Just earlier, inside the Elven Royal Palace...
Ilina looks around the table with lifeless eyes.
'Maybe being banished from the Kingdom and eloping with Mizuki is still an option...'
The sound of her mother's displeased voice, which she'd been skillfully ignoring for the past few minutes' lecture, rises enough in pitch to pierce her rebellious thoughts.
"...so you see? It simply won't do, Ilina! It's an unacceptable decision!" (Elira)
Ilina blinks in the face of her mother's expectant gaze, fighting the urge to rub the bridge of her nose and groan. Nearby, Cayla – the palace's head maid that Mizuki is used to seeing in his meetings with Elira and Dargo – gives Ilina a sympathetic gaze. Beside her, however, Mira – the palace's royal event planner – nods emphatically at Elira's words. Everything about Mira, from her tightly pinned brown hair and forced smile, to her brightly patterned, flowing dress and high-pitched voice, irritates Ilina.
"Her Majesty is right, Princess! From what the Queen tells me, this will be your only Royal Wedding, and quite a historic one at that. Your Princess Bride's Selections must be just as unique! You need to put more thought into this!" (Mira)
Iina lets out a deep, frustrated sigh. Her voice is terse as she looks at Mira coldly.
"How so, Mira?" (Ilina)
Unabashed, Mira nods approvingly at Ilina's question and begins shuffling through some papers in front of her, uselessly gesturing at some of the writing on them as she speaks.
"Well, take your idea to use your sister's favorite high-quality wine as your first Selection. It's not exactly iconic on its own, per se, but everyone will appreciate the grace and intelligence behind it – a respectful acknowledgement that you are taking her place as heir, while showing there's no bad will lingering! It's genius! Similarly, composing your own lovers' melody for the song Selection and playing it on a harp yourself? Inspired! Something that can't be found anywhere else, and tastefully flaunts your talent!
"However, your gift and dessert Selections are...well, hmm...not as remarkable? For the dessert, you can't just impress, you have to innovate dear! Like your mother did, when she invented kur'kes for her own royal wedding four millennia ago! And the gift...the gift needs to be unique, of course, but it's also the only thing going home with the wedding's attendees. It needs to make a statement, too! Something that reminds them every time they look at it that their rightful place is beneath you. Do you understand now, Princess?" (Mira)
Ilina clenches her fists tightly around the arms of her chair, each chipper, ridiculous word out of Mira's mouth like a whip on her exposed nerves. Her dessert Selection was a decadent cake that was the late Rennalia Ophelle's favorite, a little known fact that she only uncovered after countless hours in the royal library, and her gift selection was a custom, limited edition, luxury chess board, since the game has already become quite popular among elven wealth after Mizuki introduced it in Eden. How could those not be good enough for this demoness in elven skin!?
{AN: Rennalia is Ilina's ancestor that was killed by humans, initiating the elves' long-standing hatred of them. She was introduced during Mizuki's first arrival in Avalon.}
'I might have to move Jorah to second on my list of people to make disappear...'
Ilina speaks, her voice dangerously calm as she glances between Elira and Mira.
"I see...so, all I really need to do is compose my own musical masterpiece, start a culinary revolution, and select a gift for guests that's profound enough to fill a bunch of wealthy, prideful elves with a sense of inferiority? All on a rushed schedule, and while also fulfilling my normal duties as Princess, helping with the other wedding preparations, and doing my part for our country's looming confrontation with the Empire?" (Ilina)
While Elira catches the sarcasm behind her daughter's words and frowns, Mira just claps and gives Ilina a beaming smile.
"Exactly, dear!" (Mira)
Ilina's eye twitches. She stares at the jovial Mira for a moment, skeptical that Mira doesn't realize she was being sarcastic.
'Could she be...playing dumb? Intentionally ignoring my misgivings?'
Ilina's opinion of Mira lowers even further, her irritation nearing a breaking point. With every day she continues meeting with this woman, she grows more firm in her resolve to ban Mira's entire lineage from royal event planning once she's Queen.
Her vindictive thoughts are derailed by a subtle stirring in the air next to her. Sparing a glance on instinct, she's shocked to find that the chair beside her is no longer empty. Instead, Mizuki is now seated there, his arm resting lazily on the table, propping against his cheek. His attention is fixed on her, and when their gazes meet, his lips twist into a charming smile. He opens his mouth, clearly preparing to say something to her, but...
"AHHHHHH!" (Mira)
CRASH!
A terrified scream erupts from the nearby Mira as she frantically topples backwards in her chair. Seeing the infuriating woman sprawled gracelessly on the floor, paralyzed with fear, Ilina can't help but grin mischievously. She surreptitiously gives Mizuki an affectionate glance, her appreciation for him rising.
Meanwhile, Mizuki raises his eyebrows in surprise at the reaction. He glances between Ilina and her mother, his expression bewildered.
"Wait...is she not one of the people you already told about me? When I saw her having a serious meeting alone with you all, I just assumed she was an important part of your inner circle." (Mizuki)
Indeed, the full list of those present is just Ilina, Elira, Dargo, Cayla, Elira's usual two personal guards...and Mira. Does that make Mizuki's assumption reasonable? Well...
Elira sighs deeply and forces out a polite smile at Mizuki.
"This is Mira, our royal event planner. She's in charge of helping organize your wedding with Ilina, and yes, she was already told about you. Alas, that's not the same as watching you materialize in front of her...unannounced..." (Elira)
Mira registers Elira's words, inferring the situation, and climbs to her feet shakily. She smooths out her dress and directs an embarrassed and apprehensive smile at Mizuki, bowing deeply.
