Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 159: Arc 4, Act 1, - 4: The Undying Princess
"You psychopath..."
Daiyu turned around with an amused grin, "To be fair, I was really persistent- Jotou," she paused, the smile wiping itself away from her face.
Jotou’s jaw hung open; behind blonde bangs, tears trailed down her cheeks till they dripped down onto the table. Her nose scrunched and her breath got heavier.
Daiyu walked forward along the long table, "Hey-"
She barely got a word out as Jotou leapt to embrace her tightly. The blonde’s arms wrapped around Daiyu as she pushed her face into her shoulder.
"I, thought you were about to punch me for that..." Daiyu smiled, but it faltered. Her brows bent as she sighed—her arms went around Jotou to hug her as well.
Jotou’s form heaved every breath, "I can’t, believe it..." she sniffled, sinking further into Daiyu.
Daiyu closed her eyes, the jewellery she wore poked and jingled, but neither seemed to care. Her makeup watered down with her tears, "Me neither..." she chuckled in her sobbing.
"When I first heard your name I couldn’t believe it at all. I’m, so glad you’re here," Daiyu sunk deeper as well. In silence their soft symphony of cries echoed...
Jotou took a deep breath, taking her arms away. She stood back up as Daiyu repositioned herself. The two stared at each other in the empty room, lips curling into a smile.
"...How are you?" Jotou chuckled in sorrow. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
"I’m, better; now that you’re here," Daiyu grinned from ear to ear, leading into a light chuckle of her own. "And, how are you?"
Jotou took another breath, nearly giggling, "It’s been hell... But things are looking up."
"You’ve grown shorter than me loser," Daiyu stood a few inches taller.
"I don’t think grown’s the right word there, ’princess’," Jotou rolled her eyes.
"Well, I am technically the princess, ’Thundering Blade’. Looks like you were pretty busy."
"Yeah, I did a lot more than sit in a palace worrying about what to have for dinner."
"Hey, it’s been pretty crazy for me too," Daiyu cocked her head, half-closing her right eye in a glare.
Jotou sighed, "Was it all actually a cover?"
"No dumbass, I was just messing with ya," Daiyu shook her head.
"I figured. Just needed to confirm it. No reason to keep them worrying is there?" Jotou’s head sided to the doors.
"Alright, let’s get them in," Daiyu stretched an arm.
_
"That, WHOLE thing, was a prank!? Even this gloomy room!?" Fumeko glared across the table.
"Pretty much," Daiyu shrugged, head in her palm as her elbow rested on the table.
"So, you are Jotou’s friend from this other world?" Hotaru’s ears pricked.
"Mhm."
"You’re crazy!" Fumeko shouted.
"Oh please, this whole thing’s crazy. We died from Ramond’s excellent driving skills and were brought back to life in some other world, in some other body.
Now the real crazy thing is, Jotou came into this world and socialized!?" Daiyu fake gasped.
"I want to say coming to this world messed up her head or something, but unfortunately that’s not the case," Jotou’s eyes glazed over, "Besides, this one talked to me first, so I kinda got stuck with her."
"Hey!" Fumeko, or rather, ’this one’, switched the target for her glare.
"Well that makes more sense," Daiyu grinned.
"For your information, Jotou’s excellent at carrying a conversation and socialized very skilfully," Hotaru retorted, sitting up.
Daiyu’s eyes widened, "...Pfft... BAHAAHAAA!!!" she cackled into the air as she held onto the table. Hotaru and Fumeko were taken aback whilst Jotou remained unfazed with her arms crossed.
Feyan held the bridge of his nose as he sighed. Asobi’s eyes sparkled as she leaned in closer on the table with a giddy smile. The four previous guards had been dismissed, leaving only those six in the room.
"Ya done?" Jotou raised a brow.
"Ah... Ah. Okay, okay; to be ’fair’, Jotou can socialize pretty well in the past couple of years I guess," Daiyu fanned her eyes.
"Doesn’t stop you from mocking me though. Hey princess, your makeup’s melting," she smirked.
Daiyu looked up as her makeup ran down her eyes and cheeks, "Feyan?" she turned.
"Uh, yes princess. It seems to have gotten everywhere," Feyan handed her another clean handkerchief.
"Yeah, she was such a cry-baby once we were alone," Jotou continued to smirk, leaning forward.
"You’re one to talk, ’I can’t believe it’," Daiyu sneered, wiping her face.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Jotou rested her elbows on the table.
"Ugh, whatever. I still got you," Daiyu scoffed.
"Actually princess... Ms Howllett caught on fairly quickly onto your ruse. I believe it is partially my fault as well," Feyan replied.
"Feyan..." Daiyu sighed looking to him, "What d’you do?"
"I, simply failed to lie to them skilfully... It just, did not sit right with me that we would treat honoured guests with subterfuge, even if they are your friend..."
"I got him in the end so, that’s all that counts."
"Jotou, your friend is so fun!!! And she’s a princess from another world!? Why didn’t you come visit Jotou sooner!?" Asobi stood up, gleefully beaming.
"That’s, kinda a long story. I didn’t even know Jotou was here till about roughly three weeks ago," Daiyu had cleaned up most of the ruined makeup.
"Right, then we got stuck in Hartamat. Sorry we couldn’t meet you sooner your majesty. I’m sure you and Jotou have a lot to talk about," Hotaru replied.
