It's probably best to redirect things for now, and I know just the way to do it. It may be a bit heavy-handed, but we've already decided that I won't be playing the timid servant anymore. No need to be so subtle.
I shake my head at them all.
"Actually, I think your questions are best tabled for another time. In fact, even this discussion of the trains should be concluded. We won't be building trains for any of the other nobles...period. You know our reasons, and they're not going to change, so let's move on. We have far more important things to discuss today...that's all pretty trivial by comparison." (Mizuki)
That's true, quite frankly. Not just because of the truth about myself or my relationship with Ilina will be revealed, but because we still haven't told the nobles about the Empire. Though I won't let anything happen to them, they face the very real threat of invasion.
Nonetheless, everyone's eyes go wide in surprise at my blunt response, and Tessa gives a disapproving look.
"My, you're growing rather bold with y-" (Tessa)
Surprisingly, Elira doesn't let her finish.
"No, Tessa. I've let this discussion about trains go on far too long. You've heard the decision of Lady Nedonera's party. As for the study of the existing trains you requested, I expressly forbid it. Perhaps some of you don't believe Mizuki's warnings, but I do. I'm not putting elven lives on the line for something with little apparent hope of success. Especially not against the wishes of those who gifted our people the trains in the first place. Besides, Mizuki is correct...this meeting was called to discuss something far more urgent than the trains." (Elira)
All eyes snap to Elira in surprise, and her face grows deathly serious. She's also clearly nervous. Since she doesn't know about the other revelations we have planned, I can only assume that she's troubled by the situation with the Empire. I guess I was right to consider it pretty consequential to the nobles.
Tessa and Jorah start to protest Elira's dismissal of the train issue, and it looks like Elira is about to reprimand them, but Helena beats her to it. She's lacking her usual air of calm wit, and her expression is grim.
"Shut up you two, and take a good look at our Queen's face. It should be clear that whatever she's about to tell us is serious. I don't have a very good feeling about this, so quit complaining like children. My Queen, please continue." (Helena)
Jorah and Tessa cut Helena angry looks, but she just ignores them, and Elira nods to Helena gratefully. I glance to Cara and Alara, and they are giving me nervous looks as well. They seem to know what's looming. I glance to Ilina, and she gives me a small, supportive smile.
"Helena's intuition is correct. I have every reason to believe that Emperor Belmod of the Ralzen Empire was planning to stage an invasion of our country. That threat has subsided for the immediate future, but that's unlikely to remain the case indefinitely." (Elira)
For a brief moment, the room is dead silent as the faces around the table grow pale. Then, questions start frantically pouring in.
"So, those cretins are finally coming for us...how long do we have? I have to warn my soldiers at the eastern border immediately!" (Tessa)
"You're certain of this, my Queen? What information do we have, specifically? Can we be sure the source is credible?" (Helena)
"The Empire!? This is grave, My Queen! I hear they have more than half a million soldiers in their army alone! That's over double the population of our country!" (Jorah)
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
The room falls silent, and everyone turns towards the sound of someone clapping – Darak is sitting forward, with a calm but serious expression. Once he sees he has everyone's attention, he nods.
"Now, let's not descend into chaos. We always knew that this was a possibility. Your questions are all important, but panic will do us no good – we should wait for our Queen to explain further. Did you all notice she said that Belmod was planning an invasion, but it seems something has delayed it? We should understand the developments in the human country first. Our people have no experience with war, but I'm sure that knowing your enemy is key." (Darak)
The effect of Darak's words is immediate – the nobles remain somber, but the room is noticeably calmer. Tessa and Jorah do not look angry about Darak chiding them, and Helena has no sarcastic retort. Honestly, I'm impressed.
"Yes...Darak's right. I'm unsettled, and it's affecting my judgement. Most of our external information comes from coastal surveillance by ship, and whatever the demi-humans that neighbor the human countries report to our visiting outreach groups. We only know that Belmod is more brazen than his predecessors, and less tolerant of non-humans. So, Queen Elira, can you explain these new developments in the Empire?" (Helena)
Following Helena's statement, there's a round of apologetic assent from other nobles, including Jorah and Tessa. For once, they all seem to be on the same page. I, for one, try to keep my mouth from gaping at the sudden change in the nobles' demeanors.
