Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 174: Arc 4, Act I, - 19: The Council of Cravolta
The marble flooring had the symbol of Cravolta in the centre and in the domed ceiling of the inner foyer. Pleasant music was played by a live orchestra to the side.
Dozens of Royal Guard were positioned in a crescent, and standing in the centre was the Royal Ministry minus Feyan, all awaiting and shuffling slowly into position to welcome the council.
Behind them were the doors that led into a large courtyard, while the hallways left and right would interconnect with the other hallways and staircases.
Arabella dragged Jotou along to the seven people standing by. "Ah, Thundering Blade. Quickly," Archduke Guuraj beckoned. Couldn’t really protest when someone was dragging her now could she?
Jotou quickly made out two other faces—a thin woman with dark skin and greying black hair, several braids under the multitude of bronze hair ornaments she wore.
Her bronze necklace and rings all had pale brown gems that were complimented by the golden lights of the room. Her posture stern and her brown eyes gazed to Jotou, but quickly looked away.
And the other, a man more on the burly side and wearing golden epaulettes with tassels. Other tassels hung with each article of his clothing, leaving mostly only his face to expose his sandy skin.
He raised his brown gloves to stroke his braided beard. "Into positions everybody," Count Khalim uttered as Archduke Filtrin guided his green eyes to watch the entrance.
They all stood in a horizontal line to face the incoming guests. Arabella stood to the left of Jotou and unhooked her arm, making Jotou stand to the left of Daiyu.
"Stand ready," Daiyu uttered.
"Huh?"
Daiyu went silent as she heard the footsteps from the foyer. She kept her hands clasped hovering above her thighs and kept a modest smile.
"Right this way, one by one please," the Royal Guard escorted one reporter by one reporter into the second foyer; some carrying cameras, though they were not allowed to take pictures yet—raindrops still present on their attire.
"Stand ready?" Jotou muttered under her breath with her brows knitted. She looked to her left and saw Arabella, who had her left arm behind her back and right arm above her waist.
Arabella glanced back at Jotou with a squint as the blonde copied how she stood and looked ahead. Arabella furrowed her brows and got out of her stance.
She promptly brought Jotou’s hand forward as discreetly as she could. Jotou peered left. Arabella pointed to Daiyu and got as close to Jotou as she could. "Follow, her," Arabella whispered, a little raspy.
Jotou had no time to question as she followed the instruction.
"Pow, slowly," Arabella followed up with a hushed rough cough. She stood back in place and held her neck gently. She massaged her throat, wincing her eyes.
’Bow, slowly. Alright, I’ll just follow Daiyu then.’ Jotou steadied herself. The reporters positioned themselves in front of the crescent of Royal Guards.
Some set up their equipment while others tested their pens on their notepads. Most of them had tags pinned above their breast pockets; the emblem of Cravolta signified their passage into the palace.
Some reporters from the Kria Daily that Jotou could recognize the logos of and most others for the Altanor, trying to get the best scoop to oppose the peers next to them.
Polite smiles framed themselves onto the line of Royal Ministry members, giving a glance or two to the left or right, but never speaking nor shifting position.
Jotou followed along till a woman pulled open a scroll of the registry in her hands. She stood to the side of the carpet before glancing to the countess.
The countess fluttered her fingers a little as water droplets surrounded the woman’s neck like a collar. She looked back to the scroll and cleared her throat, "Now announcing, the arrival of the Ministry of Arts and Culture."
She appeared to herald as her voice projected across the room. The reporters all stood at the ready, the flashes of cameras and the sound of their shuttering overwhelmed the entrance of the guests.
"Minister Sailanya Hetreeva, Deputy Minister Tres Baloit, Deputy Minister Faren Aliias and Deputy Minister Jaritj Das, in attendance," the herald announced.
To no one’s surprise, their attire was flashy, filled with colours of purples and golds of various shades; as well as some sort of traditional flair in ornaments and jewellery.
They approached in the order they were announced and kneeled to the princess on the carpet, bowing their heads, "Your majesty," they all uttered.
Daiyu stood silent and bowed gently forward, making sure her circlet would not slip. After her, the entire line then bowed to her lead, Jotou followed along a nanosecond later.
A little gap was kept in between the reporters and Royal Guard, allowing the guests to rise and turn left to walk down the hallway.
Daiyu then stood upright, followed by the others. Jotou quickly moved the bangs invading her face, hoping no one noticed... But with every camera flash, that was doubtful...
"Now announcing, the arrival of the Ministry of..."
As the herald went on and three more sets of guests appeared, the same welcome was initiated. Jotou hushed, "How many more do we have to do?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
"Later, let ten more guests come in," Daiyu replied in haste, barely parting her lips. Jotou exhaled through her nose, before waiting for ten more sets of guests from various ministries.
"Phew," Daiyu finally sounded, adjusting her shoulders a little, "There," Daiyu uttered as the barrage of camera flashes went from twenty per second to about two every other.
"They’ll get a little tired. Smile, act like we’re joking about something," Daiyu forced a grin.
"You have to do this every time?" Jotou chuckled in acting.
"No, just when there’s a big deal going on like this. I, hold on-" Daiyu halted as the next guests arrived and they welcomed them in.
"Sorry. I didn’t want to break stance at the start of things. I’m sorry you had to explain to Jotou Ara," Daiyu leaned forward a smidgen to see her.
Arabella closed her eyes and shook her head.
"So, how many more people do we need to welcome?"
"I have no idea," Daiyu feigned a smile, "This is just procedure, alright? I don’t like this much either. I don’t need people to have another reason to get on my ass."
"Spoken like a true princess there," Jotou’s smirk was true.
"Shut it," and so was hers.
