Simply the worst...that's how Setti Silver would classify this Royal Announcement.
Granted, he has not been to many. They are infrequent events, after all, or at least they used to be. Still, in his half a millennium or so of life, he's been to five such events, and he's certain that he dislikes this one the most. As for why, well...
His eyes drift across the royal ballroom, landing on a young elven woman who couldn't be more oblivious to his presence if he were air itself. At the sight of her, an inarticulable rage overtakes him, his fists clenching subtly at his sides. That damned daughter of his...
'It is all her fault. The interrupted business opportunity, this ridiculous rebelliousness from my own wife, and now, apparently, my unfavorable history with the future King. Everything.'
Remembering the moment Mizuki's identity as a Nephilim was revealed, his power and influence made apparent, Setti can't help but grind his teeth in frustration all over again. All the more so, given the shocking news Queen Elira just announced about Mizuki's engagement to the Princess. The memory of Alto embarrassing him and putting him at odds with such an unfathomably important figure, to the point that he was verbally threatened...
His eyes narrow, focusing on Alto's figure with a severity that borders on homicidal.
'All your life, you have done nothing but drain, disrupt, and disrespect me and this family, and I have been tolerant to the point of generosity. But this time, you have gone too far...I will not overlook such insolence anymore, nor offer you the courtesy of family.'
Yet, thoughts of retribution bring a swift reminder of another of Alto's transgressions, and he glances at Naydra by his side. Her eyes are also fixed on Alto now, ignoring him, but hers is instead an expression of longing, hesitancy...regret.
He purses his lips in frustration, clearly recognizing his wife's ridiculous desire for capitulation to their traitorous daughter. Her earlier threat to him also lingers in his mind, something that he can't dismiss the conviction behind.
After what she said to him earlier, after having the audacity to slap him, despite everything he's done for her – pulling her and her condescending, self-righteous family from a descent into poverty, providing her everything she could want – truthfully, he could do without such a disloyal woman. The moment she betrayed him like that, he'd lost whatever affection lingered after centuries of marriage and aging had cooled their romance. In fact, he'd happily kick her onto the streets tonight, if he could do so without repercussions.
Alas, she has certainly made her presence known if not felt in the Silver Medallion Trading Company's affairs, and their divorce within the matriarchal Kingdom's laws would leave her a strong claim to half his company. He will be damned if he surrenders the fruit of his own blood, sweat, and tears to his disloyal wife, all because of his rebellious, impetuous daughter.
He churns with unwillingness at his situation, his thoughts full of myriad ways to remove the thorn that his daughter has stuck in his side. Unbeknownst to him, if Mizuki were to hear even a third of the 'options' he's considering for 'justice', he'd be dead beyond remembering.
"Excuse me, Sir, Madam..."
A soft, hesitant voice interrupts his dark thoughts. He turns to the source, finding a meek royal serving boy watching them expectantly, a strained smile on his face. Setti blinks.
'Why is a servant addressing me? Can't he see that we're busy?'
Meanwhile, Naydra responds in a distracted tone, struggling to pull her attention from Alto.
"Hmm?" (Naydra)
The boy glances between them, only hesitating for a moment before taking their respective stupors as consent to proceed.
"My apologies, it's just...the Queen asked to see you." (serving boy)
Setti freezes, confused enough by the unexpected declaration that he can't reply with more than a genuinely puzzled whisper, his earlier irritation almost forgotten.
"...the Queen?" (Setti)
Even Naydra finally looks at the boy fully, wearing a mildly alarmed expression. The boy merely nods at them, insistent, though there's a certain reluctance to his demeanor that they don't notice.
"Yes, Sir...she asked me to fetch you. She's waiting in another room, inside the palace." (serving boy)
Setti's thoughts instantly sharpen, pushing the earlier troubles from his mind.
'A private summons from the Queen? Could it be an opportunity? Something related to the planning of the Royal Wedding they need my infrastructure for? Perhaps this Royal Announcement's headaches will be worth it after all...'
As for the possibility that this could be anything other than good news...it never even crossed his mind. He's never done anything to earn the Queen's ire, nor does he imagine a scenario where she'd pursue animosity with someone like him. After all, even royalty recognizes the importance of wealth and influence, so he thinks, finding nothing odd about the Queen wanting to see him so badly.
Not wasting another second, he straightens his formal vest and nods at the serving boy impatiently.
"What are you waiting for? Lead the way!" (Setti)
A strange mix of pity and irritation flickers across the serving boy's face at his response, but the boy nods politely regardless.
"Of course, Sir...this way." (serving boy)
Without another word, the boy walks towards an exit from the ballroom, away from most of the remaining crowd. Setti eagerly falls into step behind, not noticing or caring as Naydra follows after him reluctantly. His thoughts are already fixated on the meeting – no, the opportunity – presenting itself to him.
