Wolvin's heart raced faster. The air inside the imperial carriage suddenly felt thin. His feelings were a chaotic mix as he awaited his husband's answer.
Calian lowered his hand from his chin. The slight smile that had graced his face shifted into an expression of absolute resolve. The purple-haired teenager looked his uncle straight in the eye.
"I'm not interested." Calian answered firmly yet politely. His voice was steady, without a trace of doubt. "It is impossible for me to betray the person who has always been by my side since the beginning, even when the world cast me aside. Even though Wolvin is a male beastfolk, to me, he is the best and the only one."
Hearing his husband's loyal and direct answer, an immense sense of relief and happiness exploded in Wolvin's chest, sweeping away the fear and anxiety that had been suffocating him.
The Night Wolf teenager's face immediately flushed red. He felt deeply embarrassed yet his heart fluttered at the public declaration of love his husband made before an emperor.
Emperor Rodaz fell silent. He gazed intently into his nephew's purple eyes, searching for any sign of lies or typical youthful indecision. However, he found nothing. In Calian's eyes, there was only conviction and a wall of loyalty that nothing could break.
"It seems you truly love this beastfolk teenager named Wolvin, don't you?" Rodaz said at last, his tone softening, indicating he understood and accepted his nephew's choice.
"Of course, Your Majesty!" Calian replied without hesitation, his hand reaching out to grasp Wolvin's hand, which was trembling with joy. "In my eyes, he is the only one worthy of standing by my side forever."
Hearing that his nephew still acted so stiffly and used formal titles during such a warm family moment, Emperor Rodaz immediately scolded him with a mock-stern expression.
"Hey, I am your uncle!" Rodaz stated, pointing to his own chest. "Don't be so formal unless it's an official meeting! Just call me uncle, understand?"
Then, the Emperor's sharp eyes turned to Wolvin, who was still blushing. "The same goes for you, Wolvin! Since you are my nephew's spouse, you are also part of my family. Outside of official meetings, just call me uncle! Do you both understand?"
"Yes, Uncle!" they both answered in unison, prompting a soft laugh from Elara, who had been watching their interaction with warmth.
A few moments later, the imperial carriage began to slow down. They passed through the second gate and finally arrived at the main courtyard of the Erthland imperial palace. The carriage door was opened by guards, and they all took turns stepping out.
As soon as they stepped onto the even cobblestone surface, Calian and Wolvin were struck speechless by the sight of the massive and majestic palace building directly in front of them.
The Erthland Palace was built from white marble that glowed under the remaining light of dusk. Its large, towering pillars featured unique silver carvings winding around each side, reflecting a beautiful shimmer.
However, the teenagers' awe was momentarily interrupted as Emperor Rodaz did not let them stand frozen outside for too long.
"You must be exhausted after that crazy transcontinental journey, right?" Rodaz said suddenly, patting Calian on the back. "Come inside! I'll have the servants prepare rooms and hot water for both of you."
With Emperor Rodaz leading the way alongside their mother, Calian and Wolvin followed closely behind.
As they passed through the palace's main entrance, which featured gold carvings, the teenagers' eyes moved incessantly, left, right, up, and down. The polished marble floors, the giant crystal chandeliers hanging from ceilings dozens of meters high, and the rows of historical paintings on the corridor walls left them mesmerized. Neither had ever expected to step into an imperial palace for the first time in their lives.
"Darling!" Wolvin whispered enthusiastically, pulling gently on the sleeve of Calian's shirt so his husband would lean in. "This is truly incredible. This is the first time I've ever entered a palace so bright and grand!"
"It's not just you, Wolvin." Calian replied with a growing smile, his purple eyes radiating equal enthusiasm. "This is also the first time I've entered and seen the inside of an imperial palace."
Hearing his husband's innocent remark, Wolvin's pace faltered slightly. He turned to look at Calian's face with a confused frown.
"Wait a second, Darling! What did you just say?" Wolvin whispered. "During the years you lived in the Yornvast Empire as the son of a Duke, did you never once set foot in their royal palace?"
Calian shook his head slowly. The smile on his lips faded slightly, replaced by a calm expression that hid old wounds.
"I never left the Larvin mansion grounds since I was a child." Calian answered honestly, his voice very low so as not to disturb the echo of his uncle's footsteps ahead. "And when I finally left the main mansion building, I didn't go to the palace or the city. Instead, I was immediately exiled and locked away by my father in the abandoned West Pavilion after returning from the temple."
Hearing the heartbreakingly honest answer from his husband, Wolvin's eyes widened. His breath hitched. He never imagined that Calian, born as a respected high-ranking military noble, had a childhood more akin to a prisoner. Never seeing the outside world, never invited to palace banquets, and knowing only loneliness behind high walls.
Good heavens... what did I just ask? Wolvin was filled with regret. He lowered his gaze, staring at the tips of his shoes stepping on the marble floor. I made him remember his sad past.
Wolvin felt a bit uneasy and guilty for triggering a conversation he shouldn't have started.
However, noticing the change in Wolvin's expression and his drooping wolf ears, Calian immediately moved to soothe his spouse.
"Don't worry about it, Wolvin." Calian said softly, his voice flowing like a melody that calmed Wolvin's heart. "That is all in the past."
Without regard for palace etiquette, Calian wrapped his arm around Wolvin's waist in a possessive yet protective manner. He pulled the black-haired teenager a bit closer to him.
"At least, starting today, you and I will live a completely new life here, right?" Calian continued, looking at Wolvin with warm eyes. "At least here, you don't have to fear being discriminated against or hurt by humans like you were there."
Hearing those comforting words, Wolvin's guilt evaporated. He smiled again with relief and happiness, leaning his body slightly into his husband's embrace.
"Yes, you're right, Darling!" Wolvin replied with renewed spirit. "Let the past stay behind. Now, it's time to open a happy new chapter here!"
The Night Wolf looked at his husband's handsome face from the side, then a practical thought suddenly crossed his mind. "Then, once we settle here, what kind of work will we take to provide for our household later? We can't keep relying on your mother's or uncle's money, can we?"
"We'll discuss that later." Calian replied casually, rubbing Wolvin's waist with his thumb. "At the very least, we should walk around and get to know this place thoroughly before deciding and choosing a job that suits us both."
"I agree!" Wolvin chirped enthusiastically, eager to see the city and start their new life. "Whatever the job is, I will always follow wherever you go, Darling!"
Hearing the whispered conversation between the two teenagers behind her, Elara, who had been listening in, could only suppress a smile. She felt immensely relieved and grateful that both her sons now had a burning spirit to face the future and open a new chapter in this safe place. Choosing to take them away from Yornvast was the best decision she had ever made.
However, that sense of relief was not shared by Emperor Rodaz.
Although the sturdy man walked at the very front with the dignity of a true ruler, his ears caught every word of his nephew's conversation.
The Emperor's steps remained steady, but inside his chest, a storm of rage began to brew. He was quite shocked and furious after hearing from his own nephew's mouth that a child of the Erthland Imperial family bloodline was left to suffer a horrific fate, exiled, and locked away like a pet while living at the Yornvast Duke's residence.
How dare those bastards treat my nephew like trash! thought Emperor Rodaz, his jaw clenching as he held back his emotions, which were ready to explode at any moment. I will make sure they can never take my sister and nephew again! If they are desperate enough to try and demand the two of them back, I am prepared to do anything to protect my family!