Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 201: Arc 4, Act I, - 46: A Dying Social Battery
"Greetings once more your highness."
His guards turned and circled around the king till the king put up his hand. They parted, "Greetings, who might you be- My apologies, you appear much more extravagant than we first met Thundering Blade."
"Thank you, you’re just as extravagant as when we met," Jotou smiled. The king held a tall, half empty glass by his table where he spoke to others in the vicinity.
The king beamed with all his teeth, somewhat more laxed amongst his peers, "This is my royal advisor, Lord Koji Hara and my scribe Lord Ritsu Shibuya."
They exchanged greetings as a waiter passed by with trays of drinks. Jotou picked up the yellowish champagne. ’I look weird without holding anything. Do I just, look weird? Shut up brain.’
"So, what brings your majesty to be beckoned from Luxinor?"
"I beg your pardon, are you, unaware of the situation that calls me here?"
"No, I meant that with the urgency of this matter being brought up, you your highness, arrived without delay; merely curious." ’Did I offend him?’
"Hm, these matters are extremely important. I believe you are asking why I did not send an envoy in my stead?"
"Precisely." ’Just smile through the awkwardness, you’re just overthinking, you didn’t mess up anything, don’t worry, stop worrying.’ "The fact that you deal with these matters hands-on intrigues me."
"Ah well," his smile returned, "It does me best when my eyes are on the matter at hand. When this request came up, I could not simply send someone in my stead, I believed it to be disrespectful.
Last I was here," he pointed his glass around the room, "I had dealings with their majesties myself. Though the princess’s loss of memory is disheartening, I would rather meet their heir and establish a respectable connection to Cravolta.
That includes coming to the young princess’s aid and besides, this is a matter of the Regimes and I would happily be a part of any dealings that involve seeing the defeat of them.
So, what do you believe will happen when the Trailon Regime visits? You have had past dealings with this particular regime I believe."
"Hm... Everything’s a bit unpredictable and predicting it would come to assumptions. One thing I know from dealing with them is, they’re not honourable in their methods.
I honestly don’t think there might be a negotiation for peace or their defeat. We must keep our guard up at all times and make sure there aren’t any deceptions taking place.
Of course, I’m more than happy to be proven wrong in this case. I think the princess should be capable enough to handle most outcomes however."
The king beamed brighter, "My guard shall be up then. Your mind appears sharp, tell me Thundering Blade, I do not believe I have heard of an affinity’s element known as thunder."
She chuckled, "My affinity aligns with lightning, yes."
"You must regale me with your feats. A favourite spell you use in the heat of combat?"
’Weird segue... He seems way more amped to talk about it though.’ "Well, I prefer to close distances and I suppose my favourite would be Thundering Strike."
The king tilted his head ever so slightly, "Bold manoeuvre. ...I, believe that is an offensive spell?"
"It is. Is magic something that intrigues you?"
"It does when the affinity aligns with my own. Not to belittle your strategies, but attacking from a distance first causes a greater impact in my case."
"I, can’t quite cast ranged spells... However, you fight?" she amused.
"That is a shame to hear, but your feats are no shame at all. And do I fight? Ha!" the royalty faded for a glimpse of his true nature, "I have had my fair share of battles with the Tri-Regime of Iniquity. Not to mention, the monsters and beasts to hunt in the wilds."
"A hunter even. You must be much greater than I your majesty, my tales would pale in comparison~"
"Nonsense, all tales filled with thrill are welcome."
Just as the two got along, one of the photographers out of many moved his tripod and positioned his camera, "May I get a picture?" it was less of a request and more out of curtesy to warn before taking a picture.
The few there turned to smile, Jotou smiled raising the left corner of her lip. "FLASH!" "Thank you!"
Jotou fluttered her lashes, "I won’t take up any more of your time then. Enjoy your night your highness," she cheered.
"To more dealings to come and more tales to tell," the king clinked her glass.
Jotou moved on, roaming around the gala in search of new faces; new faces she did not approach though they could not possibly miss her.
"Thundering Blade."
From behind, Jotou cocked her head. She turned, "Fancy seeing you here."
A bushy moustache that had silvered, an emblem of a sailboat in turquoise pinned above his blue suit pocket, next to a frilly red flower, "I heard news of you being here."
