The sound of rushing water was the most beautiful music the people of Talrakia had ever heard.

  That morning, the stone city which had been listless and parched for a month, was now alive with laughter near the public wells. The water coming out was no longer murky, but crystal clear and cool. In the distance, the oasis that had once shrunk was now overflowing with water, creating a blue color that contrasted sharply against the desert sands.

  Laikha, the water serpent spirit, purified every drop of water flowing into the settlement.

  Nashr walked through the palace corridors with Rasyid after a thorough inspection. His brown travel cloak had been replaced with magnificent Persian garments with the color of maroon and ivory.

  "The well in the lower district is full, and the water in northwest oasis has exceeded normal limits," reported Rasyid while taking notes on his small parchment. His movements were stiff as usual, but there was a slight relief in his tense shoulders. "Talrakia's water supply is safe for the next few seasons, Your Majesty. We can stop the rationing system starting this afternoon."

  Nashr nodded with satisfaction. "It's all thanks to Entya. If she hadn't purified that serpent spirit, we might be discussing the evacuation of the city right now."

  Rasyid went silent. For a moment, his quill pen stopping mid motion. He glanced at Nashr with a flat unreadable look. "Of course," he muttered sarcastically. "Who would have thought? Besides running through palace corridors and scattering seeds in random places, our future queen would have a practical use that is... quite revolutionary."

  Nashr only chuckled, unfazed by his assistant's jab.

  They arrived at an open pavilion near the palace gardens. There the atmosphere was busy. Sima, Zahira and Aisha, the three wives of Rasyid, were gathered around Entya. Gerel stood beside them holding several rolls of silk fabric.

  Entya stood in the center, looking like someone who had just learned how to walk. With her body now taller and her legs longer, she nearly tripped over the edges of her own fabric multiple times. The arms that were once short now looked slender, she seemed confused about where to place her hands.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  "Don't move too much, Your Highness," said Zahira gently as she wrapped a measuring tape around Entya's waist which was now more defined. "We must ensure your new silk deel falls perfectly."

  "It feels... strange," Entya whispered. Her movements were awkward like a newborn fawn.

  Rasyid watched the scene from a distance. He let out a long sigh as a thought crossed his mind.

  'I have a king who can summon lions and forge swords from golden light' Rasyid thought to himself. 'And now I have a future queen who can grow up in an instant and make plants flourish. Eventually this merchant kingdom will turn into a magical kingdom.'

  'Maybe one of these days, I will become "magical" too just by interacting with them every day.'

  He then turned to look at Nashr. Instead of continuing the discussion about mineral trade, Nashr stood still. The Sun King was watching Entya with a gaze Rasyid had never seen before. It was a long daydream full of admiration, as if the world around him had disappeared, leaving only the silhouette of the young woman as she struggled with her measurements.

  Rasyid cleared his throat loudly, breaking the silence.

  "Your Majesty," Rasyid called out.

  Nashr startled, slightly stuttering as he looked away. "Ah, yes... what is it Rasyid?"

  Rasyid straightened his headgear, his eyes fixed on Nashr with a calculative look. "Considering the current conditions, where our future queen has been physically proven to be of legal age to marry, I suggest we don't delay any longer. We must immediately prepare for the wedding ceremony, King."

  Nashr's amethyst eyes widened. In the next second, Rasyid could have sworn he saw a faint flush creep across the cheekbones of his usually stern and dominant King.

  "Well... that is true," Nashr answered briefly his voice slightly higher than his normal tone. He glanced back at Entya this time with a more intense yet thoughtful gaze. "Plan it as soon as possible, Rasyid."

  Rasyid cheered silently in his heart, though it didn't show on his stiff face. Even though his king’s new tendency to daydream was suspicious and slightly irritating, Rasyid felt he had secured a major victory.

  'Finally,' Rasyid thought as he turned to begin giving orders to the servants. 'Our stubborn King will finally have a companion. And Talrakia will have descendants who hopefully... will not be as "magical" as their parents.'

  Nashr still stood there. His fingers brushed his maroon hair back, then lingered on the back of his neck, which felt somewhat warm. He was so stunned he almost forgot he had brought Entya as his future wife.