Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 163: Arc 4, Act I, - 8: A Princess Atop the Highest Tower
The windows were shut with drapes of purple that brushed across the floor—the lamps were all alit down the halls she walked down. Her boots clacked and echoed; no people around her other than the occasional guard.
Jotou peered down at her attire, the same one from the battle. There lingered no marks of gunpowder nor blood or sand. Her fingers and palms were smooth from being healed.
She walked alone in the yellow glow, silent with nothing but the footsteps, the low humming of electrical lights and the thoughts that filled her head.
As she absentmindedly examined her adventuring gear, she noticed small rips and tears within the white of the dress. As well as some on the yellow coat.
Many of the enchantments placed on it were for convenience after all, dirt and grime would not even adhere to the clothing. Enchantments that made it breathable for the heat and insulated for the cold made it quite the resilient garment.
Still, proper care needed to be taken... Repairs are costly as she can attest after her fights with Okod, Moren and the Frosting Wind. Though she was not exactly sure where to send it for repairs now...
Jotou shrugged it off, the tears were barely noticeable anyway. ’It’s only the first layer out of two. Although... if someone shot through the same tear once, the next shot will just hit me...
Well, I am in the biggest country in the world. I’m sure I can find someone to fix this.’ Jotou then peeked around each open door on the fourth floor, still having no luck with her endeavour.
’The dinner was delicious and that room was supposed to be ’small’? But not much talking went around. Fumeko chowed it down like normal, Asobi praised it and Hotaru enjoyed it.
The boar meat was cooked to perfection and so, many, spices and herbs.’ Jotou’s mouth watered. ’Maybe that’s why nobody talked. Feyan pretty much was closed off and Arabella was busying her hands with the utensils.
It’s more likely that we’re all a bit wary of each other. That goes the same for Daiyu I guess.
Right; to us we’re best friends for more than a decade. To my friends she’s a foreign princess who has the same story as me, coming from another world.
And to her people, I’m just some adventurer who helped them in a difficult battle. I haven’t even gotten the chance to talk to the three of them without someone else there.
Everyone needs to get comfortable... And I thought I was the introvert. Sigh, Asobi’s still Asobi though, so there’s that. Right now, those three should be checking our luggage.
Hotaru said she’d check mine for me while I find the bathroom. I feel like I’m in school again coming up with that stupid excuse. I’m trying to eavesdrop on what’s actually going on in this palace.
I’d send Fumeko, but I’d rather not for this; I can probably talk my way out if I get caught... Other guests? Different dinner tables? Daiyu not opening her mouth too much?
Velatos, returning from death, magic, time shenanigans, me playing hero and a gigantic palace where my best friend is the princess; Daiyu shutting up though? Now that’s just fiction.
Now, I just have to find this fabled dinner table.’ Her footsteps took a pause, before she looked around... ’Where am I again?’ Jotou glanced out the windows past the curtains and to the army of shut doors.
"Fourth floor... wes- no, north...? No, the palace faces west, so the windows should be on my left, but they’re on my right. Wait a sec, that doesn’t matter, the windows’ll always be left or right of me..."
’... ...I’m an idiot.’ "Who would put the dining room on the fourth floor anyway? Did Feyan show us a dining room? I can’t even remember!
Dammit, Daiyu completely threw me off my game today," Jotou sighed, palming her own face.
"Jotou! There you are. What’re you doing here?" Daiyu’s voice rang from an opening door as the blonde peered up. Or at least, the princess’s voice that Daiyu was using.
’Gonna have to get used to that posh-ish, low voice...’ Jotou smirked. ’Though, that’s still Daiyu I hear; she always makes her voice kinda coarse.’ "I, got lost..." Jotou sighed.
"So Feyan didn’t show you to my room?" Daiyu raised a brow, looking past Jotou to see merely the last guard that passed by.
The large open doors that Daiyu emerged from had a bronze coloured frame, with gold and purple patterns all over the white door.
Two women in maid uniforms departed from her room as well, carrying the clothes Daiyu was previously wearing. A simple maroon nightgown she now wore—simple for a princess anyway. Her curled shoes of maroon had golden patterns at its tip.
