"Queen Elira, may I address the nobles?" (Alara)
Elira looks annoyed, and is skeptically eyeing Alara, obviously hesitant to give her blessing. I send a private thought message to her.
[It's okay, Elira, I think that's a great idea.] (Mizuki)
Elira looks surprised, then seems to reach a decision.
"Very well, go ahead, Alara." (Elira)
Alara gives a polite nod, then turns to face the nobles. She's calm, and she looks at each of them in turn evenly. Tessa is staring at Alara with anticipation. Hoping she'll defend herself, no doubt.
"If you're concern is about Ilina's strength, then I can remedy it. In fact, the succession was decided in a duel between us, with stakes we both knowingly agreed to. I was easily beaten, and by the rules of our wager am stepping down to the position of noble. I do it willingly, and without any lingering resentment. I suggest you all support our decision." (Alara)
Tessa is dumbfounded, and Elira shares her expression. She's looking at me like I cast a puppet spell on Alara or something.
"Alara, are you serious? Ilina beat you in fair combat? I'm sorry, but I just find that hard to believe. Your abilities are exceptional, and even rival those of Queen Elira. In a few centuries, you'll likely surpass her." (Tessa)
"Yes, I'm telling you the truth. Ilina learned new combat spells on her travels and is no longer the weakling you describe. It's not my place to elaborate on her abilities, but even my mother and I together would be no match for her. If every elf in this room tried to bring her down right now, I still don't like our chances. As far as I can tell, there's never been a more formidable elf in all of Azura's history." (Alara)
Wow…she's really laying it on thick. I don't know the others' specific abilities, but my assessments tell me that she's probably correct. Other than me, Ilina is the only person who can use those cheat-level gravity and teleportation spells, and the rest of the world has never even heard of them. Plus, her magic power is absurd, by normal standards. The nobles are stunned silent for a time, then Helena begins cackling.
"Hehehehehe…oh my, that's something I never expected. I don't even need proof to know it's true. I've never much liked you, Alara, but I know you'd never publicly overestimate Ilina's strength. If you're saying this much, she must be truly monstrous now. If Ilina's that strong, and Alara herself is suggesting that we make her Queen, then any further discussion is pointless. Ilina is First Princess, and none of us have any right to contest it." (Helena)
Tessa sits down in her chair with a heavy thud, obviously defeated on the subject. Elira takes advantage.
"Thank you for your input, Alara. Well then, can we consider this matter closed? You all submit to this decision?" (Elira)
There's a round of assent from the nobles, including a quiet and begrudging one from Tessa. I'm feeling quite pleased with how unexpectedly easy that was…Alara's help was crucial, so it's a good thing we are on better terms now. Then, one noble speaks out before the session concludes.
"Just a moment, if you would, my Queen. I certainly support your decision, but I had some questions about the events surrounding this succession change. Several elements don't make sense to me." (Darak)
If it's Darak, I have no doubt that I'm about to be implicated. Elira seems to share my apprehension, but she has no choice, and she nods for him to proceed. The other nobles turn their attention to him, full of curiosity.
Cara seems curious as well, but she's also glancing at me nervously. Ahh…so she had similar suspicions but kept quiet in case it would be a problem for us. I'll remember that.
"Thank you, my Queen. I'd like to say that I and every other noble are desperately curious about Ilina's new abilities, but Alara makes it sound like they're not to be discussed, which is your right. So, I first want to explicitly request that we be made aware of her new abilities whenever you're willing." (Darak)
"Of course, I'll leave that decision up to Ilina, and I have no intention of circumventing her privacy. All I'll say is that the spells she learned were rare to the point of being unknown to us elves, and that she requested they be treated as royal secrets for now. When her will changes, I'll suggest that the nobles be made aware." (Elira)
Darak nods his approval.
"Thank you, I look forward to it. As for my other questions, I want to know what instigated this change in succession. Alara said it was a duel, but what possible reason could she have had for agreeing to such a wager – what did she stand to gain? She was already the heir, and her loss carried a steep cost. Furthermore, you said that Lady Nedonera's group was included in these meetings because the topics were relevant to them. Were they involved in this?" (Darak)
The other nobles turn to us curiously, and Tessa and Jorah are staring at me with suspicion. Damn…I was so close, but at least this way I'll get to reveal that fake spell. Elira sighs deeply and nods.
