Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 232: Arc 4, Act II, - 77: A Gift

The next dawn would rise, but a certain part-human would not. Comfortably on one of the sofas out of the many in the library, she purred onto the cushions.

A little smile, what could she possibly be dreaming? That dream however, was perturbed. She heard footsteps, her ears twitching to the whereabouts of them.

The footsteps halted at the sofa in which she lazed in. Niah opened one eye of hazel to see boots, jacket, scabbard; who could this possibly be? "Something you require admiral?"

Arabella poked Niah in the side.

"Hey, no need for that," Niah winced awake. She rubbed her eyes, sitting upright. "Always someone to disturb me in the middle of my rest."

Arabella signalled.

"So what if it’s morning?" she glared. No librarian had even entered the library yet, the books of yesterday were still scattered on trolleys.

Arabella shook her head then narrowed her gaze. She moved her fingers, faster than usual.

"Why I told them about your affinity? I assumed they already knew," Niah shrugged.

Arabella’s eyes glazed over and she signed.

"Sleepy blabbering? Need I remind you that you all dragged me out there for my expertise on the topic. How is it my fault you haven’t explained the complications of your magic to them?

It is not as if it’s hard to figure out in the first place. They’re allies, you should not be worried about your weaknesses. Besides, aren’t you abstaining from the last stand?"

Arabella looked away... She puffed out a breath.

"Still contemplating it huh? Well, we both know what happened to the last princess you were meant to protect. Are you going to make the same choice to stay behind?

This princess is hellbent on going to the battle herself. Is it more important to protect her or your reputation as the leader of the Royal Guard?"

Arabella stood silent.

"Word of advice; you’re going to be replaced sooner or later. I doubt the council cares who’s in the position more than the position itself. All they need is another capable Royal Guard; you’re replaceable."

Arabella stepped forth in a scowl, signing more words.

"I shouldn’t have told them about your affinity? What, because of your history with magic and affinities? Worried what they might find out?

So what if they know that information? They didn’t seem too keen to poke and prod. You can hide it like some dark secret, but it was just a tragedy.

Nothing was your fault and no blame lies on you. That was years ago, you’re paranoid about nothing. Still haven’t moved on; how immature," Niah scoffed.

Tears began to form in Arabella’s eyes as a black gem-like ripple flashed across her eyes. She seethed and signalled, her hands barely forming the words.

Niah stared with glazed over eyes, her ears never wavering, "Oh please, keep brooding about your magics and the sorrow of having them. I’m so lucky not to have an affinity; oh the tragedy of having one! Cry me a river admiral."

Arabella huffed and turned around to walk away.

"That being said, I don’t think you’re very replaceable to the current princess. So, where you want to keep your loyalties is up to you. I’m sure the council will beg you to stay.

You have the gift of an affinity. Either be selfish and choose to stay by her majesty’s side or be what the council wants you to be and ’serve Cravolta’; whatever meaning that holds at this point."

The meaning; the decision... Arabella paused in pondering... The dark haired woman looked back, to Niah still staring uncaringly, her tail swishing back and forth.

"Ara! Ya done yet!?" Daiyu shouted from below, standing at the entrance. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Niah shrugged, "I quite like the new princess; many things have changed since her arrival. Wouldn’t you say the same?"

Arabella began walking away.

"Up to you Arabella," Niah stretched and lied back down onto the sofa.

_

"What’s with the early morning wake-up call?" Fumeko moaned down the foyer with a cup coffee in hand.

"Don’t know detective," Jotou leaned her back against a column. "The psychopath wanted to keep it SeCrEt," she rolled her eyes.

"No decency," Hotaru had her arms folded.

"You’re grumpier than me, that’s unusual," Fumeko’s glance narrowed.

The fur on her ears and tail spiked, "Let’s just say we were in the middle of something and some guard had to come knock on our door and ruin it all."

"Didn’t need to say that," Jotou responded.

