BLOODY LOVE'S
Extra 6: Casus Belli

"We should be home, we'll have dinner soon" Rolan said. He grabbed his coat and buried his hands deeply in his pants pocket. "Look, the patrol police have started roaming around. But what are we doing here, in front of the cake shop?"

Chester took one of the hot doughnuts out of his paper bag and casually chewed. "We're waiting for Argent to buy his wife some souvenirs. You yourself said. Want one? It's delicious."

"I was complaining, not really asking," said Rolan as he grabbed a chocolate donut and bit. "Nob."

"Yes right?" Chester turned his head towards the Pierre Shop behind them. He sighed. "I want to marry a woman who can make doughnuts like this."

"I want to marry a donut like this" Rolan said.

Chester laughs. He is Robert's successor, the same age as Rolan. His body is slender, athletic. A thin brown mustache ran across his nose, giving a friendly impression. Chester was indeed friendlier than Robert, also more flexible. As soon as Marco comes knocking on his door and invites him to work together, Chester assures easily. He had known the name Argent a long time ago and liked the family enough, especially after knowing what really happened a year ago.

"Even Argent was finally married. You don't want to follow?" ask Chester. He wrapped his paper bag into a small ball of crumbs and threw it into a nearby trash can. "I can introduce you to beautiful women."

"A beautiful woman who's a dead body and still good to dissect or a crazy beautiful woman in prison who wants to kill one of Argent?"

"Normal, Orlov. Normal and living."

"Darling, I'd love the first one." The donut's over. Rolan turned his head as soon as he heard the sound of the shop door bells. "For a long time, Marc. I thought you were shopping ten dozen or you were buying Pierre's shop. But what is this? Just one box?"

"Pierre told me a lot about Eastwood" Marco said. The ends of her silver hair were flying in the cold wind. He threw his hat deeper. "Tomorrow I want to talk to him."

"Speaking?" Rolan frowned. "With Baron Eastwood?"

"Does talking here mean killing? You guys are wearing figurative 'cause there's me?" Chester crossed his hands in front of his chest.

"I mean talk. It might involve a little fracture and a scream, but just talk." Marco shrugged his shoulders. He walked towards the car carefully so that the box he was carrying did not shake. "I've put off seeing him for too long because I don't have enough evidence, but Pierre helps a lot. Anyone want to join?"

"No way," Rolan quickly opened the door. "I don't like to interfere in other people's domestic affairs."

"I have business tomorrow" Chester dodged, guessing that handling Eastwood would be troublesome. "Important all day. Office business."

Marco nodded briefly and sat down on the seat beside the wheel. "It's nice to hear you guys are excited to help. Tomorrow take him to my house after breakfast."

Chester groaning. Rolan nodded slowly, getting used to it.

***

Why would Baron Eastwood need to spread this much slander? Jeanne thought while reading the report that came. Olivia has joined Alice and Cecile who have returned home from shopping. Edgar and Renata have also returned home. He was invited to join everyone in the lounge, but Jeanne refused politely. He needs to read the letters today and reply as soon as possible.

Did his pride rebel because it was ignored by Jose who had no status at that time? What kind of validation did Baron Eastwood pursue? Is he among those who envy seeing others succeed? Shouldn't he also know about the fall of Sheldbolis?

Jeanne shook her head slowly, rejecting all of those estimates. He's seen people like Eastwood a lot. The man was the kind of human who enjoyed gossiping about others without basis until the person fell down. Many joined Eastwood and took part in blasphemous emotions despite not knowing what the bottom line of the problem was. They just love the noise. The higher the rumored people are, the more satisfied they are to see them fall. If the victim explodes, everyone will wash their hands and show sympathy, turning to each other without feeling wrong. The people they live in are indeed this rotten, full of drama and mutual annoyance.

"You have to grow strong, honey," said Jeanne, rubbing her stomach. "Tough on your father, as good as your cousin."