"Hello Mayor Gestryle. Campaigns going well?"
"Extremely."
"I wonder why..."
"No need for needless tension now."
"Who’s running the country?"
"I have people obviously, after intensive background checks. You look dashing, not once have I seen you in such striking attire."
"You’ve only seen me about three or four times."
"The palace treating you well? I hear you’ve gotten quite chummy with the Princess of Cravolta."
"You could say that. Are you here for publicity or to partake of the free food and refreshments that could cost a few hundred armite?"
"Why, neither. I want to witness the historical moment with my own eyes, make acquaintances, see through the dealings with the Trailon Regime. The trials after all were meant to be held in Kria till we simply couldn’t."
"Fair enough. I’m sure you can’t wait to be in the papers."
"Now, now, I believe you were on the front page, boasting the worthiness of the princess; wouldn’t you call it hypocritical?"
"I suppose so... I am somewhat employing your methods." ’Including keeping the public... ignorant... UGH!’ "Then again, I truly believe the princess is worthy for Cravolta, while on the other hand..."
Both wore tight-lipped smiles. "You must have other business to attend to Thundering Blade of Kria, I will leave you to it."
"Enjoy the gala." ’The lie with the countess... Sigh... Is it really gonna haunt me this much? No, shut it, this is different. It’s not random monsters terrorizing a city in plain sight, it’s for the literal peace of Cravolta and by extension the world.’
With a huff she moved around the gala. "Archduke Guuraj," her tone shifted to notice.
He turned, "Ms Howllett, how do you do, you look ravishing, work of the palace?" covered in gold jewellery of all kind, golden makeup adorned and suit of gold trimmed with purples.
He had his arm around a woman’s waist, matching in his extravagance, "Hello!" pale caramel skin, her face with several ornaments that jingled, "You must be the Thundering Blade."
Jotou bowed her head in return, "That I am. Is this?"
"Yes, my wife, my dearest," he hummed, his drink sloshing from side-to-side.
"Lady Shirin Guuraj if you will."
"Pleasure to meet you and yes, this," Jotou displayed herself with her arms out, "All work of the palace."
"Fantastic~ Oh, word of advice; beware the countess if she becomes intoxicated."
"Dear!" she lightly slapped his chest. Jotou chuckled and they chatted for a few minutes before schmoozing along elsewhere.
She noticed Count Khalim walking by and made her way towards him, "Enjoying the gala count?"
"Hello Thundering Blade, you have certainly dressed for the occasion. The gala has barely started, there is much more to enjoy," emerald hued garments to match the emerald piercings in his antlers. "Go, mingle, enjoy this splendid night," he walked on.
"I was uh, that was what I was doing..." ’Am I talking to the wrong people...? I’m not being productive.
Productive? It’s a party, calm your ass.
Yeah, but there’s an objective.’ Jotou shut her mind up and went across the floor; the music began to pick up with the last guests arriving and doors awaited those who were being ’fashionably late’.
’That’s a face I recognize, wait a moment, they’re talking to someone else...’ She took a few steps around the tables, pretending to have an intent of going somewhere till she found an opportunity.
"Archduchess Abioye," Jotou snuck through.
"Oh my... Thundering Blade you are, good heavens, absolutely beautiful," she kept an arm hooked with a tall man, dark tan skin and salt and pepper hair that connected around to a beard; both wearing attire of brown hues and silver jewels.
"Thank you, you look striking as well. This is?"
"I am Lord Behzad Abioye, pleasure," he reached his hand out.
"My husband."
"Pleasure as well. You must be stoked about the news of Trailon arriving to have a talk, you were not present for the last meeting for me to ask."
"Yes, of course," her face grew stern, "I may inquire the possibility of the current invasion plan on Galuvitian land to be abolished as repercussions of their actions."
"Who knows? This may be the beginning of our victory against the Trailon Regime; the first steps to the end of a war," her husband chimed in.
"It’s optimistic to say the least," Jotou noticed another wanting to approach into the conversation, "But hope nonetheless. To the possible first steps to the end of the war," she cheered and their glassed clinked. "Enjoy the gala~"
With an empty glass of champagne, she walked on over to the bar, "Maybe a little drink’ll make me more confident here. Hopefully they have something cream-based."
