Curious, the others approached the bed and examined the photo Alvin had left there. Duke Elgard and the entire family were immediately mesmerized by the beautiful image.
"Are these Alvin's parents?" the Duke asked, his voice soft.
"Yes, Father! Those are his parents. Their names are written underneath."
The Duke read the elegant script: "Atlasion Dass'ell Latreess and Sylvina Dass'ell Latreess."
"No wonder Alvin is so handsome. His mother's face is this beautiful." he said.
"But unfortunately, Alvin's parents have passed away," Kazien explained. "Alvin, please hand the letter to my father so they can all read it."
After receiving the letter, Duke Elgard read it. His expression changed, becoming a mask of complex emotions. Likewise, the others showed the same mixture of happiness, relief, and profound sadness after reading the words. They didn't know how to express the torrent of feelings.
The main hall of Elgard Mansion had never felt so quiet. Even the tall stained glass windows, usually filled with sparkling sunlight, seemed dim, as if the world itself had chosen to listen. All the members of the Duke Elgard family stood frozen, their breaths short, their minds tangled.
"Now, Alvin is the only High Elf left in this world."
Kaien's voice carried weight—final and unyielding, like a sentence carved into stone.
A sharp inhale echoed through the hall.
"What did you say?" Duke Elgard asked, rising slowly from his seat. His composure, famed across kingdoms, cracked undeniably for the first time.
High elves are not just a race. They are the guardians of the elves. And now, to hear such words spoken so plainly…
"That's impossible!" Sarias talked to himself.
But Kaien did not repeat himself.
The silence that followed was heavier than anger or grief. It was the silence of truth settling where denial once lived.
Sarias, standing near the front, felt his legs weaken.
"K–Kazien…" he stammered, clutching the folds of his robe. "Is… is what you said true?"
Kazien stepped forward. His eyes were calm, but behind that calm burned something relentless—devotion.
"That is what Goddess Nirfelia herself told me, Brother-in-law Sarias," he said firmly. "A goddess does not lie. And I have no reason to doubt her words."
A shudder ran through the hall.
Alvin, who had stood still in the midst of everything, felt as if the world was spinning beneath his feet. He knew his lineage was rare. But to be the last one...
His fingers trembled.
"And there is more!" Kazien continued.
Everyone in the hall braced themselves.
"The Goddess ordered me to ensure that Alvin will give birth to three High Elf children in the future."
Several people gasped aloud.
"That order," Kazien added gravely, "is absolute."
Alvin's mind went blank. "Give… birth?" He repeated Kazien's words in disbelief.
Alvin stared intently at his future husband's face as he walked toward him. "Are you blind?" he snapped, anger and disbelief mixing uncontrollably. "I'm a man! A male High Elf! How could I possibly give birth to a child?!"
His words echoed, raw and desperate.
Kazien met his gaze without fear.
"The Goddess told me everything!" he said slowly. "You will become pregnant. One month before the birth, your body will transform into that of a woman. After the child reaches the age of five, you will return to your original male form."
They looked at each other after hearing his words.
"And the same will happen for the second and third child. Each time, your body will change only as needed. Once the three children are born… you will never become pregnant again."
Kazien paused, his voice softening.
"And for the remainder of your life, you will remain a male High Elf."
No one ever imagined that this could happen to Alvin.
Sarias covered his mouth, utterly speechless. Duke Elgard pressed his trembling hand to his head.
Yet among all that shock—Alvin felt something else.
Joy.
Pure, overwhelming joy.
His mint-green eyes shining.
"My dear," he said softly, disbelief mingled with hope, "are you serious?"
Kazien smiled—for once, unguarded and sincere.
"It is the truth. I even questioned the Goddess myself. I complained that it would be cruel to change you like that." He chuckled lightly. "She laughed and assured me that the transformation would only occur during pregnancy and breastfeeding."
Alvin's lips trembled before stretching into a radiant smile.
"So… I can have children?" he asked with joy. "Children with you?"
Kazien nodded.
Alvin laughed.
Then he cried.
Then he laughed again, emotion crashing over him like waves long held back.
"Finally!" he said, voice breaking. "Finally! I can have children—even as a man! I never thought that I, a man, could give birth to a child with you!."
Before anyone could react, Alvin threw himself into Kazien's arms, hugging him tightly—desperately—as if afraid the moment would disappear.
"I'm so happy," he exclaimed proudly.
Kazien held him just as tightly.
"Then marry me!" Alvin suddenly blurted out. "Let's get married! I want our children to be born into love, not obligation!"
Kazien looked at Alvin's happy face after finding out that he, a man, could get pregnant. He wanted to marry him so badly. However, he was not old enough to do so.
Even though he felt disappointed, I had to say it! My goal was indeed to marry him, but he also had to understand that age was a barrier to this marriage.
Kazien tilted his head, teasing light in his eyes.
"Then tell me," he asked gently, "are you truly alright with being called 'mother' by our children?"
Alvin blinked. Then he laughed.
"If I'm the one who gives birth to them," he said easily, "why would I refuse being called their mother?"
"That's…" Kazien hesitated, then chuckled. "Still strange to imagine."
The laughter spread.
Sarias laughed through his tears. Duke Elgard let out a relieved, disbelieving chuckle. One by one, the hall filled with warmth once more.
For the first time since the revelation, the future felt bright.
"I will marry you," Kazien said, trying to make Alvin understand. "but a few years from now. You can be patient until then, right?"
"Of course I'll wait, my dear!" Alvin answered without hesitation, full of hope.
Kazien was truly proud of Alvin, who understood his situation very well. However, he could also feel annoyed because Alvin sometimes couldn't control his sexual desire.
For Alvin, his nearly extinct race was not an obstacle to finding happiness with Kazien, his future husband. And now he feels he is standing at the beginning of a new chapter—not as the burden of a prophecy, but as someone who is loved.
The last High Elf was no longer alone.