Earlier, inside the elven royal palace…
Ilina sits with her face in her hands, her entire posture strained in agony. A tortured whine escapes her throat, her hands sliding down her face to reveal her pleading, grey eyes.
"Please stop this…I'm begging you." (Ilina)
Her mother sighs in exasperation, setting down her teacup.
"Honestly, dear…you act like I'm torturing you. I'm just asking you a simple question. Have you become sexually active with Mizuki?" (Elira)
She stares at her mother with bewildered eyes, her tone and expression aggrieved.
"It's nobody's business but ours!" (Ilina)
Elira cuts her eyes away suggestively.
"Well, tell that to the palace maids. Cayla says they were gossiping about their Princess coming out of the royal library sweaty and smiling, looking like a master-tier wind spell had its way with her." (Elira)
She feels her face heating up, and she glances towards Cayla, who is watching silently from the corner of the room with an apologetic expression. She looks back to her mother, her voice flustered.
"Wh-…What are you-" (Ilina)
Her mother ignores her awkward reaction, cutting her off.
"Besides, the Crown Princess's relationships are my business…they're national affairs, affecting everyone. Now tell me, have you gotten started on a little half-Nephilim prince or princess? I'm asking as Queen, of course…for the sake of the Kingdom." (Elira)
She blinks, then rises from the couch she's on.
"Okay…I'm leaving now." (Ilina)
Elira clicks her tongue, muttering under her breath...but just audibly.
"My, my...to think Mizuki's happy with such a prude." (Elira)
She hesitates for a fraction of a second, pursing her lips, then continues walking towards the door. She calls over her shoulder.
"You're obviously baiting me..." (Ilina)
Her mother sighs regretfully and shrugs.
"It was worth a try." (Elira)
She stops in front of the door, a conflicted expression on her face.
'I...I should tell her, just in case. I've put it off long enough...'
She turns around, causing Elira to raise her eyebrows curiously.
"Mother...if a human-looking woman with pale blue hair and sapphire eyes shows up, contact Mizuki immediately, and don't provoke her in any way. You should pass that warning along to all the guards in the city." (Ilina)
Elira's eyes immediately sharpen.
"And this mysterious, dangerous woman is...who, exactly?" (Elira)
"...Cerilia, the Elder Dragon of Ice." (Ilina)
Her mother's eyes widen. After a moment of silence, Elira responds, her voice strained.
"Care to tell me why I suddenly have to worry about a third Elder Dragon?" (Elira)
She averts her gaze, clearing her throat.
"Well...you see, she's a bit obsessed with Mizuki. She broke into his house the other night, and I might have antagonized her in a moment of anger. He sent her away and threatened her, but...I just think it's better to be cautious." (Ilina)
Elira gives her a deadpan glare.
"Ilina, dear...if you're even starting fights with Elder Dragons now, it might be time to discuss your possessiveness and jealousy." (Elira)
She pauses, contemplating the most politically correct way to tell a Queen to kick rocks.
However, the sound of footsteps thundering down the hallway outside interrupts her thoughts, drawing her and her mother's attention to the room's door. Soon, shouts of alarm can be heard as well, right before the door slams open in front of them.
Klaus barges in, his expression clearly panicked. When his eyes pass over Elira, and land on her, he seems relieved...if only slightly.
"Princess, my Queen...we have to get you out of here." (Klaus)
Elira rises from the couch with a serious expression, and her two faithful guards and Cayla, who were previously standing by in silence, move protectively to her side. Elira's voice is grave as she responds.
"What happened?" (Elira)
Klaus's expression is somber, his voice hesitant.
"There's an intruder, some woman. She looks human, but...we can't stop her." (Klaus)
Ilina and her mother both pale, arriving at the same conclusion.
'How is she here already!? I thought I was mostly being paranoid!'
Elira's tone turns grim.
"How many have been injured? Any casualties?" (Elira)
A conflicted expression emerges on his face, his tone uncertain.
"Well...none. She's not really attacking, she's just...walking?" (Klaus)
Ilina blinks, her spiraling thoughts of worst-case scenarios coming to a screeching halt.