I guess, credit where credit is due...when their people are in danger, they seem to put all their differences aside and work together. That's more than I can say for most humans, here or on Earth.
In contrast to me, Elira just nods and continues her explanation.
"The day before I summoned you all here...I learned that Emperor Belmod summoned a human adventurer's party to appear before him in their capital city. During the party's audience with Belmod, the emperor apparently demanded that they spy on the Elven Kingdom and collect information that would be useful for invasion. The adventuring party in question, well...." (Elira)
Elira nods at me apprehensively. It's clear she wants me to take over. I step forward as several of the nobles look my way in confusion. As realization begins to dawn on their faces, I nod firmly.
"It was my adventuring party that Belmod summoned. Belmod heard about our S-rank endorsement by Queen Elira, and wanted us to use our access to your country to act as spies. It was obvious that he had aspirations to invade." (Mizuki)
The room falls eerily quiet, before it's filled with more frantic questions.
"A spy!? You all heard that, right!? He just admitted it!" (Jorah)
"My Queen, if Mizuki has admitted to his own emperor demanding that he spy on us, we should at least keep him in a cell while he is questioned! It is far too dangerous to have him in a room with you! Please, I insist!" (Tessa)
"Would you idiots be quiet and let the damn boy talk! And have you lost your sense, Tessa!? Talking about throwing Lady Nedonera's subordinate in a cell in front of her!" (Helena)
Tessa and Helena start bickering, but I have no intention of letting this spiral out of control. I'll take a page out of Darak's playbook...the time for subtlety is over. I raise my hands together in front of me.
CLAP! CLAP!
All the nobles look at me in utter confusion....they're obviously not used to such outwardly admonishing behavior from me. Best to capitalize on that.
"Thank you for your attention. Now...Lady Tessa, Lord Jorah...I can understand your reaction to that information, but I'll have to ask you to refrain from jumping to conclusions until I've finished telling you what you need to know. For starters, I am not a spy for the Empire, nor have I ever been Belmod's subject. I am here to help your people." (Mizuki)
Tessa narrows her eyes at me, but the others are still looking at me in shock. Darak seems confused about something, and opens his mouth to speak.
"Wait, Mizuki, if this ha-" (Darak)
However, Tessa cuts him off with a venomous reply to me. Her eyes look almost frantic, and it's easily the least composed I've ever seen her.
"I don't know where you get off clapping at us like children, and I don't care which of those human countries you consider home...you're still one of them. How do we know that you're not spying on us now, using this information as a ploy to gain our trust? After all, our limited information on Belmod does not suggest that he would just let someone leave after refusing his demands. There's no reason for us to believe you aren't working with the Empire!" (Tessa)
"Tessa, start thinking rationally. Lady Nedonera wiped out the Empire's army several centuries ago...her distaste for them is well known, and I'm sure they feel the same way. Even if you don't trust Mizuki, why would Lady Nedonera's subordinate be working to aid people that she despises?" (Helena)
Uhm, yeah....those were my thoughts as well. Tessa seems to catch on, at least somewhat, and she starts to wear a conflicted expression.
"I...that's.....we can't be sure...." (Tessa)
I think this is a good time to just come out with it.
"Lady Tessa, if Lady Helena's point is not enough to convince you that I'm not working for Belmod....you may wish to know that Belmod is dead. That is the reason for any invasion being delayed." (Mizuki)
Darak, Helena, Jorah, and Tessa all widen their eyes in surprise as they turn to stare at me, and I can see similar reactions from some of their escorts. Zakariah and Vena are looking at me in surprise. But I see that Linnea has gone pale...I guess she's already putting together what probably happened.
"D-Dead....?" (Tessa)
I turn back to see Tessa staring at me blankly, obviously confused by the unexpected information. I also notice Darak staring at me intently, and his eyes narrow when he catches my gaze.
"Mizuki, what do you mean that Belmod is dead? How did he die?" (Darak)
I see Elira, Cara, and Alara watching me nervously. Alyse, however, is looking toward me with grim anticipation. I guess she's also put together what happened. Oh well, time to rip the bandage off. I nod to Darak firmly.
"He's dead because my adventuring party killed him. Him, and all 68 of his elite guard that were present in the throne room. It was an unfortunate amount of bloodshed, but he threatened my party members. I wasn't going to let that slide." (Mizuki)