A couple hours later, inside a conference room of the Elven Royal Palace...
Myself, Ilina and her parents, Alara and Alyse, Cayla, the palace head maid, and Mira, the wedding planner from hell, sit around a large table. Alto was also welcome to join, but couldn't be bribed, threatened, or otherwise forced to leave the lab yet. Nina also declined to join, saying she would 'hang out' with Alto, to my great shock and concern. But, she did steal several caramel creations from my production pile before disappearing, so I guess she's herself after all.
Anyway, sitting on the table between all of us, two trays each display a different sweet-smelling confection. On one, light brown cubes of a chewy caramel, and on the other, apples (wah'lugs) coated in chewy caramel and rolled in crushed nuts resembling almonds, already sliced into manageable portions.
Looking around the room with a proud smile, I gesture at my creations inquisitively, voice chipper.
"Sooo, what does everyone think?" (Mizuki)
Of course, I've already tried both myself, and while I didn't manage to perfectly recreate the flavor profile I remember...they're certified hella delicious. Of course, that's just my opinion – I still need to confirm from among those present who all agrees and who has no reason for living.
Alyse, ever adventurous, reaches out and grabs one of each, taking bites in quick succession. After, she widens her eyes appreciatively and leans back in her seat. She points at the apple slices.
"That one, definitely top tier dessert...I don't even care that it's from an alien. How long did you say they're good for?" (Alyse)
My eyes flash with approval. You know, I said it first...Alyse has great taste. I nod at her.
"Right? As for shelf-life...a couple days on a tray like this, and a couple weeks if they're stored somewhere cold. What does everyone else think?" (Mizuki)
Mira hums thoughtfully, leaning in to inspect the two delicacies, fingers clasping her chin, eyes narrowed.
"Hmmm...the plating seems rather poor..." (Mira)
I feel my eye twitch. Nobody told me Gordon Ramsay here expected me to plate the damn things like art pieces.
Unaware that I grow slowly closer to one day abusing my new station as Prince for her sake, Mira leans in and plucks one of the caramel chews. She chews it slowly, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Oh my...the presentation is amateurish, but the taste is quite delectable." (Mira)
Spurred on by her unexpected praise – her version of it, at least – the others quickly grab samples for themselves as well. A few moments later, the room is filled with soft hums of satisfaction all around. Elira throws me an approving look, but I also don't miss the scheming glint in her eyes.
"It seems you've created another product destined for success, dear son-in-law. Can I assume you intend to stall its public sale, along with the Ophelle Cube, until after the wedding? Lest you undermine the impact of Ilina's Selections, of course." (Elira)
I study her carefully, my words measured.
"I do..." (Mizuki)
She flashes me a satisfied grin, and I'm left wondering what about my answer could possibly have been so unexpected or appealing to her. Then, I hear Alara sigh in annoyance.
"Mother, you aren't really going to enforce Royal Imperative with him, are you?" (Alara)
I blink, completely lost, but I notice several other eyes in the room widen. Elira shrugs, still smiling in satisfaction.
"Of course I am. In fact, I'd say that Mizuki is the epitome of why we have such a mandate in the first place." (Elira)
Alara purses her lips, clearly unhappy with the response. Meanwhile, I'm still glancing around dubiously at everyone.
"Uhm...does someone want to tell me what is going on?" (Mizuki)
Ilina's hand clasps mine discreetly, and I notice her turn from giving Elira a surprised look to staring at me with a subtly nervous expression.
"Royal Imperative is a mandate placed on the elven royal family's official members – anyone with the last name Ophelle – as a way to prevent corruption. Essentially, we are mandated to only use our station and influence for kingdom-wide benefit, avoiding excessive personal gain or favoritism to one noble family over another. Since we do not suffer from intra-racial violence like humans, this primarily applies to matters of personal wealth and economic leverage.
"For example, if I were to invent a new medicine or even just create a popular but non-essential product, regardless of whether I explicitly used royal resources to do so, I could not privatize the item's sale for my financial gain, nor could I give it to a noble or merchant family for private sale on my behalf. Instead, I would be expected to submit it to the department of Royal Business Affairs, who would facilitate its production and sale through established pathways that advantage all noble territories equally. In addition, my personal commission from the item's sales would be a small fraction of the profits, while the rest would be diverted to the treasury for funding national interests.
"That is not the full scope of the mandate, but it captures the sentiment well. If you're an Ophelle, you can use your private funds however you see fit, and you can act freely as an individual, but you cannot own a business or facilitate societal inequity." (Ilina)
My eyes flash with realization. So, if I wait until after the wedding to sell the Rubik's cubes and caramel-based treats, when I'm technically an Ophelle, Elira is implying that I'd have to do so in the way Ilina described.
I glance at Ilina, who's still wearing a concerned expression. Clearly, she's worried about how I'll react to such an aggressive restriction. After all, it's one thing not to abuse your station, but it's another to essentially deprive someone of their own revolutionary invention, financially and executively. Also, there are implications for my ongoing involvement in Eden.
I give Ilina a reassuring smile, squeezing her hand back, then return my attention to Elira, who's studying me with a careful, expectant air.
