"Oh, by the way, Adam, I've decided to agree to Lorelie's suggestion to wear a ring you give me on a chain around my neck," Tephe stated happily.
"Err, okay," Adam replied in a surprised tone as he hadn't expected that before he asked, "Do you want to come back to the ship with me tomorrow to choose one then?"
"That's not how this works; you're supposed to pick one for me, remember," Tephe pouted.
"Oh, right, my bad. Then I will do that the next time I return," Adam conceded, as this was far better than Tephe insisting that he place a ring of his choosing on her finger.
"Great," Tephe replied with a beaming smile and then, as if she had just remembered, said, "Oh, that's right, I forgot to tell you something."
"What did you forget?" Adam asked with a smile while stroking Tephe's hair tenderly, causing her to smile as she replied.
"Revi messaged me. She wants a word with you."
"With me?" Adam replied in surprise before asking, "What about?"
"Not sure, she just told me to contact her as soon as you returned," Tephe replied happily.
"I wonder what she wants to talk to me about? I haven't spoken to her since we returned from Fenix Nest," Adam said curiously.
"Revi might be a friend and Tephe's godmother, but she's still an empress; it would be wise not to keep her waiting," Rowena advised.
"Agreed, I'm sure her time is precious," Adam said while nodding before turning to Tephe and asking, "Can you give her a call?"
"Sure," Tephe said happily before she began to play with her uniband.
"Well, it's about damn time!" Revi complained with a frown as soon as her beautiful face appeared on a large holographic screen before them all.
"Empress, please watch your tone. That's not the appropriate way for the ruler of a race to speak to others," another voice suddenly admonished, causing Revi to roll her eyes before she asked.
"Oh, please, this is my goddaughter we're talking about. If I can't speak to her like that, then who can I?"
"Well, if you would finally accept one of the marriage proposals and take a husband…" the voice started, only to be cut off by Revi, whose eyes quickly shot a look at Adam with concern before she said in an authoritative voice.
"Enough! I have told you all many times that I will decide who I marry. Now leave; I have matters to discuss with my goddaughter and her friends."
"Yes, empress," the voice said in a defeated tone.
"Sorry about that," Revi said with a sheepish grin after her assistant had left.
"Seems we called at a bad time," Rowena stated with a chuckle.
"Well, unlike you, who gets to gallivant around the universe on Adam's ship, I have a race to rule over," Revi retorted in an annoyed tone.
"You could always abdicate," Rowena suggested.
"Not until I have an heir that is capable of taking my place," Revi replied.
"Better hurry and get married then," Rowena teased in a knowing tone while flashing her signature smirk, making Revi look at her with narrowed eyes.
"You used to be much cuter, you know. I remember when you attended my coronation and were all a bundle of nerves. It was so cute," Revi retorted, making Aphrodite laugh.
"That was a long time and you were the first ruler I had ever met. I hadn't even met the progenitor at that point, and your invitation came out of the blue," Rowena replied with a shrug.
"Well, regardless, I'm happy to know that you at least still have the gift I gave you at my coronation."
"Well, sure, you yourself must understand how much that special edition communicator is worth to a collector now," Rowena teased.
"Sure, sure, keep spouting nonsense. I'm not here to speak to you today anyway; I need a word with Adam," Revi replied while rolling her eyes again.
"What's up?" Adam asked curiously.
"Adam, I need a favour," Revi stated, and everyone clearly noticed that her tone had become slightly more demure, which surprised all the women, since they had all heard how forthright Empress Revi could be.
For those present who already suspected that Revi had feelings for Adam, this only made them even more certain.
"What sort of favour?" Adam asked curiously.
"I've decided I want a vacation," Revi proclaimed.
"A vacation?" Adam asked, as he and everyone else wore looks of surprise and confusion.
"That's right, do you know how long it's been since I last had a proper vacation away from the capital and all my royal duties?" Revi asked.
"From your tone, I guess quite a while," Adam remarked.
"Ten years. It's been over ten years since the last time I didn't have to worry about my duties as empress, and that's only because I hadn't taken my human form in this reincarnation. I also haven't left the Ashes Galaxy this lifetime, and the previous times I did leave it were to perform my duties as Empress."
"You haven't had a vacation in ten years?" Adam asked in surprise before frowning and adding, "Isn't that against some universal labour laws or something? I'd speak to my union rep if I were you."
"Do rulers of planets and galaxies have a union?" Stacey asked curiously.
"I guess maybe planet rulers do if they report to the ruler of their galaxy," Rowena replied.
"You would think, but it seems that if you're the highest power in your own galaxy, then there is no one to represent you regarding employment rights," Revi replied in amusement.
"Well, who exactly would the union have to negotiate on your behalf with, a god?" Aphrodite asked with a chuckle.
"I think we're getting a little off topic," Adam remarked before asking, "So what's this favour you wanted to ask?"
"I want you to come pick me up on your way to the Reef Galaxy and let me vacation with you all," Revi declared, making them all surprised but for different reasons.
"The Reef Galaxy?" Adam questioned, as he had no knowledge about heading there anytime soon, a sentiment Rowena shared.
"Oh, right, I haven't had a chance to tell you," Lorelie suddenly said as she realised that Adam wouldn't have seen her message in the chat since he was still in the past then.
"Tell me what?" Adam asked curiously.
"I've decided that the next destination on my tour will be the Reef Galaxy," Lorelie said happily.
"Reef Galaxy? It sounds like another galaxy populated with mainly water planets like your Oasis Galaxy," Adam remarked.
"That's exactly what it is. The capital planet of the Reef Galaxy is Aqua Primus," Lorelie said with a wide smile.
"Aqua Primus? Where have I seen that name before?" Adam thought out loud.
"It's the home planet of the Syngnathidae race and also where Muriel lives," Lorelie said excitedly.
"Ohhh, that's where I've seen it, from Muriel's ID in my chat. I guess you chose to go there next, as you promised her on our date that you would invite her to one of your shows," Adam stated.
"You remember that?" Lorelie asked in surprise while her eyes sparkled with joy. She had never expected Adam to remember such a random comment she had made while fangirling over talking to Muriel, but it made her happy that he had.
"Of course," Adam replied with a smile, making Lorelie swoon slightly.
Stacey smiled as she observed Lorelie's reaction before turning to Adam and saying, "She actually decided to head there next because she wants to take you to the beach again."
"The beach?" Adam asked in surprise.
"You made that comment on stream about how you and Jenny had talked about getting a house by the sea or a lake, and so she decided that the next destination would be the Reef Galaxy," Stacey explained.
"Really? That's the reason?" Adam asked as he looked at Lorelie in surprise, who nodded while smiling at him with a loving look.
"I'm surprised you haven't heard about it. Muriel made an official Xer-verse post regarding it, inviting you all to stay at her place. She even informed Aqua Primus' Sealord, who has ordered a celebration in Lorelie's honour," Revi remarked.
"That's a thing?" Lorelie asked in shock and excitement before quickly accessing her uniband to search for the post, which she then sent over to the console in the room so it appeared on a large holographic screen next to the one Revi occupied.
[OfficialMuriel: I am making this post to publicly and officially invite both Diva Lorelie and the rest of her party to stay at my residence on Aqua Primus as she brings her New Genre Tour to the Reef Galaxy.
I have also already informed Sealord Aergagon about her decision to visit the Reef Galaxy as the next stop on her New Genre Tour and Lord Aergagon has declared that a day of celebration will be held in honour of Diva Lorelie for everything she has done to bring respect and recognition to all aquatic races in the universe.]