I told you those two would end up together
The bustling atmosphere in the holy city of Okhema today is quite different from what it used to be.
It's not a celebration, but it's even better than one.
It wasn't war, yet the entire city's guards were on high alert—to prevent one of the main characters from getting too excited and turning the wedding into a major magic show mishap.
Yes, a wedding.
The wedding of Cerydra and Kong Yan'er.
When Luo Li and his family arrived at the Cloud Stone Heavenly Palace Square through the data channel, even the God of Data, who was used to seeing the wonders of the starry sky, was slightly shocked by the scene before him.
The square has been completely transformed.
The once solemn white stone floor is now covered with a carpet shimmering with starlight and rainbow light, stretching all the way to a temporary altar that blends Okhema's classical columns with the colorful geometric patterns of the Path of Elation.
On either side of the platform, on the left, stood rows of royal guards in white and gold armor, their expressions solemn.
On the right is a group of people dressed in bright colors, holding all sorts of strange and wonderful musical instruments (including but not limited to trumpet flowers that can play by themselves and small drums that can produce rainbow notes), all of them beaming with Elation.
The guests were a diverse bunch.
The elder nobles of Okhema, dressed in their most formal attire, wore somewhat subtle expressions, occasionally stealing glances at the group of Elation musicians;
Friends from all corners of the universe, clearly "invited" by Kong Yan'er from who-knows-where, were dressed in strange clothes and laughing and joking;
You can even see several intelligent florists from Ruan Mei Workshop (carrying congratulatory potted plants) and automated machines from the Herta Space Station (with the message "Congratulations, remember you still owe me three experimental observation days" scrolling on the screen).
"This lineup..." Luo Li looked around and couldn't help but chuckle.
Castorice linked her arm with his, her purple eyes smiling, "It suits their style perfectly, doesn't it?"
Shiyu and Shiyi followed behind their parents, looking around curiously.
Now grown into young women, one with a calm demeanor and the other with lively eyes, they attracted many admiring glances.
"Father, you expected this all along?"
Shiyu asked softly, her gaze falling on the two figures in the center of the platform who had not yet appeared.
Luo Li smiled and said, "I had a feeling about it from the first time I saw them arguing—or rather, 'interacting'."
As they were talking, a commotion and gasps of surprise suddenly arose from the crowd.
Above the platform, the air seemed to have been overturned, bursting forth with countless dazzling colored light spots. These light spots spun and converged, forming a huge, slowly rotating Kaleidoscope pattern.
At the center of the design, a figure dressed in a pure white magician's suit with gold trim, so ornate it's almost exaggerated, lands lightly as if stepping out of a dream.
It's Kong Yan'er.
He was clearly dressed up carefully today; his black and white hair was combed meticulously, his heterochromatic eyes shone brighter than usual in the sunlight, and his smile was so radiant it almost overflowed.
After he stopped, he turned gracefully and stretched out his hand into the void.
As he moved, the Kaleidoscope pattern suddenly collapsed inward, transforming into countless tiny, colorful butterflies that fluttered and gathered on the other side of the stage.
The light butterflies dispersed, revealing the figure of Cerydra.
She unusually did not wear royal attire, but instead wore a simple yet extremely elegant white and gold wedding dress with a skirt that flowed like moonlight. Her long blue and white hair was carefully braided and adorned with tiny star-shaped gemstones.
Her face still carried the usual calm that belonged to an empress, but upon closer inspection, one could see the slightly pursed corners of her lips and the brilliance in the depths of her blue eyes that was more dazzling than the stars.
She didn't look at Kong Yan'er's outstretched hand, but naturally placed her own hand on it.
Kong Yan'er's smile deepened. He gripped that hand tightly and snapped his fingers with his other hand.
Snap!
The sky full of colorful butterflies instantly transformed into a rain of petals, which fell in a flurry.
The Elation Orchestra then played a strange yet inexplicably harmonious tune—the first half of which was the solemn wedding march of Okhema, and the second half seamlessly switched to a kind of cheerful, bouncy, and magical beat that made you want to sway along.
Amidst a shower of petals, the two walked slowly toward the center of the stage, their steps echoing this peculiar "duet."
In the audience, Hysilens sat in the front row, still holding her seemingly endless cup of honey wine, a lazy and contented smile on her face.
As Cerydra passed by, she slightly raised her glass and silently uttered something.
Cerydra nodded almost imperceptibly to her, and in their exchange of glances, there was a tacit understanding and blessing that had been unspoken for thousands of years.
The Luo Li family was seated in the VIP section.
Watching the newlyweds walk onto the altar, Shiyi couldn't help but whisper to her sister, "Wow, Uncle Kong Yan'er didn't conjure up glowing star patterns on His Majesty Caesar's wedding dress today? That's not like him."
