I teleported Ilina and me back to the outskirts of Wellick, where Cara wanted the train station, and began alchemizing a railway west along the Egris River. Of course, I had to put up an invisibility spell at first.
Now, we're about half an hour into our trip, outside of the Egris territory. Ilina is standing on the 'surfing' forcefield, face-to-face with me, and her arms are wrapped around my waist for stability. I notice that she's starting to shiver and press more tightly against me, presumably from the cold, so I cast a heating spell on the air around us.
Ilina stops shivering and looks up at me in surprise, and an appreciative smile spreads across her face.
"Fufufu...thanks." (Ilina)
"Of course. I've got to start making myself useful to my future Queen, right?" (Mizuki)
I look down at Ilina as I smile. I can see her silver hair and dress shining in the unnaturally bright moonlight, giving her an almost ethereal air as she smiles sweetly back up at me. The atmosphere is broken by a sudden darkening of her expression.
"Mizuki...I'd really like if that could be the case. For you to be able to live here peacefully in the kingdom with me, accepted by the elves and supporting me in my role as Queen. Truly, I do. I worry, though...the nobles..." (Ilina)
Ilina trails off gloomily.
Geez, she doesn't sound particularly hopeful about our future together. Where did that come from? I thought we'd settled the issue of our relationship and how to handle it going forward. Last time we talked about it, she'd been full of resolve. We'd get her people to accept us, and if it proved impossible, then we'd just exit stage left together and I'd help her support her kingdom another way.
I raise my eyebrows at her questioningly and try to summon a chipper tone.
"Hey, what's with this quitter talk all of a sudden? I admit it's not there yet, but we'll eventually get the support we need to quit hiding our relationship. You have your parents blessing, and Cara and Alara already know about us. That just leaves four of six nobles. Even one or two of those would be majority support for our relationship, right? Darak probably won't be hard to convince, and Helena's reasonable as well." (Mizuki)
Ilina sighs deeply.
"I don't think convincing Darak or Helena will be quite as easy as you think, Mizuki. But even if that were the case, it's not enough. It doesn't matter if you're never King, the Queen marrying a human isn't something that we can have partial support for. The nobles all need to be on board for us to even have a chance of the country accepting it without serious issues." (Ilina)
I feel a pang of anxiety in my chest...I guess I've once again failed to understand the nuance associated with managing a country of people. After that first meeting, I assumed a noble majority was enough, but Ilina obviously thinks otherwise. That doesn't bode well, but...
"Okay...so we'll do that, right? Handling other people is one of the things you're best at. I mean, you were so sure of that, you set out on your own to venture into an Elder Dragon's nest and convince it to protect the elves. Plus, you're almost universally loved by your people. By comparison, the nobles are nothing. One way or another, with enough persistence, I'm sure you can get them all on board." (Mizuki)
Ilina smiles sadly at me.
"I appreciate your confidence in me, Mizuki. Even if you're just faking it, I'm still grateful. But...I'm not so sure I can live up to it. Convincing Darak and Helena is one thing, and believe it or not, I might even be able to bring Jorah around to my side. As much as he hates humans, I can tell that he has a soft spot for me and truly respects my position. But Tessa...she'll never trust a human or respect me enough to override her own judgement. I just don't see a way forward with her." (Ilina)
"Okay, but you never know for sure until you try, right? Besides, if worse comes to worst, we can just do what we talked about. Step away from the royal palace, live out our days together somewhere else in the kingdom, and I'll contribute to your people's prosperity with you. You don't have to be Queen to protect and support the elves." (Mizuki)
Ilina grimaces, and hangs her head in silence for a few moments. I can feel my heart beating, its rhythmic pounding faster than normal.
"After spending some time as First Princess...seeing firsthand what it takes to keep the Elven Kingdom in harmony...I think I was being naivé when I said that, Mizuki. The elves may be fortuitously reserved and docile in their thinking and actions, but they're also cautious and sensitive to change. If I were to exit the royal family, there'd be no heir left. That alone may be enough to seriously perturb our country's peace." (Ilina)
"What about Alara? I know I was the one that wanted her removed in the first place, but she's really come a long way. Honestly, she's making an excellent leader of Eden." (Mizuki)
Ilina shakes her head firmly.
