Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 166: Arc 4, Act I, - 11: The Next Move

"Thundering Bla- Ms Howllett!" Feyan rushed up to the blonde as she walked down the stairs—Fumeko, Hotaru and Asobi following behind him.

"Jotou’ll be fine. Seriously, try it right now."

"Uh," Feyan’s eyes widened, "Have you been... conspiring with the princess?"

"I was talking to her, but I wasn’t really conspiring," Jotou walked towards him, "Or am I?"

Feyan sighed nervously, "Yes Jo- Jotou," he uttered with a breath. "Jotou, there we go. I hope it is not disrespectful."

Jotou pouted slightly, "Not at all."

"Your, expressions says otherwise..."

"She tried to get under your skin and annoy you; it didn’t work so she gets all pouty," Hotaru teased walking up.

"Hmph."

"You seem to be in a good mood," Hotaru glanced to the pouting blonde.

"Oh right," Jotou smiled, "Feyan, you don’t need to keep many secrets anymore. Daiyu’s asked me to stay here to deal with the council and the overall war. I’m sure she’ll tell you."

Feyan knitted his brows, "Is that so?"

"Mhm. She went to sleep. We had a discussion before- I’ll have to explain to all of you, but if you guys are okay to stay here for a bit longer, we should have no issue."

Hotaru’s ears bristled, "No issue at all with me. If you’re staying here, then I’ll be here too. And if you’re trying to find justice, then all the better," her tail wagged a little.

Jotou blushed a little, "Well, I didn’t expect you to stay, not at all," she smiled. The redhead’s eyes narrowed. "What d’you think Feyan?"

"If it is the princess’s decision then it is a wise decision."

"I mean, what do YOU think."

Feyan pondered for a second, "I think, it is a wise decision."

"How so?"

"For one, the princess seemed to be in an elevated mood ever since she heard word of you. And today, she has been quite, motivated and eager.

Her improved mood would make her more confident in facing the council, other than taking a more, brutal, approach. Not to mention, your reputation is well-known.

With you by her side and with the wit you have shown today alone, the council and any protestors would have no other choice than to show greater respect... Do you, require more reasoning?"

Jotou crossed her arms, "Got anything detective?" she yelled out into the circular foyer.

"No!" Fumeko’s voice projected as she blinked into existence next to the blonde. "How did you even know I was casing the place?"

Hotaru furrowed her brows and turned around, as did Feyan. A certain magician was still missing from view. "For one, you two went invisible. Second, what else would you be doing?" Jotou’s eyes glazed over.

Fumeko leered... having been read like an open book. "Asobi? Are you invisible?" Hotaru uttered out.

"Yes!" the magician’s voice echoed throughout the foyer, the one or two guards patrolling turned around and glanced up to the ceilings.

"We’re busted!" Fumeko yelled out.

"Oh no! Wait, you still don’t know where I am! Mwuahahaha!" Asobi’s footsteps clacked against the floor.

"Is this a normal occurrence?" Feyan felt the headache incoming.

"Fumeko running off and doing her own plan or Asobi going invisible? Either case, yes," Jotou replied.

"So, we’re staying here’s what I heard, right?" the brunette affirmed.

"Yup."

"Good, good. As long as the food keeps being delicious as today’s dinner," Fumeko’s mouth watered.

"Well, then I will arrange for four more guests for breakfast tomorrow. Would you like to be scheduled to be awoken at a specific time? Unfortunately, none of your quarters contain an alarm clock; though, that can be procured easily enough," Feyan looked to Jotou.

"What time will the breakfast be?"

"O nine hundred hours, sharp."

"Then eight’ll be fine. It’s almost twelve and Hotaru needs her eight hours," Jotou peered to the redhead who was walking and searching around the foyer.

"Will do."

"Speaking of which, where’s our luggage?" Jotou glanced to the brunette.

"They have the same weird platform things from the Ordinate in some small corner rooms. They’ll bring it up the floors; that’s what he said at least," Fumeko glared to Feyan.

"Have I... done something to make you mistrust me Ms Namora?"

"That’s Detective Namora to you," she glared more, "And I’m just being safe... Our first house, then Hartamat; I don’t need to be caught slacking again."

"You’re doing great detective," Jotou smirked, "But I don’t think anything’s wrong with this place nor Feyan. Maybe the council."

Fumeko had a smug grin to the compliment, "So, anything shady with the council Mr Artevik?" she got in his face.

Feyan recoiled back, nearly squeaking, "There are, rude or, maybe suspicious individuals, but they are ministers and nobles... In their line of work, there could be any number of such activities.

