"Alto, I…can you give me your honest opinion? I'm sorry for acting so rashly, and I know I should have consulted you all before. I can see the fear and regret on your face, and I know you may think I'm a monster after how I handled that situation. I only hope you give me the chance to correct my mistake." (Mizuki)
As I gauge Alto's reaction, her expression changes to one of pure confusion.
"Mizuki…you've got it backwards. My fear and regret were towards my own thoughts and actions. By the time Alara arrived and spoke to you, I…was thinking of much more severe actions. Exiling her from the country as a commoner at best or killing her at worst. I'm ashamed that I was more willing to kill a fellow elf than you were. Your approach may have seemed more personally malicious, but…it was clearly the best outcome for her in the long term." (Alto)
Alto is staring down at the floor in anguish, and I'm speechless as well. After a moment, she continues.
"If you'd tried to negotiate with her before, she'd have never listened. She considered you an existential threat because of your connection to Nina. Even if you calmly told her how powerful you were and tried to reason with her that opposing you was dangerous and futile, I think she'd have just feared you more and swapped to subterfuge. In retrospect, sudden and complete personal terror was the only way to truly put her in line, and you used minimal violence, so I don't condemn your actions, Mizuki." (Alto)
After a few moments to recover from my shock, I teleport Alto and I alone to Nina's old nest. Seeing the sudden change in scenery, Alto gives me a bewildered expression. Without another word, I walk over and wrap her in a hug. After a few seconds of confusion, she hugs me back.
"Thank you, Alto. Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease more than you could imagine. For what it's worth, I don't think you should be so hard on yourself about Alara, and the actions you didn't even take. Neither of us is going to see the best outcome every time, and sometimes both of us will overlook it. I'm still not sure that my approach with Alara was best. However, I don't think any less of you for actions that you considered today. You're still my trusted friend." (Mizuki)
Hearing my response, Alto squeezes me a little tighter, and we stay like that for a few minutes. Eventually, she lets me go and steps away. She directs a forced smirk at me.
"Thanks for bringing me out here just to hug me, it would damage my reputation with the other elves if we're too friendly. You're as soft hearted as ever, and it's a miracle that you managed to convince Alara otherwise. Anyway…I'm ready to return when you are." (Alto)
I just smile back at her and shake my head in amusement, then I teleport us back to the palace conference room. Everyone seems relatively calm when we return.
"Sorry everyone, Alto and I just needed to talk things out a bit in private. I appreciate what all of you told me, and that no one seems to take significant issue with how I handled things. So, can I consider the matter of Alara settled then?" (Mizuki)
The people in the room all nod their assent. Then, Elira redirects the conversation, still a little shaken.
"Very well, let's move on. Regarding the royal announcement…the general proceedings were already disclosed to Avalon's residents, the nobles, and the citizens of their respective territories. However, we'd like to clarify them with everyone here, and discuss some specifics." (Elira)
Elira and Dargo reiterate that the royal announcement will be a multi-day event, starting the day after tomorrow. The first day will be an evening reception with wine and snacks that's open to everyone who can meet a minimum dress code, where royals, nobles, and commoners from across the kingdom will intermingle.
The evening reception will take place inside the largest ballroom of the palace, but there will also be food stalls and entertainment outside the palace, in the main square and surrounding streets.
Commoners who meet the dress code requirements will be allowed to join the main reception in roughly one-hour cycles, since there will likely be too many to attend simultaneously. Priority for this will be determined by a series of raffles the morning of the reception day.
The second day will be for a private announcement and discussion with the elven nobles, and the third day will be for a public announcement and celebration.
The public announcement will occur from the main square, and the celebration afterwards will occur in a similar format as the reception. The raffles for priority will be conducted along with the reception raffles on the morning of the first day.
This is the extent of information that was publicly disclosed.
"Some commoners from other cities have already begun arriving, and so far, the inns in the city have enough capacity to accommodate them. We expect that the nobles and their attaches will begin arriving tomorrow evening, and there will be enough room in the palace for them as royal guests. Nobles are allowed to bring two guests with them for such occasions, and they will be given the same access to any festivities." (Dargo)
"As for the reception day, we'd also like to make a slight change of plans. Since you all managed to remedy the entire situation with the demons so soon after we disclosed plans for the royal announcement…" (Elira)
Elira pauses to give me a look that's somehow a mix of both gratitude and annoyance.
"We'd like to introduce Lady Nedonera and the rest of your party in the main square, before beginning the reception in the ballroom, and explain how you have resolved the situation with Veyron and the demons. We think this would buy some goodwill with the people and nobles alike and provide more opportunities for Mizuki to socialize during the reception. Mizuki, I'm assuming that you'd still like to maintain the charade that you're Lady Nedonera's subordinate?" (Elira)
Yeah, that's a good idea. There has been no official announcement about how things with the demons turned out. Since the nobles likely left their territories before Nina dealt with Veyron, sending messengers to them was also futile. Similarly, nobody in Avalon really knows how things concluded.
As far as pretty much everyone outside the palace is concerned, the demons may be preparing for war, and Veyron may be cooperating to decimate this kingdom.