"I understand. That is fine..." (Mizuki)
I mean, money isn't exactly a concern of mine on this planet. Plus, I have already given Alara most of my 'inventions' and built her three trains. Moreover, I actually respect this mandate of theirs, especially when it's already being instituted within a less advanced, feudal system of government.
That said, there were theoretically such restrictions on major politicians back on Earth...and plenty of loopholes to bypass them.
"...BUT, I confess to having a few questions." (Mizuki)
Just as everyone's eyes are widening in shock at my casual acceptance, their expressions turn confused. Elira raises her eyebrows at me.
"Such as?" (Elira)
"Well for one, based on Ilina's explanation, it doesn't seem like there's anything to stop someone from taking their personal wealth and investing it without any ownership in a business, nor from donating that wealth to causes of a specific person or territory. Is that correct?" (Mizuki)
Elira smirks.
"Correct, but you may be vastly overestimating how much private wealth we royals have, and how easy it is to significantly expand that wealth through what is essentially just risky personal loans. The royal stipend of the Prince Consort, or even the King, isn't any more income than a skilled blacksmith. As for the potential commission Ilina mentioned, royal product sales are always priced at a 10% profit margin, and you'd only get 5% of that profit. As you can imagine, all this makes it basically impossible to perturb economic balance through private wealth." (Elira)
Well, I can't deny her math is solid. Of course, last time I checked, nobody here other than Ilina knows that I could quite literally pull endless platinum coins out of thin air, which makes her math useless. Regardless, I'm not really interested in financing a whole territory more than what I've already done, I was just curious.
However, I do have other questions that are actually quite important.
"What about anything charitable I do fully by myself that I do not profit from? For example, I constructed Alara's trains fully from my own magic and asked for no share of the profits or anything in return. Yet, the nobles have pretty unanimously posited that it represents a significant economic imbalance. That puts two of Ilina's statements in contradiction." (Mizuki)
Elira's expression becomes faintly troubled, seeming to choose her words carefully as she responds.
"Your situation is...unique. Obviously, a royal with the ability to singlehandedly revolutionize infrastructure using only their own magic is unprecedented. To the letter of the mandate, I suppose that you could not be held in contempt for doing as you just described. However, I'd ask you to keep the sentiment of the mandate in mind, as well as the importance of maintaining public trust and fairness through your actions as a royal." (Elira)
About what I expected, I suppose. I purse my lips, considering the issue for a few moments before making my decision.
"Very well. I will adhere to all of these expectations where there exists clear precedent. As for the issue of trains...I will not abandon my plans to build more for Alara as she expands her territory and establishes new cities and farming settlements. Developing new cities and infrastructure in the Elven Kingdom benefits the commoners, after all, as does expediting communication and transport. However, as a compromise, I will request that she keep charging an affordable fee for its public use, but turn over the profits to the kingdom's treasury. Naturally, the operators will still be employees of the Royal Palace, like we agreed for all trains going forward. Alara, would that be acceptable to you?" (Mizuki)
Alara nods, relief and gratitude clear in her expression.
"Yes, just being able to avoid road construction is still a considerable load off my shoulders. Thank you, Mizuki." (Alara)
I nod, and turn my gaze to Elira, raising my eyebrow inquiringly. She stares at me for a moment, deep in thought, before sighing.
"The other nobles may not like that, but I suppose that's as reasonable an arrangement as I can expect from you." (Elira)
I nod at her as well, simply acknowledging that we're all on the same page. As for her implication that she's not perfectly content with the arrangement...I ignore it. I was fair, I think, and the elves are ultimately better off than they were.
I feel Ilina pull on my arm, and I look over to see her studying me, her eyes still worried, but also mixed with an unspoken appreciation that I can somewhat intuit the reason for.
"Are you sure about this, Mizuki? You're giving up a lot..." (Ilina)
I give her the most charming grin I can manage, not one to waste an opportunity for brownie points.
"I'd say I'm still coming out far ahead in this trade, dear wife." (Mizuki)
Predictably, the comment causes a sweet blush to grace her face and her to struggle to meet my playful gaze, causing Cayla to chuckle nearby. Realizing how obvious her reaction is, Ilina cuts her eyes at me reproachfully. However, there's no real weight behind it.
While Ilina and I are staring at one another with warm smiles, we're interrupted by the sound of Mira clearing her throat uncomfortably.
"Ehem...may we get back to the dessert Selection?" (Mira)
I blink. Right, I forgot about her.
Dargo speaks up for the first time.
"Well, I think it's clear that either of these would be both enjoyable and unique enough to live up to everyone's expectations. The question is, which one should be the official Selection?" (Dargo)
Cayla nods.
"I agree, Prince Mizuki outdid himself. I think that these drizzled fruit slices are more appropriate for the wedding, though. The cubes are too light and rich, while the slices are more filling and have a balanced flavor." (Cayla)
Mira nods emphatically.
"Yes, very well put, Miss Cayla! You're right, these, err..." (Mira)
She looks to me uncertainly. I smile.
"Caramelapples {English}" (Mizuki)
Mira gives a forced smile in return.
"Right...these caramel apples are better suited for the Selection. Their name notwithstanding, of course..." (Mira)
I try not to roll my eyes. There really is no making this woman happy.
Nevertheless, we all agreed on the caramel apples for the wedding, officially completing all of Ilina's Princess Bride Selections...and of course, netting me even more brownie points for the day.