Chapter 7: A Procedural Marriage and Hidden Motives

Booboo’s tone of voice did not possess the lively, whimsical quality typically associated with fantasy creatures.

Quite the opposite, it felt rather somber and antiquated.

Yet, the inherent vocal timbre of a fantasy creature made this ancient quality sound more like a child deliberately mimicking an adult’s speech.

Su Qingyao was not surprised by the title ‘Your Eminence’.

The young woman gently set Su Muxue, who had been nestled in her lap, down beside her with a comforting pat on the shoulder.

Then, leaning forward, she threaded her hands through the stuffed dog’s front paws, effortlessly lifting them into the air.

“Booboo, you’re currently living at Muxue’s house, aren’t you?”

The hot water kettle, released from her grip, was gently held aloft by Su Qingyao’s magic and placed onto the nearby coffee table, while Booboo, cradled in her palm, nodded obediently.

Two cross-shaped scars were stitched together, with two large buttons serving as their eyes.

“That’s right. After reporting to the ‘Tower’, I received permission to freely choose my place of residence.”

“According to the treaty, as long as no laws or precepts are violated, I may accept an invitation from a contract partner and settle in their home.”

The Tower, treaties, and precepts.

Regrettably, despite Su Qingyao’s considerable standing within the ‘Magical Girl’ system, thirty years had proven too long an absence.

These emerging concepts were indeed quite unfamiliar to her.

Nevertheless, Su Qingyao could surmise the general situation.

After all, prior to Su Qingyao’s demise, the homeland of these ‘fantasy creatures’ had already been utterly and completely annihilated.

Therefore, after the calamity, their will to survive likely compelled them to seek agreements with human organizations in the new world, allowing them to coexist with new companions after adhering to certain regulations and oversight.

Su Qingyao voiced her conjecture to Booboo, receiving affirmation in return.

The stuffed toy, which appeared to be patched together from several pieces of solid-colored fabric, shook themselves vigorously before nodding emphatically.

“Your Eminence’s guess is entirely correct—”

Booboo seemed poised to elaborate further, but in the next instant, Su Qingyao tossed them away.

“Go take a bath.” Su Qingyao furrowed her brow.

Booboo was behaving much like a husky that had spent half the day frolicking outdoors.

With just that one shake, the young woman felt at least three mud splatters fly.

The discarded Booboo, far from seeming offended, politely bowed their body.

“Understood, Your Eminence.”

“To be frank, I don’t believe you approached Su Muxue without ulterior motives.” Su Qingyao gently stroked the silver hair of the girl beside her.

Since settling down, Su Muxue had remained quietly focused on the news playing on television, paying no mind to the conversation between Booboo and Su Qingyao.

“I have enough on my plate as it is.”

“Considering you’ve looked after Muxue all this time, I won’t bother digging into your initial schemes.”

“However, if there are more ‘fantasy creatures’ behind you than just yourself, remember to bring me to meet them.”

Su Qingyao spoke with an air of indifference, her gaze never leaving Su Muxue.

“Your will, Your Eminence.”

So, Booboo had indeed settled here for the sake of Su Muxue.

Reflecting now, Luzhichuan, the senior, was much the same as Booboo.

Despite the existence of other potential methods, he had still intervened in the relationship between Su Muxue and Su Qingyao under such a flimsy pretext.

A persistent feeling lingered, a delusion that everyone around her was plotting something, and she alone was excluded.

Su Qingyao shook her head with a sigh of resignation.

Her lowered gaze met Su Muxue’s precisely.

The child’s clear, cerulean eyes were filled with curiosity and the innocence that stemmed from blissful ignorance.

‘My little Xue is truly the best.’

Su Qingyao couldn’t resist reaching out to gently rub the soft cheeks.

“Mmm-hmm.”

Su Muxue, being caressed, slightly narrowed her eyes.

She let out a contented whimper, though it was swiftly swallowed by the rustling sound of water emanating from the shower.

As for the news broadcast on television, no one was paying attention anymore:

“Another terrorist attack is unfolding in the eastern district, with… reinforcements… Citizens are urged to…”

****

Midnight.

Su Qingyao and a freshly washed Booboo sat on the master bedroom’s balcony—a room that had originally belonged to Booboo.

Now, it had rightfully been allocated to its true mistress.

Only after carrying the deeply sleeping Su Muxue into the room did Su Qingyao summon Booboo to a spot least likely to disturb her.

“Do you recognize the name ‘Luzhichuan’?”

The words, piercing the silence, gently escaped Su Qingyao’s lips.

Before Booboo, Su Qingyao’s words were direct commands, devoid of any gentle pretense.

Yet, Booboo accepted them with eager delight.

“No, I don’t,” Booboo replied honestly. “But I suspect it’s the man Your Eminence was speaking with in the living room.”

