Elira sighs in exasperation at the father-daughter display.
"Alright, let's not digress further – Mizuki can stay. Perhaps he can offer some advice about your Selections?" (Elira)
Ilina's mood instantly brightens, a devilish grin finding its way to her face.
'Yes! Let him suffer through racking his brain while that harpy criticizes everything! Or, actually...will Mira be too scared to criticize Mizuki?'
She shrugs internally. Whether it's being able to commiserate with Mizuki, or watching Mira hold her tongue in fear, both sound appealing.
In a display of less sadistic curiosity, Mizuki's eyes brighten as he looks between Elira and Mira.
"Oh, the Princess Bride's Selections? Ilina told me a little bit about them. What's the issue?" (Mizuki)
As if the previous tangents were a bad dream, Mira immediately leans towards Mizuki with a serious expression.
"Well, it's her dessert and gift Selections..." (Mira)
Mira proceeds to explain the whole situation, sparing Mizuki absolutely no detail. By the end, his smile is noticeably strained, and Ilina is gritting her teeth in annoyance at having to listen to Mira criticize her all over again.
"I...think I understand..." (Mizuki)
Mizuki gives Ilina a brief, pitying glance, before she hears his voice echo in her head.
[Gods, this woman seems insufferable...sorry I've been leaving you to do this alone. I honestly thought your cake and chess ideas were solid.] (Mizuki)
Her lips twist into a small smile at his words, and her frustration melts, if only slightly. She'd like to think she didn't really need the validation of how she was feeling, but...it feels great regardless.
"So, Mizuki...do you have any thoughts on the matter?" (Elira)
Elira studies Mizuki idly as she poses the question, her voice distinctly curious. Mizuki tilts his head and hums thoughtfully.
"Hmm...yeah, I think so. The gift seems like the easy part. There's a device that I've asked Percivil to build for me, a game of sorts. The prototype should be done any day now, and then I was going to let Alara sell them in Eden. Now, though...I think I'll have him make some limited edition ones for the wedding gifts, and delay their public release until after we're married." (Mizuki)
Ilina's interest is immediately piqued. She's aware that Mizuki has shared several games from his home world through Eden, she just hasn't kept up with most of them. But if he's suggesting it for this gift, knowing exactly what the expectations are, she doubts it's as childish of an idea as it sounds at first pass.
However, Mira does not share her faith.
"Oh, uhm...well that's...an idea. It's truly impressive that Prince Consort could propose something so...unique, and with only a minute of thought! Unfortunately, I worry that the more esteemed guests may take offense, presuming that they are being treated like children." (Mira)
Hearing Mira's thinly veiled insult of his idea, a grin slowly spreads on Mizuki's face as he stares at the faux-polite woman. Watching his reaction, Ilina has to suppress the urge to smirk. She knows that grin well, and...it doesn't bode well for Mira.
True to her expectations, Mizuki slowly sits forward in his chair and presents his palm face up. Before anyone has a chance to be confused, a cube begins to take form above his hand. Each face of the cube is one of six colors, divided into nine equal squares. As the strange object takes form and falls into Mizuki's palm, Ilina can't help but widen her eyes in shock.
'First his disguises for us, now this? His forcefield spells are really turning into something incredible...'
Unaware of her thoughts, Mizuki slips his other hand out of Ilina's and begins gesturing at the cube he just conjured, smiling smugly at Mira as he talks.
"This is the gift. Since it's meant to help Ilina live rent free in the guests' heads, let's call it the Ophelle Cube. As you'll notice, each side of the cube is a different color, divided into nine squares. In addition, the blocks of the cube can be rotated like so..." (Mizuki)
He begins rotating the cube along the various axes, steadily increasing his pace while the others watch with rapt attention. Eventually, the cube has been randomized so thoroughly that its original patterning is unrecognizable.
"Now, the goal of this 'game' is deceptively simple...you just need to return the cube to its original state after it's been mixed like this, so that every side is a uniform color. Miss Mira, you mentioned that this was something best suited for children, so I'm sure that you're quite confident an adult like yourself can solve this pretty quickly, right? Why don't you do this part of the demonstration?" (Mizuki)
Without waiting for a response, Mizuki hands the cube to a now quickly paling Mira. She accepts it hesitantly, her voice already anxious.
"O-Of course, Prince Consort..." (Mira)
While Mizuki watches her closely, a mercilessly amused smile on his face, Mira begins clumsily rotating the sides of the cube. As seconds turn to minutes, her movements become more graceful, but she has yet to solve even a single side. After five minutes, the situation hasn't improved, and she begins casting furtive glances at the smiling Mizuki as her face progressively reddens. To be fair, Ilina's own face is also red by this point...though it's from suppressing her laughter.
After almost ten minutes, Mira's hand movements finally stop, and she awkwardly slides the cube back across the table to Mizuki. She is struggling to meet his gaze, and her voice is meek.
"I...uhm...I don't think I can solve it..." (Mira)
Mizuki takes the cube back from her with a smile.
