Chapter 25.4 – The Demons’ Dilemma

[Uhm…Ilina, you didn't want to try a more diplomatic approach first?] (Mizuki)

I watch her face after my thought message…is she smirking!? Everyone else piles on.

"Fufufufu…Ilina, I did not know you had so much backbone! I have to say, you are acting very much like a dragon, and I approve. What you describe fits my conditions fine. If you still want to get married, we could have another country do it." (Nina)

"Certainly. As potential elder of the wolf-kin, I can marry you two in our village." (Zara)

"While the kingdom may not recognize it, I'm happy to officiate your wedding in elven custom." (Alto)

Elira is staring at them all in open shock, then looks at me questioningly. I hold up my hands and wave them defensively.

"I thought this conversation would be diplomatic, but I'm not going to condemn their words. I'd never tell you how to run your kingdom, but I don't think you get to force Ilina into anything. If Ilina is willing to accept all those consequences over her actions, then that's her right and I'm going to support it. Naturally, if Alara returns to power as a result, we won't set foot in this country." (Mizuki)

Elira shakes her head in exasperation and looks over at Dargo helplessly.

"Dargo, dear, what is your council on this absurd matter?" (Elira)

"My Queen, we can help her and hope for the best, or just reinstate Alara and exile them to appease her. Honestly, I only see Alara being a terrible ruler, especially after what happened. If Alara came into power and couldn't let go of her grudge, she'd probably get herself killed. Then, we'd have an assassinated queen with the kingdom in disarray, and no way to return Ilina to the throne. I…think we should back Ilina." (Dargo)

Dargo looks surprisingly accepting of their situation, while Elira seems to be slipping into a state of learned helplessness.

"I have a suggestion. Why don't we ask Alto? Alto, as one of the elven people, and knowing your own feelings towards humans before we met, what would have convinced you to accept me as your future queen's romantic partner, or at least non-aggressively tolerate it?" (Mizuki)

Everyone turns to stare at Alto, and I see her start to break out in a cold sweat.

"Well…I don't think we should show them the scale of your power yet. That would only reinforce their existing fears. However, the elves are isolated, especially in Avalon, and their fear is conceptual. The nobles may be another matter, but I think common elves just need repeated positive exposure to you. Eventually, they might see you as the friendly individual you are." (Alto)

"Before we knew of his power, we certainly considered him friendly and docile, but that's not the same as tolerating his marriage to our First Princess." (Elira)

Alto shrugs.

"With all due respect, that's because you're royals. When the Queen makes a decree, the commonfolk only take issue with what they fear affects them negatively. If they no longer fear Mizuki as an individual, and trust you, him, and Ilina when you say that the decision does not signal an influx of humans to the kingdom, they will probably tolerate it. Again, the nobles have separate motivations, so this is not sufficient for them." (Alto)

Elira and Dargo appear to be thinking this over carefully.

"So, then, what do you propose Miss Alto, to facilitate desensitizing the people to Mizuki?" (Dargo)

"Well, why not have Ilina, Mizuki, and maybe Nina spend a few hours each day roaming the city and interacting with Avalon's citizens, until the royal announcement? Klaus's presence would put the citizens' minds at ease. If you then publicized the royal announcement and allowed socialization, most of the crowd might be friendly to Mizuki already. That might improve the nobles' assumptions about him." (Alto)

Now it's my turn to be confused.

"Alto, sorry, but would that even be possible. Aren't royals and nobles generally opposed to interacting with commoners, and even look down on their station? How would it be possible to just have them mingling in an open setting?" (Mizuki)

Elira looks a little embarrassed.

"Ehem…Mizuki, I'm sorry if Alara gave you the wrong impression. However, elven royal, nobility, and commoner social structures aren't like the ones you describe. Elves quite cherish one another. Consequently, most of our nobility is invested in seeing their subjects prosper. In return, common elves are very respectful to the nobility and royalty. So, such open socialization wouldn't be problematic." (Elira)

Huh…that is surprising, given what I know of similar social structures in human culture. I guess it's not unbelievable – humans are the only race that isn't unified in a single country, while the elves are practically a monolith. Perhaps their social norms truly are that different.

"Ah, very well then, I guess that's not unbelievable considering your culture otherwise. Well, I'm on board with Alto's plan if everyone else is?" (Mizuki)

There's a round of assent from my party, Ilina, and even Dargo. Elira sighs deeply.

"Very well, I suppose that's better than any other idea we have, but I'm not particularly hopeful about the results. Still, we've already set the invitations in motion for the royal announcement to be in ten days, so this plan will have to do." (Elira)

"Good enough for me. Shall we move on to discussing the demons, then?" (Mizuki)

Elira nods solemnly.

"Of course, what would you like to know, Mizuki?" (Dargo)

"Let's start with, specifically, what evidence you have that they're planning to invade and maybe go to war with the elves." (Mizuki)

"The Elven Kingdom has a few large ships at our disposal, which we will occasionally use to surveil coastal borders of surrounding countries. One such ship noticed an amassing of armed troops on the eastern border of the demon continent, as well as the beginnings of large-scale ship construction." (Dargo)

Hmm…then it's a reasonable deduction that they plan to invade the Elven Kingdom, but not exactly definitive.