I watch Elira as she waits patiently for the last of those in the room to leave – including her few privileged staff – her face a carefully composed mask. Eventually, Tessa closes the door behind the departed, and the Queen, Ilina, Nina, and I are the only ones who remain.
Elira stares at the closed door for a few moments before slowly turning to fix me with her stony gaze, my trepidation rising with every second. Her voice carries across the room, a low, eerie whisper.
"Mizuki..." (Elira)
Fuck...she's pissed.
Honestly, I can't blame her. She's the queen of a whole country, and her daughter and I just threw its entire ruling class into disarray without even bothering to give her a heads-up first. Not to mention, Ilina was borderline threatening the nobles for a chunk of the meeting.
In retrospect, it might have been insubordination at best and high treason at worst.
I raise my hands, ready to try and placate my ancient, elven mommy-in-law. Before I can word-vomit a heartfelt apology, however, Elira's expression suddenly twists into a mix of desperation and hopefulness. Just as confusion takes root inside me, she suddenly blitzes across the room and grabs me by the shoulders, her eyes searching mine with a glint of wonder, her face so close that I can feel her uneven breath on my cheek.
Her voice sounds almost...scared.
"...is it true?" (Elira)
I blink repeatedly in confusion, then it dawns on me and my eyes widen in surprise.
"Just to be clear, are you talking about me being from another planet, or me being a Nephilim?" (Mizuki)
She shakes her head, her gaze becoming more intense.
"I don't doubt that you're from another world, Mizuki. I'm asking – are you really a Nephilim, or is that just something you said to get the nobles on your side?" (Elira)
I'm a bit taken aback by her skepticism at first, though she's obviously justified in it. But then I notice the look in her eyes – that special blend of fear, desperation, and hope – revealing her true feelings. She doesn't doubt me, per se, she's just so desperate for it to be true that she can't allow herself to feel happy about the news until she's been reassured as thoroughly as possible.
For a second, I feel a shred of guilt, wondering if it's best to just come clean with her. After all, I'm personally confident that my ancestors are not the Nephilim of the elves' fables. However, I notice Ilina shake her head slightly behind her mother, clearly signaling me not to do so.
Thankfully, I don't have to lie to her to heed Ilina's advice. Well, unless you count lies of omission, which I don't.
I shrug at Elira.
"You tell me? Nothing that I've told you today about me or my people was a lie. However, that also includes the strange language barrier that prevents me from knowing if the Elvish word 'Nephilim' actually has the same meaning as human {English}. I'm just noting the undeniable similarities between the Nephilim of your fables and myself, and pointing out what I feel is the most obvious conclusion from those comparisons. Do you have some reason to interpret everything differently?" (Mizuki)
Elira's eyes seems to soften slightly, but her expression remains somewhat conflicted, as though she's been reassured but not entirely convinced.
"So, your people making enchanted items that can travel to other worlds, having stories about them coming from a different planet, knowing about elves despite them never having coexisted with you on your current planet, and you being considered normal by your people's standards...that's all true?" (Elira)
Well...yeah. Incredibly misleading, but technically true.
I nod.
"If you want to sweat the details, then I guess that I'm considered smarter than normal for my race. But otherwise...yeah, everything you just said is true. You have my word." (Mizuki)
Elira relaxes as though an enormous weight has been lifted off her shoulders, then she breaks into a wide, blistering smile as her eyes shine reverently. Before I can even return the smile, she wraps me in a tight embrace and begins giggling like she's 17 years old instead of 7,000.
"Hehehe! Oh gods, I really have a Nephilim as my son-in-law! Hehehehe! Oh Mizuki, you have no idea how much this news means!" (Elira)
My eyes go wide in shock at the sudden change in her personality, and her sudden clinginess. My eyes flash towards Ilina in bewilderment, and I see that she's also a little taken aback by her mother's behavior. However, her lips curl into a small smile as she sighs, her voice full of relief.
"I'm glad to see you're happy, Mother. So, you agree that our marriage can proceed smoothly now?" (Ilina)
I feel Elira freeze as she's embracing me, her eyes widening at the sound of Ilina's voice, as though she forgot that her daughter was in the room with us. Elira's expression slowly becomes cold as she releases me and turns to face Ilina, her voice a chilling whisper.
"Happy? No dear, I'm far from happy with you right now. In fact, I'm furious. If you weren't my daughter, I'd have you executed for the stunt you pulled today. As it is, Mizuki is the only reason I'm not confining you to a lavish prison cell to study Elven history and law for the next ten years. Because your complete ignorance on those subjects is the only reason I can think of for your actions earlier.
"Not only did you keep secrets from me, but you knowingly defied your Queen's will by prematurely revealing your engagement to the nobles. If that wasn't bad enough, you blatantly threatened to abandon your duties and your people if the nobles didn't bend to your wishes. Tessa was out of line in saying so at the time, but she wasn't wrong...your actions today have been nothing short of traitorous.
"However, that's not the main reason why I'm so enraged. I can't deny your results, and threats are not the same as actions, especially when those threats are only a means to an end to benefit our people. Under other circumstances, I'd even consider your ruthless, coercive tactics as personal growth.
"But...I'm furious that you worked behind my back. No including me in the discussion of your plans, or even warning me of your intentions. You just blindsided me, damaging my authority in front of our entire nobility. Mizuki's distrust I can understand, but you're my daughter. I expected more courtesy from you. No...more trust, than this.
"So, Ilina Ophelle, what do you have to say for yourself?" (Elira)