Daiyu’s face crumpled, "Please, don’t call me any of that majesty or princess bullshit like him," she pointed to Feyan with a thumb, "Just Daiyu’ll be fine."
"But, princ- Daiy-" Feyan’s fists clenched, unable to utter her name as he tried forcing it out, "Ugh... My apologies princess I just cannot bring myself to do it... You do not let any of the other staff call you Dai- your name."
"See?" Daiyu’s eyes glazed over.
"Sorry, introductions," Jotou realized. "This is Asobi."
"Hello! I’m the Amazing Asobi!" Asobi waved aggressively before she pulled her wand out and spelled her name in the air with tiny fireworks, all in white.
"...This is Hotaru Kinoshita."
"Pleasure to meet you," Hotaru bowed her head.
"And Fumeko Namora."
"Hey," Fumeko tightened her lips.
"They’ve been adventuring with me, pretty much ever since I- we, died," Jotou recalled the crash... She shook her head, "And, this is Xia Lan Daiyu."
"Nice to meet you all too. Thanks for taking care of him; I know he can be a handful," Daiyu smiled.
"That’s true," Fumeko shrugged.
"What?" Jotou turned.
"Much like a housecat she is," Hotaru added.
"Excuse me?" Jotou twisted to her right.
"She’s a handful of fun!" Asobi hopped.
Jotou squinted in pure repulsion, "I’m taking NONE of that from all of YOU," she raised a finger.
"Even me?" Hotaru side-eyed.
"I-" Jotou fell silent... She merely stared back at Daiyu, perturbed.
"Wow," Daiyu chuckled as she glanced to Hotaru, "You managed to actually shut him up. A trait so few possess, I’m impressed."
"Oh, I’m flattered," Hotaru’s fangs glinted, "She can be quite stubborn sometimes."
"Don’t worry, I know."
Jotou’s gaze grew wearier by the second, "Whatever you do, don’t bring a plate of chocolates in here."
Hotaru’s ears and tail spiked up. She glared, her hand about to reach for the blonde’s ear. Jotou felt lightning arc over her hair, "Sorry!" she dodged before Hotaru even laid a finger on her. Daiyu snickered.
"I have already introduced myself, but I am Feyan Ishan Artevik of House Artevik. I do apologize for attempting to deceive all of you earlier. I was merely following her instructions," Feyan bowed in apology.
"It’s fine, I expect nothing more of her," Jotou stuck her tongue out. Daiyu retaliated, doing the same.
Asobi’s eyes glittered for a moment, staring at Feyan, "OH, MY, YOU’RE AN ELF!!!" the magician sprinted from her seat to the other end of the table. Feyan recoiled back.
"You’re only noticing that now?" Fumeko narrowed her eyes.
"I’m like you!" Asobi pushed her hair back with her wand to reveal her pointed ears, "See! See!"
"Uh."
"Are there more of you guys!? Which forest do you come from!? Ooo, what is the elf village’s name!? Can you teach me cool elf spells!?"
"F-Forest?" Feyan squeaked, cocking a brow.
"Looks like you found someone for you Feyan," Daiyu mocked.
"I’m unsure..." he blushed.
"Sorry, Asobi’s never met another elf before... She’s an, she was in the circus since she was little," Hotaru relayed.
"Oh, I see," Feyan composed himself, "Well, I am only half elven. As you can see," Feyan pointed to his own ear, "Mine are not as sharp as yours; you must be a pure elf."
"Half? Does that mean, you can only cast elf spells in halves?" Asobi tilted her head.
Feyan squinted, "There, is no difference in spells between elves and humans...?" his voice cracked. "My mother is an elf and my father is a human. They were both nobles.
Perhaps my mother would know something more about your, questions, but I do not believe she is from a forest either... Nor my maternal grandparents; or their predecessors... I suppose I could send her a letter?"
"Asobi, please don’t bother him," Jotou uttered.
"Oh, sorry," she turned to Jotou and then back to Feyan. She tipped her hat and bowed with one foot swinging back, "My apologies, your grace," she lowered the tone of her voice.
The raven-haired elf then walked back to the other three in a serious march... Feyan blinked a few times, "I, suppose you can all call me Feyan, alike the princess."
"Look at that, you’re loosening up," Daiyu mocked once more.
"I should my lady; if I wish not to go mad..." he stared at the floor.
"Hm. I wish I knew you were here sooner Jotou," Daiyu gave a lighter smile.
"Me too. But hey, we’re here now aren’t we?" Jotou shared the same expression.
"Yeah..."
Both their expressions grew gloomier and yet somehow, happier? "If we died, in that crash... and both of us are here..." Jotou thought out loud.
"Kaleb, Crispy and Ramond..." Daiyu continued, peering to the table.
"They’re somewhere in this world," Jotou’s eyes widened.
"You’re having the same thought I had when I saw your name," Daiyu pouted with a smile.
Jotou covered her face with her hands, wiping her bangs away from her eyes. She smiled, her breathing getting heavier in excitement.
’Calm down Jotou... You don’t even know where to start.’ Jotou looked back up at Daiyu. The blonde sighed and sat up straight before inhaling deeply. "One step at a time. I’m just glad to see you still."
Daiyu chuckled, "Yeah. There’s a lot of things we can’t avoid. All we can hope is that they’re safe."
"Then, what do we do now exactly?" Jotou queried.
"If it is alright with you princess, we can go over our actual itinerary," Feyan uttered.
"Oh, right, that," Daiyu’s eyes darted to the ceiling.