"Both of you shush, there will be time to talk later," something echoed in their ears lightly, the voice of the countess. The water disappeared from the countess’s lips.
The two tried their best not to frown and in doing so, both of them noticed the other trying not to do so; which led to both of them to snicker a little.
"I’m glad you’re here," Daiyu uttered before the next guest was heralded.
After another welcome, Jotou stood back up, "Always. We weirdos gotta stick together, right? Nothing’ll stop us."
"You’re the only weirdo here."
"As if."
Trickles of water went above the countess’s lips, "Shush!" The two of them straightened up and hid their laughter with a mask of smiles.
_
After all the guests were welcomed, they were moved to the conference room to all take their seats, from secretary generals to ministers of states.
The room filled with loud chatter as the reporters filled the chairs lined up against the walls—no cameras stood within the vicinity. After all, much of the information would and could be guarded and controlled by the Ministry of Communications, who pay their wages.
The officials talked amongst each other until there was a knock at the door by the Royal Guard around the area. The Royal Ministry entered together, causing the room into whispers rather than babbles.
Jotou passed by the three of her friends in her walk, giving them a little smile as Hotaru smiled back and Asobi gave an energetic wave; while Fumeko pouted, a little envious.
Feyan greeted the royals as they went and took their seats until Daiyu, to which he moved along with her, "Princess, the uh, Ministry of Transport arrived her quite early.
In a bit of a rush I sent them to the reception chamber instead of the foyer, I do apologize deeply, but they might be a little disgruntled to not be the first guests to be greeted," he sat down.
Daiyu sat in the middle, "Alright, I’ll go talk to them later and say I acknowledge they came here first," she waved her hand in a whisper.
"Perfect. Once again, I do apologize my lady."
"It’s fine."
"You have a plan for everything huh?" Jotou queried sitting on the other side of Daiyu, trying to ignore looking onto the mass of people in front of her. Her heartbeat quickened, sitting in such a seat...
"Mistakes are bound to happen with things like this. I’m just following Feyan’s advice."
Next to Jotou sat Archduke Guuraj, while Arabella chose to be seated at the edge. Jotou smiled and the archduke returned the gesture. "Eyes up front," he stated.
"Right," Jotou breathed before taking a look. Count Khalim to the right of Feyan, followed by Countess Keya and Count Keya. To the left of Archduke Guuraj sat the archduchess, then the archduke and finally Arabella.
And in front... The blonde gulped, her head spinning a little. She could see the hundreds of eyes to the front. ’How many are on me? Smile Jotou, smile.’ She knitted her brows.
The ministers, the secretary generals, the reporters and even her friends. She could see Asobi smiling, but the other two squinting a little.
’What do they think? Do I look, scared? Pull it together, you’re the Thundering Blade. You command respect... Do I?’ Her eyes darted to the table—glasses of water, pens and notepads for every person.
"Nervous?" the archduke whispered.
"Kinda," Jotou replied unintentionally. ’Especially after that stunt outside...’
The archduke leaned forward to meet her widened gaze and knitted brows, "Sit back, relax your shoulders. Place your hands on the table."
Jotou followed without a word. ’Calm down Jotou.’ With the words in her mind, she exhaled; her brows relaxed and her eyes eased.
"I’m just waiting for them to criticize what we did outside..." Daiyu whispered. Daiyu turned to Jotou, "Hey," she placed a hand on her shoulder, "You okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah... I mean, I’ve had people cheering for me in Hartamat and Kria sure, but this is, a whole different crowd." ’And I feel like I made a mistake. Do they even know that thunder was me...? Ugh.’
"Not to worry, my first time years ago was not too dissimilar." the archduke replied just as the large doors at the front shut.
"Right. They’re just people," Jotou uttered. ’Flawed in every way like me. They’re no better. All of them... just because they have some authority...’ Jotou’s eyes sparked a little.
’You don’t get to judge me. I’ll just prove you wrong.’ As Jotou set up walls around her psyche, Feyan glanced around the room. He unwrapped the documents and spread them across the table.
"Would you like me to open the meeting?" Count Khalim asked a nervous Feyan.
"Uh, if that is alright. I apologize, I will be fine in a second," Feyan nodded.
"I would be delighted to open as well count. I can break the ice a little to ease our nerves. Three of our council have rarely or never dealt with this much attention," the archduke leaned forward more.
"Goodness, these meetings were never this poorly planned when dear King Riyanavan was here," the countess scoffed.
"If it’s alright, I would like to open this," Daiyu looked to her left and right.
"Uh," Feyan paused for a second, "I- if you wish to do so; I have confidence in you princess."
"Then by all means," Count Khalim sat back.
"Splendid," the archduke did the same.
Daiyu glanced over at Jotou. Jotou peered to her with a soft smile, "You got this; I’m right here. It’s not like we can’t shake this entire room to their knees."
The princess beamed and broadened her shoulders to Jotou with a "Hmph!" of affirmation. She stood up from her seat. Much of the council and reporters still chatted and chuckled.
"SHHH!!!" like ripples of water, the hush echoed all throughout the chamber in one smooth wave. All their attention turned to those upfront in silence as the countess glared back to the council.
"Acting like schoolchildren, honestly," the countess muttered, shaking her head. "Go on dear."
Daiyu nodded her thanks before turning to the council. "Good morning to the Council of Cravolta and to all those who are present. I thank everyone for attending even on such a stormy day.
I hope everyone is well and I wish everyone as such. I believe the council is well aware of the purpose of today’s meeting. The impending trial of Trailon, the recent events that occurred in Hartamat and our roles in it.
I have chosen Lord Feyan Ishan Artevik, the Royal Advisor of myself, Princess Xia Lan Daiyu, to revise information regarding these matters. Thank you once more," Daiyu dipped her head a tad before sitting down.
