I spent over an hour walking in arm with Cara, talking to random elves. They were primarily interested in her, but some of them recognized me and decided to nervously ask questions.
Usually, it was if Queen Elira's statement about me not supporting human tourism in their kingdom was true, but others were curious about Nina. A couple of them even thanked me for helping their country. Overall, it didn't seem like any of them departed with negative feelings towards me – a win in my book.
Between such meetings, we also discussed the nobles' territories in the country. Apparently, the country is divided up like the wedges from an orange, centered around the royal capitol of Avalon.
Cara's domain is the northern wedge, Zardo house the northeastern wedge, Uril house the eastern wedge including the Gelrod's Pass entrance, southeastern wedge the Abel house, and southern wedge the Izthil house. The remaining third of the country on the western side is undeveloped land.
Cara's assertion that she is popular is obviously true – I lost track of the number of elves that approached her while we were together. Moreover, after only an hour, the nature of their interest is beginning to wear on even my nerves.
None of them asked her personal questions, talked about her role as a noble, or asked her opinion on consequential topics, they all just made idle small talk while staring at her glossily. In her shoes, I'd have killed myself or become a shut-in by now.
"Cara, you really have my sympathies. I don't know how you've put up with this your whole life, because these encounters are already driving me to suicide, and I'm only watching them." (Mizuki)
"Fufufu…yes, this is the most bored I've ever been while accompanying Mizuki." (Zara)
Cara sighs deeply and gives me a skeptical look.
"You're not teasing me again, are you, Mizuki?" (Cara)
I hold up my hands innocently and shake my head. Then I direct an empathetic gaze at her.
"No! I mean it, and I'm done teasing you for now. Honestly…can I offer you anything as thanks for putting up with this? It must be something from me, personally, and not something that involves Lady Nedonera. If it's reasonable, I'll grant a favor to show that I appreciate the cost of you helping me." (Mizuki)
Cara's eyes go wide in surprise.
"Just like that – you feel a little bad for me, so you offer me a personal favor on top of what you already promised. You're serious?" (Cara)
I sigh and nod my head.
"Yeah, I'm serious. Believe it or not, I don't like people suffering for my benefit, and these interactions are definitely suffering." (Mizuki)
Cara stares at me for a few moments with a strange expression I can't quite place, then she smiles.
"Very well, I happily accept. If my favor was to have you answer every question I asked you for the rest of the day, thoroughly and honestly, would you grant it?" (Cara)
Wow…straight for the killing blow, eh?
"No, you're too smart for me to grant a favor like that. Naturally, there are things I shouldn't tell you, and I'm sure you'd end up asking all the right questions. Please ask something else of me." (Mizuki)
"Tch…I figured you'd say that. You can't blame a girl for trying. Hmm…in that case, could I get you to promise that you won't outright lie to me going forward? If I can't have all the information I want from you, I'd at least like to know that the information you do tell me is reliable." (Cara)
"Fufufu…that's an ironic request, since my subsequent honesty depends on you already trusting that I'll be honest enough to uphold a promise I make. Unlike a physical favor, you have no way to verify if I'm keeping my promise. Are you sure that's what you want?" (Mizuki)
"Oh yes, very sure. I'm convinced that if you promise me you won't lie, you won't. I don't know why, and I don't think you have an intrinsic issue with lying, but that's what I think." (Cara)
She's spot-on in her assessment of me, and I'm not sure I like that. If she's this aware of my personality after only a day, then I need to be careful about information slip ups around her.
"Alright, so be it. I promise not to lie to you from this point forward, but only in our private conversations. You have my word. Does this make up for all those tedious conversations over the last hour?" (Mizuki)
Cara smiles at me in relief.
"Yes, yes it does. With your promise in mind, I'd like to ask you…can you really not use magic? I'm having a hard time believing that, just like Darak. I'm sure you're not physically weak, but without magic, I'm just not seeing how an Elder Dragon could respect you so much." (Cara)
Hmm…how to respond. If all I have to do is not tell lies, that doesn't prevent truthful but misleading statements. I just have to make it so convincing that she won't press further.
"I promise you, the result I showed Darak on my guild card was from a genuine magic assessment, and I did not tamper with the test or the card. When given the magic class assessment, I placed my hand on the crystal, it glowed white, and then it went dark. There was no second color. I'm even willing to repeat the test in front of you later if you want." (Mizuki)
Cara wears a frustrated expression, and studies me thoughtfully for several moments, then sighs deeply.
