Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 196: Arc 4, Act I, - 41: Behind the Scenes

"I am ruling that this meeting with the Trailon Regime will be held, a reply will be sent and a gala will be held on the night of the 12th, of September 979," Daiyu spoke loud and clear.

She set the papers down to glance at all the council members in attendance before her, while they swivelled their heads and talked in light whispers; it was only a solemn silence for no one dared object.

With a little higher placed shoulders, Daiyu smirked, "And, as stated before, due to this matter, the information of Count and Countess Keya’s treason will not be publicized and will be kept quiet for the time being.

This is for the benefit of us all, to remove any sense of drama while the prime minister of the Trailon Regime visits. I will leave the rest of the details to Feyan," she took her seat.

The Minister of Communications nodded, perhaps somewhat perturbed that the truth would have to be quelled for the public for now, but he understood the greater good.

As such, the mass of reporters allowed to be in this critical council meeting, crossed their notes of the countess for now; either out of respect or out of fear of what punishment may befall them if they were to not follow protocol. It was not a simple matter to attend these meetings after all...

"Good day everyone once more. I would also like to announce a new temporary member to the Royal Ministry, Ms Hotaru Kinoshita who will be acting as her majesty’s secondary royal advisor, temporarily."

Hotaru, who sat next to Daiyu where Jotou once sat, faced them all and put her hand up, her ears bristling. She gave a royal wave with a smile. Most of the council nodded or shrugged in agreement.

"The Ministry of Affinities and Magic, the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Communications has been informed as of yesterday to send word and invitations across the nations.

They will work with the Maleficos Ordinate, alongside the Cravolta Sector Chief Hernandeya, as well as the Ordinates of the world to hopefully send replies by this evening on matters of attendance.

Other Maleficos Ordinates will aid in teleportation spells to allow travel here, where our esteemed guests will be hosted by us in Tamara Palace.

While magical couriers being able to send these letters via mobility affinities may be speedy, they have excruciatingly expensive rates; the same is to be said of teleportation magics.

Due to the nature of this situation being so essential and the overall urgency we require this to be performed, the palace is compensating using its own riches and collected taxes to pay these services..."

Feyan winced, "As well as... cover a portion of the cost of the required teleportation spells so that it urges the representatives of other nations to be more inclined to arrive on such short notice..."

Gasps and groans bellowed through the room, the sound of several of their pay checks being decreased for the month.

Hotaru leaned forward, "Might I add, that this is for the potential declining of the damages of war and the possible end of the encroachment of the Trailon Regime on Cravoltan land?" her voice projected.

...

Some still groaned, albeit a little less and accepted the terms with a sigh. The time passed, with each announcement briefing of what is to occur before, during and after the Trailon’s prime minister arrives.

Jotou sat where Hotaru last sat, next to a detective and a magician, watching the redhead at work. Hotaru was taking down notes and whispering things into Daiyu’s ear.

The two would on accident lock eyes from afar and gaze away immediately. Thoughts of the conversation the blonde had with the princess last night, floating in her mind...

The meeting came to an end and the council left, to their usual ’afterparty’ to mingle.

Meanwhile, the fateful four stood by as pictures were taken and hands were shook while Hotaru signed papers to be officiated temporarily; her pictures no doubt making it onto the next day’s papers.

With that being done, they found themselves at their new spot to keep Jotou away from being overwhelmed. Arabella guarded Daiyu as she walked out with Feyan and Hotaru to her sides.

"Sure you don’t wanna go mingle?" Hotaru titled her head.

"No," Jotou rolled her eyes—a glass of water in her hands. Fumeko concentrated on getting used to the taste of alcohol and Asobi simply made her drink different colours, finding out which was more appealing.

"Ooo, is your brother here Feyan?" Asobi hopped up.

"Unfortunately not, neither is my father. They are simply absent for today’s meeting. I believe however they will be here for the gala, both of them alongside my mother."

"Meeting the parents?" Jotou cocked a brow.

"I will kill you," the princess glared back, half-closing her right eye; and truly, the sight of the so-called psychopath had not shined more than right now, under the clouded Sun.

