The council must not know

Everyone looked at Elliot as if he had completely gone mad.Why would a person just scream for no reason?It was absurd.
Elliot then looked at the princess and started smiling.It’s utterly absurd to smile after we almost died, the princess thought to herself.
“Come along,” said the princess, still shaking from the explosion.Elliot followed along like a little puppy obeying its master.
Elaina
Who is this Elliot person?His attitude switched every moment. One second chaotic, the next strangely calm. And to believe she had been ready to give her life for her kingdom… only for him to save her?
She had assumed he would be clueless, unable to adapt to their world’s advanced technology.Yet he had controlled a Royal-Class Mech—something she trained her entire life for—with ridiculous ease.It made no sense.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Elliot’s voice echoing through the corridor of the east wing.
“Um, princess, where do these monsters come from?” he asked, raising his left eyebrow.
The hallway they walked through was enormous — made of smooth obsidian metal with glowing blue circuit-like patterns running along the walls. Mana-lamps floated mid-air like small stars, casting soft light. Transparent holographic screens drifted beside the pillars, showcasing maps, weapon schematics, and historical recordings.
His slightly light but deep voice traveled far through the high-tech hall.
“Well… about a hundred years ago, the land was peaceful between all the kingdoms,” Elaina explained. “It was around my grandfather’s era when they first attacked.”
She pulled a glowing lever embedded in the wall.The lights dimmed.A giant holographic screen materialized from thin air, showing the first monster breaking through the ancient city gates and slaughtering people.
“As you can see, Elliot, it has all been a mess ever since,” she said. “My grandfather, King Leonidas, gathered his strongest soldiers to fight these beasts. Back then they were smaller — only ten feet tall. The records say all Eight Kingdoms gathered to discuss the threat.”
She swiped the screen. Now eight ancient rulers appeared in a circle of blue flame.
“Then one figure showed up,” she continued. “He said we should sacrifice one hundred people every year to the monsters to keep them away. A pact between man and beast.”
Her voice tightened.
“But my grandfather, King Leonidas… he cared too much for his people. He refused. And so the monsters declared war on our kingdom.”
“Wait—wait—wait! There are other kingdoms out there??” Elliot exclaimed, zooming in on the hologram with both hands, looking for details.
“Yes, Elliot,” she replied. “There are eight kingdoms, and we are going to meet in the next few days to discuss the problem.”
“So, princess,” Elliot said, face lowering, “y’all gonna have a meeting to discuss how you're going to get rid of them for good? Or just contain them?”
“No… simply to contain the problem and decide a way forward,” she confessed. “The other kingdoms were against my father for developing high-tech mechs. And… just like you… my father, Griffith, came from another world. He fell in love with my mother — the princess of this kingdom.”
She paused.
“Which later gave birth to me and my older brother, the general — whom you’ve already met.”
“WAIT—WAIT WHAT!!!” Elliot shouted, mouth wide open.“YOU and the general are siblings?? No way! You're elegant and sophisticated and sweet and calm — while your brother is chill and reckless. Like, insanely reckless.”
Sweet.
Elaina froze.
Did he just… call me sweet?No man had ever said that to her before.Her cheeks flushed warm.
Get yourself together, Elaina. You’re going to be queen…
“Y-Yes,” she replied. “That’s why my parents made me the successor of this nation. I can think quickly and avoid mistakes… unlike my brother.”
She smirked softly, remembering childhood moments with him.
Suddenly, footsteps approached.
“My lady, you are needed to clarify the situation,” said Grayson, one of her loyal servants. “The Council requires your presence immediately.”
“I’ll be there soon,” she replied. “I’m just showing Elliot our history.”
Grayson bowed, and his footsteps faded into the corridor’s metallic hum.
“Elliot,” she said, waving her hand gently, “you know where your room is. Feel free to explore the kingdom.”
But Elliot didn’t answer — he was still staring at the hologram, analyzing it intensely.
Elaina sighed.
What am I going to tell the Council?Should she say she found a being from nowhere who helped her?Or admit she found someone smarter than any engineer — maybe even like her father?
If she told them that… the Council would contain him.Just like they did to her father.
Her mother had told her the truth: they imprisoned Griffith, forced him to build the mechs. He and her mother escaped later, fell in love, and searched for the monsters’ core…
But they never returned.
Tragedy haunted every part of her life.
She pushed her hair back and exhaled sharply.Her footsteps echoed down the long metallic hallway. Doors made of shimmering energy slid open and closed as she walked deeper toward the Council Chamber. Voices grew louder — tense, impatient voices of advisors and nobles.
“I can’t let the Council know about Elliot,” she whispered to herself.“They would take him. Use him. Enslave him.Like they did my father.”
She stepped through the massive doors, her stomach twisting as dozens of eyes turned toward her.
The Council was waiting.