"It's not that simple anymore. It's problematic enough to exile her, then reinstate her, then make her Queen again. But who would manage her now thriving territory, and the magic items you gave them? The wrong hands could violate Azazel's rules, but you getting rid of the train would cause even more upheaval. Plus, how long until an elf attacks you, citing blame for my abdication and everything else? What happens when you kill a hostile elf?" (Ilina)
She's....not wrong. But, what am I supposed to do with a statement like that? More importantly, if that's what she thinks is going to happen, and that's how she feels....
"So...what are you saying? That unless every noble approves of us, you'll need to stay Queen, call off our engagement, and take a different husband for the good of your people?" (Mizuki)
I feel a pang of anxiety in my chest as I watch Ilina's face. She was looking down solemnly, but now she moves her head up to meet my gaze. Her eyes are stormy and conflicted at first, but then they harden as they look into me.
"Oww!" (Mizuki)
I feel a searing pain in my side, and I look down to see Ilina's hand sliding away from the spot.
Did she just pinch me!?
I look back to her in bewilderment, and see an annoyed expression now firmly on her face.
"What was that for!?" (Mizuki)
"Tch...for being an idiot, obviously! Do you really think I'd just move on from you like that!?" (Ilina)
"I mean...I don't know!? You were saying all those dark things, making it sound li-" (Mizuki)
I feel a searing pain in my side again, and Ilina's face grows angrier.
"Oww! Stop doing that!" (Mizuki)
"Then stop sounding like a moron!" (Ilina)
Christ, harsh much!? What was I supposed to think!?
I just stare at Ilina in exasperation, and she sighs deeply and shakes her head at me.
"Obviously, I'm not going to leave you, Mizuki. I know it's selfish, but...I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Even knowing that my country would be in turmoil over it, I don't have it in me to toss our relationship aside. For better or worse....I'm in love with you." (Ilina)
I watch as Ilina averts her eyes from me, and I can see color rushing to her cheeks in the moonlight. For my part, I feel my breath catch in my throat at the exchange. We've expressed a similar sentiment before...love...but this admission from her just feels more meaningful. I can see how much the potential futures before us are weighing on her, and yet she's telling me that the only ones she couldn't bear are the ones where we're split apart.
Ilina glances back up at me furtively.
"You know that I can see that stupid grin on your face, right? Honestly...it's like you're not even trying to hide it. Is this really the time to be enjoying yourself, Mizuki?" (Ilina)
Oh shit, was I smiling? I mean, maybe it's a little toxic of me to be so happy that she'd choose me over her own country, but...who wouldn't feel butterflies hearing that?
"Sorry! I know that your country's future is a serious subject, but...I'm only human, you know? How else am I supposed to react when my beautiful fiancé says something that romantic to me?" (Mizuki)
Despite my best efforts, my shit-eating grin remains plastered to my face as I respond. Ilina just sighs in exasperation, then cuts me a disapproving look. I think it's over my less-than-serious attitude, but...
"I don't know...maybe tell her how much you love her? Don't just leave her suffering in silence after she bares her soul to you like that....just a thought." (Ilina)
Ilina practically grumbles out the last part, and she can't make eye contact with me. She's just too damn cute when she's like this. I don't often get to see her so flustered around me.
"Hey, Ilina..." (Mizuki)
Ilina slowly turns her head to meet my gaze again, and her eyes are mildly suspicious.
"Yes?" (Ilina)
I give a quick glance to the area in front of us to make sure our course is clear for a bit, then lean down and press my lips firmly against Ilina's. She squeaks in surprise at first, then wraps her arms around me, and we stay locked like that for several moments. When we break apart, Ilina gasps abruptly and eyes me with a dizzy expression. I flash my most mischievous smile at her.
"I love you, too." (Mizuki)
Ilina rolls her eyes at me, then lays her head into my chest. After a moment, I feel her arms squeeze me briefly.
"Good." (Ilina)