"Walking?" (Ilina)
He nods slowly.
"She's just slowly making her way through the palace. Any time a guard tries to stop her, she just...ignores them? Swords, arrows, magical attacks, and the like shatter into ice particles before touching her skin. And when one of the guards tried to punch her, she just let him...walked right through it like she didn't notice, while he broke his own hand." (Klaus)
Her brows furrow in confusion, trying to reconcile Klaus's description with the uppity, hostile woman she met the other night. Meanwhile, Elira quickly comes to a decision, turning to face one of her personal guards.
"You, go order every guard you see to stand down." (Elira)
The man nods and takes off immediately, while Elira turns to Cayla and her other guard.
"You, take Cayla to the King's office then make sure my husband is safe. Cayla, your top priority is to send Mizuki a request for help by MMC." (Elira)
Without delay, Cayla and the other guard nod and follow the first out of the room, and Elira turns to face Klaus again. Her eyes are resolute.
"Klaus...bring us to the woman immediately, but keep Ilina behind you and be prepared to prioritize her safety. I don't want any argument on the subject." (Elira)
He frowns, hesitating briefly, but he nods nonetheless.
"As you command, my Queen." (Klaus)
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
A few minutes later, the three of them are quickly moving through the palace hallways, Elira walking in front while taking directions from Klaus. Ilina gives her mother a troubled look.
"Mother, are you sure about this? As far as I know, she has no way to actually track us. I think the wisest decision is to evade her until Mizuki arrives. From Klaus's description, it's clear she's not trying to harm anyone in the meantime...she's probably wary of Mizuki's retaliation. However, us engaging with her like this only raises the chance that her restraint might falter upon seeing me." (Ilina)
Elira nods, not looking back.
"I agree...that is definitely the wisest course of action." (Elira)
Her face twists in confusion.
"Then, why-" (Ilina)
"Because, dear...a Queen doesn't always have the luxury of making the wisest decision. Our Kingdom thrives because we are united, because the people trust their leaders' intentions and resolve to do what's best for them. How would it look if I run away while those who put their faith in me suffer in my place? Even if it gets me killed one day, stepping up and preserving that faith is worth it. As the future Queen, you'd do well to remember that fact...it's why I brought you with me." (Elira)
She falls silent, forced to admit to herself that her mother has a point.
At the same time, though, she's not sure that her mother fully understands just how inflammatory her presence may be to Ciri. After all, towards the end of the pesky dragon's intrusion that night, she called Ciri a whore and several other unsavory names before having Mizuki cast her into Veyron's nest on the other side of the world. It's only expected that Ciri bear her some ill will after that.
They continue on in silence, collecting several palace guards and frightened maids that fall into step behind Elira as they go, until the sounds of heavy footsteps and concerned voices reach their ears. Finally, they see her.
A beautiful woman, appearing like a human in her early-20s, with skin white as snow, pale, bluish hair, and sapphire eyes. She rounds the corner at the end of a long hallway, her eyes scanning her surroundings with mild curiosity. Almost two dozen elves in full armor follow a short distance behind her with helpless expressions, occasionally shouting requests for her to stop her advance. Of course, Ciri pays those no mind.
As soon as Ilina sees the fearsome woman, she feels the faint grip of fear on her heart, remembering the haunting chill in the air last night that Mizuki had barely stopped from claiming her life.
Elira, unaware of her thoughts, steps forward with a deep breath, her voice carrying down the hallway.
"Great Dragon...you flatter us with such an...eager, visit. To what do we owe the pleasure?" (Elira)
Ciri's eyes snap to Elira, widening slightly in surprise before narrowing thoughtfully. The dragon continues walking towards Elira, studying her with an intense gaze and puzzled expression. Through the several guards standing protectively in front of her, Ilina catches her mother's faltering expression as Ciri continues walking forward, stopping a few meters short of them.
Ciri tilts her head, as if she never heard Elira's question in the first place.
