The council, ranging from regional ministers to ministers of governntal departnts, left one by one after packing their docunts.
The Royal Guard opened up the doors causing a slight puff of wind, like the sound inside and outside the room synced with one another; the light residue of enchantnt or illusion magic faded away.
The reporters and scribes left in a hurry, so with a slow pace to exchange notes and catch up now that they were leaving. For the council however, there was still an ’after-party’ of sorts.
They were directed to a large reception chamber down the hall, leaving the Royal Ministry alongside Jotou to be the last ones in the room, including three others that had walked up to the blonde shuffling out of the row of seats.
Archduke Filtrin made his way out without another word, surrounded by four Royal Guards who escorted him.
The Royal Ministry paused in a loose circle as Jotou stood in between them on purpose, "I am so sorry I acted like that, I don’t know what ca over ," she tipped her head down to Archduke Guuraj.
Jotou then turned to Countess Keya and bowed her head a little lower, "And I apologize to you too Countess, I didn’t an to scold you in any way."
The countess held her head high with a squint of her eyes... A breath escaped her lips as she gave a soft smile, "Oh... your manner is too cute and polite not to forgive; it’s alright my dear, we all get heated."
The archduke approached and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder to signal Jotou to rise, "Do not worry. It is best to forgive and forget.
Besides, there have been a lot more worse and aggressive argunts in the council. You are fine. To even have the respect to apologize after such a thing is sothing so many of the council lack," he chuckled as Jotou stood upright.
"All of them are too egotistical to admit any faults they make," Count Keya placed both hands on the top of his cane.
"You hold admirable responsibility. It is no wonder you hold a title," Count Khalim humd.
Jotou stood a little more relieved, the feeling of a crisis being averted, "Thank you."
The relatively new face—Archduchess Treshalini Abioye—approached, her bronze hued jewellery barely making a sound as she did, "Greetings Thundering Blade, I believe we have not t."
Jotou closed her eyes and curtsied imdiately, "Hello, Archduchess Abioye. I’m sorry my first impression turned out to be an ugly one," the blonde stood up straight once more.
"On the contrary."
Jotou cocked a brow.
"Your eyes never wavered, you spoke with the conviction of thunder and the decisiveness of lightning. I could see the honour you carry in your battles in the manner you speak alone.
And speaking of first impressions, I apologize your visit to Galuvit was, traumatizing. And of course, I sincerely thank you for your aid in Hartamat.
Believe when I say, you have inspired myself to be more critical and bolder in the months to co when dealing with this issue," her stern face allowed the corners of her lips to rise.
"I... I’m glad I could help..." With light bows, most of the remaining ministry left to join the rest of the council, leaving the fateful four, the princess, her royal advisor and the admiral who dismissed the Royal Guard.
"You were really scary up there. But the good kind of scary; like, Woahhh," Asobi traced her wand overhead making a rainbow full of glitter.
Fuko smirked, "Ca into the Cravoltan Council and shook the foundations. It’s like you’re the affinity to your affinity."
"I really don’t wanna do that again..." Jotou finally let out a long-winded sigh into the air.
"Oh please, you fucking rocked it," Daiyu folded her arms with a cock of her head and a laugh, "You even shut that bitch of a countess up. I think she’s gonna be off my back for a while."
Jotou’s eyes glazed over, "You’re welco..."
"Yeah, yeah thanks and all that. Sorry I kinda pushed you there, but I knew you could do it."
"Ladies and gentleman, my best friend..."
"Hm~ You did amazingly well," Hotaru’s ears flickered.
Jotou’s pout... remained a pout as she tried not to smile, "Thanks..."
"Wise to apologize to the ministry afterwards as well," Feyan comnded.
Jotou rose her slumped shoulders, "Well, I clearly beca a bit too aggressive there. Even the archduke, who’s always cheery, got a little less cheery.
But seriously, one, I don’t wanna get angry and do sothing like that again so I’m gonna need to control myself.
Two, Daiyu, if you put in a situation like that again, I will shove your head so far up your ass I swear to hell..." she pointed with an exasperated glare.
Daiyu snorted, "I’d like to see you try loser."
"Three... the council’s opinion of ’s gonna be all over the place. If I apologize to the Royal Ministry at least, they know I’m capable of being respectful and responsible, hence keeping my good graces."
"I think you got so extra points with that move too," Daiyu shrugged.
Fuko grinned, so plot forming in her head, "Well great, we have so rich contacts."