"P-Please forgive my reaction, Prince Consort...I was not expecting your presence today. Th-Though, of course, I'm delighted to finally meet you!" (Mira)
Realization registers on Mizuki's face, and he gives an apologetic smile to Elira and the others, followed by a friendly wave at Mira.
"Ah, uhm...nice to meet you, too, Miss Mira. Sorry for the scare." (Mizuki)
Mira shakes her head, carefully finding her seat again with a forced smile.
"It's no matter." (Mira)
Getting over her initial shock, Ilina realizes just how strange his arrival is. She turns to face Mizuki, her voice curious.
"Wait, what are you doing here? I thought you were traveling to the cat-kin in the northern forests today?" (Ilina)
Mizuki turns and gives her a warm smile and dismissive wave, his eyes studying her affectionately.
"Oh, yeah, we made it there fine. Zara and Teyla are negotiating diplomatic relations with the lion-kin royals now. There's not really much reason for me to be there, and I kind of missed you, so...I thought I'd come keep you company." (Mizuki)
Meeting Mizuki's unabashed grin, Ilina blinks, stunned. Then, warmth rushes up from her core, bringing a bit of color to her cheeks. Hearing him say that, admit that he missed her so plainly...she really wants to kiss him right now.
No sooner than she thinks that, she's reminded of how they spent last night, and her face goes from slightly flushed to beet red. However, rather than being embarrassed, her eyes just study Mizuki that much more intensely, a familiar, giddy possessiveness bubbling inside her.
'Gods...it really happened...we finally feel like a real couple. He took me out on a public date, there's no more forced chastity from Nina, and now he's coming all the way here to see me while I'm at work, all smiles?'
It may be Zara's prerogative that Mizuki is acting strange lately – that him unceremoniously leaving during the cat-kin negotiations is a troubling change in behavior. As for Ilina, not only is she unbothered by it, she hopes it continues! Somehow, hearing how he ditched the cat-kin visit to see her feels even more satisfying than she could have expected. So much so that, not only does she not even register the unexpected mention of 'Teyla', but...she's inclined to shamelessly fish for affirmation.
She smiles coyly at Mizuki, her voice soft.
"Oh...all that trouble, just to see me?" (Ilina)
Enjoying her less than subtle reaction, Mizuki chuckles. He nods.
"Yeah, just to see you. That's okay, right? I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" (Mizuki)
While Ilina hums appreciatively, basking in a fresh wave of satisfaction at his response, Mizuki sweeps his gaze around the room questioningly. Elira clears her throat awkwardly.
"Ehem...well, yes, actually. As you may guess from Mira's presence, we were just discussing your and Ilina's wedding, and it's best not to delay it. Ilina was in the middle of correcting some...issues, with her part of the planning." (Elira)
Mizuki purses his lips and sighs, his voice mildly disappointed.
"I see...well, I can leave and come back a bit later, if that's better?" (Mizuki)
Elira's sighs gratefully, her relief evident at the amenable response. However, Ilina's eyes go wide in terror, most of her prior giddiness vanishing.
"Yes, that would-" (Elira)
"NO!" (Ilina)
Dissenting on instinct, she yells louder than anticipated, cutting off her mother. Meanwhile, her hand flashes like lightning, securing Mizuki's own in a vice grip before he can leave. Everyone, including Mizuki, gives her a startled look.
Realizing the scene she's just caused, Ilina clears her throat nervously and loosens her grip on Mizuki...partially. Wanting to make her stance clear, she moves her hand to interlock their fingers, then glances at her parents and Mira with forced calmness.
"Ehem...I mean, I'd like him to stay. It's his own wedding, and he came all this way, after all. Why don't we have him help with the planning?" (Ilina)
Mizuki glances at her, his eyebrows raised.
"Huh? You want me to-...ngh!?" (Mizuki)
Before he can finish that incredibly idiotic sentence, Ilina pours as much magic as she can into the physical enhancement on her enchanted ring, then squeezes Mizuki's fingers like they owe her juice. All the while, she smiles sweetly at her mother, ignoring his startled grunt and bewildered gaze.
"See? Beside himself with excitement." (Ilina)
Mira and Elira give Ilina dubious stares, while Dargo's eyes lock onto Mizuki with pity, no doubt remembering how many times he's found himself in a similar situation with Elira. Suddenly, there's a sonorous giggle from the maid, Cayla, drawing everyone's attention. Seeing the others' gazes on her, Cayla lowers her head in embarrassment and gives a sheepish smile.
"Oh, sorry! I just...I never thought I'd live long enough to meet the Princess's first husband, much less that she'd get so...attached. She hardly showed any emotion or spoke up for herself as a child, so seeing her like this is rather funny! Don't you think?" (Cayla)
Dargo chuckles.
"Fufufu...I think calling her attached is rather generous. Possessive is more like it. Otherwise, I wholeheartedly agree with Cayla." (Dargo)
Ilina blushes profusely, but she refuses to avoid her father's amused gaze, her voice turning indignant.
"Hmph! As if you have room to talk, Dad! I know that you arranged for a guy to get 'randomly' audited for ten years in a row just because you thought he was 'overly friendly' with Mother!" (Ilina)
Dargo gives her a puzzled look.
"Wait, are you talking about the banker, the merchant, or Jorah's cousin? Either way, it's his fault for not keeping better tax records!" (Dargo)
'There was more than one!?'
Ilina gives Dargo an appalled look, unaware that Mizuki is having an epiphany about how much she takes after her father.