A wink and a tongue stuck out in response. The princess only crossed her arms... eventually responding in kind after the glare that could make the earth rumble.

Arabella squinted then cocked her head to glance at the sky... Something hit her mind before she began signing to Feyan. Feyan glanced over and a pensive expression began withering to a face of concern...

Daiyu stretched her arms out the balcony, letting out a much needed yawn while they took sips of their drinks and enjoyed the mild warmth of the banister and the tickling cold of the breeze.

"Uhm, my lady...?" Daiyu turned, everyone shifted their glances. "The admiral has brought up... a concerning point..."

"Go on then."

"The count and countess have been in many a gathering over the years, alongside the late king and queen. If we are to, create a front, that no issue has befallen Tamara Palace to the other nations...

Surely they would, at least ask in passing their current wellbeing or location; not only to us, but anyone of the council. The admiral also tells me they often mingled with foreigners more extravagantly."

"It would be a hard act to forget. We do know they were the life of the party back when," Fumeko pondered the information at hand.

"And a mass lie for the entire council to memorize and not mess up would only complicate things as opposed to..." Hotaru glanced over to Jotou.

"I don’t think people will come questioning if it’s for the greater good..." Jotou reminisced before everyone glanced to Daiyu...

Daiyu had her arms folded with the drink in her hands, eyes shifting between all of them. With each dot connecting in her head, her eyebrows shifted lower and lower.

She raised a finger and pointed with a leer, "No, no; we’re not doing this!"

_

"You want me to attend the gala, with this thing around my neck?" the countess leaned her head down.

"Well, we can’t exactly let you be running around unwatched. Arabella’ll be keeping an eye on you the entire gala," Jotou slanted her head.

The seven now stood in the dungeons again; Daiyu observed, dead-eyed—the colourful bangles jingling on her forearms.

"And it should be obvious, we will require it to be invisible," Feyan sighed, frustration creeping up his spine.

"I understand your reasons and it may be a fruitful effort to, essentially use me like a windup toy to entertain and illude children! But how am I supposed to conceal anything, if this lock keeps me from casting any magic?" she scowled.

"That’s where she comes in genius," Fumeko bobbed her head to the left.

"Hi," Asobi waved, before holding her wand in both hands as her arms crossed over her torso, "You, did say you would teach me..."

The countess tightened her lips and closed her eyes... "Invisibility is an expert level, I suppose it should not take too long."

The others stood quiet, awaiting a response. The countess let out a longwinded sigh, "If it is for the benefit of Cravolta and the Tamara name, very well."

Jotou hid a smile, three others in the room knowing the countess was continuing her ruse of disdain. After much debate, the guards opened the countess’s cell to help Asobi learn such a trick.

"If you have informed the council of this façade you are scheming, then am I at least allowed to return to my usual room?" she stepped out.

"Don’t push your goddamned astounding luck, you’re coming back down here to sleep," Daiyu retorted.

"Alright... No need to hold such a grudge, I merely tried and failed to poison you," the countess rolled her eyes.

"I would advise you to speak when required and keeping your lips tightly sealed before I myself see your- Excuse me, simply refrain from angering us any further," Feyan clenched his fist out of sight.

Arabella held the countess by her arms to her back and pushed her forward. The countess huffed, "No need for such force, I intend to keep our bargain since you were so kind for our last one."

"Oh thank you for the curtesy," Daiyu winced her right eye and sneered, knowing she spoke the truth as she tapped her foot.

"By the way," the countess stood upright, "If I am to attend this gala and not cause suspicion to our foreign guests, let us get my other half because he is rarely out of my sights."

Everyone darted their eyes in thought, realizing the point being made; their eyes darted back to- The purple-haired princess stood straight, pointing her finger to them, "No, n-!"

_

"How are you my dear?" the countess was allowed to walk forward into the cell room much like hers as the count’s gate was being unlocked.

Her face faltered, a saddened smile that nearly shed the tears she held back in her eyes. The count wore the usual white prison attire; his hair dishevelled and pencil moustache barely visible with the growing hairs around.

