When Are You Two Getting Married?

The newly planned commercial area of Marble Fair blends the essence of Okhema's classical aesthetics with modern Xinghai trade, bustling with people yet maintaining Order.

Cerydra walked ahead, discussing trade routes and tariff details with Luo Li with professionalism and meticulousness.

Kong Yan'er, like a slippery fish, darted between the stalls, sometimes using magic to conjure a basket of bright and juicy phantom fruits for the old woman selling fruit, and sometimes criticizing a newly erected sculpture symbolizing the justice of the Law, clamoring to add a special effect to the scales in the sculpture's hands that would shake on their own.

Whenever his "creativity" went too far and was about to cause real chaos, either a casual glance from Cerydra would cause the paving stones on the square to adjust their angle slightly, allowing a child who was about to be affected by the magic to avoid it;

Or perhaps Hysilens chuckled and flicked out a drop of honey, the liquid transforming into a barely perceptible wisp of cool vapor in the air, precisely neutralizing a certain overly active energy of Elation.

Luo Li took in all of this, and the smile on her lips grew wider and wider.

Castorice also took his arm, her purple eyes reflecting this vivid scene, occasionally exchanging a knowing glance with Hysilens.

The discussion came to a temporary halt, and the group stopped to rest at a terrace tea table overlooking most of the market.

Hysilens skillfully instructed the waiter to bring several specially made, non-alcoholic drinks with a delicate floral honey aroma, pouring one for everyone, including Kong Yan'er, who had finally quieted down for a while but was still restlessly blowing bubbles in her cup with Kong Yan'er.

"Speaking of which..."

Luo Li picked up the crystal cup and spoke seemingly unintentionally, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Kong Yan'er and Cerydra.

"I see that you two... are getting along better and better."

Cerydra paused slightly in the hand holding the cup, her blue eyes calmly looking at Luo Li, as if to say, "What do you mean?"

Kong Yan'er stopped blowing bubbles, blinked her heterochromatic eyes, and gave a smug look that said, "You just realized that? Of course! I'm the most popular 'Vitality Injector' in Okhema! Even the most conservative old men in the council don't immediately call for guards when they see me performing magic anymore. I've improved remarkably!"

"Yeah?"

Luo Li drew out her words, her smile deepening.

"I think it's not just about 'vitality injectors,' right? Some people who cause trouble have their own 'cleanup specialists.'"

Moreover, this specialist not only handles the aftermath but also provides 'site permits' and 'disclaimers'.

He glanced meaningfully at Cerydra, then at Hysilens.

Hysilens took a sip of her honeyed wine, smiling without saying a word, but her eyes clearly conveyed "I see through it all, but I won't say it."

Cerydra put down her cup, her tone still calm and even. "Maintaining Order and handling emergencies are the duties of a ruler."

Whether this 'situation' is caused by internal strife, external enemies, or some... excessively energetic individual.

She categorized Kong Yan'er's mischievous behavior perfectly as "the daily work of a ruler," making it seem trivial, yet causing Kong Yan'er's smug smile to vanish.

"Hey! What do you mean by 'an individual with excess energy'? We call this bringing indispensable 'variables' and 'surprises' to the dull daily routine!"

Kong Yan'er protested.

"Yes, yes, what a surprise!"

Hysilens replied lazily, her deep blue eyes looking at Kong Yan'er with a hint of mockery.

"For example, last month they turned Caesar's private study into an underwater palace-themed 'surprise'? I almost tripped over a phantom coral that suddenly appeared when I was looking for important documents."

Kong Yan'er: "... Wasn't that to relieve His Majesty's fatigue from reviewing memorials? An underwater theme, so relaxing!"

Cerydra remained expressionless. "My fatigue will subside once the documents are finished. I don't need those ink-spraying phantom octopuses interfering with my annotations."

Luo Li almost burst out laughing, but he suppressed it and nodded seriously, "Hmm, it seems the adjustment period isn't over yet; we still need to 'get to know each other better'."

He paused, then, encouraged by Castorice's smiling gaze, finally revealed his true intentions, asking with a smile in the most casual yet most direct tone, "So, you two... when do you plan to take this unique way of 'getting to know each other better,' like... getting married or something?"

