All eyes in the room turn to Nina expectantly. At this point, I'm assuming that Nina's about to hand me the mic, so to speak. However...
"Fufufu...I always appreciate your directness, Helena. I prefer this as well, so I will not be coy. I have no inclination to make trains for the rest of you. After all, can any of you give me a single reason why I should?" (Nina)
I have to suppress any signs of surprise on my face. Why is she being so confrontational? Before I get a chance to think on it too long, a very confused Jorah stutters out a response. He doesn't even seem mad, just genuinely surprised.
"G-Great Dragon, I don't understand? Would you not simply do so as a friend to the Elven Kingdom?" (Jorah)
I sense irritation from Nina, and my anxiety begins to rise. Apparently, it shows on her face, which I can't see from my vantage point behind her, because all the other nobles start to look nervous. Even Elira isn't completely unfazed.
[Uhm...Nina? Why are y-] (Mizuki)
Nina ignores my thought message.
"Fufufu...should I feel compelled to strive continuously for your people's approval, elf? Bringing your Princess and your enslaved people back here safely, overlooking your other Princess's attempted murder of Mizuki, defeating Veyron for you, resolving your misunderstanding with the demons, and blessing your people with even a single magic item as profound as a train – that is insufficient for the elves' 'friendship', hmm? Furthermore, what have my supposed 'friends' the elves done? Give my party the minimum privilege to be in your presence, then act like it is more than they deserve. All the while, you belittle my most trusted subordinate – the one who advocates for me to assist you. Is the irony of treating him like some creature unworthy of trust entirely lost on your kind, I wonder?" (Nina)
Most people, including Elira, go pale. Everyone seems frozen in shock at the retort from Nina. I'm not even remotely an exception. What the hell was that!? Why is she being so aggressive!? Yeah, Jorah's an idiot, and I sensed that she was annoyed, but...this response seems wholly disproportionate. As my mind is still reeling, and I'm deciding if I should step in, I notice one calm face in the room step forward – Ilina.
She smiles at Nina and gives a small curtsy.
"Lady Nedonera, what Lord Jorah implied was, of course, completely out of line. I will personally reprimand him later. In the meantime, al-" (Ilina)
"Princess Ilina!? I'm quite certain that I don't know what you presu-" (Jorah)
In an instant, Ilina's gaze snaps to Jorah with an expression so icy that even I'm terrified. Not even when I irritate her have I seen her face look so...ominous. At the same time, an intense pressure fills the room, as though the pull of the planet itself has doubled. Ilina's gravity magic physically cuts off further speech by Jorah, and there are a few squeals of surprise around the room as people endure the extra strain.
As the spell remains in effect, Ilina begins to speak to Jorah in a menacing tone that sends shivers down my spine. She's so forceful, so merciless, I can't even recognize her as the woman I know.
"Jorah Abel...listen to my words and remember them. The other nobles as well. You may be under the lingering impression that I'm some weak child, admiring you with starry eyes and accepting of your admonishment. If so, dispel such thoughts. I value your wisdom and experience, and will use it as I see fit. But...I am your Princess and future Queen. That means that, when I speak, you listen. Do not ever so flippantly interrupt me again. Is...that...clear?" (Ilina)
Ilina releases the gravity spell, and there is an audible breath of relief from Jorah. At first he seems bewildered by how he was treated, but one more look at Ilina's face, and the situation seems to sink in.
"Y-Yes, Princess Ilina. Please forgive me, that was thoughtless and disrespectful." (Jorah)
Ilina's cold gaze lingers on Jorah for a moment longer, as if testing his sincerity, then her whole demeanor changes. Suddenly, she's giving him a polite smile, and exuding her usual calm aura.
"Good – you're forgiven. I will be counting on you and your house in the future, so let's endeavor to avoid these misunderstandings. Now then..." (Ilina)
Ilina returns her gaze to Nina, who is just watching the events patiently. Glancing around the room, most of the nobles are still stunned speechless by the whiplash that is Ilina. I can't blame them...I'm confused, too. I've never seen Ilina act like that around other people. Honestly, I'm expecting Elira to intervene somehow after her daughter's semi-violent outburst, but she's just watching Ilina carefully...curiously, even.
"Lady Nedonera. As I was saying, allow me to apologize on behalf of the elves for any discourteous behavior. I would like to think that I, at the very least, have earned your party's trust, and shown myself to be a friend. As such, I implore you to not condemn the elves over one noble's thoughtless comments. Could we perhaps continue the prior discussion in good faith? After all, your generosity is of immeasurable benefit to my people, so I would be a poor Princess if I did not at least ask this of you...greedy though it may be." (Ilina)
Nina purses her lips thoughtfully, as though thinking over Ilina's request. However, I can sense amusement from her. What the hell is going on...with both of them? Nina's acting unusually volatile, and Ilina's abandoning her normal calm and negotiating demeanor. She just quieted Jorah by near-force, but is now pulling some kind of 'trust me bro' appeal to Nina.
Nina lets out a deep sigh, as though she's exasperated. But again, her emotions don't match. Then it hits me...is this some kind of theatrical arrangement between Nina and Ilina? Some part of Ilina's plan I didn't know about?
"Very well, Princess Ilina. I will forget about this digression for the sole reason that it's a request from you. " (Nina)
Ilina smiles sweetly and gives a light nod to Nina.
"Thank you, Lady Nedonera, I am deeply grateful for your favor." (Ilina)
Ilina turns on her heel and returns to her mother's side. Elira gives Ilina an inquiring stare.
