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Chapter 10
"Ooh, I see their train coming." A dark-haired woman said.
"Hmm? Ah, I see it too." A golden-haired man with a cigarette between his teeth squinted his azure eyes before replying to the woman standing next to him.
Rebecca raised a brow at him. "Well? Aren't you gonna go check the station again to see if nothing's wrong, or see if there's no one suspicious?"
"No worries, my team and I checked seven times already for the past forty-five minutes." Havoc replied.
She hummed. "Wouldn't hurt to check one more time, and when you said team, did you mean those four Lieutenants behind you?" She peered behind her shoulder.
He groaned, and turned to gesture at the soldiers, then turned back to cross his arms and cock a brow up at her. "Happy? And I only brought four with me because I thought they wouldn't want to bring unnecessary attention by bringing a whole platoon to the train station just to pick them up."
"Attention?" She let out a snort, "The whole country knows that they're coming back today. Did you read the news?"
"I don't have time to read the news because I was too busy with work, unlike someone," He narrowed his eyes down at her, "Who had more than a week off because her boss was on honeymoon."
"Hey." Rebecca fully turned to him, ignoring the train that was approaching the station as she crossed her arms. "You think I don't have anything to do because Riza's on honeymoon? Mister, do you not see these dark eye circles here?" She nearly jabbed her eye out of frustration as she pointed at the darker shade of skin under her eye, and huffed. "I have more work when she's not here, Lieutenant Colonel Havoc."
"And I was wondering why you looked like a panda today." The corners of his lips lifted as he smirked and teased.
The dark-haired woman gawked at the blonde as he puffed out the smoke, then leaned down to her level and raise his brow at her, with the grin still on his lips. "Panda?" She gaped, then her eye twitched and she growled. "You..."
She was interrupted with the loud screech of the train arriving the station, and the doors opened. The two watched their superior officer and his wife get off the train, and they quickly walked towards them to take the suitcases out of their hands.
"I'm back, Rebecca." Riza thanked and greeted happily, then asked as she noticed an irked expression on her friend's face. "Anything wrong?"
"No," Rebecca glared up at the tall blonde man next to her, then uttered. "Nothing's wrong."
Havoc heaved a sigh, then averted his attention to the Führer, and nearly spit out his cigarette when he saw the same vexed look. "Woah."
"He fell asleep five minutes before the train arrived," Riza explained as she patted her husband's arm.
Rebecca hummed and said. "Well, it'd be best if you drop that frown, sir. The media, they're out there. People might think that you didn't have a nice honeymoon."
Roy groaned, then sighed. "Alright. Let's go."
"You did all this?" Riza asked with an amazed tone as she looked through the files.
"Mm-hmm." Rebecca nodded with her arms crossed as she replied. "You always tend to work yourself too hard, so I thought I might as well finish up some of them when I have the time."
"Rebecca..."
The blonde woman gave an impressed and surprised look, in which the dark-haired woman raised a brow. "What?"
Riza shook her head and smiled. "Just a bit surprised. I'll do the rest, so why don't you go home and take a rest?"
Rebecca sat down on the sofa and took the rest of the files out from her bag. "I just intended to give you these for you to have a look, but since you're gonna work," She stretched her arms. "And, I'm here already, so I might as well help."
Riza blinked, then nodded. "Alright then. Let's go to the study room; There's one on the second floor, the first room next to the left staircase. I'll bring some tea and snacks."
"Righto."
...
"At least one school in every village, town or city, huh?" Rebecca said and took a cookie from the plate.
Riza sighed, "It depends on the population and the size of the village or town, wherever it is. Thank you for the research, Rebecca." She waved a file, "Sure does save a lot of time."
"No problem, Riza. But I think it'd be better if we go there directly. Oh, by the way," Rebecca licked the crumbs off the side of her lips and asked. "Did you tell your hubby about the project yet?"
"No, not yet. I'll discuss it with him tonight." She then let out a chuckle, "I feel like we're thinking a bit too far ahead, and also since we only have the planning and research for East City, maybe we should focus on one area at a time."
Rebecca nodded in agreement, then yawned before she could say anything. Riza gave a worried look and said, "Why don't you go home and take a rest?"