Jotou knitted her brows, "I... don’t like how that sounds, but you’re not wrong I guess."
Hotaru shook her head, "I can’t believe they even have the gall to disrespect the monarch like that, whoever the monarch is."
"Thank y- Hey!" Daiyu glanced over.
The redhead continued, "Many of them deviated the topic from the problem to make it about Daiyu."
"It’s, just how, the council is. Barely, anything is, held back, during these etings," Feyan translated Arabella’s signs. "It’s, the place, to speak freely. No sound, even leaves this room."
"Just ans the opinions are gonna be free reign too- Sobi, what’re you doing?" Jotou only now noticed the wand glittering near her face.
Asobi stuck her tongue out, holding her wand like a pen, "Making you prettier! We’re going to a party right? I can make your hair rainbow coloured with turtle hairclips all over!"
"... Pass."
"Yeah, do it while he sleeps so he wakes up like that," Daiyu seeded.
"Definitely," Fuko colluded.
"Okay!"
"I hate all of you..."
Feyan’s eyes widened, "Wh-what did I do?"
Hotaru and Arabella shared a subtle laugh, the redhead’s a little brighter. "Alright, co on, we got egos to stroke," Daiyu cocked her head towards the door.
_
With lush leather seats, tall tables to stand next to and drinks and hors d’oeuvres going around on silver trays, this room had quite the commotion.
Much of the guests now mingled with other ministers and carefully chosen reporters alike in the window-lit room.
The stragglers entered—so of the room turned, much of it did not. A server brought over a tray of drinks, "Anything you’d like your majesty?"
"Not drinking with the council around, thank you."
"The sa goes for ," Feyan added. Arabella put her hand up in refusal.
"What is it anyway?" Jotou queried.
"Hibiscus champagne," the server held forward the tray of bubbling pale reddish-yellow drinks.
"One glass," Hotaru grabbed, "Just to try."
Jotou took a look at the abstainers, recalling the mont she voiced her opinion to the council... "Maybe so other day." ’I’m not even risking a sip.’
"I will take a few please," Fuko requested.
"How old are you?" Daiyu turned.
"Eighteen."
"I thought we lost two weeks? Was it a year?" Asobi’s eyes widened.
Daiyu squinted.
"Fine, I’m seventeen, but I’ll be eighteen in six-ish months, what’s the difference? I’m from Burnetrout, the drinking age’s sixteen anyway!"
"Uh, I believe that is drinking with adult supervision..." Feyan corrected.
"Whatever, I give her supervision," Jotou sighed.
"HAHA!"
"Regardless, the drinking age in Cravolta’s sixteen anyway," Hotaru stated taking a sip, clearly wanting to hide this information for as long as possible; Feyan nodded in agreent.
"That’s all I need to hear!" Fuko swiped a glass. She took a sip, before her eyelids crunched inwards and face twisted... realizing she tilted the glass too far in her excitent. "PEH!" she coughed and sputtered.
Jotou giggled, "Good luck detective."
Asobi humd taking a whiff of the glass as the server walked away. "It slls amazing!" she followed Hotaru by taking a sip. "Mmm..." she smiled, her neck shivering a little.
"Okay, do whatever you want, I have to go around and socialize. Jotou, co find in ten minutes. These guys probs wouldn’t goad if you’re around," Daiyu smiled walking forward.
"Kay, kay."
Feyan bade before following behind Daiyu. Arabella gave a nod before heading elsewhere into the chamber.
"We should mingle too," Hotaru suggested.
"With who?" Asobi glanced around, "There’s so many shiny people."
"I, can’t! talk... Augh! My throat’s burning, wolfy please," Fuko held her neck.
"You wanted this, didn’t you?" Hotaru turned and strolled forward, "Co on Sobi, you too Jotou."
"Coming!"
"You go ahead. I’ll try to go apologize to that minister I yelled at, if I can find her," Jotou surveyed.
"Okay, I’ll be around," Hotaru left with the magician, avoiding the clear trays of chocolates being passed around.
"I’ll find out where you sleep!" Fuko rasped. She turned to Jotou, still hunched over, "Where’s your room?"
"Figure it out detective," Jotou smirked.
"Traitors... all of you..."
"How was it?"
"It tasted, sweet then, eugh... It, has a nice after taste though," Fuko clicked her tongue.
"I’ll give you a hint, you have to get used to the taste; never tastes good the first ti. Plus, champagne has more alcohol than beer. I’m sure there’s other drinks here, go calm your throat."
