Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 197: Arc 4, Act I, - 42: Little Greetings

"No, no!" the shout went down the halls, "The fabric should have four folds, no more, no less!" she yelled up to the staff with a roll of her eyes.

The staff surrounding the ladder glared to the countess barking orders. The marble halls leading to the ballroom had been covered with soft purple carpets, paisley patterns of gold inlayed.

Flags of Cravolta hung at the entrance of the palace, the carpet being the guide to the ballroom where more decorations were stationed, such as columns with vases and bouquets of rainsparkles—long stems with leaves trimmed off.

The flower petals were a beautiful velvet-like purple within golden yellow frames; the five to seven-petalled flowers sat by the dozen in a crowd of variously coloured rainsparkles.

From blues framed in silver, to reds framed in violets, these were but one gift to the eyes. Another being the glittering translucent fabrics being hung from wall to wall, which were apparently... not as elegant as they could have been...

"I will not have this shoddy excuse for decorations with guests arriving from all over the world," the countess scoffed.

"We’ve hung every fabric with three folds down this hall madam," a woman below sighed with furrowed brows.

"It’s only dawn, you have till the evening, go fix it! Every other hall has four!"

"With all due respect..." another staff glared from the ladder, "We will change it, but we would appreciate not being yelled at like children."

"Well, if you work like children..." the countess muttered under her breath. "What’s the matter? You all seem to have something you want to say," she cocked her head to the side, her eyes half-closed.

The four in the vicinity stayed silent till one man walked up, "Fine, I’ll say it. You employ our colleagues into an act of treason, try to poison her majesty and they ended up in the dungeons being tortured to speak.

I have, we all have mates in there and here you are, having done all that, prancing around telling us what to do for days and freed from the dungeons, all within a week of your crimes and you expect us to be happy about this?" he pointed.

"You should; your majesty’s in the process of resolving matters of war and connecting with foreign nations. Unfortunately with unruly help.

As for your mates, perhaps you should have chosen friends with more integrity; all I had to do was ask and they so easily came to my side.

And isn’t your majesty the one who let me oversee the preparations of this vital gala? If you have a problem, you can take it up with the princess herself," the countess nearly spat.

The staff and her stared off... His head boiling with steam exiting his ears while the countess kept her head cocked and one brow raised in a glare.

"Countess?" the voice of a songbird rang in her ear and her head tipped back up with a smile.

"Back to work then," the countess turned and walked off. The staff with low groans went back to work, taking down the fabrics. The countess looked to the blonde and held her by the hand to pull away.

Jotou was pulled into a somewhat secluded alcove—a framed painting of feathers and flower petals exploding was within the arch.

"How goes things?" the countess smiled.

"It goes fantastic," Jotou opened a newspaper, the Altanor. Within the front page was an article from the Thundering Blade, Jotou Howllett.

It went on to say her comments on the events that occurred in the Battle of Hartamat, Trailon’s crimes and her thoughts on their heinous acts even in Kria and trusting Daiyu to be able to pass appropriate judgement during Trailon’s visit.

It continued how she advocates for the princess during these critical times and possibly being the best hope for the public, especially during the week to follow.

The countess scanned over and smiled, "I must say, this will certainly cement her position while vilifying the regimes. Well done."

"Thanks," Jotou took a breath, peering at the countess. The affinity-lock nowhere to be seen and a dress more suiting of her stature. "What was all the yelling about before?"

The countess rolled up the paper, "Oh nothing dear, it’s just interesting how some of the older help seem to be less knowing of official arrangements than even the newly hired staff."

Jotou squinted, then tilted her head. ’Yeah, that argument seemed like ’nothing’. I hope she doesn’t make assassins for her herself out of the staff...’ "I know you didn’t intend for this to happen."

The countess glanced at the floor, "That you would somehow make a way for me to walk down these halls again? No, I suppose not dear.

It has been difficult to avoid the gaze of the admiral as of late. I have no doubt the Royal Guard are wondering where I am right now," she sighed.

"Since we hadn’t had a chance to talk, that was quite the threat you made that day dear... Did you, truly mean that...?" for the first time, the countess’s voice faltered.

Jotou let out a silent chuckle, "It was more or less an act, but if I had to..." she changed to a glare. "But no. It was just something to convince Daiyu to take it easy on you and your husband."

The countess nodded, taking a breath, "I question your sanity, but I shall believe you for now, thank you. Speaking of which, you did not tell the dear princess anything did you?"

Jotou shook her head, "Though, I’ve been unintentionally manipulating her in a way to show some sort of kindness to you and the count... I feel," her eyes darted to the floor, "terrible..."

"Dear, you are not manipulating her, you’re simply putting an idea in her mind to make her- ..."

