Through some trial and error, and with Alto's help understanding the magic assessments, I've also learned to sense spell class and subtype affinities recently – she's elemental class, with earth, wind, and water affinities.
The mysterious woman smirks at Nina's witty retort.
"My name is Vena, Darak Zardo's daughter and heir." (Vena)
It's always nice to be proven correct.
"Hmm…and why have you sought me out, Vena Zardo?" (Nina)
"Well, I was just curious why you seem content with letting your subordinate do all the speaking with elven nobles on your behalf? We haven't been engaging with you directly." (Vena)
Nina glares at her for a moment before responding.
"Is that not the point of subordinates, to have them handle annoying tasks?" (Nina)
Damnnn…this might cause issues. Still, that was funny, so I'm going to give Nina a pass.
Vena raises her eyebrows, then purses her lips.
"I suppose so…Great Dragon, do you mind if I borrow your subordinate to annoy, then?" (Vena)
Vena gives me an annoyed look…it's not quite what I expect, though. The annoyance is mixed with apprehension instead of contempt. It doesn't fit with my assumption that she got handed off to a low-level secretary. Instead, it's what I'd expect from a student that got rejected from an easy professor's class and pushed into the harder one. In that case…
[I'd like to see where this goes, Nina. Her behavior isn't what I'd expect.] (Mizuki)
[Hmm…that's fine, she annoys me, so I'm happy to have her go away.] (Nina)
"Not at all, I think it's important to pursue what you excel at. Mizuki, do you mind dear?" (Nina)
I give a respectful bow to Nina, and Vena eyes me with resignation.
"Not at all my Lady. Please lead the way, Lady Vena." (Mizuki)
Vena nods and begins walking towards one of the palace corridors. I move to follow her, and I notice that Alto won't let go of my arm. Instead, she moves with me. I give her a confused look, and she whispers an explanation while fixated on Vena.
"I don't like this, Mizuki…I'd like to come with you." (Alto)
[Sure, I think that would be helpful, actually.] (Mizuki)
Alto nods appreciatively, and we continue following Vena. Eventually, we arrive at a small conference room that I haven't been to before. Vena opens the door and gestures for us to go in ahead of her. I enter the room and see two couches, and I direct Alto and myself onto one of them. Vena sits on the other with a heavy sigh.
"So, Lady Vena, shall we skip straight to the part where you tell us what you want from us? If you thought that my Lady would be easier to fool or persuade than me, you were quite sorely mistaken. She probably sensed your intention, and that's why she wasn't her normal polite self." (Mizuki)
Vena's jaw clenches, and her face remains otherwise neutral. I'll take that as confirmation.
"You know, I thought you'd be easy to manipulate when I saw you in that first meeting. My sister's note painted you as an idealistic bleeding-heart type, and us learning you can't use magic was just extra assurance for me. Still, Darak seemed convinced that it was best to be deferential to you, while I felt he was being paranoid. That was…until this last meeting. Tell me…when did you start planning Alara's downfall?" (Vena)
Vena looks at me suspiciously. Hmm…how should I play this? She already suspects me, so I might stand more to gain by just admitting to it and surprising her. I cast a silencing spell around our couches briefly while I respond.
"By the end of our first meeting with Queen Elira and King Dargo, I knew this would end with Ilina as heir." (Mizuki)
Alto and Vena both look at me in surprise. Vena holds a dumbfounded expression for several moments.
"Why…would you just openly admit that to me?" (Vena)
I shrug and give her a smile.
"I want you to forego half-truths and fake politeness, so I'm just returning the favor. Besides, me denying it wouldn't have convinced you. Are you going to tell me what you want now?" (Mizuki)
Vena shakes her head in exasperation.
"Talking to you is like playing with fire – sure, I'll be blunt. Come stay in the Zardo territory. So long as we don't officially employ you, and any land and housing remain under our ownership, you can live there permanently with only the royal travel crests you already have." (Vena)
Why would she want to offer that to Nina directly? It's a generous offer, and between the two of us, I'm sure that I seem more interested in living here.
Furthermore, why isn't Darak here himself for such an offer? Nina and I both have more of a rapport with him, and his blessing would be necessary. It doesn't make sense…unless...yes, I think that's it.
I give Vena an amused smile.