"Thanks, I guess I was wrong then. I may take you up on your offer to show me eventually, but I'm in no rush. I'm confident that the result will be exactly as you say." (Cara)
They are way too confident in the interpretation of those tests. I glance at Zara, and I see that she's clearly smiling and shaking her head in amusement. I guess she feels the same way I do.
"I'm glad! It seems we've built some trust then." (Mizuki)
Cara smiles wryly at my remark, and we fall into a comfortable silence. After a few minutes, I see a young silver-haired woman approaching us somewhat frantically – it's Alara.
Crap…I really hope she's not here to cause trouble. It'd be difficult to keep her in check without revealing myself. To my surprise, she stops in front of me and gives a polite curtsy, and her face is a mix of fear and apprehension.
"M-Mizuki, sorry to bother you. I was wondering if I could speak to you privately for a moment. Do you mind, Ca…Lady Cara?" (Alara)
Jeez…a curtsy to me, and she's even using honorifics with Cara? Talk about a clear case of scared straight. I almost feel bad for her. Almost.
Cara seems equally appalled by the display and is glancing between us in bewilderment. I'm also quite curious what Alara could want.
"It's no bother at all, Princess Alara, I'm happy to speak with you. Cara, do you mind giving us a minute? Zara, perhaps you could keep Cara company while we chat." (Mizuki)
[Zara, make sure she doesn't eavesdrop, please. I can always catch you up later.] (Mizuki)
"Of course, I'd like to get to know Lady Cara and the elves better. Lady Cara?" (Zara)
Zara loops her arm through Cara's, and they walk off together. Cara is giving me a desperately curious look over her shoulder as she's dragged off. I cautiously return my attention to Alara…she's looking at me expectantly, and she is visibly nervous.
"Alright, I think this should be private enough. What did you want to discuss, Alara? Also, I understand why you're nervous after our last meeting, but I'm not one to hold a grudge. We came to an agreement, and so long as you honor it, I'm going to be nothing but pleasant to you." (Mizuki)
Relief washes over Alara's face after my statement, and she nods appreciatively.
"Thank you. Uhm…I came to warn you about an issue. Tessa Uril came to see me, and it seems she doesn't intend to accept your presence here. She asked for my assistance in finding a way to remove you from our country without soliciting Lady Nedonera's retaliation – I think she'd even be willing to kill you if she could get away with it." (Alara)
My eyes widen in surprise involuntarily. Tessa's intentions aren't exactly shocking, nor is her attempt to recruit Alara, but I didn't expect Alara to inform me of it so frankly.
"Wow, I'm surprised you're so forthcoming about that, Alara. So long as you didn't say anything negative about me, or disclose my abilities you witnessed, I would have considered your agreement with me upheld. Informing me of her intentions is beyond your obligation, but I appreciate it. I'll think of some way to repay you. What did you say in response to her request?" (Mizuki)
Alara looks surprised by my comment about repaying her, but she says nothing on the subject.
"I told her that you were reasonable, friendly to elves, and she stood nothing to gain by provoking you. I encouraged her to apologize for any prior disrespect, offer you her help openly, and make sure her lackey, Jorah Abel, didn't antagonize you. Then I ended our conversation and left." (Alara)
To say I'm surprised…would be an understatement of cosmic proportions. She really supported me that aggressively, huh? She seems sincere…her expression is currently a mix of apprehension and curiosity, like she's conflicted about asking something.
"Thank you, and I'm again surprised by your unnecessary level of aid to me. Can I ask…you seem conflicted, like you want to ask me something…is that right? If so, I encourage you to do it. I won't react poorly; you have my word." (Mizuki)
Alara's expression is flooded with relief.
"Yes…you're correct. Tessa mentioned that other nobles want to offer you all a permanent place to live in the kingdom. Is that true?" (Alara)
Ahh…that explains why she's so nervous about upsetting me with the question.
"It's true. Can I assume that you'd rather I not have such a permanent presence in the kingdom? I'm sorry to say that, if they were to offer it, I'd probably accept. Your feelings won't change that, but I can promise you that I have no intention of harming the kingdom or innocent elves, no matter how long I'm here. The same goes for you if you remain non-hostile." (Mizuki)
Alara shakes her head and looks at me seriously.
"No, it's the opposite. I'd very much like it if the other nobles were successful, and you were given a permanent residence here. Moreover, is there anything I can do to help facilitate it?" (Alara)
Uhm…what?