"Hmm? Oh, no, I'll be fine..." Rebecca interrupted herself with another yawn, then blinked. "I swear I was fine a second ago. But I guess I'll go home for now."
Riza gave a nod, and opened the door and walked her friend down the stairs. "By the way, Rebecca." She started, and the dark-haired woman glanced at her. "Would you like to move closer to the mansion? It's more convenient if you live closer so you won't have to drive thirty minutes to come."
"Huh?" She raised a brow at the sudden question. "Sure, I don't mind, but I'm not sure if I can find an apartment immediately though."
"...Wait here." Riza said, and quickly walked up the stairs again, then placed a key on her hand when she came back. "Here."
Rebecca gaped. "Wha- When- How?"
"A few days before the wedding," Riza replied sheepishly. "I felt bad for having you to come from thirty minutes of driving distance, just to pick me up or something."
"Aww. You didn't have to, Riza." Rebecca squeezed the blonde's hands.
She smiled, then took a pen and ripped a piece of paper from a notebook, then scribbled down the address. "Here you go. It's just a few streets away, around ten-minute walking distance."
"Thanks." Rebecca took the paper, "I wonder what it's like."
"A living room, kitchen, washroom, and two bedrooms." Riza replied, "The basic pieces of furniture are in there, so you just need to bring your clothes and toiletries. And food."
"Woah."
"The rent for the rest of this year is already paid, so no worries. You can move in any time you prefer."
"Riza!" She wrapped her arms around the First Lady tightly, enticing a tiny grunt from her. She pulled away, and wiped the corner of her eye with a finger, pretending to wipe a teardrop. "I'm so glad you married the Führer."
"The rent is deducted from your salary."
She wiped another 'teardrop'. "Of course."
Riza huffed, then smiled again as she opened the front door. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Mm-hmm." Rebecca nodded, then gave another hug before stepping out of the door. "Thank you, Riza."
"You're welcome." Riza waved, "Bye."
She motioned a flying kiss in a jokingly manner, before waving back at her.
"Working on the day you come back from honeymoon? Hard-working as always." Roy placed an arm around his wife's waist and pressed his lips against her golden hair.
Riza hummed as she placed her hand over his to give it a squeeze, then walked towards the dining room with him and sat down on the table. Roy took a bottle of red wine and two wine glasses before sitting down next to her. He poured the wine into the glasses and handed her one. She lifted the glass to lightly clink it with his and took a sip.
"Speaking of work, how is your project going?" He asked as he placed his wine glass down to take his utensils in his hand, and took a bite of his steak. "Now that I think about it, you didn't really tell me anything about the project you're working on."
"I was just about to tell you about it." She chuckled, "I'm working on literacy."
"Literacy?"
"Compulsory education for children." She replied with a sheepish smile. "Free education in government schools, for children who cannot afford the private ones."
He hummed and gave an approving nod with an interested expression. "That's not a bad idea."
She muttered 'thank you', and he asked. "Is there a reason why you chose that?"
"To give people more choices." So people won't turn to the military when they don't know what to do, she mentally added. She then peered up at her husband, just to see him glance down at her, giving a nod, enticing her to continue. Riza blinked at him, before looking back down at her meal, taking a bite of the food.
"Riza."
"Yes?"
"Are there other reasons? Or," He locked his onyx eyes with her honey hazel ones. "Is there something you don't want to tell me?"
She knitted her brows as she uttered a mental curse at how sharp her husband was, then she lightly bit her lip. He wouldn't be offended, would he? She would never want to upset him.
"You're making this sound like an interview." She uttered, and he let out a chortle. She narrowed her eyes at him, before heaving a sigh, and spoke what she had in mind a while ago.
The frown on her brows deepened when he didn't say anything, and she placed her hand over his, "I... I didn't join the military at the most peaceful of times, and I know people who turned to the military because they didn't have any choices or simply didn't know what to do, and died in the war. It has nothing to do with you being the Führer now or something, it's just the military didn't exactly... leave me the best impression."
"I know. I understand, Riza." She heaved a tiny sigh out of relief when he smiled down at her and said, then he grinned confidently. "Now that I'm the Führer, I'll change your impression of the military."
She let out a hearty laugh. "I look forward to that."
"Did you hate the military?"