"Eh, I could’ve figured," Fumeko downed her coffee, probably to hide the envy creeping up her spine; the cup shaking angrily in her hand said as much...

"This better be important is all I’m saying," Hotaru tried to compose herself.

"Good morning~" Asobi’s voice rounded the corner, cheery as ever. "So many people up so early! It was nice to say hi to all the staff getting ready!"

"Glad you’re having fun Sobi," Jotou relayed before her brown eyes spotted purple hair coming from the inner foyer.

"Great, everyone made it," Daiyu walked out wearing more casual attire, Feyan and Arabella accompanying her.

"What’s this about?" Hotaru did not wait a second to glare.

"Well-"

"No, no, hush," Daiyu laid a finger on Feyan’s lips. "It’s supposed to be a surprise. It’s waiting outside!" she smiled.

Three within the foyer glanced at each other... "I’m going back to bed," Fumeko walked off.

"I need a cold shower," Jotou turned.

"W-wait! Don’t you guys wanna see it!?"

"Just tell us Daiyu," Hotaru groaned.

"Oh for fuck’s sake, fine; Feyan?" she removed her finger from his lips.

"Uh... Well, the Ministry of Transport has been aiding in the movement of forces to the last stand location. As well as providing multiple resources for our endeavours.

However, they had come into the possession of a vehicle they did not require. So, they wished it to be gifted to the princess as a token of gratitude."

"It’s a car!" Daiyu threw her arms out.

Fumeko blinked back, "Now you have me."

"It’s important enough I guess," the redhead’s scowl faded.

"A car!? Ooo! This is gonna be so fun!!!" Asobi’s legs twitched.

"... Pass." Jotou started walking off.

"Oh come on loser," Daiyu rushed up and grabbed the blonde by the arm.

"No... noooo...!" she cried and was pulled back.

_

Rims of bronze hue, twenty plus spokes of thin metal within and a thin black rubber around; each wheel the size of half a person.

The massive car engine sat upfront with two headlights that were like two bug eyes. Four exhaust vents spiked out each side in the front, with a crank at the nose of it.

The roof appeared like leather, held up by extensions from the sides of the car, mimicking a flat cap worn on someone’s head. The roof stretched from the back till the windshield of the windowless vehicle.

Only one rectangular window sat at the back of the car. Besides that, the entire car was a lovely black mixed with ruby hues in some places. The seats of leather were dark red, able to host six or so people including the driver.

There it was, parked beside the fountain. "THIS IS SO COOL!!!" Asobi rushed over and checked every inch of the vehicle, poking her wand to the doors of it.

"Please do not tamper with it Ms Asobi!" Feyan ran forward.

Fumeko blinked ahead, checking the wheels and the engine, tilting her head and squinting to the mechanisms. "This is a nice surprise," Hotaru remarked, her tone having completely shifted.

"Don’t let Daiyu drive, please don’t let Daiyu drive," slouched and muttering the blonde was.

"Hey, I can’t be worse at this than Ramond right? Huh? Huh?" Daiyu nudged Jotou to the side with an elbow. "Too soon?"

"Daiyu?"

"Yeah...?"

"Let’s just, not."

"Not what?"

"Drive the car."

"Are you kidding!?"

"Daiyu?"

"Yeah?"

"It’s an old-timey car."

"I can drive manual!"

"That remains a mystery."

"How hard could it be?"

"You barely drove an automatic without crashing us into a ditch."

"That was one time!"

"Twice actually."

"It won’t happen again!"

"You realize this thing will have none of the safety functions of the cars we know, right?"

"Oh yeah..." Daiyu pondered.

"Well Jotou, why don’t you drive?" Hotaru suggested.

"Uh... I’d feel safer if Arabella drove."

Arabella looked up and shook her head.

"You can’t drive?"

"That settles it, I have the keys," Daiyu went forward, jingling the keys in her hand.

"Feyan, we need a manual for this thing, please!!!" Jotou cried out.