Hearing the confident answer from his future husband, Alrain fell silent. His mind was filled with massive question marks. His curiosity peaked regarding the figure of Arvin standing before him now, a figure who felt so different, far more calculating, and not as cold as the person he had known in his previous life.
Who exactly is my future husband? Alrain asked himself, his eyes never leaving Arvin's face. He isn't the Arvin I knew back then. Right now, he is so calculating, so mysterious, and it feels like there are still many secrets I don't know about him.
Alrain looked deeper into Arvin's handsome face, diving into his blue eyes. But slowly, the confusion in his eyes faded, replaced by warmth.
But what do I care about all those secrets? he thought again, casting his doubts aside. Right now, the only thing I ever hoped for in that dark past has materialized before my eyes. This time, he accepts me completely as Alrain... not just as a shadow or a replacement for Allen.
Alrain took a breath of relief. And right now, in this timeline, he doesn't have to experience the regret and suffering of that time. he continued internally. My wish to meet him sooner and belong to him has been granted by fate. I should be grateful and satisfied with this. I mustn't let greed make me ask for more than this happiness!
Without realizing it, a remarkably sincere and happy smile spread across Alrain's lips as he continued to gaze at Arvin.
Arvin noticed the stare and immediately looked back at the cute, green-haired teenage with a slightly puzzled, furrowed brow.
"Why are you suddenly smiling like that, Alrain?" Arvin asked, bewildered.
In an instant, Alrain's soul was pulled back from his reverie. He was a bit flustered, but his smile didn't fade.
"A-Ah... it's nothing." Alrain replied quickly. He tilted his head slightly. "I just feel so happy. Because what I always prayed and hoped for back then, something that never came true until the end of my life, right now, my hope of making you my husband has finally been realized."
Alrain gave Arvin another sweet smile, his eyes narrowing into crescents. He then extended his right hand toward Arvin's face.
"For now, let's forget about everything else." Alrain pleaded in a pampered yet demanding tone. "Tonight... I want the white contract symbol to be etched onto the back of my right hand by you!"
The request that slipped so naturally from Alrain's mouth immediately shifted the atmosphere in the living room. For Arvin, etching a marriage contract symbol was not merely a soul-binding ritual. It was a formalization that carried real-world consequences.
The request made Arvin realize that he now had obligations to fulfill. He had to be prepared to meet the biological and emotional needs not only of Allen but also of Alrain.
Having them by my side is indeed my desire... Arvin thought as he gazed at Alrain's outstretched hand. But if their numbers grow... can I truly provide justice and fulfill the needs of the others as well should they desire intimacy with me in the future?
In the midst of his musings about future responsibilities, a fundamental thought suddenly crossed Arvin's mind. He looked at Alrain with a furrowed brow.
"Alrain, how old are you now?" Arvin asked abruptly.
Hearing the question delivered in such a serious tone, Alrain froze for a single second before bursting into a fit of laughter. His clear, melodic laughter echoed through the room, leaving Arvin, Allen, and Yonna staring at one another in bewilderment.
"Hahaha!" Alrain continued to laugh, clutching his stomach. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and looked at Arvin with a gaze that was both playful and nostalgic. "This... this is the second time you've asked about my age far too late, My Love. It's exactly like what you asked on the battlefield back then."
Alrain gave a sweet smile and replied. "In this body, I am nearly sixteen. Only a few months to go."
Hearing that Alrain had not yet reached sixteen, the minimum age recognized by the kingdom's laws for marriage, Arvin's expression instantly turned rigid. His instincts and principles as a modern adult man immediately took over.
"No!" Arvin answered firmly, almost without a pause. "If you were already sixteen, I wouldn't mind binding the contract with you right now. But at this moment, you are not yet sixteen, Alrain."
Upon hearing the firm rejection from the person he loved most, Alrain's shoulders slowly slumped. He lowered his head, letting his green bangs shadow his eyes.
A familiar ache stung his chest once more. It felt like history repeating itself, being rejected by Arvin even after crossing through death and returning to the past.
I understand his reasons. Alrain thought, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart. But... that isn't a logical reason in our current situation! Who in this world even knows my real age besides the two of them and my sister?
It only took a few seconds for Alrain to master himself. His sadness evaporated, replaced by a burning determination.
He lifted his head, meeting his future husband's handsome face once more. This time, however, his gaze no longer hinted at the disappointment or heartache of a rejected teenager. His eyes sharpened, locking onto the blue eyes before him as if refusing to accept the words he had just heard.
"I refuse your refusal!" Alrain replied with equal firmness. "Physically, at this moment, I may not be sixteen, the minimum age for a formal marriage. But..."
Alrain paused for a moment. He took a step toward his future husband, who was sitting on the sofa.
"Have you forgotten that my soul is twenty-six years old?!" Alrain continued, his voice becoming more insistent and urgent, unwilling to waste any more time. He did not want to lose the chance to bind himself to the person he loved in this new life. "I don't want to hear your rejection based on such a ridiculous reason, My Love! Especially if I'm truly precious in your eyes!"
Without giving Arvin a chance to respond, Alrain moved with a fluid yet dominant motion. He stepped onto the sofa and sat directly on his future husband's lap, facing him.
Alrain leaned his face in close, staring intently into the blue eyes of the man before him. Their breaths nearly touched.
"Tell me..." Alrain whispered, his voice trembling with a mixture of passion and the desperation he had held back for years. "Are you not serious about wanting me to be your spouse? Is my love still not enough for you?"