"Strange...I know your kind ages, but this seems a little quick, no?" (Ciri)
The entire hallway falls silent enough to hear a pin drop, and Elira's face slackens into a completely dumbfounded expression. Meanwhile, Ilina, who has already pieced together the misunderstanding that's taking place, feels her face heat up in embarrassment.
'Oh gods...please no...'
Elira responds hesitantly, clearly struggling to keep her expression neutral.
"I am afraid that I do not understand, Great Dragon. Are you saying that we've met, in my youth perhaps? I confess that I don't recall being so fortunate." (Elira)
Ciri raises her eyebrows.
"My perception of time is a little skewed, but...I am certain I visited you no more than a few days ago. Though, I suppose you did seem rather exhausted at the time. Do you truly not recall me interrupting your mating session with Husband, Sister Ilina?" (Ciri)
Ilina watches, red as a wah'lug, as dozens of pairs of eyes slowly move to land on her. She's so horrified by the attention that it even manages to dwarf her murderous rage over Ciri referring to Mizuki as 'Husband'. While realization dawns on her mother's face, she sees Klaus's lips pressing into an increasingly tight line, his face red from the strain of remaining silent and stoic through what he no doubt considers peak comedy.
For anyone sane though, like Elira and especially Ilina, the situation is far from funny. Many of the palace guards and maids are watching, and the majority of them are relatively ignorant. They don't know that Ilina has a romantic partner, much less that it's Mizuki. Plus, while they know that Mizuki is someone of importance to the royal family, they have no idea of his true nature and abilities.
However, it seems like Ciri's unplanned visit is about to change that.
Ciri's expression turns puzzled, following the gazes of everyone else, until she finally notices Ilina. Recognition flashes in her sapphire eyes, and she immediately ignores Elira to stare at Ilina like they're the only two people in the room. A small smile graces the beautiful dragon's face.
"Ahh, I see now, the older elf must be your kin! I confess, Sister Ilina, I was not expecting to find you so quickly. I merely came to solicit the elven leader's help in locating you...to think my luck is so great that you're actually here." (Ciri)
Desperate to get a hand on the situation, Ilina pushes past the guards in front of her so she can talk to Ciri face-to-face...though she makes sure not to stray too far from them.
'Cayla, I really hope you've sent that letter...'
She puts on a strained smile, meeting Ciri's eerily excited gaze.
"Ciri...why exactly are you here? I certainly hope it's not to cause trouble. You should know that M-...my fiancé, does not make threats idly. Elder Dragon or not, he'll kill you if you harm a single elf here." (Ilina)
As soon as the words leave her mouth, shocked whispers erupt from around her, causing her mother to grimace. Ilina grits her teeth, feeling she was not left with much choice.
'Ciri already said enough to make it clear I'm sleeping with someone, and reminding her of the stakes should help keep her in check and reassure the others here. By referring to the man as my husband, we can at least control the narrative to seem less salacious, and I can avoid using Mizuki's name explicitly.'
"D-...did the Princess say husband!? Were the library rumors about her actually true!?"
"Wait!? D-Did the Princess call that woman an Elder Dragon!? You guys heard that, too, right!? A-...and I punched her in the face! Oh my gods...I'm going to die!"
"Forget that, the maids have a point! Who the hell is this husband if the Princess expects an Elder Dragon to be afraid of him!?"
"Yeah, exactly! I want to know who dares to bed our beautiful Princess! It should have been m-...I mean, we need to make sure this guy isn't some degenerate!"
The whispers grow in fervor, a specific, terrified guard even fainting amidst the crowd, until Ciri tilts her head in surprise, clearly preparing to speak. Everyone abruptly falls silent in anticipation.
"Cause trouble? Of course not...I wouldn't dare to offend Husband like that. My intention was quite the opposite, actually." (Ciri)
Ilina feels a surge of relief, mixed with a fresh wave of irritation over the 'Husband' nonsense, before it all turns to confusion. She gives Ciri a bewildered look.
"Then...why did you seek me out?" (Ilina)
Ciri's lips twist into a radiant smile, and she takes a step towards Ilina. Then...
BOOOOMMM!