“He frequently pays attention to Lady Su Muxue, I’ve noticed.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Su Qingyao reclined on a lounge chair—what had originally been merely a fallen branch from a potted plant had been expanded and woven by her magic into a verdant rattan chair, perfectly contoured to the young woman’s figure.

Booboo understood this was merely an unconscious, effortless act by Su Qingyao.

While the ‘Magical Girl’s’ magic core influenced Su Qingyao, it was also, conversely, mastered with such finesse by this Witch that she wielded it with absolute ease.

“Yes, we ultimately determined that the man harbors no ill will towards Lady Su Muxue.”

“We?”

“Precisely.”

Booboo turned their head, glancing towards the sleeping girl.

“Initially, only I was observing, but eventually, more and more companions took notice of Lady Su Muxue.”

“And where are they?”

“…”

“Never mind. There’s no rush to address your issues.”

Su Qingyao waved a hand, setting aside the enigma surrounding Booboo.

Regardless of their intentions, these fantasy creatures were, in Su Qingyao’s presence, absolutely harmless.

“Then…” Booboo remained rooted, asking hesitantly,

“May I still stay by Lady Su Muxue’s side?”

“Go on, I allow it.”

Su Qingyao dismissed the still somewhat apprehensive Booboo, creating a quiet space for herself.

The young woman propped her legs up, deliberately leaning back slightly to gaze askance at the scattered stars, veiled by the moon’s ethereal glow on the horizon.

She finally had time to properly contemplate her next objectives.

****

[Several Hours Earlier]

[Stasis Hall, Su Qingyao’s Hospital Room]

“Marriage? Luzhichuan, Senior,”

Su Qingyao subtly stepped forward, positioning herself between Su Muxue and Luzhichuan.

“That’s hardly a laughing matter, is it?”

In the young woman’s worldview, such a jest was tantamount to a ‘provocation’ and an ‘invitation to war’.

Despite Luzhichuan making no move, Su Qingyao immediately enveloped her daughter’s sleeping bed in her spirit attire, like a veil of light gauze.

“Please provide an explanation.”

The frigid honorifics caused the former to involuntarily clear his throat.

“I know this is abrupt, but I still hope, Qingyao, that you will hear out my explanation first.”

“…I’m listening.”

“Currently, there exists something called the ‘Supernatural Aptitude Fostering Act’,” Luzhichuan narrowed his eyes.

“The specific regulations are relatively complex, but in essence, to raise a child who possesses ‘supernatural talent’ and ‘demonstrates supernatural abilities’, one of the parents must hold three forms of certification.”

“First, a Supernatural Registration Certificate. Second, a Citizen Property Appraisal. Third, a Legal Residency Record.”

“At present, Su Muxue is temporarily registered as an ‘orphan’ under the official orphanage’s management due to her guardian’s incapacity.”

“And now, if you, upon awakening, do not possess these three permits, Su Muxue can only be temporarily assigned to a special education institution according to the Act, until she reaches adulthood.”

Su Qingyao, having listened patiently, frowned deeply and shook her head.

“Luzhichuan, Senior, your argument doesn’t seem entirely rigorous.”

“Leaving aside why Mr. Chen Qingfeng couldn’t handle these simple procedures for me, even if Su Muxue were assigned to a special education institution, it would only be ‘temporary’, wouldn’t it?”

That was precisely the crux of the matter.

Realizing this, Luzhichuan couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

“Because Su Muxue is about to transition from primary to junior high school.”

“Hmm?” The familiar yet alien phrase fell upon her ears, like a childhood playmate who had always been by her side but whose memories had become blurred.

“What does that mean?”

“Special education institutions will designate Su Muxue’s academic path, or to use a sharper term, ‘allocate’ her.”

Su Muxue and Luzhichuan’s gazes intertwined, a resonance that only those from the same era could barely comprehend.

Allocation.

“As for—the issue of identity registration, that’s more pertinent to you, Qingyao.”

“Oh… let me guess, it wouldn’t happen to be internal factional conflicts, would it?”

The answer was Luzhichuan’s nod.

Su Qingyao turned, gazing at the young girl dozing in the blankets; a serene smile blossomed on her doll-like, exquisite face, as if she were having a pleasant dream, her breath soft and even.

Watching this face, Su Qingyao slowly summarized:

“So, either I get entangled in the internal factional conflicts of the council, which might not necessarily harm me, but would undoubtedly disrupt my normal life.”

“Or, I temporarily complete the procedures and entrust Su Muxue to a special education institution, with the consequence that during this sensitive period of school transitions, Su Muxue would be allocated without any choice in her future.”

‘I see.’

Su Qingyao’s voice paused here for a moment, then seemed to drift back from a distant realm.

“Or, I could enter into a ‘procedural marriage’ with you, who has already completed the necessary formalities, to ensure Su Muxue can grow up stably for a while.”

“Just for a while.”

Su Qingyao murmured to herself, “Until I’ve processed these three certifications.”