"As you can see, the Ophelle Cube is a puzzle – an intellectual challenge, like chess – not a mere children's toy. Now, would I be correct in assuming that you feel pretty humbled by this experience?" (Mizuki)
Mira winces, finally meeting Mizuki's gaze, though her face only grows more aggrieved.
"I...I apologize if my comment was offensive. I was just-" (Mira)
He doesn't let her finish.
"You were just trying to do your job, I know. But hold that thought, and wait until I'm done explaining before you make another decision on the matter. So, you mentioned that you're already feeling pretty humbled, right? Now, what if I do this..." (Mizuki)
He continues holding the further randomized Ophelle Cube until he sees that he has Mira's and everyone else's undivided attention. Then, he smiles and begins twisting the cube's sides at a pace just slow enough that everyone can still track his progress. Perhaps half a minute later, his hands freeze, and he calmly presents the cube to everyone at the table.
All six sides have been solved.
Mira stares at the cube vacantly for several moments, before her horrified gaze slowly moves to Mizuki's incredibly self-satisfied face. However, she's not alone. Dargo, Elira, and Cayla are also wearing bewildered expressions – they watched Mira's attempts carefully, and were quite confident they wouldn't fare much better. Even Ilina, having already expected that Mizuki intended to showboat, is stunned by the display, openly staring at him.
'Did he really solve it, or did he just pretend with magic? Even for him, that's a little too ridiculous...'
Of course, how could she know that Mizuki just followed one of the several foolproof solution algorithms he learned while writing a college math paper on the Rubik's Cube? Or, that plenty of Earthlings with mortal reflexes could have solved the cube at ten times Mizuki's speed?
She couldn't know...and Mizuki probably has no intention of ever telling her. Not when the display makes for such effective aura farming.
After sufficiently basking in their amazement, Mizuki chuckles good-naturedly and dispels the conjured cube, snapping everyone from their dazes.
"Now remember that feeling, and imagine this. You give those prideful wedding guests their gifts when there's still time left in the reception – a pre-randomized Ophelle Cube. Explain how it works, and present it as a puzzle challenge to the guests, only suitable for 'real intellectuals' or some other pretentious nonsense. The snobby types won't be able to resist.
"But after half an hour, give or take, when nobody is able to solve it fully, discontent will grow. Eventually, somebody will probably articulate those sentiments out loud, maybe even implying it's not solvable or that they got a faulty one. When that happens...Ilina can take that person's Ophelle Cube and solve it on the spot in front of everybody. Right before re-randomizing the cube and returning it to its owner, of course.
"The results will be magnificent. Ilina will look like the genius she is, and all the elf who's who will begin scrambling to solve their own cubes, even after the wedding ends. What started as a wedding gift may quickly become a sensation in wealthy circles, a topic of heated discussion and competition that continuously elevates the royal family's reputation and intrigue every time the name Ophelle Cube is uttered in frustration." (Mizuki)
The room falls silent, everyone slightly appalled by the unreservedly maniacal grin now plastered across Mizuki's face. Ilina is the first to recover, and she gives him a skeptical gaze.
"Mizuki, I'm deeply flattered by your impression of me, but...I don't think I can solve that thing on the spot like you're suggesting." (Ilina)
Mizuki smiles encouragingly.
"Sure you can, don't worry. I give you my word...let me train you for a couple hours, and you'll be able to solve the cube with perfect accuracy in about two minutes flat." (Mizuki)
She raises her eyebrows at the claim, but she doesn't doubt him, nor does she fret over the 'training' time or details. After all, this is part of her Princess Bride duties, which means she gets to temporarily replace Mira with Mizuki in her schedule...a much appreciated change.
Meanwhile, Elira quietly addresses Mira with a curious expression.
"What do you think?" (Elira)
Mira blinks, pulled from her stupor, then gives Elira a forced smile devoid of her usual exuberance.
"I think he's right...and a little terrifying." (Mira)
Elira gives a resigned smile, finding that comment all too relatable. She turns to Dargo and Cayla.
"Dargo, dear? Cayla?" (Elira)
Dargo smiles ruefully.
"It's a fine plan, I agree." (Dargo)
Contrary to the others, who are somewhat unsettled by the unexpectedly devilish nature of Mizuki's proposal, Cayla casts an approving gaze towards the young couple. She watches as Ilina studies Mizuki with an appreciative gleam in her eyes, while Mizuki grins back at Ilina affectionately, and the sight brings a warm smile to her face.
"I'm also convinced." (Cayla)
Elira merely nods, then returns her attention to Ilina and Mizuki. Seeing her gaze, Mizuki raises his eyebrows expectantly and smiles. However, his voice holds not doubts...just satisfaction.
"So?" (Mizuki)
Elira smiles wryly despite herself, wondering when he got comfortable enough to be this smug.
"We think it's a great idea." (Elira)
Mizuki nods, his grin widening.
"Great! Glad I could help." (Mizuki)
Elira's mouth twitches, but she gives a small, acknowledging nod.
"Indeed. Now then...what about the dessert Selection?" (Elira)
Mizuki blinks.
"Oh...right, that. Well, I guess I've got a suggestion or two..." (Mizuki)