She had barely finished speaking—
As if to confirm her words, Kong Yan'er blinked the moment she stopped, turned around, and faced Cerydra.
A tiny, iridescent ring of starlight, flickering like a breath, quietly appeared at the hem of Cerydra's elegant wedding dress.
Not too much, not too flashy, it adds just the right touch of liveliness.
Cerydra clearly noticed this; she raised her eyes and glanced at Kong Yan'er indifferently.
Kong Yan'er immediately put on an innocent expression that said, "I didn't do it, Xingguang just fell in love with you."
A suppressed chuckle came from the audience.
Luo Li smiled and whispered to Castorice beside her, "See, I told you so."
The ceremony was presided over by a highly respected priest from Okhema, and the process was solemn and simple—at least during the priest's part.
When it came time to exchange vows and tokens, Kong Yan'er's "solo show" began.
Instead of producing a traditional ring, he magically produced two shimmering rings from his palm, as if they were formed from liquid starlight.
"In the name of Elation..." He suppressed some of his playful laughter, his heterochromatic eyes fixed intently on Cerydra, his voice clear and serious.
I give you the most unpredictable 'surprise' and the freest 'possibility' in the universe.
From now on, half the mystery of my magic lies in you; half the destination of my journey lies in you.
He gently placed one of the rings on Cerydra's left ring finger.
The moment the ring touched her finger, its brilliance subsided, transforming into a thin, silver pattern that seemed to contain endless starlight, wrapping around her finger.
Cerydra watched him silently, then picked up another ring.
"In the name of the Law..." Her voice was as steady as ever, yet clearer than ever, echoing in every corner of the square.
I bestow upon you the strongest 'protection' and the most enduring 'promise' in the Order.
From this day forward, my chessboard will allow a piece that moves against the rules yet remains forever on the field; my territory will forever be open to a pardoned, radiant light.
She put the ring on his finger.
The same restrained radiance left a faint, intricate golden pattern on Kong Yan'er's finger, resembling a precise rune.
The old priest announced at the opportune moment, "By the ancient covenant and the stars as witnesses, the two are united in marriage..."
"Wait a moment!"
Kong Yan'er suddenly raised his hand to interrupt, and amidst everyone's surprised gazes, he said with a grin, "The traditional 'You may kiss the bride now' is so unoriginal!"
He turned to Cerydra, winking slyly, "Your Majesty, would you mind... something special?"
Cerydra looked at him, remained silent for two seconds, and then nodded almost imperceptibly.
Kong Yan'er smiled broadly, took a half step back, and opened his arms.
Boom!
Centered on him, the entire stage and even the sky over most of the square were instantly filled with countless blooming, silent, and dazzling virtual fireworks.
Those were no ordinary fireworks; each burst was a flowing galaxy, a rotating constellation, a leaping stream of data, a blooming exotic flower... It was all the beautiful scenery that Kong Yan'er had seen during his travels through the universe, the ultimate projection of all the Elation and love in his heart.
At the very center of the sky filled with "fireworks," the two looked at each other, and then, witnessed by billions of stars and colors, they kissed.
Without a master of ceremonies' commands or traditional procedures, it was more moving than any other program.
Below the stage, Hysilens had put down her wine glass at some point, clapping softly, her eyes seemingly glistening with tears, yet her smile was incredibly bright.
Luo Li let out a long sigh, leaned back in her chair, and wore an undisguised smug smile, saying to Castorice, "See? I told you they'd be together."
Castorice nestled against him and said softly, "Yes, it's so nice."
Shiyu watched quietly, her eyes reflecting the dazzling light, lost in thought.
Shiyi excitedly whispered, "That's so cool! Weddings can be like this! I want to do that in the future too... um!"
Her older sister gently tugged at her, signaling her to be mindful of the occasion.
The fireworks gradually faded, but the festive atmosphere grew even stronger. Elation band played their true carnival tunes, and the guests began to cheer and offer their blessings.
Kong Yan'er, holding Cerydra's hand, walked to the edge of the platform to receive the congratulations from the crowd.
He still smiled like a child who had received all the candy in the world, and Cerydra stood beside him, her usual seriousness now imbued with an undeniable gentleness and warmth.
One is the most rigorous Queen of Order, the other is the most unrestrained Emanator of Elation.
Despite their seemingly extreme differences, they found a unique balance and harmony through a long process of "confrontation" and "adjustment."
Luo Li raised the cup of blessed honey offered by the waiter, and facing the newlyweds, and the bustling, happy world around them, whispered:
"Congratulations."
"And... I knew it."