Puff--!

Kong Yan'er spat out the drink he had just taken a sip of, but luckily he reacted quickly. With a wave of his magic wand, the spit-out liquid turned into a cluster of colorful soap bubbles that floated away without harming anyone else. However, he himself was choked and coughed repeatedly.

Cerydra's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the cup. A rare, extremely subtle, almost surprised expression flickered across her usually calm face. Though it vanished in an instant, and she regained her usual composure, a very faint blush seemed to rise at the base of her ears, so fleeting that it seemed like a trick of light and shadow.

Hysilens was taken aback at first, then burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking slightly. She looked at Luo Li, her eyes filled with admiration that said, "You really dare to ask," and excitement at the prospect of a good show.

"Getting... married?!"

Kong Yan'er finally stopped coughing, her heterochromatic eyes widened, she pointed at herself, then at Cerydra, her voice rising eight octaves.

"Data God! Has your brain been contorted by the time chaos of your two little devils?! Me, this rigid, serious tyrant whose mind is only about Law and chess?! What kind of cosmic joke is this?!"

Cerydra had completely regained her composure, even more so than usual. She glanced indifferently at Kong Yan'er, her gaze as if he were a noisy, insignificant source of noise, before saying to Luo Li, "Nonsense. My marriage concerns the very foundation of the kingdom; it cannot be treated lightly."

A standard, impeccable, official response, befitting a queen.

However, Luo Li keenly noticed a complex emotion—not entirely one of rejection—fleeting beneath her slightly drooping, thick eyelashes when she said "This is no joke."

Meanwhile, Hysilens's smile deepened as she gently swirled the glass in her hand, as if savoring something sweeter than honey.

"Just kidding?"

Luo Li shrugged, deciding to add fuel to the fire.

"But I've heard that recently, there seems to be a quiet increase in discussions within the Okhema court about whether Her Majesty needs a partner who can bring 'variation' and 'vitality' to balance her overly strict ruling style?"

It seems that the story originated from a few highly respected senior officials.

This was, of course, edge information that Lu Jingheng had captured from the Okhema data stream, which Luo Li was now "making good use of".

Cerydra frowned almost imperceptibly as she looked at the attendant beside her.

The attendant immediately lowered his head, indicating that he would investigate the source of the rumor.

Kong Yan'er jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "What?! Those old fogies actually dare to discuss His Majesty's marriage?! And they even brought up 'variables' and 'vitality'?! This is clearly..."

He stopped mid-sentence, seemingly realizing he had overreacted. His face flushed red, and he angrily sat down, grabbed his cup, and gulped down a mouthful, only to choke.

Seeing Kong Yan'er's stubbornness despite being clearly concerned, and Cerydra's seemingly calm demeanor but actually slightly disordered breathing, Luo Li and Castorice exchanged a smile.

Hysilens finally put down her cup, wiped away the tears of laughter, and said in a drawn-out tone, "Oh dear, it seems some people, though they say no, their bodies... oh no, I mean the winds of Okhema are honestly blowing in a certain direction~"

As she spoke, she glanced meaningfully at Cerydra, her eyes gentle and profound. The understanding and support contained within them transcended the ordinary relationship between ruler and subject; it was more like a tacit, unspoken protection and blessing.

Cerydra avoided Hysilens's gaze and Luo Li's inquisitive, smiling look, turning her attention back to the bustling market below. However, her straight back seemed even more tense than before.

Kong Yan'er, on the other hand, lowered his head and viciously poked at the few remaining bubbles in his drink with the straw. His usually bright heterochromatic eyes were now somewhat unfocused, and it was unclear what he was thinking. However, his bright red ears betrayed his turbulent inner turmoil.

On the terrace, a gentle breeze carries the aroma of tea mixed with the sweet scent of honey.

Once some topics are brought up, they are like pebbles thrown into a calm lake; ripples are created, and it's hard to go back to the pure "noise" and "tolerance" of the past.

As for where these ripples will ultimately lead...

Luo Li felt that this would probably be the most anticipated "series" in Okhema from now on, and he was happy to be a front-row spectator.