"Is this really something we need to be discussing right now? It's getting late..." (Ilina)
Ilina directs a pleading gaze at her mother, fighting the mounting weariness from the day. However, Elira just frowns disapprovingly.
"It's absolutely such a discussion. Besides, it's barely sunset, and you have no one but yourself to blame for the urgency." (Elira)
Hearing the stubbornness in her mother's tone, she slumps defeatedly into her chair. She glances across the table at her father, King Dargo, hoping to garner some support, but he's staring at her with an equally resolved expression.
Clearly this is a coordinated attack by her parents.
She casts a furtive glance around the royal library, trying to think of a way to subvert this conversation. Alas, she has no ideas, and there's nobody else around to plea to except Cayla, the head servant. They've cornered her well...
'Damn it...can't I at least have Mizuki with me for this? They're always much better behaved around him, especially Mother...'
She sighs, then reluctantly meets her mother's gaze.
"Okay, fine, I get it...we'll talk. But we've been buried in security and economic meetings all day, and Mizuki isn't even here. Don't you think my husband should be present? I mean, we wouldn't want our resident Nephilim feeling like the royal family assumes it can just make personal decisions for him, right?" (Ilina)
Elira freezes, wearing a contemplative expression as she carefully studies her daughter. Ilina suppresses a smirk.
'Sorry, Mizuki...hope you don't mind me using your scary reputation to get myself out of an unpleasant conversation.'
Eventually, Elira purses her lips, a knowing gleam in her eyes.
"Oh, we'd of course never do that, but you on the other hand...you are his fiancé, dear. I'm sure that he trusts you to take care of time-sensitive matters on his behalf. I mean, didn't you just make it so very clear to everyone at the nobles' meeting that Mizuki will do pretty much whatever you ask?
"Since Mizuki will be so busy for the next few days, it's only appropriate that you represent his interests in this discussion. Or am I misunderstanding the root of the issue, and perhaps you are saying that you rushed into marrying him so quickly that you don't even understand your future husband's wishes?" (Elira)
Ilina clenches her jaw, not missing the subtle smugness in her Mother's tone.
'Dammit! She cornered me again...'
She racks her brain for alternative evasive maneuvers.
"No, I understand my husband very well, thank you. That's why I think it's best that we wait until he can join us. There's a big difference between me making decisions for him out of necessity, and me needlessly depriving him of the opportunity to be included in personal matters.
"It's a matter of principle – showing my future husband that I value him. So, I'm sorry, Mother, but I can't in good conscience exclude my fiancé. Because this discussion, while important, is not absolutely urgent...it's just wedding planning." (Ilina)
Indeed, after sitting through hours of national security meetings in the morning to prepare for the situation with the Empire, then hours more of economic meetings to financially prepare for those discussed security measures, her Mother dragged her to this library...to start planning her and Mizuki's wedding.
Now that she's outed her relationship with Mizuki to the elves' entire ruling class and forced their approval – which is why her Mother said she could only blame herself, her Mother is eager to start the laborious wedding planning.
Alas, there's nothing Ilina dreads more than this discussion. In part, because she's tired and for hours now she's been looking forward to retreating to Mizuki's house to spend time alone with him. Well, alone with him and Nina, who Ilina thinks is even clingier than herself.
However, the other reason she'd like to avoid the wedding planning discussion, is because it's not really planning. That would imply that the particulars of the wedding itself are unknown – that she has decisions to make and a chance to express her preferences. Instead, what her Mother calls a discussion about wedding 'planning' will assuredly be more akin to a lecture about duties and responsibilities where she's given dozens of frustrating, soul-crushing chores.
That's the nature of a royal wedding.
Almost everything about how such an event will proceed is already dictated by tradition, and the few things left to make decisions about will be decided by the Queen based on what is most appropriate politically. Who is invited, what food and refreshments are served, what the dress code will be, what her dress will look like, and even who she will sit with, talk with, and dance with – she won't decide any of it.
In fact, there is only one set of decisions that she, as the Princess Bride, will be allowed to make. Other than who the groom is, of course. They're known simply as the Princess or Queen Bride's Selections, depending on whether one has ascended to the throne at the time, and they are far from opportunities to bring a personal appeal to her wedding. Instead, she'll select one wine, one dessert, one song during the dancing part of the festivities, and one gift to impart upon each of the attendees of status. Then, everyone will use those choices as yet another opportunity to judge her.
Is the bride classy? Does she have a refined palette? Is she out of touch with the masses? Does she respect tradition? Is she thoughtful? Her 'selections' are essentially an offering, a test of her worth as a person and as the future Queen. That's why, despite technically having the decision making power, she is far from free to pick what she wants. That's also why...she loathes the idea of discussing the wedding plans.
