The atmosphere inside the house began to be filled with the sound of hustle and bustle after the departure of the guild staff. The students and teachers from both academies started to scatter, choosing their respective beds, and unpacking their belongings in the spacious open hall area.
Amidst the ongoing busyness, Dean Saires walked up to Arvin, who was standing staring toward the exit.
"The day after tomorrow, the official tournament will begin soon." Dean Saires said, opening the conversation with a calm tone of voice. "What are you going to do to fill your free time before the match day arrives, Arvin?"
"I want to go to the library." Arvin answered without hesitation. The youth turned his head to look at the Dean. "If I visit the Victoriaz academy library today, will the guards there allow me to enter it?"
"Of course, Arvin!" Dean Saires answered, nodding confidently. "If you come carrying the official tournament participant badge from our kingdom, they will have no reason to forbid you. You are allowed to enter it and access their public facilities."
Hearing the confirmation and guarantee from the Dean, Arvin finalized his decision. Visiting the library was one of his main goals for coming to this kingdom, and he did not want to waste any more time.
"Alright, in that case, I will go there now to read some books!"
And then, Arvin said his formal goodbyes to Dean Saires, then turned his body, intending to step toward the house's main door.
However, after taking a few steps, a loud shout stopped him in his tracks.
"Darling, where are you going?" Kylen exclaimed suddenly, walking quickly to approach him.
Spontaneously, the term of endearment thrown with a fairly loud voice volume and without the slightest hesitation successfully brought the activities around them to a halt. Everyone in the room who happened to hear the Prince's shout instantly turned their heads with shocked expressions.
The most massive shock was experienced by the Flamort Kingdom group. Vian, Tania, Ziona, Anna, along with the six royal guard soldiers standing not far from there looked as if they had been struck by lightning in broad daylight. Their jaws seemed to drop to the floor. They absolutely did not expect that their proud prince, who was famous for his pride, was now so naturally and shamelessly calling Arvin Vedegra by such a term in public.
Ignoring the dozens of pairs of eyes that were now staring at him with shocked looks, Arvin turned his body to face Kylen.
"I want to go to the Victoriaz academy library." Arvin answered calmly. "It is better for you to just stay here and rest with the four of them. I want to go alone."
Hearing that polite refusal, Kylen furrowed his brows, his facial expression turning displeased. "But—"
Before Kylen could launch his protest, Allen stepped forward and gently patted the prince's shoulder.
"Let it go, Kylen. Just let him go alone for now." Allen coaxed in a soothing tone. "Besides, he is only going to the library to read books, not going to a battlefield."
"That library is exactly the problem!" Kylen retorted quickly, his voice rising an octave, showing his dominant possessiveness. "You know yourself that he is the center of attention! What if later there are students or nobles from this kingdom's academy trying to flirt with my prospective husband there? Did you not think that far at all, Allen?"
"Why are you fussing and thinking about such ridiculous things?" Alrain chimed in, joining them and folding his arms across his chest. "No one will be able to—"
Kylen did not let Alrain finish his sentence. The prince turned his body, staring at Alrain with a sharp gaze that radiated displeasure.
"What did you say? Ridiculous things?" Kylen cut in with a demanding tone. "Did you forget that my current status is his sixth prospective spouse, not his fifth spouse? Remember! Even the four of you don't actually know the true identity of your own husband's fifth spouse, right?! If he is allowed to go alone unsupervised, there might just be a new person who suddenly becomes the seventh prospective spouse when he returns from there, idiot!"
Kylen's very firm, logical, and fact-slapping argument echoed in their ears. But, Allen, Alrain, Ordion, and Alvein remained casual, as if Kylen's jealousy was an overreaction.
"I completely understand your worry and jealousy, Kylen." Allen answered casually, a faint smile etched on his lips. "But, the four of us still place our absolute trust in him. That prospective husband of yours is not someone who will act recklessly or be easily tempted, especially if it relates to a crucial decision about who will become his spouse."
Allen's words, full of conviction, were immediately met with nods of agreement from Alrain, Ordion, and Alvein. They knew their husband's nature better than anyone else.
"So you don't need to worry excessively like that." Allen continued, still with his mature demeanor. "Just use this time to rest and prepare your physical and mental condition for the tournament the day after tomorrow."
Hearing the irrefutable calmness from the first spouse, Kylen finally let out a rough breath. His defense crumbled.
"It seems I really have no other choice but to obey." Kylen said in resignation.
The prince then turned back around, looking straight into his prospective husband's face while giving a warning stare. "Remember this well, you must return immediately once your business is done! And you better watch out if you dare to be tempted by cute-faced boys in that library!"
Receiving a threat that sounded more like a pout, Arvin smiled faintly. He leaned his face slightly closer to Kylen.
"I am going there purely to find and read books, Kylen." Arvin answered with his gentle and teasing baritone voice. "Besides, isn't that cute boy currently already standing right in front of me?"
Hearing the unexpected answer from his prospective husband, Kylen's face instantly flushed red. He became flustered and at a loss for words.
"S-Shut up!" Kylen cursed stammeringly, gently pushing Arvin's chest to cover up his exploding embarrassment. "Just go away quickly! And make sure you return immediately when you are done reading!"
Arvin chuckled softly, then nodded in understanding. With calm steps, the youth walked away from the shelter house and began his journey toward the Victoriaz academy's grand library.
After Arvin's departure, Kylen's four teammates from the Flamort Kingdom delegation, who had been silently watching the romance show all this time, finally dared to take a step forward. Vian, who led their steps, immediately approached the prince with a facial expression that still radiated disbelief.
"Kylen..." Vian called out in a cautious tone. "Are you really serious about all this and are going to make that Arvin Vedegra your prospective husband?"
"Of course, Vian!" Kylen answered very quickly and without the slightest hesitation, as if it was the most absolute fact in the world. "After the tournament in this kingdom is over, the five of us will return to Flamort with Arvin. I have forced him, and he has promised to propose to me directly in front of my father with formal procedures!"
Hearing that overly reckless plan, Vian spontaneously smacked his forehead hard. He truly could not comprehend what was inside his childhood friend's head. Forcing a descendant of a monster family from a neighboring kingdom, moreover, that person being a man, to directly propose to a prince in front of the King of the Flamort Kingdom was an idea that invited a war of nerves.
"Good grief... I am absolutely certain, you will definitely be kicked out and struck from the genealogy by your family right away if you do that crazy thing." Vian said in a highly worried tone, looking at his friend with concern. "Even though I had guessed that you liked Arvin Vedegra, are you really sure about that crazy decision of yours, Kylen?"
"Of course I am very sure!" Kylen answered firmly.
The prince puffed out his chest, his eyes radiating a sharp and unshakable conviction. "I don't care at all if in the end I really get kicked out, banished from the kingdom, have my title revoked, or even lose everything I currently have. To hell with all of that. I just want to live happily together with the person I love forever."
The resolute answer that came out of the prince's mouth successfully rendered his four teammates completely speechless again. They could see that Kylen standing in front of them right now was not the selfish and prideful prince figure they had known all this time, but rather someone who had found his life's purpose.
Seeing Kylen's firm stance, Vian finally could only let out a long breath and lower his hand.
"Alright, alright, just do as you please, Kylen." Vian said, finally giving up, offering a faint smile as a sign of support from a true friend. "It seems I can only wish you a happy new life."
Hearing that sincere congratulation, Kylen's face softened. "Thank you, Vian. Hehehe."