . ” A man’s voice talked, “You’re to be told, the most special merchant in the city . ”

“Eh? May I ask why?”

“You’re the only one unaffected by smugglers . ”

After the statement came laughter only men could understand .

She heard and blushed, for most of her business were done in pleasure houses, of course, it was not affected by smuggling .

I intended to see how she handle these boring businessmen so I watched .

Lucy’s eyes glinted . She first eyed around all the men near her then made a quick smile, “I suppose I am . Thanks to your generosity, my business thrived . A well-thought gift was ready for each of you frequent-visitors . ”

“Can I not have that? If my she-tiger knows, she’s gonna swallow me alive . ”

“You’re joking, my lord . ” She said with a cute voice, “I suppose Lord Viceroy thinks it’s laughable . ”

“Have you had the time to enjoy Winper’s local culture during your visit here?” A man’s voice asked .

I subconsciously nodded, “As a matter of fact, I haven’t . No time, no guide . ”

“We’ve made time for you, right?” The voice came from a businessman who I had the private meeting earlier, he continued, “As for a guide, Ms . Lucy, she’s lovely, and she grew up here . She’s the perfect guide . Her tenderness’ gonna melt your heart, right, my friends?”

“Is that so?” I wouldn’t reject such a proposal, “If Ms . Lucy could spare the time, I’m open to tour the city . ”

“Sure she could, every single day!” All said .

My brain spun quickly . I had the feeling that these men were intentionally urging me and Lucy for a day’s outing .

“Let us give them some space to settle an itinerary . ” A man voiced .

“Good, let’s go . ”

Thus they left quickly, including Kirk and Lucy’s lady friend who gave me an ambiguous smile . Could it be that they thought I need a female’s company to ease all the fatigue accumulated on my way?

(Whatever their intentions are, Lucy is my subordinate . )

I approached her . Her face was so ablush that she had to shade half of it with a fan .

“You got a minute? I’ll be in the chamber at the mansion far behind . ” I said softly, “Use the pathway by the patio, I have 2 big guards there . ”

“Uh-huh . ” Lucy nodded without turning a hair, then raised her volume, “Excuse me, Lord Viceroy, I shall run my errands . ”

“Very well . ”

Therefore she summoned her lady friend and left, her dress hem nipped between her right fingers .

“Lord Viceroy… may I have a word with you?”

A rather weak voice echoed behind me .

I look around and discovered the merchant who I had been calling ‘Small-Business’ standing behind .

“I… Lord Viceroy, I’ve come here to recognize my mistake . ”

His lips shivered . Buds of cold sweat begin forming on his forehead .

“<Lord of Light’s Analects> told me: ‘A child who acknowledges and repents his mistakes will be forgiven by men . ’”

(I don’t seem to recall reading his work . )

“So, then?”

“I acknowledge my mistake and wish to sincerely repent . ” This poor man gazed at me, “Please pardon me . I have a big family . They all depend on my work . ”

“I recall telling others to write a guarantee paper and sign . ” I stroked my jaw, “So long as everyone thinks your mistake occurred unintentionally and recoverable, I will not punish you . Even if you leave Winper, your fortune is enough to buy a considerable large piece of land and live the rest of your life happily . ”

Anger grew on his face after I said my judgment, though I concur the facial expression was most probably faked . But I silently commended his acting skill .

“They told me to beg . So I begged each of them but no one listened . Gosh, they used to flatter me all the time . I was so wrong . ” Suddenly he leveled up his eyes to face me, both hands on the sides shivering, “Lord Viceroy, with all my pride, I came to beg you . You are always so kind . You will forgive me, right?”

I laughed and exited the dancing floor to the front courtyard . The latter man followed .

“Small-Business, do you regard yourself as a man who said the wrong thing and did the wrong deed? No one is wrong about that, is it?” I glanced at him .

“No!”

“Then I have nothing to say . You’ll have to live on with it . ”

“B… but, Lord Viceroy . They set me up . They said ‘at least someone has to object’…”

“You do not get to talk about others . You think I don’t know what you’ve been doing with your buddies?” My scowl made him tremble, “You’re mean, greedy and you want to earn my money without a cost?”

“I… I was so wrong . ”

“As for you saying I’m kind…” I nip-picked a young leaf from the bush beside, crushed and squeezed the fresh juice out dripping along with my fingers . Then I lowered my voice, “This Lord Viceroy once defeated the Asmodian United Forces, slaughtered all injured, surrendered soldiers without a spare . You think you’re better than them?”

He trembled even harder and out of speech as I gazed him with eyes of apathy .

“Nevertheless, I cannot spare you…” I trashed the leaf, sniffed the fresh smell of a plant, “… unless you can prove you’re valuable to me . ”

“I… your humble servant will be of your service till the end of time . ” He tried his utmost to normalize his facial muscle, “If Your Lordship drives me away from here, I’m a dead man . If I were to spend the rest of my life in the countryside, I’d rather be dead . ”

I did not say a word save for a hint of a smile .

He knelt and kissed my boots .

“Rise . ” I tapped his head, “Deliver your guarantee paper tomorrow . You know what to do . ”

“I do . ”

“Good . ” My eyes caught Lucy by the pathway, “Remember, all the men you’ve fooled in this world, you’ll never fool me . ”

“With all my life . I won’t . Your Lordship . ”

(Hmm, called me lordship, he’s learned . )