Arvin was left speechless. He felt the weight of Alrain on his lap, the heat radiating from the green-haired teenage's body, and most importantly, he saw the absolute determination in those green eyes. There was no doubt left, only pure love and a desperation that demanded a cure.
Arvin sighed, feeling defeated by that unwavering gaze, which also carried a specific fear from Alrain's past life before his death and return to the present.
"Alrain, are you truly certain about this decision?" Arvin asked in a low voice, seeking confirmation one last time.
"Of course I am certain!" Alrain answered without a second thought, his hand reaching up to gently caress Arvin's cheek. "Because tonight... I want to fulfill the one thing I wanted most back then. I want to belong to you completely."
Hearing that blunt, sincere, and unwavering answer, Arvin's defenses crumbled entirely. He truly could no longer refuse. He had to nod, for Alrain's happiness, and to erase all the mental torture the youth had endured in his previous life.
"Alright..." Arvin finally answered, returning Alrain's gaze with genuine tenderness. "We will bind our vows for life and death. Tonight."
Upon hearing his consent, Alrain's eyes immediately welled up. He threw his arms around Arvin's neck, hugging him tightly and burying his face in the crook of his future husband's neck.
"Thank you... thank you so much, My Love!" Alrain cried out, his voice muffled against Arvin's skin.
The cry was filled with an uncontrollable happiness, a tide that washed away all the sorrows of his past. Because soon, on this very night, he and Arvin would be bound by a life-and-death contract. And until the end of time, they would never be parted again.
On the sofa beside them, Allen, who had been watching the scene unfold, gave a faint smile. He cleared his throat softly to break the romantic tension that was beginning to heat up.
"You two, go to the bedroom on the second floor!" Allen said suddenly, his tone casual yet providing clear instruction. "Make the contract there so you can officially become a married couple. Don't do it in the living room. This isn't the right place for such a ritual."
Hearing Allen's words, Alrain immediately released his hug and climbed down from Arvin's lap. Without wasting a single second, he grabbed his future husband's hand excitedly, like a child about to open a long-awaited gift. He was beyond impatient to officially become Arvin's spouse before the Gods.
Arvin could only smile resignedly at Alrain's enthusiasm. He stood up and allowed himself to be led, following the cute, green-haired youth up the stairs toward the bedroom on the second floor.
After they departed, the living room fell into a deep silence. Yonna, who had been a silent witness until now, turned to Allen with a look of utter disbelief.
"Why didn't you go up with them?" Yonna asked, her curiosity finally boiling over. "Aren't you also his spouse? Don't you want to be with them?"
Allen leaned back comfortably against the sofa cushions. He wore a very thin smile.
"It's okay, Yonna." Allen replied casually. "Let them enjoy their first night alone. Alrain truly deserves this after all the suffering he went through back then. Besides, I'm not so selfish that I would ruin a moment he has waited two lifetimes for."
Yonna looked at Allen with admiration, though her mind was still struggling to process all the insane information she had heard.
"I still feel like I'm dreaming..." Yonna said, slowly massaging her temples. "I never imagined the three of you were keeping such a massive and terrifying secret. No wonder... no wonder my brother seemed to know Arvin so well. And the most nonsensical part is how he suddenly possesses such immense power."
"Hahaha." Allen suddenly chuckled softly. His memory drifted back to the ridiculous moment that became the turning point of his relationship with Arvin. "You know? When I first found out, I was in total shock, too."
Allen looked at the ceiling, recalling the incident at the inn. "A few days ago, I accidentally overheard him rambling to himself in the bathroom. He said everything in there, and that's how I finally understood why he had been acting so harsh toward me."
The smile on Allen's face slowly faded, replaced by a somber look full of regret.
"But..." Allen continued, his voice turning heavy. "After hearing Alrain's full story, I feel so much guilt toward my own husband. I never imagined that behind his attitude, he was carrying such a heavy burden all alone."
Yonna nodded slowly, in full agreement and sympathy for her brother-in-law's fate.
"You're right, Allen." Yonna added sadly. "It's no wonder Arvin was so cold and arrogant before he married you. Knowing the true story, it's only natural that he built such high walls and trusted no one... especially after a prince of this kingdom betrayed him and ruthlessly murdered the entire Vedegra family while he was away at the academy."
The atmosphere in the living room suddenly fell silent. Yonna's words seemed to hang in the air, creating an emotionally suffocating atmosphere. Both Yonna and Allen were lost in their own thoughts, imagining how broken Arvin's heart must have been when he had to bear all that alone in his previous life.
The thick silence lingered for quite some time before Yonna adjusted her seating position, eventually breaking the quiet.
Her eyes were fixed on Allen with a look of immense curiosity.
"So, what do you plan to do after this, Allen?" Yonna asked in a calm tone. "Given that you now know everything, what is your next step?"
"I only need to support my husband!" Allen answered without a shred of doubt. His eyes radiated a fierce determination. "I'm certain that a man as brilliant as he is must have goals that he has calculated meticulously. I will stand by his side, no matter what happens. But..."
Allen's voice suddenly trailed off. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "There is just one thing I'm worried about right now."
"What are you worried about, Allen?" Yonna asked, quite surprised by his admission. She had assumed Allen was still concerned about the prince's threat or the great war that might erupt again in the future.
"If he truly ends up having six or eight spouses..." Allen replied somewhat hesitantly, his brows knitting together as he pondered a very practical logic. "How will he divide his time among us fairly? I mean, what if we all happen to want to be pampered or need attention from him at the very same time?"
Hearing what Allen had just said, Yonna blinked several times. Allen's concern was so domestic and unexpected that it immediately forced her to consider the same thing.
He has a point. Yonna thought, trying to imagine a situation where Arvin was surrounded by six people all demanding his affection at once. Could one Arvin really divide his time fairly among the six or eight of them at once? This isn't just about feelings. It's about the actual time spent between them!
Yonna let out a sigh, stifling a giggle that was nearly bubbling up. "To be honest, I'm stumped too if you ask me that." she answered eventually. "It's quite impossible for one Arvin to divide his time and attention for six people simultaneously and fairly. Unless... he can split himself in two."
Yonna said this purely as a joke to lighten the mood. However, upon hearing the green-haired woman's response, Allen went still for a moment. His eyes suddenly lit up as if a brilliant idea had just sparked in his mind.
"So that's how it is, huh?" Allen murmured while rubbing his chin, nodding slowly with an overly serious expression. "It seems I must ask my husband to find that magic so he can learn it as soon as possible. Once he masters that magic, he will surely be able to divide his time fairly among the six of us in the future!"