A decision devoid of hesitation slowly formed in his heart. Oliver was completely certain that Arvin Vedegra was not someone who would harm others without reason, let alone have the heart to hurt the people who had become his spouses.
The undeniable proof was laid out vividly right before his eyes. The unwavering loyalty, profound love, affection, resolve, and absolute dedication from all the youths in this mansion had been proven with his own eyes. Furthermore, some of those who were previously enemies had now transformed into Arvin's most loyal spouses.
Oliver refocused his gaze on Arvin. His pair of light blue eyes radiated an absolute resolve.
"I am willing to give my soul if that is indeed the only way to prove my worthiness and loyalty to you!" Oliver declared loudly. There wasn't the slightest hint of doubt or regret reflected in his eyes. "So, tell me... what must I do now?"
Hearing that surrender, Arvin nodded in satisfaction. He raised one hand and pointed straight toward the bed.
"Lie down over there! I will begin the ritual this very moment."
Oliver released his embrace. He took a slow breath, calming the pounding in his chest, and then walked toward the bed.
Once he was beside the bed, the yellow-haired youth climbed onto the bed and laid his naked body down. The smooth surface of the sheets felt slightly cold against his skin, but he did not flinch. He was ready to give his soul to Arvin.
Seeing that Oliver had positioned himself, Allen, Alrain, Ordion, and Alvein, who had previously been standing close to the bed, walked away toward the bedroom doorway to gather with the others.
It was not without reason that they took a safe distance. They vividly remembered the incident where Alvein had once accidentally been trapped inside the ritual's area.
Besides not wanting a repeat of that incident, they also did not want to place a heavy burden on Arvin by having him bind multiple souls at once. They were afraid it would cause their husband to vomit blood again, or even lose consciousness.
On the other hand, Arvin immediately stepped closer to the bed once all of his spouses were standing in a safe spot, far out of the ritual's reach.
He stood right at the edge of the bed, gazing down at the lying Oliver, and prepared to begin the ritual.
"Close your eyes, Oliver!"
The yellow-haired youth complied. Without hesitation, he shut his eyes tightly, entrusting everything to the man he had now chosen to be his husband.
Seeing that Oliver was ready on the bed, Arvin immediately began the Soul Seal ritual.
"O soul that I have chosen, from this moment on, I shall bind your soul to mine!" Arvin chanted in a clear tone, his voice echoing lowly, piercing through the silence of the night and vibrating the air around him. "You shall die as a mortal human, and shall rise again with a soul bound to mine!"
Instantly, magic circles taking the form of thick black smoke began to appear and swirl from beneath Oliver's body on the bed, as well as beneath Arvin's feet.
The thick black smoke slowly crept upward, seeping into Oliver's body and Arvin's body. In the air, the plumes of thick black smoke intertwined, forming a spiritual tether that directly connected the souls between the two.
At the same time, the yellow-haired youth's breath came in rapid and ragged gasps. His chest heaved violently, as if his soul was being forcibly pulled out from within his body.
Until finally, the violent heaving ceased.
And then, there was no longer the slightest bodily movement to indicate that he was breathing.
Oliver was dead!
A gripping silence blanketed the bedroom. However, the ritual was not yet over. The thick black smoke moved once more, shrouding Oliver's stiff and lifeless body. The darkness wrapped around his physical form like a cocoon.
In this crucial moment, Arvin immediately implanted his absolute command into the soul he had just bound.
"My command to you is: be your true self, exactly as you were before you were bound by this soul seal!" Arvin decreed absolutely. "Don't leak any secrets you know about our family to anyone else without my permission, and lastly, never betray me for all eternity!"
That absolute command was permanently engraved into the essence of Oliver's soul.
The thick black smoke was instantly sucked in, merging completely with Oliver's body. The shadows seeped into his skin, returning the bound soul back into its vessel. And what happened next was that the youth's chest began to move again, drawing in the breath of life.
Once the pitch-black magic circle vanished without a trace, Oliver gasped and immediately sat up on the bed. He then stared at Arvin's face with a confused expression.
On the other hand, Arvin was still standing tall. Thanks to drinking the Elixir of Archmage several times, Arvin's mana capacity and stamina limit had increased significantly. This time, his stamina was not severely drained. He felt incredibly relieved that he did not suffer from extreme exhaustion or collapse into unconsciousness as had happened previously when performing this Soul Seal ritual.
"I feel... like just a few moments ago, my soul was pulled into yours." said Oliver, who was still processing the series of absurd events he had just experienced. "Have you bound my soul to you?"
Arvin looked at him with a soothing, faint smile. "Yes, I have!"
Hearing that confirmation, Oliver let out a breath, an overwhelming sense of relief reflecting on his face.
"No wonder I feel as if I've been connected to you." he murmured softly, experiencing an inner warmth he had never felt in his entire life, a spiritual bond that allowed him to feel Arvin's presence within his very soul.
"Are you certain and happy with your decision to become my spouse, Oliver?"
Instead of answering immediately, the yellow-haired youth stared straight into Arvin's pair of blue eyes.
"Before I answer that, am I now officially your thirteenth spouse?" Oliver asked back, desperately wanting to reaffirm his status and place within Arvin Vedegra's household.
"Yes, you are my thirteenth spouse!" Arvin answered, providing full validation. "Didn't I tell you that from the very beginning?"
Hearing the answer full of absolute certainty, Oliver smiled with relief and immense happiness. He cast a brief glance toward the other youths standing near the door, then looked back at the man who was now officially his husband. He had finally become a part of this family for all eternity.
"Of course I am certain! I also feel so happy to have become your spouse! Unbelievably happy!" Oliver answered firmly, his voice colored by overwhelming emotions of joy after being unconditionally acknowledged as the thirteenth by the head of the household, witnessed directly by all the youths in the room. "Forever and ever, I will always love you, cherish you, support you, and serve you with all my heart!"