Riza adverted her attention from the cup of tea in front of her to her husband, and she couldn't help but knit her brows at his sudden question. She sighed a quiet one, then took a sip of her chamomile tea, and spoke. "... Not anymore. Dislike, but not hate."
"I'm sorry."
"Why?" She placed the cup back down on the saucer. "There's nothing for you to apologise for."
"I dragged you down to that hellhole." Roy quietly spoke with a saddened expression, with a hint of guilt in his dark eyes.
Her frown deepened ever so slightly, but a teasing smirk appeared on her lips as she raised a brow at him. "What made you think that I followed you to the military, dear sir?"
"Was it not? I'm hurt, my darling wife." He blinked at her, before grinning, and replied in a mocked-disbelieved tone. "That was what I have always believed."
She laughed a light-hearted one and moved her chair closer to his so she could rest her head on his shoulder. "I joined the military because of you," She said quietly, her tone tranquil. "Not exactly wrong."
He hummed, and took her hand in his, his thumb lightly caressing the diamond on her ring.
"I don't regret joining the military. I never did." She murmured, then laced her fingers with his. "So don't apologise."
He nodded and softly said. "Sorry."
"Roy..." She sighed, and he chuckled. "Ah." She suddenly uttered.
"Hmm?"
"I almost forgot." She muttered as she stood up. "Wait here."
Roy watched his wife quickly walk up the stairs, then he walked over to the sofa as he waited for her. "What is it?" He asked when she came back down.
She settled next to him and handed him a tiny black box.
"For me? Thank you, darling." He took the box with a surprised look, and offered a smile, then opened the box. A small white-jade and silver point-pendant rested inside, and he took it out from the box. "You bought it in Xing? When?"
Riza glanced at her husband nervously as she bashfully explained, "The day we left your mother's hometown. I saw you looking at it, and I thought it suited you too, or did you not like it...?"
"As expected of the Hawk's Eye. I was only looking at it for less than five seconds, and you caught me." He let out a chortle, then his smile softened as he cupped her cheek with a hand, and planted a kiss on her temple. "Thank you, Riza, I do like it. I was actually thinking about it on the train."
She smiled back a warm one and asked as she took a thin necklace chain from the plastic bag in the box. "Do you want to wear it now?"
He nodded, and she slipped the pendant through the chain. "What's the chain made of?"
"Platinum." She replied, then said in a more bashful tone. "I wanted to match it with the wedding ring."
He chuckled, then leant his head down so she could clasp the necklace on his neck. She placed her arms around his neck, her nimble fingers attaching the clasp to one of the tiny rings. He wrapped an arm around her waist, and pressed his soft lips against her neck, smirking against the flesh as she gasped when he suddenly nipped and lightly sucked on the skin.
She gripped his shoulder, biting her lower lip as he trailed his lips downwards while placing soft, teasing kisses. He cradled her head with his unoccupied hand, and laid her back down on the sofa and settled on top of her, continuing to swirl his tongue around her sweet spots, planting little red marks on her porcelain skin.
"Roy, wait—" She tried to push him away, but he grabbed her wrists and interrupted her weak protest as he claimed her lips. His teeth grazed her plump, lower lip lightly, and she responded by opening her mouth, allowing him to slip his tongue into her mouth to tangle it with hers, enticing him to smirk against her lips while moving his hands forward so her hands were placed above her head.
He laced his fingers with hers whilst deepening the kiss, swallowing her pleasured hums. He pulled away as they were both out of breath, panting lightly through his dark eyes had a hint of desire and yearning, and she suppressed a blush as she heaved a tired sigh. She slipped her hands away from his to tap his soft cheeks, making him blink at her, then grinned sheepishly.
He sat up, bringing her with him, then lifted her up for a moment to sit her on his lap. "Thank you, dear." He held the white jade pendant up as he beamed.
She let out a light-hearted chortle and kissed his forehead. "You're welcome, Roy."
A/N: A relatively shorter and plainer chapter. I wanted to write more on Riza's First Lady duties and stuff, but I guess I got distracted... Well, that wraps up the honeymoon.
I know Rebecca and Havoc are kinda ooc, but for some reason, that's how I imagined them to interact with each other.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Reviews are much appreciated :)