Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 182: Arc 4, Act I, - 27: So, No Dessert?

"Jotou!?" the redhead rushed out the doors, the flame now quelled, "Fumeko!?" she ran quicker holding her dress up.

The blonde and brunette sauntered step by step, Fumeko occasionally holding Jotou’s shoulder up as blood stained both their hands.

"Yeesh," her eyes welled up and her hands glowed bright blue. The glow of her water nearly blinded the two as Hotaru grabbed them both and began healing.

Asobi ran out not too far behind, "Oh no!" she held her wand in both her hands.

Fumeko breathed and winced as the water healed, "We’re fine," she tried to calm Asobi.

"You are now," Hotaru scolded, moving her aside and focusing her power on Jotou more.

"NGh... Ghh..." Jotou gripped the blade in her hand and clenched her teeth. The glowing water seeped in every gash and clotting wound, sealing it up before it became a scar.

Tears decorated her dress, each rip with only a larger smear of her own blood across. Daiyu came rushing out, looking left and right and sighing once her eyes set upon the blonde.

"My lady, please stay within my sight," Feyan worried along behind her.

"Lucky I wore red huh?" Jotou winced a smirk.

Hotaru held her cheek and healed the slash across it, "I’m glad you brought your sword to dinner, but seriously," her healing turned into a tight pinch on her cheek, "Don’t, run, off like that!"

"Hey! Who am I!? Meko!?" Jotou wrestled the redhead’s hands away, unable to prevent it even though she felt sparks warning her of the attack.

"HEY!"

"It’s okay, Jotou and Meko won!" Asobi pointed to the hallway of bodies and broken windows.

"I didn’t run off without good reason," Jotou peered to Daiyu approaching from behind.

"You didn’t," Daiyu replied, "Doesn’t mean I’m not gonna worry loser," she breathed and glanced down her hall, her eyes widening at every body... "Wow..."

"Oh, dear..." Feyan looked at the situation, "Uh, efficient work Thundering Blade... but, oh I hope the staff can clean this up..."

"What happened to all the guests?" Fumeko hid her dagger behind her back.

"And the fire, I saw fire," Jotou knitted her brows.

"I-it was my brother’s spell, it barricaded the dining room so that no one else fled. The guests are kept in their seats for the moment, though how long before they protest is anyone’s guess."

Hotaru checked again and again, scanning over Jotou’s body before letting her go, "The count and countess got caught too, I rushed out to check the situation."

"I believe we may have to escort the guests out through the kitchen my lady, this might be a, traumatizing sight to say the least," the hallway of yellow lamps shined the blood pooling onto the marble.

A few bodies still twitched and squirmed, low groans echoing down the hallway. The broken windows howled with the moonlit wind, scattering the microscopic specks of glass to twinkle across the floor.

A body right in front of them, behind Jotou, was propped up against the wall, still twitching and spasming. "Yeah, do that..." Daiyu replied, still staring. "You, did all of this?" she gazed at Jotou.

"Well, Fumeko too," Jotou stretched her arm, alleviating the pricks and stings. She watched, as her best friend stared off with furrowed brows and her lips slightly stayed agape.

’...Is she okay? I- shit. I’m used to doing this, oh hell.’ "Hey, Daiyu, it’s me okay, no need to worry, I’m fine, this is just how I, I have- I need to, deal with things, I mean- I’m- I’m the Thundering Blade, I-"

"No, I’m just having trouble accepting how the hell you’re so fucking badass," a look of genuine confusion dawned open the princess.

’Seriously...?’ Jotou’s eyes glazed over, "Psychopath..."

"What? I get it, you did what you had to do to survive, I just never thought you’d be this good at it, I mean," Daiyu pointed down the hall, "All of these Royal Guard? Like, I’ve seen them do crazy shit and you got all of them!?"

"Ahem, while almost bleeding out in the process and avoided going into shock," Hotaru’s ears pricked.

"And Fumeko’s help!" Asobi added.

"Yeah, so where’s my reward?" Fumeko glanced up at Daiyu.

Daiyu looked down, then back to Feyan, then to Jotou, "You’re not actually looking for a reward are ya?"

"No."

"JOTOU!"

"Give her access to the kitchen, she’ll shut up by stuffing her mouth," Jotou winced, hearing the brunette scream.

"Hey- Actually, if that’s at all possible, I for one will accept that as a reward," Fumeko combed the loose strands of hair that had flown out her bun as she stood proper.

"I suppose that reward is fine? She already has access to request food from the kitchen, it does not really matter," Feyan shrugged in a whisper to Daiyu.

"Alright, I grant you it," Daiyu brushed aside. "We gotta get them all for questioning; the alive ones anyway. Feyan, can you heal some of them? Oh, you too Hotaru?"

"Of course."

"Sure."

"What’s happening with the countess?" Jotou stood beside Fumeko as the two healers went forward.

"Arabella got those two and she’s dealing with the Royal Guards and the staff who were in on it. Archduke Guuraj and Count Khalim are calling the shots right now."

"Yup! And he’s a super cool mage! He got rid of Arabella’s blindness, found the invisible bad guys and stunned them!" Asobi stood beside Daiyu.

"How many people do you have with affinities hidden up their asses?" Fumeko squinted.

"You think I knew? Feyan’s brother and the archduke were a surprise to me too ya know," Daiyu scrunched her face.

"Well, can you call a few shots?" Jotou pondered.

"If I wanted, sure. But I haven’t really had experience with treason and people wanting to kill me—literally that is...

Though if those cups were actually poisoned or otherwise, it was only a matter of time I guess; all thanks to your little detective," Daiyu smiled.

"Yup, what would you all do without me?" Fumeko closed her eyes and shook her head with hands on her hips.

