Ilina is sleeping peacefully in her bed. I walk over and tap on her shoulder to wake her. After a moment, she stirs, and her eyes go wide.
"Ahhh!" (Ilina)
"Ilina, it's Mizuki, could you please stop your screaming. Also, nobody can hear it, I put a silencing spell over us." (Mizuki)
I respond flatly to her offensive screaming.
"Mizuki!? What the hell are you doing here!?" (Ilina)
Woah ho! Quite the potty mouth there, Princess.
"I'm keeping my promise to you, naturally." (Mizuki)
Ilina's tone suddenly becomes serious.
"What happened?" (Ilina)
"Well, wouldn't you know it, your sweet big sister tried to have me killed tonight." (Mizuki)
She's silent for a few moments.
"Can you really be sure that it was her?" (Ilina)
Seriously!?
"Ilina…yes. I'm going to ignore that incredibly offensive attempt at you trying to protect the would-be killer of your alleged friend, even though you know she's guilty. She was stupid enough to send her own personal bodyguard the very same night of that earlier altercation." (Mizuki)
Ilina sighs deeply.
"I'm sorry…you're right, she's an idiot. What did you do with him?" (Ilina)
Her tone implies she already knows the answer.
"He'd dead, obviously. I completely disintegrated his body. I know I promised to consult you before doing anything, but spur of the moment assassins isn't a reasonable thing for you to expect me to put on hold and consult you about." (Mizuki)
"I agree, I don't blame you. So, then, I take it that you're here because…" (Ilina)
Ilina looks at me apprehensively.
"You guessed it…your sister. I'm here for us to agree on appropriate justice for a cold-blooded murderer, or attempted murderer anyway. Now, you tell me, if one elven noble tried to kill another in the Elven Kingdom, what would your laws dictate?" (Mizuki)
I can hear Ilina's breath catch in her throat, and her voice start to break as she speaks.
"I-If the murder was successful, s-she'd be executed. If it was unsuccessful, she'd at least be stripped of everything she owned and imprisoned for life." (Ilina)
"Yeah, I thought as much. Personally, I don't distinguish guilt based on competency, so the fairest thing is that she dies in my opinion." (Mizuki)
"Mizuki…please…if you're really my friend…" (Ilina)
She sounds like she's about to cry. That's a low blow to ask for that at this point, Ilina. I sigh deeply and sit on her bed, then lean over and hug her.
"Relax, Ilina, I promise that I'm your friend. Do you remember what I said that we'd do in this situation?" (Mizuki)
Not letting go of me, she responds.
"You said we'd discuss it until we reach a compromise, right?" (Ilina)
"Exactly. You've heard my idea of fairness. So, tell me yours. I'd ask that you be honest with me instead of trying to haggle by starting at a less severe point. If you were the ruler of this kingdom, the decision entirely in your hands, the people totally supporting your decision…what would you do?" (Mizuki)
She's silent for several moments, then breaks away from our hug and responds.
"Truthfully, I don't know. I guess the best solution that comes to mind would be to strip her of her royal status and banish her from the palace. I know that's not fair, I do. I know that it's elitist preferential treatment for her, but that's my answer. So…how are we going to compromise between those extremes in a way we can enforce?" (Ilina)
"Fufufu…how about I do my dear friend a favor and just yield to her preferences this time. I kind of have a soft spot for you like that, after all. She'll be stripped of her royal status, and I'll even let her become a noble if you want. You'll ascend to the throne after your mother, and everyone will be better for it." (Mizuki)
Ilina stares at me like I'm even dumber than Alara.
"That's…Mizuki…I'm touched, honestly, but even that's not going to happen. My mother would never agree to it." (Ilina)
I give Ilina a smirk.
"Oh yes, she will. What's more, if your sister is as stupid as I believe her to be, she's going to agree to it as well." (Mizuki)
Ilina is stunned silent, but eventually responds with a skeptical tone.
"How do you possibly plan to manage that?" (Ilina)
"Hmm…I think you should just trust me to handle it. In return, I promise you that one of three outcomes will occur. One, your sister voluntarily submits to the terms. Two, your sister avoids the terms, she dies, and your family won't retaliate. Three, your sister avoids the terms, she kills me, and Nina will fight off Veyron for you and not retaliate. Those are in decreasing likelihood, by the way. Are those outcomes acceptable to you?" (Mizuki)
"I don't want her to die, Mizuki, and I want you dead even less, believe it or not. I'd prefer option one, but if you can promise me that the other two are only small chances, I'll trust you." (Ilina)
I smile at her in the dark.
"I think option one is by far the most likely outcome, but you'll be happy to know that it's entirely up to you whether that's the option that happens. I trust you to play your part when the time comes." (Mizuki)
Ilina narrows her eyes at me nervously.
"That sounds ominous, but if you mean all of that, then fine. What do you need me to do?" (Ilina)
"Nothing at all. Go back to sleep, and everything will become extremely clear to you soon. Until then, just pretend like I never visited you." (Mizuki)
Ilina sighs deeply, but she nods her agreement.
"Goodnight, Ilina. I won't let you down." (Mizuki)
Without giving Ilina time to reply, I teleport back to Nina's room in the palace and climb into bed. Nina wakes and rolls over to greet me.
"Mmm…did your trap catch anything?" (Nina)
"Oh, yes, big time. I suspect that we have a very exciting day in store for us tomorrow." (Mizuki)
"Fufufu…I look forward to it." (Nina)
I smile at the thought of my plan, and I fall asleep contently not long after that.