"Mmm…a surprise visit? To what do I owe the pleasure?" (Ilina)
We're in Ilina's bedroom, and she's sitting on the couch enjoying a box of kur'kes that I left her. After my awkward bath with Cara, I got dressed and teleported here.
I grin at Ilina.
"Well, two reasons actually. I need to update you on some happenings in Eden, and I also want to give you a personal gift. Which would you like first?" (Mizuki)
Ilina's eyes sparkle curiously, and she quickly makes her way over to me from the couch and throws her arms around my neck with a dazzling smile.
"Definitely the gift, obviously. What is it?" (Ilina)
She's the last of my friend group who hasn't received a spell ring of her choice from me…I'm super excited to see what she picks. She doesn't even know about them, so I bet this is going to blow her mind.
I smirk at her.
"Well, first, tell me if you prefer silver or gold." (Mizuki)
Ilina gives me a puzzled look.
"Uhm…silver, usually. Why?" (Ilina)
I give Ilina a mischievous smile and grab her hand out from behind my head, then hold it between us. Her confusion only intensifies.
As I direct an amused grin at her, I use my alchemy spell to synthesize a platinum ring with a copper core. Then, I quickly place it on the ring finger of her left hand – her dominant hand for spellcasting. Since my wedding band for Nina is actual silver, platinum should be silvery enough without causing issues.
Ilina's eyes go wide in shock, and she looks between me and the ring in confusion. After a moment, an ecstatic smile breaks out on her face, and her eyes begin to look misty.
It's at this moment I realize…I've screwed up.
"Yes, Mizuki! We can't tell very many people, and we can't get it officialized yet, but my answer is yes!" (Ilina)
I feel a rush of anxiety and the color draining from my face. Shit, shit, shit…that wasn't…I…don't know how to follow up with this.
[Nina!? I was just trying to give Ilina a spell ring like I did you and Alto, and she thinks I proposed! She already started saying yes...what do I do!?] (Mizuki)
I sense immense amusement from Nina.
[Fufufu…if you are wise, you will make it a real proposal. Ilina may not give you a chance to make another if you don't.] (Nina)
That's not a solution, you damn dragon! I'm too young to get married!
I glance back at Ilina, and she's staring at me expectantly. I sigh internally…well, I'm technically dragon-married to Nina already, and this was going to happen eventually.
I turn my focus back to Ilina, then I press my lips against hers, and she squeaks in surprise. When I pull away, she stares back at me dazed. I grin at Ilina with a goofy smile…I guess I'm going to roll with this.
"Well, so long as you're saying yes, I don't mind the rest." (Mizuki)
Ilina smiles dopily and starts eyeing her ring fondly. Yeahhh...she can never know that this was an accidental proposal.
After a moment, she seems to realize something and cuts me an annoyed glance. What the hell?
"By the way, that was the first time I've seen you use this spell that can create platinum out of seemingly nothing, Mizuki. When I asked where all your money comes from, Alto told me, and I have to say…I was very disappointed in you. She managed to convince me that it's okay for now, but…" (Ilina)
Ilina gazes at me with a very disapproving expression, and my anxiety spikes. I had no idea that she'd been brought into the loop on that…I'm glad Alto had my back like she promised. I'll have to thank her later.
I gesture at Ilina placatingly.
"Woah, I'm open to better ideas! Eden is finally starting to take in money from some of the tourism. After it's a bit more established, I'll ask Alara if she'll divert a small share of ongoing profits from things like the train that I built to Alto as payment. Then, I won't need to produce coins directly anymore!" (Mizuki)
Ilina stares at me skeptically for a few moments, then sighs.
"I guess that's fine. You can't just flood the economy with endless money without consequences, Mizuki, so don't wait too long." (Ilina)
I nod frantically, and we fall into an awkward silence. Hmm…it's about time to redirect this conversation to something else that will distract her.
"So, you want the other half of your gift now?" (Mizuki)
Ilina looks up at me in confusion.
"The other half?" (Ilina)
I nod at her excitedly.