So, she intends to do whatever she can to postpone this discussion until Mizuki can suffer-...err, or rather, enjoy this very personal discussion alongside her. That's why she's now said the only thing she can think of that will evade her Mother's seemingly bottomless well of rational counter-arguments – appeal to respecting her frighteningly powerful fiancé's desire to be included when possible. Her Mother won't dare risk offending Mizuki over something like this, nor can her mother reasonably insist that she needs to undermine her husband.
Seemingly realizing this, Elira's brow furrows in frustration, which causes Ilina's lips to twist into a small, victorious smile. Just when she's starting to feel confident in her escape, though, she hears her father's voice.
"Sweetheart, I must admit that I'm a little surprised to hear you so adamantly resisting this discussion." (Dargo)
She glances at her father, noting his calm, caring expression and affable tone. On the surface, he appears primarily interested in her feelings. However, she knows her father better than most people. He is almost zealously devoted to her mother, and scarily effective at supporting her wishes. Already, she can see a confident glint in his eyes.
Whatever he's getting at, he fully intends to eventually sway her into bending to her Mother's wishes. She's seen him manipulate one to many headstrong people to underestimate him either.
She casts a wary look at her father, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"What do you mean, Dad?" (Ilina)
Dargo widens his eyes innocently, as though he's surprised it's not obvious.
"Well, the more you postpone this discussion, the longer you'll have to wait to get married. Doesn't it bother you how that will affect your relationship with Mizuki? I know how much you love him, so I'd hate for you to regret dragging your feet." (Dargo)
Her expression turns puzzled, and she sees her mother giving Dargo a subtle but distinctly confused look as well.
'What is he talking ab-...'
Her eyes widen, and she feels heat rush to her face.
'D-does he mean Nina's...restrictions, on mine and Mizuki's intimacy!?'
Embarrassment of her dad mentioning it aside, she can't pretend that his point doesn't make her waver slightly. Even if she went into the relationship fully informed, it's beyond infuriating that she can't be with Mizuki however she wants, and it's at Nina's discretion no less. It's like a constant reinforcement that she's some kind of second-class wife to him. That's not what she wants, and it's not what she signed up for – she is every bit as much Mizuki's partner as Nina is.
So, the thought of maintaining the current status quo any longer than necessary is frustrating, to say the least.
'Still, it's just a few extra days of delay. It's fine...'
This ploy of her dad's won't change her mind. So, even as the blush on her face deepens, she forces herself to meet his gaze.
"Uhm...that's not a concern, Dad. We really don't need to talk about that..." (Ilina)
Confusion flickers across her dad's expression, before he seems to realize something. He glances away uncomfortably.
"Oh, err...yes, well, that's not exactly what I was referring to, Sweetie." (Dargo)
She feels a rush of relief, followed by curiosity. She raises her eyebrows.
"What then?" (Ilina)
Her father rubs his chin thoughtfully, then gives her a pitying look.
"Well, I just meant...you wouldn't want any other women cozying up to Mizuki, would you? There's already Jorah's army of...err, working elves, and in less than a week everyone will learn that he's a Nephilim – his popularity will skyrocket. Plus, he's a charming young man in his own right. Until you're married and your relationship's public, there's really no reason for anyone to avoid pursuing him, is there?" (Dargo)
She freezes, her hands involuntarily clenching the armrest of her chair. After a moment, she manages to collect herself enough to respond, though her voice is terse.
"There's no cause for concern...Mizuki would never entertain the romantic advances of random women." (Ilina)
Dargo nods slowly as he stares off into space with a thoughtful expression.
"That's true, that's true. But...what about Cara? From what I've heard, she's made her affection for Mizuki quite apparent, and didn't Mizuki just mention this morning that she bargained for regular, private visits with him? If Mizuki slips up, even once...you know he'll feel obligated to take responsibility for Cara's feelings, and she probably knows that, too.
"A beautiful girl like her, who befriended him even as a human...if she cozies up to him in the right setting, I think any young man would find his heart racing and his judgement compromised. Of course, she could never risk pressing him for such intimate alone time if he were the Prince Consort – the social backlash would be unthinkable. But until you two have your wedding announced..." (Dargo)
He lets his words hang in the air, that same, pitying smile on his face, his tone conveying only concern for his daughter. At the mention of Cara, Ilina feels a cold sweat start on her neck. Her vice grip on the chair returns, and this time, she has to respond through gritted teeth, her voice barely a whisper.
"No, Cara already knows he's mine. She wouldn't dare..." (Ilina)
Dargo tilts his head sympathetically, like he's watching someone sink into denial.
"Are you sure? Her actions seem to suggest otherwise. Perhaps she thinks that you being secretly engaged to him isn't an insurmountable obstacle. After all, he was already with Lady Nedonera when you two started dating, right? Maybe Cara thinks, 'if it happened once, it can happen again'. In her mind, it may only be a matter of time and opportunity..." (Dargo)
She feels her heart skip a beat, her expression becoming grim.