"Yes, your suspicion is correct Darak, and the answers to your questions are related. Mizuki, would you care to explain everything to the nobles? I'll interject as necessary, and so can Alara, but I'm sure they'll want to hear this from you." (Elira)
I nod and step forward with a polite smile.
"Of course, Queen Elira. As you all may have noticed, my Lady graciously trusts me to discuss matters on her behalf, so I was the primary point of contact with the royal family during early negotiations about the demon crisis. During these discussions, Princess Alara was displeased with me being human, and suspicious of me. So, against her Queen's explicit orders and my Lady's warnings, she tried to have me murdered in my sleep." (Mizuki)
Shock registers clearly on all the nobles' faces and they turn to face Alara. She looks embarrassed, but she doesn't flinch from the attention.
"Let me clear any doubts…I'm ashamed to admit that what Mizuki says is true. My distaste for humans is no secret, and this used to apply to him as well. I loathed his presence in the negotiations, and repeatedly ridiculed him against Queen Elira's orders. Moreover, I considered it an existential threat to our people that a human held such sway with an Elder Dragon. The very first night of our negotiations, I sent my royal guard to assassinate Mizuki." (Alara)
Helena and other nobles look to Alara in bewilderment.
"Alara…actively trying to kill the most trusted subordinate of an Elder Dragon, right under her nose, after flaunting your hatred for that subordinate only hours earlier…the only existential threat in this situation was your stupidity." (Helena)
Tessa remains quiet, but Jorah pipes up.
"Princess Alara…truly, I sympathize with your concerns more than you know. However, I'm inclined to agree with Helena. At minimum, the brazen way you went about such a thing endangered our people. In truth, even I would never attempt to assassinate Mizuki right here in the palace, especially against my Queen's explicit orders." (Jorah)
That's…more restraint than I expected, but it sounds like he might be willing to try and kill me against orders if it was with a less brazen strategy. Cara is looking at me, bewildered and nervous.
"Mizuki, may I ask…in your opinion, what consequences for Princess Alara's actions would you have considered to be consistent with our policies at the time?" (Cara)
Everyone else looks confused by Cara's question, but Elira just grimaces. Yeah, she knows how I feel about people being punished.
I bow respectfully.
"Certainly, Lady Cara. I don't believe there is precedent for your royals attempting murder, and I don't think humans have any official rights in your country. However, I was a royal guest of the Queen, and the top-ranked subordinate of my Lady, who is essentially a queen of her own domain. Naturally, I value my life just as much as yours, and I believe the most just analogy is one elven noble trying to murder another. In such a situation, your policies dictate that Princess Alara would become a forced laborer with no standing or be executed." (Mizuki)
Cara's face goes pale, because now she knows that's exactly the punishment I expect for Tessa if she steps that far out of line. The room is dead silent, until Jorah and Tessa erupt.
"You arrogant human, how dare you compare yourself to an elven noble!" (Tessa)
"Of all the preposterous ideas, you should be executed immediately for even suggesting the murder of our Princess!" (Jorah)
Elira is quick to cut them off.
"Silence! Both of you! Mizuki, would you please elaborate for them before this gets out of hand?" (Elira)
"I believe that Queen Elira is referring to the fact that I never officially requested such a punishment, even at the time. I was merely asked by Lady Cara to retroactively speculate on applying your existing policies to a situation without precedent. It's not my personal wish, now or then, for Princess Alara to face such severe outcomes. I consider the matter settled." (Mizuki)
Tessa and Jorah seem to calm down some but are still glaring at me menacingly.
"Still, despite Mizuki's personal opinions, he is human and was not guaranteed rights under our policies. Forcing Princess Alara into a wager with such high stakes was therefore unwarranted, and I advise that the consequences of it be overturned." (Tessa)
Helena snorts at Tessa's comment.
"Don't be intentionally dense, Tessa. Princess Alara disobeyed multiple direct orders from her Queen. That alone is enough to warrant punishment within our policies." (Helena)
"Helena is correct. Furthermore, I did not force Alara into the combat wager with Ilina, and I even tried to oppose it. I opposed every severe punishment, even at the risk of angering Lady Nedonera, and even though I'd given Mizuki my word before that I'd reprimand Alara appropriately. So, when Mizuki proposed the combat wager as a diplomatic solution to his attempted murder by Alara, and Alara insisted on taking part in it, I couldn't reasonably refuse." (Elira)
Tessa is fuming and seems to be thinking hard on a response. She clearly recognizes that her prior argument for reinstating Alara won't work.