He smiled, equal to hers and yet he could not keep away the tears as he walked out, "I am, better dear..." he could not help but embrace the countess in his arms.

They allowed them to have a moment of peace as Daiyu stared, her right eye twitching.

The count pulled back, "What is the meaning of this? Did something happen?" he raised a brow to his wife, thinking that the countess’s true intentions were known.

The countess subtly shook her head, "I will tell you all of it dear."

"This collar," he gently pressed a finger to her neck.

She chuckled, "It does not ache me as much as being separated from you my-"

"Hey we’re still here ya know!" Fumeko yelled.

The count stood upright, feeling his bones ache a smidgen, "Apologies. Is this, a pardon?"

"No, we require your assistance in matters involving presentation and foreign guests for political reasons. We will inform you of the current affairs; in short, a gala and then a meeting with the prime minister of the Trailon Regime." Feyan replied.

"However the gala and the meeting goes, once it’s all over you will be brought back down here. Think of it as a temporary truce due to our lack of time," Hotaru’s ears bristled.

With a concerned eyebrow raised, he nodded slowly, "Understood."

"It better be understood," Daiyu tagged on.

Jotou put her left hand out, walking in front of them all to face the couple. Her brows knitted and eyes glared, "Don’t worry about it Daiyu.

If they try to pull any stunts, any tricks, even if you THINK of one ploy to escape your situation or harm Daiyu or ANY of us again...

I will make sure, that you will live, by healing of magic or your own body’s will, while I skewer my sword through you like you’re boars in the wild.

I will see your eyes POP like grapes, your eardrums BLEEDing like fountains and your noses CRUSHED in like craters.

And within every inch of your life, I will find a way to make you feel pain in every blood cell that circles your body.

You will be left as living corpses, caught on puppet strings to hold you up in these cells... And don’t worry, it won’t ache because you will be together, watching each other scream and weep for death."

The count had widened eyes and the countess could feel her heartbeat racing, looking up and down, questioning the blonde’s sanity as she growled that threat with the voice of a songbird.

The guard holding the key was stunned in place, his hands shaking. All the others stood, the silence finishing off the words she spouted.

Hotaru sighed, with an Asobi hiding behind her. A disturbed Feyan and a concerned Arabella, wondering if it was wise to attack her in the first place...

Meanwhile, Fumeko’s pupils had dilated, with her teeth shining in a wide grin. Daiyu held a half-cocked smirk, a mixture of pride and destructive excitement, as her tapping foot could confirm, it was no threat but a promise.

’If that doesn’t sell it to you Daiyu, I don’t know what will.’ Jotou stood up, hiding a sigh. "Well that’s only if," she smiled, "Shall we?" she gave a quick wink to them.

The countess held a hand over her heart, "We shall..."

_

"Hey Meko," Jotou pulled the brunette aside as they were out of the dungeons, the others continuing down the corridor.

"Why do you always pull me aside? Let me guess, this is something you need me to do by tracking or something?" Fumeko looked up.

"Well detective, it’s easier to directly tell you this way and you’re right," the blonde smiled.

Fumeko’s eyes darted away, pouting to hide her blush, "Spit it out then..."

"With Asobi learning invisibility and you able to be sneaky, you can find out any dirty secrets these council members might have. You know they can’t voice out their opinion anymore."

"So they might expel it through other means? Your paranoia has been incorrect before you know."

"Better to cover all bases on this one. Look, they’ll be all over the palace till the whole ordeal is over. I want Daiyu’s public image to be great.

But, if there are corrupt officials or nobles, leaking info to let’s say, Trailon? Vandlevela? Or even trying to scheme something against Daiyu? There won’t be a chance like this again."

Fumeko smirked, "You want to blackmail them?"

"IF we need to; if they don’t do anything, no real need," Jotou shrugged, "Just preplanning in case something happens."

"Everyone has their vices."

"And I need you to find that dirt~"

Fumeko snickered, "Oh this is gonna be fun," she rubbed her hands.