Though I do not believe there are any that intend to harm you or the Thundering- Jotou, Ms Kinoshita and Ms Asobi. All their opinions are against Trailon and for Cravolta at the end of the day.

Is that sufficient information Detective Namora? And uh... my title is not Mr... it is Lord... but uh, hm... it works..." he took another step back.

"Hm, you have shown me respect. Nothing suspicious about you- HEY!" Fumeko was dragged back.

"Just call her Meko," Jotou dragged. Fumeko growled up to the blonde.

"Found you!" Hotaru splashed drops of water next to a pillar as they caught onto an invisible form before the form could make the droplets invisible as well.

"Aw... I lost. Congratulations Hotaru!" Asobi gave her a hug, coming out of her illusion.

"Will you two get over here? We need to go to our rooms," Fumeko scolded.

"Sorry!" Asobi ran over.

"You’re the one who made her go invisible, don’t act like you’re not at fault," Hotaru’s tail spiked as she walked over.

"Ah yes, I will show you to your rooms and your luggage will be brought over immediately. However, just for the night, I am afraid we only have three rooms at the ready...

We were not fully sure when you would arrive to clean up and prepare the rooms for use. And the cleaning staff will only be up in the next six or so hours.

A fourth room will be prepared by morning, but if you do have a problem with this, I can wake up a few cleaners to prepare a separate room and we can have one ready in the next two hours at most-"

"I don’t mind sharing a room with Jotou," Hotaru interrupted. Fumeko instantly glared over to the redhead. The wolf-girl’s ears were up high and her tail swayed.

"If, that is okay of course," Feyan turned to the blonde.

Jotou knitted her brows and she could feel her heart skip a beat as she faced the redhead...

"You’re fine with it, yes?" Hotaru raised her brows.

"Yeah... Yeah," Jotou looked back to Feyan and nodded. "No need to be waking people up and disturb their rest."

"Phew. Thank you for allowing this little conundrum to slide. I will show you to your rooms then."

Jotou went silent, her shoulders slumped inwards and her head lowered as she followed. ’I... Why am I getting this nervous...?’

While the redhead walked with her head held high and a grin across her face; the brunette muttered something under her breath as she followed behind with Asobi.

_

"This room is named the ’Little Golden Slumber’." An aroma of scented cleaning products wafted out the door. Three chandeliers of rose gold hung—goldish-bronze marble floors, a fan hanging in the middle.

A large vanity of browns and golds sat next to a sizeable window, curtained by brownish drapes. It was adorned with utensils, rather expensive makeup materials and brushes all in front of a mirror.

The bed... Oh the bed... It could easily fit ten people. Covered in sheets, a blanket and duvet of golds, browns and whites, it hosted an army of pillows stuffed with feathers.

The canopy of the bed itself was marble, and a mural of purples and golds was painted to look like marble as it sat behind the bedframe. Pleated curtains hung from the canopy, brushing down onto the long bed stool up front.

A door to the bathroom and another door to a relatively small walk in wardrobe. "MINE!" Fumeko blinked onto the bed without a second thought.

"Huh!? I wanted it!" Asobi ran into the room. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Well, the bed’s big enough you can just share it-"

"Never!" Fumeko hissed, cutting off Jotou.

"Very well then... Your luggage will be brought here Meko."

"That’s Detective Namora to you!"

"Don’t," Jotou told Feyan.

Feyan groaned to himself, "May I show you the other two rooms?"

"Yes please. Come on Sobi, I’m sure there’s a better room," Hotaru called over.

"Yay!" Asobi ran back over.

"This is... so soft..." Fumeko melted onto the mattress like a puddle.

"Glad you enjoy it. Goodnight then," Jotou spoke into the room.

Fumeko planted her face into the bed, making blanket-angels, "Hey you can bring food up here, right?"

"Uh, not at this hour, but otherwise yes."

"Hm... Fine. Goodnight. And you," Fumeko blinked up from the bed and popped up right in front of Hotaru, "Better watch it," she pointed with a glare.

"What’re you talking about?" Hotaru raised a brow, her ears spiking.

Fumeko side-eyed Jotou, "...Nothing. Goodnight... Hope the bedbugs bite," she whispered the last sentence.

"Night-night Meko!" Asobi waved as they departed the room. Feyan handed the key to the brunette as Fumeko closed and then locked the door in a huff.

_

"YES! I LOVE IT!!!" Asobi bounced around in the next room made up of soft blue tones, with clouds of white upon the marble walls.

A medium sized balcony with small windowed doors had the view of everything on the east side of the palace. The wooden canopy lifted up bluish drapes—same colour as the sheets and pillows. The same arrangement of utensils, decorations and furniture almost.