All her makeup was gone and merely some earrings dangled off her ears—her hair let loose completely. Now Jotou could see all the ends, which all ended in black similar to hers.
"No, Feyan’s busy helping the other three get their luggage and mine. I was looking for you, till I realized I had no clue where I was going."
Daiyu tapped her foot lightly before she smiled, "Miss me that much?"
Jotou gave a chuckle, "You? I could never."
Daiyu tapped her foot once more, before giving a smug grin, "Liar, liar."
Jotou’s smile wiped away as she felt one or two sparks go over her hair and down her neck... ’What was that?’ Jotou looked to the ceiling and then squinted at the walls.
"What’s wrong?" Daiyu cocked a brow.
"Not sure... I have this, warning system with my affinity when," Jotou knitted her brows as she faced Daiyu, "something’s about to endanger me..."
"Hm? I’m not gonna tackle or prank you or anything, I literally didn’t know you were coming... Otherwise, I would’ve set up something," Daiyu admitted.
"Doesn’t feel like an attack... More like a, an intrusion? I haven’t really figured this sense out properly yet. Every signal feels different, sometimes light, sometimes strong. It’s weird," Jotou brushed it off.
"Hm, probably nothing," Daiyu smiled in a shrug.
Jotou leered to Daiyu, "Something weird’s going on. First the dinner, now this. Is now a good time to talk then?"
Daiyu took a breath, "Well, it’s ten-thirty, no one should be coming to bother me and you’re alone, right? I don’t wanna be rude or anything-"
"You absolutely do," Jotou’s eyes glazed over.
"Yeah, I don’t exactly trust your new buddies."
"Figured."
"I know you can vouch for them and all."
"But you’re not comfortable to say what you’re gonna say, I get it, no need to explain," Jotou halted.
Daiyu looked to Jotou as a genuine smile painted itself on the princess’s face. Having to explain every step she made to countless nobles, finally... She breathed out, "I’m glad you’re here. I love you."
Jotou blushed, hiding a smile, "Love you too. Now don’t make me vomit."
"Trust me, almost coughed up blood trying to get it out too," Daiyu chuckled going forward. "Come on, there’s a better place for this," Daiyu grabbed Jotou’s arm and tugged her along.
_
She led the blonde down till the actual north-end of the fourth floor, where two massive doors of tinted glass loomed over them.
Daiyu let go of Jotou’s arm and smiled like a kid about to show their friend a new toy. She twisted the handles and opened the windows which led onto a massive tile balcony.
The breeze blew past their hair and the plants; windchimes dangled to the sides. "Decorated the place myself; as much as I could that is... Come on," Daiyu walked onto the balcony.
Jotou followed, looking up past the doors and chimes to notice the starry night and waning moon to reveal themselves. Another floor with windows sat above the two of them.
Small shrubs and topiaries were kept neatly around them, blooming flowers of yellows, whites and reds that had gone to sleep. The balustrade circled around the balcony, same hue as the walls.
"Below’s the front of the palace, right?" Jotou glanced to Daiyu.
Daiyu kept walking till she was nearly pressed up against the balustrade, her purple locks flying past her face and hips. "There’s a reason I didn’t want you to see the city," she replied.
Jotou’s brows were knitted as she approached... The blonde’s eyes widened as she placed her hands upon the balustrade. The palace sat atop a small hill after all...
As far as the eye could see were yellow lights, glittering and shimmering from buildings so tiny from here they could be grabbed by two fingers.
Streets lit by lights under the starry night with the Moon beaming a smile. Kria... had buildings; however they were not this ordered. Every row was at a perfect angle.
The buildings, some high, some low—a wide open area sat in the centre of it all; if one were to squint they could perhaps make out a fountain so far away.
And past the city centre, of which the palace was at the edge of, were houses and neighbourhoods, all glittering the same glow. Some mansions in the distance belonging to nobles.
The trees stuck out as dark shadows in the distance—rainforests kept bordered from the city. Even so, that did not stop many of the trees to be lit up by the lights.
Daiyu smiled, watching Jotou’s mouth open little by little, "Welcome to Cravolta City."