"That's right. I'm going to infuse that ring I gave you with the ability for you to cast a new spell. It can be almost any spell you want. Invisibility. Physical enhancement. Healing. Any requests?" (Mizuki)
Ilina's eyes go wide in shock, and she gives me a dumbfounded expression for several moments.
"M-Mizuki…you can really do that? Just give me a spell?" (Ilina)
I smile at her confidently and nod, then she becomes excited and looks away thoughtfully. She remains that way for several minutes. Jackpot…I knew this would take her mind off my counte…err, civilian coin production.
Eventually, Ilina looks back to me eagerly and nods.
"Okay, can you make it so that I can use physical enhancement? I'm still weak to attacks, and I'd like to change that." (Ilina)
Huh…for some reason that's not quite what I expected from her. Though, I guess her rationale makes sense, and alteration classes are very rare in the elven population.
I smile approvingly and nod. Then, I prime the ring on her finger and channel the spells for total body enhancement through it. I imbue the enchantment with the property that more magic increases the strength of the body enhancement.
"Okay, you're all set! Want me to take you somewhere to test it out?" (Mizuki)
Ilina stares at the ring in fascination, then nods to me excitedly. I smile back, then teleport us to the forest clearing in Elmesia that I use for training.
I gesture vaguely in front of us.
"Alright, try it out! Just focus on channeling your magic into that ring! The more magic you put into it, the stronger you should become." (Mizuki)
Ilina nods seriously, then looks at the ring and focuses. After a moment, she gasps softly.
"Mizuki…I feel so…light." (Ilina)
"Fufufu…good, that means it's working. Go on…test yourself!" (Mizuki)
Ilina nods and looks around the clearing, then walks over and grabs a small rock off the ground. She directs her attention to a nearby tree, then throws the rock as hard as she can.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like she's used to her own strength. She loses her footing and falls over as the rock leaves her hand.
I'm about to laugh at her, but I see the rock go screeching across the clearing and tear through several tree trunks in a row before losing enough momentum to hit the forest floor.
"Holy shit…" (Mizuki)
I can't help but mumble in surprise under my breath. I…should be more careful teasing her from now on.
Ilina picks herself up from the ground and dusts herself off. She's wearing a huge smile.
"Mizuki, did you see that!? I'm so strong, I feel like nothing could stop me!" (Ilina)
Oh no…no, no…I hope she's not developing a god complex.
I give Ilina a nervous smile and nod. Without warning, she jumps over five meters to me and tackles me to the ground, then she leans over and kisses me. When she pulls away, she has a wild grin plastered across her face.
"Fufufu…this is the best gift ever, Mizuki! Thank you so much!" (Ilina)
Ilina looks at me expectantly, and her eyes are gleaming with excitement. I shake my head in exasperation, then I direct an amused expression at her.
"Fufufu…of course, Ilina. I'm glad you like it, and I'm happy to know you're a bit safer now." (Mizuki)
Ilina beams with happiness for a few more moments, then she gets a mischievous look on her face. I feel myself tense up instinctively.
"Mizuki… why don't we head back to the palace and…take advantage of the rest of our time together today?" (Ilina)
Ilina cuts a suggestive look at me as she proposes returning to the palace, and there's no ambiguity in her meaning. Oh, hell yeah.
I give Ilina an excited nod, then I smirk and respond in a teasing tone.
"I fully support that idea. What happened to it being too frustrating, though?" (Mizuki)
Ilina shakes her head and gives me a smug grin.
"About that, it seems we've…misunderstood…Nina's rules a little bit. Apparently, when she said no 'mating', she also meant that literally anything without pregnancy risk is fine. Her and I talked it over recently, and she gave me lots of…suggestions." (Ilina)
My eyes go wide in surprise, and I direct a curious expression at Ilina.
"Oh? What kinds of suggestions?" (Mizuki)
"Hmm…why don't you take us back, and I'll just show you." (Ilina)
Ilina is staring at me expectantly, so I just nod obediently then teleport us back to her room.
When I return to the mansion a couple of hours after that, I make a mental note to thank Nina profusely for her suggestions.