So fixated, in fact, that he does not notice much else. Not the expressions of pity on the guards' faces as they pass, nor the way the serving boy keeps pulling something metallic and silvery from his pocket and staring at it with a dreamy grin. Not even the fact that they seem to be heading towards a secluded, unfamiliar part of the inner palace, passing fewer guards the further they walk.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Inside a small room within the palace...
Nina sits on a couch, swirling a fresh glass of wine, studying it with a faraway gaze.
Knock, knock, knock!
Her gaze moves to the door. She smirks.
"You may enter." (Nina)
The Silvers enter the room, and Setti freezes as his gaze meets hers. His expression twists into one of surprise, then befuddlement, just as the serving boy shuts the door behind Mrs. Silver, leaving the three of them alone.
Setti's confused voice breaks the silence.
"Lady Nedonera?" (Setti)
While Setti's demeanor remains calm, if clueless, Naydra becomes distinctly uneasy at her unexpected presence. Both reactions are noticed by Nina, and both amuse her.
She smiles at them, something that doesn't quite reach her eyes. She gestures at the couch opposite her invitingly, her voice neither hostile nor friendly.
"Have a seat..." (Nina)
After a moment of hesitation, Setti nods and does as he's bid. Once he and Naydra are seated, he gives her a polite but inquiring look.
"Err, pardon me, Great Dragon, but...is the Queen coming? The servant told us she summoned us here." (Setti)
Nina tilts her head, amusement flickering in her eyes.
"A misunderstanding, it seems...I summoned you. You'll recall that Queen Elira decreed Elder Dragons are recognized as foreign rulers, making me a 'queen' in your people's eyes. I'm guessing the little elf was being respectful of that fact, but forgot to be more specific." (Nina)
Realization, disappointment, and curiosity flicker across his expression in quick succession before settling into excitement, the disappointment visible so briefly that someone other than Nina might miss it. What he does not seem to experience at her explanation, however, is suspicion...he seems to find her explanation quite reasonable.
And, she supposes, it is. She instructed the elf boy to phrase things exactly that way for exactly that reason, so that she could not be accused of outright impersonating Elira.
Meanwhile, Naydra's visible unease only magnifies, clearly not favoring the explanation. But that fact seems lost on Setti, who flashes Nina a confident smile, leaning forward eagerly on the couch.
"Ah...good help is hard to find even for royals, I suppose. Nevertheless, you may recall from our letter that we were actually quite eager to meet with you, so we are no less humbled to heed your summons, Queen Nedonera." (Setti)
Nina studies him in silence for a moment, marveling at his response.
'Fufufu...he didn't even hesitate to call me a queen, and it took him barely any time at all to treat this meeting like a reward instead of a letdown. What a skilled opportunist...if a bit of a sycophant.'
Her voice turns playful, amused.
"Hmm. Is that so? I must say, your race's adoration of me, while not unwelcome, is certainly...intriguing. I'm not sure what I've done to make you all so deferential." (Nina)
Without missing a beat, Setti waves dismissively.
"You thwarted Veyron and solved our crisis with the demons. Also, I'm old enough to remember when you single-handedly crushed the Ralzen Empire's army and stopped their expansionist efforts. Our kind rejoiced then, too, happy to have the threat of human conquerors squashed. Our respect for you is only natural, Great Dragon." (Setti)
She takes a contemplative sip of her wine, then shrugs.
"Well, it was actually Mizuki that solved your demon problem. It's true that I knocked some sense into Veyron, but that was for personal reasons. Mizuki would have taken care of that, too, had I failed or not been so inclined in the first place. As for that scuffle with the Empire...do you know why I slaughtered their soldiers?" (Nina)
Surprise briefly emerges on Setti's face, before he tilts his head, voice curious.
"It was because they invaded the Delmura Forest against the Fey's instructions, correct?" (Setti)
She smirks, her eyes darkening slightly.
"I suppose one could draw such a conclusion, but...no. They committed a far graver sin. Would you like to guess what that was, elf?" (Nina)
Setti blinks, clearly confused.
"I'm afraid that I could not say, Great Dragon. Why?" (Setti)
On the couch beside him, Naydra fidgets uncomfortably at the subtle shift in atmosphere, clearing her throat.
"Ehem...uhm, La-...Queen Nedonera...could I perhaps ask why you summoned us?" (Naydra)
Nina spares the apprehensive woman a glance, before slowly sliding her eyes back to the nonplussed Setti. Her expression darkens, her tone lowering ominously. Yet, the faint smirk remains on her face, more sinister than before.
"Irritating me...it's a sin that very few live to regret, you see. Only the people Mizuki has stopped me from killing, in fact. Fortunately, he won't be intervening on your behalf." (Nina)