Chapter 279: I will make everyone happy!

The National Celebration officially began.

The spectacle spread out beyond the castle, and the entire capital seemed coated in a layer of golden light. Banners embroidered with the family crest hung along the streets, swaying gently in the breeze.

Queen Sista wore a luxurious dark purple gown. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and the diamond crown on her head glittered in the sunlight. She held Su Ling’s hand as they walked slowly, followed by a squad of Royal Guards in silver armor.

“Look, it’s Her Majesty the Queen!”

“Who’s that girl beside her?”

“I heard she’s the future Queen…”

Whispers spread through the crowd. Su Ling felt her cheeks grow hot.

Sista tightened her fingers slightly, signaling her not to worry.

In the marketplace, vendors displayed their finest wares: silk from the East gleamed with a soft luster in the sun, the scent of spices mixed with freshly baked bread hung in the air, and acrobats spewed flames to the delighted screams of children.

An elderly woman knelt by the roadside, trembling hands offering a bouquet of wildflowers to the Queen.

“Your Majesty, may the Goddess always bless you…”

Sista stopped—a rare occurrence—and accepted the humble flowers with a slight nod of thanks.

Su Ling noticed that the Queen’s cold profile softened for a moment.

As they turned a corner, they encountered Tii on patrol.

The Director of Intelligence was rarely seen in a formal uniform. The dark green military outfit accentuated her slender figure. She gave Sista a crisp military salute, but her jade-green eyes were fixed straight on Su Ling.

“I’m entrusting security to you during the celebration.”

Sista’s voice was calm, without a ripple.

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

A playful smile tugged at Tii’s lips.

“After all, we have to protect… important people.”

Su Ling felt the air between them freeze.

Just then, a fluffy figure darted out from the crowd.

Phil was hugging a large bag of candy, her cat ears perked up with excitement.

“Su Ling! Look what yummy stuff I found!”

She bounced over cheerfully, then abruptly stopped when she saw Sista, her ears drooping.

“Y-Your Majesty…”

Sista let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

“No need for formalities during the celebration.”

The procession continued, but Su Ling couldn’t help looking back.

She saw Tii bending down to say something to Phil, who then blushed and hid the candy behind her back.

The image warmed Su Ling’s heart.

“You really like them.”

Sista’s voice was so soft that only Su Ling could hear it.

Su Ling bit her lower lip.

“I…”

“Look at me.”

The Queen stopped. Her crimson eyes churned with complex emotions.

“Can you really not choose among us?”

In the distance, the celebration band played a joyful melody, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere.

Su Ling gazed at Sista’s delicate features, then thought of Tii’s stubborn green eyes and Phil’s innocent smile.

“I like you, and I like Tii, and Phil…”

She said softly.

“In different ways, but all sincerely.”

Sista’s gaze instantly turned cold.

Su Ling could feel the Queen’s hand trembling slightly in hers, but in the end, that hand did not let go.

“You know that by my position, I could command you to belong only to me.”

Sista’s voice was like ice.

“But that would lose meaning.”

Su Ling’s heart tightened.

“Your Majesty…”

“Don’t speak.”

Sista cut her off.

Su Ling secretly noticed Sista’s fingertips tapping lightly on her knee—a small gesture she made when agitated.

“Return to the palace.”

In the carriage ride back, silence pressed like a solid mass between them.

Once they returned to the palace, Sista was immediately surrounded by ministers handling state affairs.

Su Ling went back to the bedchamber alone.

The maids had already prepared hot bathwater. Rare essential oils brought back from a foreign land by Sista last time floated on the surface of the bath, emitting a faint scent of cedar and jasmine, seeming to carry a calming power.

The warm water soothed her skin. Su Ling let out a long sigh.

After bathing, she changed into a soft nightgown and lay down on the velvet-sheeted bed.

A maid brought delicate tea and snacks—honey cake that gave off an enticing sweet fragrance, accompanied by steaming rose tea.

Su Ling took small bites.

It was a treat she had never tasted when she was a maid.

Outside the window, the celebration fireworks began to light up the night sky. Their brilliant colors passed through the stained glass, casting dappled shadows on the bedroom floor.

Su Ling watched those fleeting lights and recalled a line spoken by a certain poet from Ansels:

“Feelings are like fireworks—either they bloom spectacularly, or they never start at all.”

The door opened softly.

Sista entered silently.

She had already changed out of her elaborate gown and wore only a simple silver robe. She looked tired and fragile.

“Is it good?”

She asked, looking at the pastry in Su Ling’s hand.

Su Ling nodded.

“Would you like to taste it?”

Unexpectedly, Sista really came over and took a small bite of the cake from Su Ling’s hand.

The Queen’s lips brushed against her fingertips, sending a shiver through her.

“Too sweet.”

Sista frowned, but when she saw Su Ling’s surprised expression, a slight smile tugged at her lips.

“What, did you think I would stay angry?”

Su Ling lowered her eyes.

“I… don’t know.”

Sista sighed and sat down beside her, reaching out to stroke her still-damp hair.

“I’ve thought about it for a long time. If this is the only way to make you stay by my side…”

Fireworks bloomed in the night sky, illuminating Sista’s rare tender expression.

Su Ling felt her heart tighten.

She suddenly understood what kind of concession the Queen had made.

“Thank you.”

She said softly, taking the initiative to hold Sista’s hand.

Sista didn’t reply, only held her hand tighter.

Outside the window, the last firework dissolved into the night, leaving only starlight silently watching the pair leaning close.

—

Two weeks after the celebration.

In the Royal Council Chamber, candles burned brightly.

Sista sat on the throne, fingertips lightly tapping the gilded armrest. Before her lay an open gilded document.

“Your Majesty, are you certain you want to do this?”

The aged Grand Seal Bearer’s voice trembled.

“This… this goes against tradition…”

“Tradition is meant to be broken.”

Tii lounged by the window, her military coat draped casually over her shoulder.

“Or would you rather we continue our covert infighting in the court?”

Phil was busy sneaking grapes from the far end of the long table and almost choked at Tii’s words.

“I-I never participated in any fighting!”

Sista suddenly stood up.

Her black hair fell like a waterfall over the embroidered pattern on her gown.

She walked over to Su Ling.

“Three months ago, you said you couldn’t choose.”

The Queen took Su Ling’s hand, her crimson eyes reflecting the candlelight.

“Now I’m giving you a fourth option—if you become my queen, I promise you may continue seeing them.”

Unseen, Tii had come up behind Su Ling and rested her chin familiarly on her shoulder.

“If our little Su Ling dares to refuse, I’ll use all the interrogation techniques from the Intelligence Department on you~.”

Phil seized the chance to burrow into Su Ling’s arms, her cat ears rubbing against Su Ling’s chin.

“Su Ling, I’m not leaving you no matter what!”

Su Ling’s gaze fell on them.

She took a deep breath.

And nodded solemnly.

“I… will make everyone happy!”

She said firmly.

“The wedding will be on the next new moon.”

The Queen rose, her voice cool and authoritative.

“I want the whole kingdom to know that Su Ling is my queen.”