She spotted two figures conversing with themselves by the bar, "Not joining the gala in full?"
"Why hello dear~ My, my, my, you’re making me blush," the countess swivelled her head from her seat, a glass of some colourful liquid, "You’re making me jealous of your date, who is it?"
"I, brought Hotaru..."
"Ah, oh, her? How wonderful dear, happy for you," she leaned on a hand.
"Easy on the drinks dear," the count sighed, "We’d love nothing more than too parade around the gala, but we are keeping it somewhat restrained for the moment.
Perhaps when the gala hits its peak. For now, we’re just nursing drinks and chatting to those who approach," he stood leaning against the bar with the tip of his shoe over the other.
"Everyone’s a bit better a little intoxicated. Besides, I need something to make me feel comfortable for this collar around my neck and SsPine," she pouted.
Both wore light tones of blue and pearls encompassed the countess’s form while his suit had bits of pearls to line the edges. "Would you like anything to dear, oh! I know just the drink to start."
"One drink and I have to go back into the fray," Jotou sat as the bartender began crafting.
"Difficulty in conversations?" the count turned.
"Not exactly; well, maybe."
"Keep your conversations short, don’t go into too many details. That way you attract the allure of the guests; try to converse in the time shortly after dinner. People are less overwhelmed and have a higher chance of remembering you."
"I’ll keep that in mind thanks."
The bartender placed the rounded cocktail glass and within was a chocolate drink glazed with red stripes that swirled to the bottom of the glass.
Jotou clinked the glass with the countess’s and took a heavy sip. The warmth hit, just right... The smooth texture of the chocolaty rum and the hints of strawberry.
"I knew you’d like it~ Galuvitian Chocolate-Strawberry Daiquiri for you to remember dear. Savour the taste, don’t drink it all at once."
A photographer set up behind them, "Smile please!"
Jotou raised her glass; the countess raised hers with a polite smile and the count brought forth his glass of champagne. "FLASH!" "Thank you!" she walked off.
"As much as we’d like your company Thundering Blade, I believe your presence is best suited to be throughout the gala rather than the bar. Perhaps reconvene with the date you brought?"
"I’ll be on my way then, see you two on the dance floor," she walked off, drink in hand. ’I can’t believe... I left Hotaru instead of going around with her... She’s my date! What was I thinking!?’
"Hm, she expects me to dance dear."
"I would advise against it..."
"Honestly Hal, hmph!"
Jotou walked around, aimlessly searching for two red ears through the poking heads. She instead spotted a woman standing alone; dark hair, dark eyes and feathers in her hair cascading down.
In a dress of flowing silver, she wore a few bracelets and had the same art as Daiyu across the back of her hands. She held some sort of orange mocktail.
The thin dress skirted the floor and two gaps to each side revealed her legs and silver shoes. "Hey you."
Arabella held the glass to her lips and tilted her head. Her eyes scanned up and down, taking a sip. She fluttered her lashes and gave a smirk, tipping the glass in the blonde’s direction.
"Thank you, you look really pretty too."
Her smile deepened and she bowed her head.
"What’re you doing at the corner of the gala, next to all the food... Hungry?"
Arabella furrowed her brows and brought two fingers up to her eyes before pointing elsewhere.
Jotou looked to her side to see Daiyu now talking with King Akimitsu. "Keeping an eye on her. Does that mean losing any fun you’d have at the gala?"
She rolled her eyes and slapped the air.
"You gotta have a little fun too."
Arabella squinted, before signalling something Jotou could figure as, "Why in the world are you talking to me? Go away, there’re dozens of faces here that require your attention and mine isn’t one of them.
I saw you talking to a bunch of people in the Royal Ministry, what the hell are you doing? You can talk to them on many other occasions. You have the luxury of having a voice, use it; I’ll do what I’m supposed to do thank you."
"I..." the thunderstruck blonde stared... "I’m just, the anxiety’s getting to me, alright? Sure, I’m gorgeous I admit that; but it’s not like I’m the only one here...
It’s like I’m passively competing and my mind can’t shut up about it and I think a part of me doesn’t want it to shut up and wants to overthink every little mistake I make and it’s throwing me off!" she puffed and took a sip of her drink.