Fuko glanced around the room, "Fine," with shadows, she blinked off, leaving the blonde to exhale at her whole predicant.
"Mingle... more like tolerate people; especially with this crowd... Screw it, maybe they serve whiskey cream around," Jotou walked forward, every glance from a stranger causing the blonde to walk a little primr and more proper.
"Hello Ms Thundering Blade," a man’s voice called out next to her.
Jotou stopped, forcing a smile. ’Dammit.’ "Yes, that’s , greetings," the blonde hair whipped around to et.
A plump man dressed in blacks—a golden envelope pin above his breast pocket. His golden feather cufflinks glimred as he raised his champagne.
The two others he was having a conversation with moved away as he gave a small bow of his head and bead wide, "I am the head of the Ministry of Communications and the Altanor, Sion Farouqq."
’THE Cravoltan newspaper? Crap, out of all the people to talk to; it’s fine, just be polite.’ "Oh, it’s nice to et you, I’m Jotou Howllett."
"I will not take much of your ti, I just have to comnd you for speaking out like that. And for that burst of thunder you created to manage the crowds."
"Uh," Jotou shook her head, "It was a, lapse in my judgent really. There were people getting injured and the eting, I shouldn’t have gotten so heated," she shrugged with a smile.
"No, no, I agree with you," he put his hand up, "The public should know of these things in detail, the matter of the trials, the tragedy that occurred in Hartamat.
It truly needs to spread faster and your vigour was inspiring to say the least. It’s clear the public is in unrest with the current situation."
Jotou humd, "Well, I suppose the Altanor would spread the news swifter than the Kria Daily."
He chuckled, "That’s for sure." Jotou chuckled along. "However, there are barriers we have to cross before sharing the information today, dates to schedule and such."
’Hm, might have sothing.’ "I could perhaps allow my words to be published, in a little, interview? It’s my opinion and I would be more than happy to share it with the public. At least, about the events, not the sensitive details of course."
"Oh? I’d be delighted for your powerful statent to be on the front page of the Altanor."
"Front page? That’s, quite the honour. Maybe I could revise and write down a more refined version?"
"That would be splendid. I believe since there will be another eting in a few days, you could have one at the ready? I believe much of the information today will be public by then."
"I’d be honoured!" ’I’ll write three different ones, based on what happens later. One generic for any outco, and two for each more probable outco.’
"You should be honoured that you did not get dismissed from the conference for that outburst," another voice walked behind, having eavesdropped on a few last words.
Jotou turned, recognizing that voice, "Deputy Minister...?"
"Cornerade."
"Right," Jotou tried not to scowl, "I suppose not many share your opinion. Or at least none that voice it out."
"Well of course, they’d be scread at by the Thundering Blade before they could get out a word."
"I believe it was my turn to speak, that’s all. Did sothing happen to the, Minister of Defence, ’deputy’?" her eyes sparked.
"You are an honoured guest of the princess, but I still far outrank yourself Ms."
"I was just curious," Jotou shrugged, "And of course, I don’t outrank an official such as yourself. I’m rely known as the Thundering Blade—across nations. I apologize, what was your na again?"
Deputy Minister Cornerade glared, the glass in his hand shaking a tad, "You know, the legitimacy of the current monarch is very much up for debate.
Inviting guests as she pleases without a regard and letting them into the council’s delicate etings..." he glanced at the other minister and nosy reporters around. He forced a smile, "I think, I shall converse with so others now, do excuse ."
"Toodle-oo," Jotou waved as he went off. Unbeknownst to the blonde, many officials and reporters had corralled loosely around her, switching from talking partner to talking partner.
A view from above could see the denser crowd on Jotou’s side of the room. "Ah, Thundering Blade, nice to et you, I’m an emissary from Kria, would you mind if we have a few words?"
Jotou turned, "Uh, hello, sure."
"Ms Thundering Blade?" Jotou twisted again, to a woman holding a notepad.
"Thundering Blade, what do you actually think of the current princess?" so reporter got close enough, but Jotou could barely turn as another face showed itself.
Jotou’s legs tensed and she gulped. She clenched her clammy hands as another voice called for her and then another. The slow moving mob surrounded her, hoping to get a word in.
"Uh, please, one person," Jotou bent her leg and curled her toes, feeling her heartbeat quicken. She could feel herself painfully tightening the muscles in her thigh.
More words ca, the sounds were muddling together, the music, the live music of violins and pianos were getting too LOUD! She could feel her brain throb once. Everything felt like a dream while being wide awake.
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