"Doesn’t sound great out loud does it? She’s my, best friend... The only comfort I have is knowing I would’ve advised her all the same whether or not you told me the truth," the blonde puffed out the sorrow.

"Well... I’m glad you think that way; and it may be I put a little too much pressure on you when I spoke to you last in private. However, I would be lying if I said I did not put it on someone who can clearly manage it," Countess Keya shrunk an eye.

"Just, pains me is all. What’s done is done and I can’t take it back."

"Then enough of this pointless discussion," the countess beamed, "I’m intrigued dear, what lucky young man or lady are you talking to the gala?"

"Uh..." her hand went to rub the back of her neck.

"Oh don’t tell me you forgot dear."

"No, it’s uh, I’m just very nervous is all. I’ve never been, on a date even much less a relationship."

"Dear not every date leads to a relationship," the countess let out a faint sigh. "You are all kinds of adorable. Whoever it is, go for it. If not, I’d be more than happy to keep you company. Though, I would advise against it since I’m a ’convict’," she laughed.

Her cheeks flushed red, "Sorry, not interested." Jotou glanced to the countess’s hair, now more of a golden light brown completely, "Did you illusion your hair...?" she gave a tilt of her head.

The countess furrowed her brows, holding the hair down her right shoulder, loosely tied with a pearl band, "Oh goodness no, this affinity-lock is still on me.

I dyed my hair back to its natural colour; I use dyes from time to time. Illusions are fun, but permanence is less taxing."

"It’s a nice colour."

"Thank you. Now, who is the one that has the thunder that roars to the Council of Cravolta shaking in her boots?" the countess took note of Jotou trying to change the subject.

"I’m not ’shaking in my boots’ to go talk to her, alright? Just jittery."

"So it’s a her... Well dear, best of luck. Tonight’s the gala and your last chance to ask is now; you’d better move with haste~"

"I... will-"

"Thundering Blade," a Royal Guard approached, dark brown hair and brown skin, weathered in parts, "Ah, two birds, one stone. Countess, I believe you are to be under supervision?"

"Yes, yes, dear captain," the countess flicked her hand up, "I will be on my way," she departed.

"Was there any commotion that you had to pull her aside from Ms?" his tall form leaned his neck down, strands of brown hair could be seen under his metal helmet.

’Why is the Captain of the Interior Guard here?’ "She was just yelling at the staff decorating, I didn’t want any fight to break out. Why did you need to see me Captain Koshan?"

"Yes," he stood straight, "Her majesty wished for you to accompany her and an important guest from Luxinor."

"Who is it?"

"I... am under orders by the princess not to say so that you would arrive with urgency..."

Jotou’s eyes glazed over, "Now I kinda just don’t wanna go, but whatever, take me to her."

_

Captain Koshan led her down the halls till western portion of the palace and towards the conference room. Jotou curiously peeked as she approached, noticing several figures walking out.

Multiple men of similar height and build wore black suits, adorning layered pauldrons of yellow hues with hints of golden orange on their left side.

Upon it were symbols of a golden griffin standing on its hindlegs, facing its right side with talons out. Around it were three swirling wind symbols on each side of the same golden orange.

There were eight of them, one for each direction around another man who walked in the middle, towering over and much burlier.

He wore a full gold suit with swirls of silver all about and a cape that trailed the floor with the same colours and the griffin and wind symbols on the back.

An orange jewel, a sceptre it seemed, sheathed to his side. A thick golden beard circled his face and atop the lion-like mane of blonde hair sat a crown with trimmings of scintillating orange.

All their clothes seemed to have a sparkle about them—no doubt enchanted. The captain and Jotou approached as he took a deep bow. ’Must be royalty.’ Jotou bowed a little less.

Behind the group came out Daiyu and to her sides Feyan and Hotaru while Arabella trailed along behind in full uniform. And the garments they wore, were nothing less of extravagant.

The blonde gawked at the shining sequences on Hotaru’s blue dress and her red hair tied in a braid down her back; Jotou froze into a gulp...

"Jotou," Daiyu finally smiled, the sense of nervousness fleeting once she was in sights. Jotou shook her head and stood tall, whilst the captain backed away still bowing.

"Greetings, I am Jotou Howllett, the Thundering Blade," Jotou bowed her head. Hotaru gave a thumbs up, looking up from her clipboard much like Feyan’s.

The royal in the middle put his hand up to his guard and they parted immediately, allowing him to step forward. "Greetings Thundering Blade.

Pleasure to make your acquaintance," a rough and deep voice he had. "I am King Akimitsu, the Fragmenting Lightning, the monarch of Luxinor, the Kingdom of Scintillating Wind."