The entire relationship with Christelle feels forced imo. Atp it feels like the author simply does not want the story to be a BL so they shoved a woman in there and made the concept of emperor having two companions one romantic aka straight and once spiritual aka gay or optional. Just like in the ML's mom's case, she is a woman so her romantic partner was ofc ML's dad and the spiritual partner is the woman monk. This story seems to be heading in the same direction with ML having MC as his spiritual partner and the FL as the romantic partner.
Nah, they wouldn't proceed with the marriage thing because something something that will happen
i hope they don't force MC to marry Christelle or guilt him into marrying her. it just reeks of desperation. even the mother/duchess was hinting it. kinda annoying when MC clearly don't want that kind of relationship with Christelle. besides, marriage is already her personal problem. i hope she won't roped MC into it. (╯°Д °)╯╧╧