Dargo manages to recover from the shock first.
"Mizuki…what was all that…did you know that would happen?" (Dargo)
I shrug at him, and turn to Elira, who has moved to glaring at me suspiciously.
"There's time for such questions later, King Dargo. For now, Queen Elira, I want to hear your answer to the Princess's question. Will you honor our agreement? From this moment forth, is Princess Ilina the heir apparent and Alara nothing more than a disgraced noble?" (Mizuki)
Elira looks conflicted, and I see both frustration and relief in her expression.
"Yes, as Queen my word is final, and it will be exactly as you've just said. I confess, I am deeply unsettled that you seem to have orchestrated the absurdity I witnessed. I will have many questions for you later about the events here today and the role you played in them. However, for the moment I only wish for Ilina to know that I consider her genuinely deserving of the throne, and that I am proud to uphold this agreement." (Elira)
Well, that's touching. Ilina seems to agree, because she looks at Elira with a clear mix of relief and happiness. Then, she turns to me with a pleading look in her eyes, and she…bows!?
"Mizuki, now that I'm the First Princess, I have a favor to ask of you. I think it's best to tell my mother and father the truth. Will you trust me if I say it's okay to do that?" (Ilina)
"Hmm…and by the truth, do you mean everything I've ever told you?" (Mizuki)
Ilina shakes her head quickly. Elira and Dargo are silent, but they are glaring at me suspiciously.
"No, I merely wish for them to know as much as Klaus does. Enough that they understand everything they need for our relationship with Lady Nedonera and yourself going forward. The information that you've entrusted to me otherwise, that is not known outside your party and myself, will never be revealed without consent. You have my word." (Ilina)
I let out a deep sigh and look at the King and Queen. They're staring at me expectantly, with a hint of annoyance.
"Alright, that seems fine to me on a few conditions. Let's grab Zara and Alto, then return to the conference room to talk. Absolutely no guards other than Klaus are allowed, regardless of how much you trust them. Additionally, the King and Queen must swear that they will never repeat anything they learn to anyone outside that room afterward, for any reason. Is that acceptable, Your Highness? All of those terms are non-negotiable if I'm to consent to Princess Ilina's request." (Mizuki)
Elira's eyes narrow at me, and her vibe becomes dangerous.
"That's bold of you to make such demands of a Queen in her own palace. More importantly, you just openly admitted that Ilina and even Klaus have been conspiring with you to withhold important information from their Queen." (Elira)
I meet her gaze calmly for a moment before responding.
"Well, the ones making demands are technically you and Ilina, and I'm just stipulating the conditions under which we'll meet those demands. Second, yes, they have information that you don't, and I'm offering to remedy that. If you'd rather interrogate them for that information, without our consent, you're welcome to try. However, I'm confident that neither of them would divulge that information. If you managed to force them…we'd consider it a hostile action. Just so I'm clear." (Mizuki)
I see the first flash of anger directed at me in the gaze Queen Elira. She turns to Nina with a questioning expression following my statement, but Nina just nods her agreement with a smile. Elira seems ready to say something else, but to my surprise, Dargo interjects.
"My Queen, I humbly advise that we agree to Mizuki's terms for a private discussion, and we do so without further delay. I have a suspicion that, after that, we'll be glad we didn't choose another course of action." (Dargo)
Elira's face contorts in surprise, and she turns on Dargo with a hint of shrillness in her voice. He looks nervous and apologetic, but also resolved.
"Dargo, dear, you can't be serious!? He demanded that the Queen, King, and First Princess of the Elven Kingdom meet with the entire escort of an Elder Dragon alone, without protection. Furthermore, he admitted that he conspired to have our Princess and a member of our royal guard lie to their Queen. He even threatened us if we tried to interrogate them about that conspiracy! How can we let that slide!?" (Elira)
Ilina takes the opportunity to clear her throat and interject.
"Ehem, my Queen, there are no number of elven guards that could keep Lady Nedonera from killing us if she wanted. As for lying to you…I admit it, and I was conflicted. However, Mizuki is also correct that I won't divulge anything without his consent, nor would Klaus. We believe it's for the best." (Ilina)
Elira turns to her daughter with confusion, and she seems to struggle to respond. Before she can, Ilina continues.
"As for how you could let something like that slide…I'd remind you that Alara tried to murder Mizuki, and you flatly refused to even punish her appropriately. The only reason this outcome has occurred is because Mizuki graciously offered Alara an option where she could kill him, secure Lady Nedonera's help, and be absolved of any wrongdoing all at once, just for the price of tormenting me in a duel. Even having lost, she'll live comfortably as a noble. In exchange, we can overlook lies of omission that didn't harm us." (Ilina)
Elira keeps looking between myself, Ilina, and Dargo with an exasperated expression. Eventually, she hangs her head dejectedly and lets out a heavy sigh. After a moment, she returns her gaze to me, collected once again.
"Very well, Mizuki, let's do as you suggest. This better be worth it, though, because my life has been a pain since you showed up. My patience is at its very end." (Elira)
"Well…I don't know about worth it, but I can promise that you won't be bored, Queen Elira." (Mizuki)
Elira does not seem to find this consolation reassuring.