"May I ask why it is that you don't want us owning land in the Elven Kingdom?" (Mizuki)
Vena's face remains neutral, but that's as clear as screaming 'how'd you know'. Alto is looking at me in confusion.
"What are you talking about? I'm trying to help you live in the Elven Kingdom." (Vena)
I didn't expect her to own up to it, but you can't blame me for hoping. I make a show of rolling my eyes at her and put on an annoyed expression.
"If you want to play dumb, I'll explain. I'm guessing Lord Darak inferred there was a similar offer made by Lady Cara. Given my familiarity with Lady Cara, he thinks she's the only noble we'd accept such an offer from. So, he feels it's best to give us land where we're independent and won't imbalance the nobles' power. You don't like that idea, so you decided to circumvent me, the one familiar with Lady Cara, and attempt to persuade my Lady directly." (Mizuki)
Vena becomes visibly frustrated, and she looks me over like she's trying to decide how to fit a piece of furniture through a narrow doorway. I continue while Vena sits silently.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you never wanted us here. However, you know that option is gone. At minimum, we could be in Lady Cara's territory. So, offering a place in yours would not increase our access to your country, it would let you keep an eye on us, and it might even strengthen your house's position among the nobles. So, you couldn't pass up the opportunity to try, even if you had to fall back on trying to convince me instead of my Lady. I'm glad you did…now I know where we stand with you." (Mizuki)
Vena's eyes narrow, and she scowls at me in annoyance. Seeing her reaction, Alto gives me a surprised look and smirks.
"Fufufu…it seems I was worried about you for no reason, Mizuki. She wasn't any trouble for you at all." (Alto)
Vena sighs deeply, then directs a dejected expression my way.
"Tch…you're every bit the pain that Darak thought you would be. He even said that trying something like this could sour our house's relationship with all of you, and he advised me not to attempt it. I guess I should take the old man a little more seriously in the future." (Vena)
Ah, so Darak even warned her off doing this, and she ignored him without a care in the world. She could be troublesome. Hmm…what to do. I smirk at her nonchalantly.
"I didn't take you for the type to engage in flattery, Lady Vena. As for Lord Darak, I agree. It was obvious he was the most capable leader in that room – the fact that after a millennium together you haven't recognized it and taken his advice more seriously doesn't bode well for you." (Mizuki)
Vena's eyes narrow dangerously at me, and I feel Alto tense up. Maybe I should warn her what I'm about to do? Meh…better to see how she reacts.
"I'd be careful lecturing me, Mizuki. Your trump card isn't here to protect you, so you must be very confident in my restraint." (Vena)
Time to push her a little more, I need to see just how much of a loose cannon she could be.
"On the contrary I think you're rash and childish, and the fact that you ignored Lord Darak's advice and insisted on this ill-advised meeting is further evidence of it." (Mizuki)
Vena's entire body tenses as she leans forward, and her eyes turn murderous. It's obvious that Vena's willing to become violent against rationality, and that's all I needed to know. I can reel her back in now.
I feel Alto shift slightly next to me to match Vena, and a quick glance tells me that she's calm and focused. Good, I knew I could rely on her.
"Okay, I think that tells me everything I need to know. I apologize for any offense, Lady Vena, and we can conclude this meeting now." (Mizuki)
Vina's eyes go wide in surprise, and she relaxes slightly, but her hostility doesn't vanish.
"Were you…testing me? Intentionally gambling with your life like that…who's really the foolish child here?" (Vena)
I smirk at her.
"It's still you, because you're repeating your mistakes – you're failing to assess people properly before acting. You're an elemental class with all classic affinities except fire, and you have a magic power level around 3 ½. Still, don't assume a regular elf and human aren't a threat. In truth, you're an equal match for Alto here at best, and while I'm magicless and much weaker, I'm enough to tip the balance so that you'd likely die if you tried anything. The only one gambling with their life is you." (Mizuki)
Vena's expression becomes one of shock, and her face goes pale. Any signs of hostility disappear as well.
"How…that's…" (Vena)
"As I said, my Lady is a lot cleverer than you gave her credit for – she knows how to read people. She covertly gave me all the information we needed about you before we entered this room. Anyway, this meeting is over now, Lady Vena. Alto, are you ready?" (Mizuki)
Alto has relaxed some, but she is still watching Vena. She nods her agreement. I rise from the couch with Alto and we quickly exit the conference room. Vena doesn't follow us.