"Yeah, she’s very little; anyway-"

"I saved everyone’s life!"

Jotou sighed and grabbed Fumeko by the shoulders, "Yes detective, you did very well and thank you, for not only saving my life, but Daiyu’s and everyone else’s too," she smiled and tilted her head.

Fumeko gulped and blushed, "Mhm... you’re, welcome," she nodded gently. Daiyu raised a brow with a smirk. Asobi gasped, now knowing Fumeko’s secret; a quite obvious ’secret’ by the sight of this.

Jotou moved away, "Where was I? Right, now’s the time to act don’t you think? The entire council just saw treason happen right in front of them.

If you call the shots now, you can pretty much cement yourself as a proper ruler in the council’s eyes."

"Now that you mention it, yeah, I totally should..."

"Which means, you should dictate how this situation’s handled. I’m sure Feyan can help you in that regard and the archduke and Count Khalim would listen to you."

"Yeah, take advantage of this entire thing. You could throw anyone who’s against you in prison for suspicion of treason too," Fumeko added.

Daiyu folded her arms, half-closing her right eye, "I don’t think I’ll go that far and I think I should give the council at least till tomorrow before budding in; but you’re both right... It’s the time to strike."

Hotaru crouched down in front of the guard still lightly spasming and took off his helmet, glancing at the lightning scars darkened across is skin. Hotaru raised her hands glowing with water-

"Ms Kinoshita, this man appears to be paralyzed, can you heal that?" Feyan halted as he crouched down next to her.

"Paralyzed? I don’t think I’ve healed someone with paralysis, but heal should do the trick."

Feyan let out a squeak with widened eyes, "No, no, no, please, Ms Kinoshita allow me to remove the paralysis; healing will only cement all the effects of the paralysis itself."

"Oh," Hotaru blinked a few times in thought, "I, guess you’re right. Don’t let me stop you then," she backed away.

Feyan sighed as he brought his hands up with shadows coalescing around his fingers. "Remedy Paralysis," he casted as the shadows, like slithering snakes, went over the guard’s body.

The scars and swollen veins slowly diminished as the guard’s breathing could be heard again in light relief. His body stopped spasming and now merely slumped against the wall.

"I guess the heal spell itself is better for physical injuries; I feel like you have a lot of spells you can teach me Feyan. If you wouldn’t mind..."

Feyan turned his head, "Yes, of course. Each method requires precision and each spell has its advantage.

Once the matters at hand are somewhat handled, I believe I will have time in my personal schedule to teach you," he winced before grabbing his right arm that went limp all of a sudden.

Hotaru’s ears pricked, "What happened, are you okay?"

"Oh this," Feyan held his right arm tighter, "It should heal by the time I wake up. It is just part of my affinity really; I take on the portion of the injury I heal."

"That’s, unfortunate..."

"Well, fortunately my body heals itself completely when I go to rest so I do not care much for much of the injuries I sustain," Feyan smiled, albeit in slight discomfort. Hotaru nodded in understanding.

As their conversations continued, the archduke stepped out into the corridor, "Good heavens," he blurted out seeing the carnage down the hall, "Thundering Blade, well done," he had a hand to his chest as he approached.

"And Fumeko Namora," Jotou smiled.

"Yup!" Fumeko stood tall.

"What’s the situation?" Daiyu turned.

"Currently, the lovely couple who interrupted dinner are being escorted into the cellar and down to the dungeons. The guests are, getting rowdy, but they are not exactly in a position to bravely step out.

There are procedures for this of course, we will have to contact the Maleficos Ordinate and Cravolta City Penitentiary so that we may get an affinity-lock for the countess."

"They can lock up an affinity?" Asobi tilted her head—the same curious glances on most present.

"An affinity-lock is used to detain affinity users in prisons; for cases exactly like this," he relayed. "I am not entirely sure of the mechanisms behind it, but I have seen one and they do not seem, comfortable."

"It’s probably how they have Lexi and Jiana Kirk in prison right now," Fumeko held a hand to her chin.

"Noted." ’Better find a counter to that if I get trapped in one.’ The paranoiac looked back up to the archduke, "Anything else on the agenda, besides dessert?"

The archduke laughed wholeheartedly, "No I believe not. Right now, I believe the next course of action is to send all our dinner guests home."

_

"Well brother, I hate to leave this mess in your hands alone. Fortunately, I am not leaving it in your hands alone," Luciean smirked as he stepped into his carriage.

"Take care brother and do not worry, this will be handled," Feyan glanced at the pathway, still holding his limp arm.

"I have no doubt. Take care of yourself and write to me about the details, alright? I’m sure mother would appreciate it."

"Of course," with Feyan’s last words, the carriage departed around the fountain. One by one each carriage left with another guest out the palace gates, the sound of an engine roar or two in the near vicinity, but not in view.

"Oh, and be confident with your lady Feyan, I am sure she would appreciate it as well," Luciean yelled out one last parting.

"Brother!" Feyan yelled out with widened eyes before closing his mouth for yelling; his limp arm fell to his side. With his face flushed he turned back around and strode into the palace.

The night was left at that. For those who stayed, dinner was served proper. Daiyu told the staff to have any of the excess food or send it off for anyone who wants it through the city.

Before Feyan halted that last command, not wanting the news of potential poisoning of the wine to be associated with the princess giving away food from the same kitchen.

Said wine was examined throughout the night by experts while expert seamstresses fixed the blonde’s slashed and bloodied attire.

The air of the night went cold and silent as many busied themselves to deal with the unexpected events, forgoing even a minute of sleep.

The fateful four slept out of exhaustion rather than schedule. From an eventful day to an eventful night; the situation, to be dealt with at the break of dawn.