Knowing the valid fact that had just been announced, that the yellow-golden-haired elf was not just a common member of the elven race but a High Elf, a mythological being whose status was said to be equal to that of kings or princes, the thousands of people in the coliseum fell into an even deeper, more profound state of shock. They seemed to have forgotten how to even blink.
The Azvel Continent, which for centuries had been dominated solely by humans, was now a living witness to history. No one had ever imagined that a High Elf so handsome, majestic, and real would be standing in the center of arena.
In the honorary VIP stands, all the high-ranking officials from various kingdoms were just as surprised as the other spectators. King Nortvan, in particular, who had been observing the team from the Garveon Kingdom, was not exempt from this shock. However, there was something else that caught his attention even more than the presence of the High Elf.
His sharp eyes scrutinized the composition of the team, and he finally realized a unique fact that felt rather unsettling: all of the representatives from the Garveon Kingdom standing around Kazien Altavis were men.
Recalling the words of a griffon earlier who mentioned that Kazien was entering the tournament with his three fiancés, King Nortvan felt an immense curiosity. Among the nobility of the Azvel Continent, having a same-sex partner was not necessarily strange, but having two male fiancés from the Altavis family and a High Elf fiancé was a phenomenon that was both extremely rare and, in their eyes, bizarre.
Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, King Nortvan leaned slightly toward King Nalvon, who was sitting not far from his chair.
"Forgive me if this question sounds a bit intrusive, King Nalvon." King Nortvan said in a tone that was slightly awkward yet still maintained the politeness expected between fellow rulers. "However, is it true that Kazien Altavis indeed has three fiancés who are all men, and two of whom still bear the Altavis family name?"
At that very moment, King Nalvon turned and looked at King Nortvan with a subtle smile that was difficult to decipher.
"Yes, your observation is entirely correct, King Nortvan!" he answered without a shred of hesitation, his voice clear enough to be heard by several nobles around them. "However, rather than asking me, you should perhaps ask Duke Elgard Altavis directly, who is sitting right in the row next to me. After all, he is the boy's biological father."
Hearing King Nalvon direct the conversation to the figure of the Duke with the strongest military territory, who was sitting not far from his own king, King Nortvan was slightly startled. He immediately turned toward Duke Elgard and realized his own forwardness in discussing the private affairs of the Duke's family so openly.
"Ah, I see. Please forgive the forwardness of my tongue, Lord Duke Elgard, and the entire Altavis family." King Nortvan said sincerely, bowing his head slightly to show respect.
Duke Elgard, who had been listening all along, only smiled calmly and with great dignity. He bowed slightly in return to the king's gesture. "For the Altavis family, our son's choice of the heart is not a matter of shame, but a matter of pride that we accept with open arms." Duke Elgard answered honestly. "Their happiness is our priority as their parents."
King Nortvan, Queen Margaretha, and all the other kingdom officials who heard Duke Elgard's words were stunned. They never expected the entire Altavis family to fully support Kazien's decision, one that would normally be considered strange, given he chose two men who still carried the Altavis name as his fiancés.
Meanwhile, back in the center of the arena, the spectators' silence began to be replaced by whispers of awe regarding the High Elf. The host standing at the podium flipped through the notes in his hand, preparing to ask a formal question to the most highlighted participant of the day.
"Young Master Alvin Dass'el Latreess, many parties have submitted this question through the committee and academy officials. Why is it that you, a majestic High Elf from across the sea, are here on this human continent?" the host asked, his voice echoing to every corner of the arena. "Are you looking for something important here on the Azvel Continent?"
Everyone held their breath, eagerly awaiting the answer from the mythic race.
However, Alvin, who stood tall in the center of the arena, only looked at the host with an incredibly flat expression.
"I apologize, but I have no desire to answer that question." Alvin answered in a very firm yet polite tone, cutting through the anticipation of the thousands in the stands. "I stand here solely to participate in the tournament as a student, not to discuss personal matters or political affairs."
After a moment of silence following such a blunt refusal, the host nodded in understanding. As a professional, he knew the boundaries and did not dare to press a participant of such a respected race to answer further.
However, the calm the host tried to maintain was suddenly shattered. Not by the audience, but by Arken.
The brown-haired teenager, who had been silent until now, suddenly took a step forward. His face looked visibly irritated. He pointed straight at the podium where the host was standing.
"Hey, you, the guy standing over there!" Arken shouted without using a magic loudspeaker, yet his voice, infused with mana, pierced through the distance and was heard clearly throughout the arena.
The host turned immediately with a look of confusion. "Is there anything you want to ask, Young Master Arken Altavis?"
"All this time, we have worked hard to keep our identities and our last names a secret! Even within our own academy and the capital of the Garveon Kingdom, no one knew our true identity!" Arken shouted loudly, venting his frustration without caring about the stares of the thousands in the stands. "So why did you so easily expose our full identities in a public place like this? Are you and the tournament organizers intentionally looking for trouble with us?"
Hearing the cry of anger that had just echoed, both the host and everyone present to watch the tournament fell into a stiff silence. They looked at one another with confused expressions. No one had ever imagined that the Altavis family had been intentionally keeping their precious identities a secret.
Not only the spectators, but in the honorary VIP stands, Duke Elgard and Duchess Larina looked just as surprised. They both furrowed their brows and turned toward King Nalvon simultaneously for an explanation.
"Your Majesty..." Duke Elgard called out in a confused tone. "Is what Arken just said true? Is it true that while they lived in the capital and studied at the academy, they always hid their identities?"