The Elflord, perceiving the nation murmuring in astonishment, instantly lifts Elva's right hand in proclamation.
Elflord: My people! After one thousand and eighteen years, the Guardian of the Yinyang Core stands before us all! Hail to the Urulókë!
The elves cheer and break into joyful songs. In the Court Hall, the official subjects kowtow to Lady Elva.
Duke Balin: (Neck bowed) I am delighted to meet you, Urulókë. (He places a kiss on her ring.) [She's the maiden from the tavern that night.]
Not used to nobility, Elva stylishly retrieves her hand.
Elva: (Exchanging smiles) Same as I to you, Aglad-Lókë.
Duke Balin walks away.
Elva: [Hmph! Who says I cannot act sophisticated 😏?]
Queen Raphaela approaches, and the two exchange pecks.
Queen Raphaela: (Giving the first peck) Welcome to the Imperial Assembly. (By the second peck, she whispers) And I forgive the Masked Thief for robbing my treasures.
Queen Raphaela pulls away with a beam.
Elva: (Sheepish grin) [😅 How did she recognize me?]
Princess Raina steps forward; after their greetings, she returns to Duke Balin's side, while Elva walks to the Elflord and the Ælfen-Majesty, offering greetings which they graciously accept.
Princess Raina: Why does she feel so familiar? She reminds me of a fiddling guest.
Duke Balin: Who?
Princess Raina: (Exhales) The Masked Thief.
Servants swing into action at the Elflord's order to prepare the dining table.
Elflord: (To his empress) Where are my reckless sons?
Ælfen-Majesty: 😄 They will be here shortly.
---
At the Emperor's Dining Table.
Elflord: A shame your mother could not stay. The matter attracting her must be serious.
Princess Raina: Quite so, Your Majesty.
Elva: (Eyes fixed on the two vacant seats opposite her) [Where are the Imperial Princes?]
At that moment, the youngest Imperial Prince enters with a bright and welcoming air.
Ernest: I am here, dear mother!
Ælfen-Majesty: Ernest. Come, come.
Ernest greets his father respectfully, though Elva's steady gaze lingers on him.
Elflord: Take your seat. You are always late to the table. Where is your elder brother n—?
Crown Prince Alf: I am here, Father.
The deep voice of the Crown Prince solidifies the air for a moment. He bows his neck respectfully.
Elva: [How did he get on the seat?]
Ælfen-Majesty: Hm-mm, again, son? I've told you—use the entrance and stop appearing out of the blue.
Alf replies with a nod.
Elflord: (Chuckles) Look at everyone. I love this union…
The Royal Commandant whispers a matter into the Elflord's ear. Balin taps his fingers in a quiet sequence toward Alf, who glances at Elva and back at his cousin. Meanwhile, Princess Raina provokes an unnecessary quarrel with innocent Elva, who tries to keep her cool.
Princess Raina: So you are neither a noble nor a kowtowing subject of this world. Tuk, tuk, tuk. Instead, you are a nuisance.
Duke Balin: Raina…
Elva: [😐 Should I thank her for the statement or what?]
Princess Raina: What? It is true. She is a free-willed thief, a nobody with no one—so pitiable.
Elva: (Fed up, rising slowly) You know, one thing I truly hate is being pitied in the most pathetic way… by someone with no dignity.
Her two ponytails begin to levitate.
Elva: You say I am free-willed—how certain are you? Does that now make you my Maker?
Balin waves his hand to calm her, but she ignores him.
Elva: So how DARE you say that?
Smoke begins to rise from her head.
Balin: (Pleading) Lady Elva, please, do not be vexed—
Elva: Buzz off. (Balin keeps quiet.) The only one who should stick to manners is—
CHUFF! The sound of heat cooling draws every eye to Elva's head—snow covers the Urulókë Vessel's hair.
Alf: (Closing his fingers back into a fist) Gently, Lady Elva. At this rate, you don't want to burn the palace down, do you?
The Royal Commandant departs. The Elflord, curious at the scene, asks his wife what happened. The Ælfen-Majesty, with a flinch of her hand and no concern, replies:
Ælfen-Majesty: Oh, just between Dragon Successors.
Elva: (Dusting off the snow) No, but you didn't have to— Wait. (Points at the Crown Prince.) I've seen you before.
The Crown Prince pauses.
Elva: Ah! That night in the tavern—! (Abruptly slips back into her seat) Ow.
Hearing the sound of defrosting ice, Elva glances under the table—ice is melting at her feet.
Elva: (Brows furrowed) What the…? Yang.
She glances at the 'peaceful' Eldest Imperial Prince, who finishes his mischief with a slight smirk while sipping from his cup.
Elva: (Pointing at him) You…
By the tender image everyone holds of him, the Crown Prince instantly diverts attention to his mother.
Alf: Mother, how are the preparations going 😄?
Ælfen-Majesty: Oh, all steady, my son ☺️.
---