The walk in closet and bathroom were interconnected it appeared and the walls were mounted with spherical lamps that gave off a white light.

Asobi opened up the windowed doors and walked onto the marble balcony. Three metal chairs of white and a glass tea table were set to overlook the night sky and shrubs below.

It gave a view of the field in the distance, fountains and lights down the path and the buildings; with plenty of space to run around as well.

"This is the ’Cloudy Bedroom’. It is not the shared chambers I am afraid," Feyan pointed to the bed.

"It’s alright. Asobi seems to like this," Hotaru smiled to the elf running around the patio-like balcony.

"I really, really love it! So this’ll be my room for as long as we stay here?" Asobi held her wand in both hands as she skipped back to the three.

"Yeah, unless we kick Fumeko out of her room," Jotou considered the idea.

"Then I hope we stay here for a long time!"

"I am glad you enjoy it so much Ms Asobi," Feyan bowed, feeling a little amused himself, watching her prance around.

_

The remaining two followed Feyan down to the second floor. Jotou kept sneaking glances at the redhead. She caught Hotaru doing the same once before the blonde smiled lightly. ’I just need to be confident. I owe her that much.’

"Here we go," Feyan unlocked the doors and led them into the room, "The ’Dusk-Twin Suite’," he walked in onto the dark grey tiles before stepping onto the near-black carpet.

The chandelier of black crystals hung in the centre of two large beds to either side. The walls were made of black panels, with golds swirling in patterns within.

Two small fans on the ceiling to each side and two dark hued vanities—curtains that glittered black drifted down from the canopies to delicately lay upon the white pillows.

The soft light of the night shined through the giant windows to the right of the room; which led onto a balcony of the same colourings. On the left were the large walk in wardrobe and the door to the bathroom.

"You know, this room’s really beautiful. And there’re beds for two, as well as the facilities. Do we really need another room? I mean, Jotou and I can spend the rest of our stay here, no problem."

"Uh, you do not have to compensate for our shortcomings Ms Kinoshita. We will have a bedroom or even two by the morning. Guests come and go and we tend to clean as guests arrive. We were just short on time-"

"It’s fine Feyan. We’re not particularly picky. Especially when the room’s this big," Jotou glanced around, trying to hide the obvious reddening of her cheeks.

"The princess requested the grandest rooms which were more difficult to clean, but if you are satisfied with the room, then, fantastic."

Jotou turned, "You really don’t need to be so formal with us. And don’t worry, I won’t tell Daiyu you’re complaining about her orders. I’m sorry you have to deal with her," she giggled lightly.

Feyan’s brows knitted and he stared at Jotou in the eyes as a smoke of shadow quickly flashed in his, "No," his voice firm. "Please do not misunderstand my tired sighs as complaints.

I have no quarrel with serving the princess. I did not know the previous princess, but as far as I am aware, she is the current monarch.

I do my duties out of my own will and mine alone. She has requested my help and I will aid her in that endeavour, the same as you," he declared with his fist to the side.

Jotou knitted her brows as Hotaru’s ears spiked up in curiosity. A sly grin then grew across the blonde’s lips, "Alrighty, I’ll just tell her that then."

Feyan’s eyes bubbled, "Please do not!" he threw his hands out, hiding away his face that flushed red.

"Will you stop?" Hotaru had a half-cocked smirk as she tapped Jotou’s shoulder with the back of her hand. "Thank you Feyan," the redhead glanced over.

Feyan nodded, "Yes... you are welcome. Your belongings will be brought here shortly. I hope this twin-bedroom serves you well. It was used by twin heirs born to the 12th generation of the Tamara family."

"Thanks Feyan, we’ll see you in the morning," Jotou walked closer.

"Yes, I will send someone to wake the two of you at O eight hundred hours. Be wary of the glass on the balcony, I believe it is fragile-"

"Thank you Feyan, we’ll be careful," Hotaru spoke.

"Of course, you will be capable. It is not outfitted with much technology. We could procure a radio and a few 8tracks; or a gramophone. Are there any records that you are fond of? Oh, and if you require any toiletries-"

"Goodnight-" "Bye-" "-Feyan," both Hotaru and Jotou uttered as they moved to close the doors.

"Oh, oh," Feyan took one then two steps back till the door was being shut, "Uh, goodnight," he bade as the door, shut.

Both of them puffed out a breath before letting out a chuckle for themselves. "Wanna go check out the balcony while we wait for our stuff?" Jotou tilted her head.

"Gladly," Hotaru composed herself.