'Knock! Knock! Knock…!'
"Come in."
As Sunday's voice fell, the office door was pushed open from the outside.
The galaxy's premier songstress, Miss Robin, endowed with both beauty and intellect, stepped lightly into the room with graceful strides.
"Brother, and… Lord Dreammaster?"
Seeing Sunday and the hidden night thrush perched on the desk, Robin asked with a hint of uncertainty.
"It is I, child," the hidden night thrush nodded, confirming its identity as the Dreammaster.
"You're here, Robin."
Sunday gave a gentle smile, though behind that smile hid a trace of bitterness and helplessness.
"Brother, you and Lord Dreammaster called me here. Is there something important?" Robin asked, somewhat puzzled.
Of course, she wasn't entirely clueless. The Dreammaster could be considered the lord of Penacony, and her brother was the head of the Oak Family.
With the Harmony Festival approaching, their summoning her likely meant they wanted to discuss matters concerning the festival.
"Come, Robin, to my side."
The Dreammaster 'Gopher Wood' extended its wings, gesturing for the girl to come closer.
Robin didn't react strongly to this. During the war, she and Sunday's parents perished in the conflict, and it was the Dreammaster who took in the two siblings.
In a sense, the Dreammaster 'Gopher Wood' was their father.
"Lord Dreammaster, what important matter do you have to discuss by calling me here?"
"Hahaha, no rush, no rush, Robin. Let your teacher take a good look at you."
Gopher Wood laughed heartily, its gaze sweeping over Robin. The latter, however, was slightly puzzled.
Miss Robin didn't understand the significance of the Dreammaster's actions.
"Robin, how old are you this year?"
After a brief inspection, the Dreammaster 'Gopher Wood' flapped its wings and abruptly asked.
"Nineteen… hm? Lord Dreammaster, why are you suddenly asking this?"
At this, Miss Robin sensed something amiss. Given the Dreammaster's unique existence, it was impossible for him not to know her age.
This question surely carried some ulterior motive.
"Nineteen… hm, in Penacony, you've reached the age for marriage."
'Thud!'
Hearing Gopher Wood's words, Robin's heart skipped a beat. As the songstress who, in the original story, helped the Trailblazers defeat the Lord of Sunday, her wisdom was in no way inferior to her brother's.
After hearing Gopher Wood's words, Miss Robin's shoulders trembled slightly, and she asked with an uneasy expression.
"Lord Dreammaster, do you mean…?"
"Just as you're thinking," the Dreammaster 'Gopher Wood' flapped its wings and landed on the shoulder of Sunday, who had been standing silently to the side.
"Your brother and I have found a suitable marriage partner for you. If you can come together, it will be a tremendous boon for both you and Penacony."
Gopher Wood's words struck Robin's mind like a heavy hammer. In an instant, the songstress felt her vision blur, her delicate frame swaying slightly, barely able to stand.
"Phew—!"
The girl took a deep breath to steady herself, then exhaled heavily.
Undoubtedly, this was an arranged marriage, contrary to the will of Harmony. Yet, even so, the girl had no other choice.
Perhaps if she firmly refused, given Sunday's deep affection for her, this arranged marriage could be called off.
But precisely because she knew how deep her brother's love for her was, she didn't refuse.
For something—or someone—to make Sunday yield on this matter, it had to be an absolutely significant issue.
"I… I accept…"
Robin pursed her lips lightly. Without even knowing who this supposed marriage partner was, the girl made a decision that would change her life forever.
"Robin…"
Seeing his sister's aggrieved expression, the head of the family felt a pang of sorrow. He wanted to say something, but… what could he say?
"Well done, Robin. You've made a decision that could alter the fate of Penacony. Child, you are my pride."
The Dreammaster 'Gopher Wood' nodded with satisfaction.
Robin merely lowered her head silently, responding to Gopher Wood's words with soft murmurs of 'mm.'
"Then… Lord Dreammaster, may I now know who my future partner is?"
"Of course. That would be Mr. Yun Fan, the Emissary of Causality who arrived in Penacony some time ago. I believe you've already had some interactions with him."
"It's him!" Robin was slightly surprised. The girl hadn't expected that the marriage partner arranged by the Dreammaster and her brother would be that person.
The one capable of effortlessly tearing apart Penacony, potentially burying the dreamscape world entirely.
But, in a way, it made sense. After all, an emissary was a guest any faction in the universe would eagerly court.
Fortunately, in this unfortunate situation, Robin, having already met Yun Fan, knew a bit about his character.
The days she spent with him were quite pleasant… well, they would have been even better if that Masked Fool named Sparkle hadn't shown up.
As for Yun Fan, Miss Robin couldn't say she liked him, but she certainly didn't dislike him either.
Watching Robin leave, the head of the family fell into a prolonged silence. Knowing she wouldn't easily overcome her emotional turmoil, the Dreammaster patted Sunday's shoulder and flapped its wings, leaving his office.
After a long while, Sunday, still standing in place, let out a sigh filled with self-blame and lamentation.
"O soul of threefold visage, please tell me: if the weak must sacrifice to gain the benefits of survival, then what is the purpose of Harmony's existence?"