"I apologize for not consulting you before intervening, my Queen. The situation seemed rather dire, though, so I thought it best not to hesitate." (Ilina)
"I admit, I was rather surprised by your...forceful...attitude. However..." (Elira)
Elira gives a quick disapproving glare to Jorah, who silently glowers under it.
"...to say nothing of his tactless attitude towards Lady Nedonera, interrupting his First Princess was unacceptable. I'm glad to see that you are finally enforcing appropriate expectations for others in your role as heir, and it is clear that this discussion has only been salvaged by the goodwill you have with Lady Nedonera. So, you have my forgiveness for the outburst, and my thanks. Now then..." (Elira)
Elira turns to face Nina with a grateful smile.
"Great Dragon, please accept my apologies as Queen as well. I hope you believe me when I say – I agree that your kindness towards our people has not been met with the proper gratitude. As for the nobles..." (Elira)
Elira stand up from her chair and scans the faces of all the nobles, resting especially long on Jorah.
"I'll remind you that our people are not entitled to Lady Nedonera's assistance. I recall a recent meeting where granting her party citizenship was proposed, and many of you balked. It seems to be those same nobles who now act like she has an obligation to help us, as though she were my subject. This discussion is an opportunity for you to voice concerns and make requests, but do not complain about a situation you advocated for. That is all." (Elira)
After one more piercing glare to all of the nobles, Elira leans back in her chair with a finality that signals the meeting can resume. The atmosphere in the room is clearly tense, and the nobles are once again glancing between one another hesitantly. If I had to guess, Nina's little outburst has raised the stakes...they're no longer willing to carelessly press her about trains or anything else without a clear reason. While they're silent, I have my own questions.
[Nina...what was all that? You were outwardly hostile with them, and so was Ilina. It seemed kind of...performative...so I'm assuming this is part of the plan. But are you both sure about this? I don't want to alienate the nobles or the elves at large in the process. Even Elira seemed surprised...] (Mizuki)
I sense hesitation from Nina, then sympathy.
[You can trust us to do as Ilina promised, Mizuki...please do so.] (Nina)
So...that's more or less confirmation. Ilina thinks that there's something to be gained from Nina nearly going off the rails, and her being so heavy-handed with Jorah. What, though? I suppose that I did tell Ilina she could be more commanding, and it's true that the elves value a strong leader. I guess that little demonstration also sent a clear message that, among the elves, Ilina is the one Nina is most deferential towards.
Still, what's the point in demonstrating that? If I'm just going to be revealing that I'm in charge once we discuss Belmod, then why emphasize her rapport with Nina? Those parts don't make any sense to me. Unfortunately, any further thoughts are interrupted by a sudden chuckle...
"Fufufu...well, I for one won't be risking our Princess's ire from now on. Strange to think you all bemoaned how weak she was for most of her life. Now, though...if that strange pressure we felt had grown much stronger, everyone here except the physical enhancers would have been completely immobilized. I've never heard of such a spell, and you used no incantation. Princess Ilina, I don't suppose you'd grace us with an explanation of that terrifying display?" (Helena)
Ilina smiles politely and shakes her head.
"No, Lady Helena. That should not be the focus of discussion right now. I suggest that you all finish with the discussion topic that our Queen has decreed for this first phase of the meeting." (Ilina)
Helena looks suspicious, and disappointed, but not surprised. Tessa wastes no time.
"Ehem...very well. We will, of course, do as our Princess and Queen command. Great Dragon, perhaps it would be prudent of us to ask why you have been so...generous...with Alara in the first place. As you said, she did try to kill your servant, Mizuki. So, why give her, and only her, something as remarkable as the train?" (Tessa)
Nina directs an annoyed gaze toward Tessa, and I feel my apprehension start to rise again.
"As I have told you repeatedly now, Mizuki advocates for your people. He convinced me that we should assist Alara. After her descent to nobility, he admired Alara's unnecessarily supportive attitude towards us, especially after our role in her transition. So, in recognition of her character, and as a gesture of goodwill, he thought that we should aid her development of Eden. That included the train, which he felt she could be entrusted with." (Nina)
I see Tessa's face stiffen, and she briefly cuts me a displeased look. I'm guessing she's once again upset by Nina's implication that I'm swaying an Elder Dragon so much. Honestly, I'm a little less worried now, since they'll be learning the truth soon. Still, anything that breeds fear or hostility in the nobles isn't good.
I watch Tessa closely, waiting to see how she'll respond. To my surprise, however, Darak interjects before she can. He's wearing a smile that doesn't quite match the tone of the meeting.
"I see, Great Dragon. So, you're saying that we should actually be directing our gratitude and our requests toward Mizuki, not you?" (Darak)
Crap...that's just setting me up as an antagonist even more. Helana smirks at Darak, but her eyes are suspicious.
"Not like you to state the obvious, Darak. Are you just trying to make Lady Nedonera's point clearer for the less perceptive at the table? Or something else, perhaps?" (Helena)
Her, too!? Before Darak can respond, Tessa interjects with a terse tone.
"Darak, Helena, I think you must have misunderstood. I'm sure Lady Nedonera wasn't implying that we should be directly praising Mizuki – a mere subordinate, though a favored one – for what were ultimately the actions of his master. Great Dragon, if Miss Alto had made the same justification and suggestion as Mizuki, would you not have made the same decision?" (Tessa)
Tessa watches Nina's face expectantly, as though she believes what she's saying, but also fears to hear otherwise. I already know how Nina really feels, though, and that makes me nervous about how she'll respond. To make matters worse, I can sense anger starting to mix with Nina's annoyance.