Every letter he finished reading he burned with a candle flame and placed on a wide metal plate on the table, his eyes occasionally watching each paper crumble into ashes.

Jeanne finished reading and burned all her letters. He just wanted to write a reply when someone opened the door. The sweet aroma of strawberries spread following the appearance of the person. The excitement ran through Jeanne's entire body as soon as she saw who was coming. "When are you coming home?" tanyanya. "I don't hear the car."

"Maybe you're too focused." Marco placed the cake box on the coffee table, hurriedly approaching as he watched Jeanne move from the writing table. His eyes glanced at the ashes of the letter on the coasters. "What's up?"

"Buying cake. You said you wanted to shortcake Pierre, right?"

A sweet fluffy smile on Jeanne's lips. "That was this morning. Now I want you," he said, loosening the tie around Marco's neck. His cheeks blushed in a fine tinge of redness. "You, huh?"

Marco kissed his forehead at a glance, not sitting. "Later. The nephews want to talk to me, they're waiting downstairs."

"A single time?" Jeanne put on a hopeful face.

For a moment they did not touch, he already felt lost. It's a new feeling for him. While with her late husband, Jeanne was never enthusiastic. The touch he received did not cause electricity or provoke him to retaliate, sometimes even making him somewhat uncomfortable. Her late husband always slept on her back as soon as they finished, or went straight away like he was angry, as if the words of love that were thrown away when they made out were just lies. It made young Jeanne confused. There was nothing he could have loved for advice because it was taboo to complain about what was happening in bed. Finally, throughout his first marriage, he lay still like a dead fish every night. After all, everything was always over before he had enough passion.

But with Marco everything is different. Jeanne never felt dissatisfied. He did not feel treated like a lump of raw fatty meat, but really as a living human. It makes her happy, makes her want to be touched again and again.

Marco still looked at him for a long time in silence, then finally gave up. "We're moving to bed?"

"Too soft." Jeanne laughed winning. She embraced her husband's neck and got closer intimately. "Just here."

***

"Campbell and Jones" Rolan gave the name to his four nephews. They all gathered in the lounge, waiting for dinner.

Renata chatted with her daughters-in-law and played with her granddaughter in another room. Marco with Jeanne on the second floor. Edgar was still reading the letters that came in his study. His son had all gone home, so Edgar took the opportunity to continue the work that had been neglected for accompanying Renata.

"Campbell and Jones?" reset Juan. "That name is in Gentry, right? Campbell and Jones are that?"

Rolan nodded. "Austin Jones and Liam Campbell. Actually there's still a lot involved. They're grouping. But the two guns are. They're actively making plans and manipulating Eastwood."

Jose also knew a name called. The two were the ones who had directly come forward to attack him as he beat up Sir William at the party first. Both Campbell and Jones are from Aston, so don't know what happened at Bjork. Sir William was not friends with the people of Bjork, most of his friends from Aston and Nordem.

"Motif them?" ask Jeffrey.

"The esprit de corps?" Rolan turned his shoulders. "The enemy of friends is the common enemy. I think it's that kind of thing. Sir William is quite popular and royal. Suddenly he is lost after a conflict with the Argent family's son who is known for taking care of dark things, of course everyone will make the easiest conclusion."

Jacob grunting. "Uncle Marco won't mind this we take care of, will we?"

"I guess not. But I just remind you, you can't hurt them—not directly," Rolan felt the need to remind. "If you hurt them directly, it's the same as justifying the rumors. Things are gonna end badly for us, especially Jose."

Jose smiled at it. "What matters is not directly, right? Beret."

"Uh oh." Rolan. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why do I feel bad when you say it's okay?"

***

Note:

¬Landed Gentry/The Gentry: book list of names of people of the upper class (not exclusively nobles).

¬Esprit de corps (France): soul corsa.

¬Casus belli (Latin): actions/incidents that trigger a war or are used to justify a war.