"Thanks for your advice, Nina. I really appreciate you. I also think I'll do as you suggested, but I want a little time to think it over first." (Mizuki)
"Of course, I'm glad I could help. Fufufu…should we return to the palace now?" (Nina)
"Yeah, I think that'd be a good idea, it's after dark." (Mizuki)
I form a sphere of my magic above us, and I will it to convert any radiation produced inside its boundaries –radiation from the heat of the ambient air, background radiation, and anything else – into visible spectrum radiation.
The result is a floating ball of light.
Initially, I'm quite surprised – I didn't think there'd be enough radiation of any wavelengths to be useful for actual illumination. I was prepared to start heating up the air to compensate, but it looks like that won't be necessary. Hmm…
"Wahhh! Mizuki, what is that!?" (Nina)
Nina's remark jars me from my thoughts. She looks surprised, but I'm guessing it's for entirely different reasons.
"Fufufu…it's a light source, so we can find our clothes." (Mizuki)
"B-But it looks kind of similar to that thing you almost killed me with…I still have nightmares about that, you know?" (Nina)
Oh…I don't really think so, but I guess she's only ever seen me make two glowing orbs, including this one.
"Well that other glowing orb was really hot and had lots of other dangerous stuff leaking out of it, aside from the light you see. This one only produces light for us to see with. Go ahead and touch it!" (Mizuki)
Nina looks at me skeptically, then reaches up and runs her hand through it. She turns to me surprised.
"Mizuki, I can't feel anything there! Can you teach me this!?" (Nina)
Oh god…I haven't even gotten to theories of electromagnetic radiation with Alto yet. That's relatively advanced for Nina, who probably doesn't even know that the air is made of small particles.
"Uhm…in theory I probably could. You'd have a lot to learn first before I could explain it. It'd take days in the library studying with me to teach you all the information. I'm willing to do it if you want, though?" (Mizuki)
Nina turns her lips up in a disgusted expression, like a kid you just told to eat their vegetables before dessert.
"Tch…definitely not. I'll just have to keep you close, so you can do it for me." (Nina)
Nina hugs me affectionately, then continues waving her hand through the ball of light while I go to find our clothes. After we're both dressed, I dispel the ball of light and teleport us back to Nina's palace room for the night.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
The next morning, Elira, Dargo, Ilina, I, and the other members of my party met in the palace conference room. At my suggestion, everyone except us and Klaus left after serving tea and scones. Elira comes out of the gate sarcastic.
"Mizuki, do you plan to make a habit of dismissing all my staff? I pay them to work for me, you know." (Elira)
"Do you? How much do you pay them?" (Mizuki)
"Tch…aren't you witty." (Elira)
The exchange is had with lighthearted smiles on both sides, so it doesn't really feel antagonistic.
"I'm pretty sure you'll be glad I dismissed them when you hear what we're discussing. You are welcome to call them back in for the demon-related talks afterward." (Mizuki)
"Oh? Do tell." (Elira)
"Yes, what's this about?" (Dargo)
They both look at me expectantly. I turn to Ilina with a smile. I'd mentioned to her that this would be happening when we were making out like teenagers yesterday. Although, I guess I am a teenager here.
[Alright, Ilina, you're up. Let me know if you need anything.] (Mizuki)
Ilina smiles back at me and nods.
"Mother…Father…Mizuki and I have decided that we'd like to be together romantically." (Ilina)
Elira and Dargo look surprised, but then they both seem to become quite excited.
"Well, well…I didn't expect news this soon, but I'm quite glad to hear that Mizuki will be closer to us as a people." (Elira)
"That's great news, Ilina! Might I live to see grandchildren?" (Dargo)
Ilina ignores Dargo, and keeps a neutral expression, then responds to Elira evenly.
"I'm glad you approve, because based on what Mizuki told me about your conversation, there will be a problem with us pursuing our relationship." (Ilina)
Elira's eyes narrow.
"What problem would that be?" (Elira)
Nina chimes in at this point.
"That would be me. When I heard that you wished for Mizuki to be a secret concubine, I made it clear that I will not give my blessing for such an arrangement. Their romantic relationship would need to be public, and any children clearly recognized as Mizuki's. Ideally, they'd have an elven marriage. I will not be budging on this matter, so please do not wear my patience by pestering me about it." (Nina)
A thick silence hangs over the rooms.
"Are you demanding that Mizuki be made into our king!?" (Elira)
"Fufufu…no, Mizuki does not even want to be king. I'm just telling you what the conditions for them being intimate with my blessing are, and my blessing is essential. Mizuki would never consider pursuing Ilina without it." (Nina)
Elira glances at me questioningly, and I nod seriously, like 'damn straight'. Elira groans out loud and throws herself back into the couch. After a minute, she looks at Ilina.
"Well, I'm disappointed it won't be Mizuki, but you'll just have to find another husband." (Elira)
Ilina shakes her head very seriously.
"Respectfully, Mother, I'm not asking permission. Now that Mizuki has committed, I won't let elven prejudice get in our way. If a marriage is never recognized, if you renounce my rule, if you want to exile me from the kingdom…it won't stop me. Mizuki will aid me in protecting this country discreetly, so I'll be fulfilling my duties. Eventually, I'll make our romance public for Nina's blessing, so you should prepare with that in mind." (Ilina)
Holy shit…she did not tell me that she was going nuclear.