The announcement they had just heard made Kylen, Dylan, Davin, Arion, Kaydan, Victor, and Calverd immediately looked toward the pile of magic bags lying on the table.
The eyes of the seven youths shone brightly. There was a sense of pride and happiness bursting in their chests upon seeing those magic bags. They were not merely functional items, but precious objects specially and exclusively made by their own husband's hands.
Kylen became the first person to take action. He picked up one of the magic bags on the table.
With a highly enthusiastic feeling and a wide smile, the bluish-white-haired youth immediately wore it around his waist.
Seeing Kylen, the others did not want to be left behind. Then, one by one, they followed suit to step forward and take the remaining magic bags, immediately wearing them around their respective waists with full enthusiasm and pride.
For all of them, there was nothing in this world that felt more precious and joyful than something given directly by their husband.
However, the most amazing thing happened to the twelfth spouse. For some reason, Calverd, who previously was always haunted by trauma and deep fear, now actually felt very enthusiastic as well. The pure happiness upon receiving the magic bag made by Arvin was able to briefly cover his emotional wounds.
While touching the magic bags now neatly attached to their waists, the seven youths looked at Arvin with gazes full of love and loyalty.
"Darling, thank you!" Kylen said.
"My Beloved, thank you!" Dylan followed.
"My King, thank you!" Davin said.
"My Star, thank you!" Arion chimed in.
"My Light, thank you!" Kaydan said with a sweet smile.
"Huby, thank you!" Victor said proudly.
"Arvin... t-thank you!" Calverd said nervously yet sincerely.
Their voices answered one another, melting into a unison expression of gratitude that filled the dining room with a harmony of perfect happiness.
After the unison sound of gratitude subsided, the atmosphere in the dining room was once again enveloped in warmth.
However, behind the smiles etched on the faces of those in the room, except for Kaydan who still seemed busy admiring his new magic bag, the focus of the other ten youths simultaneously shifted to one small detail from Calverd's recent words.
The indigo-haired youth still called their husband using only his name, without any terms of endearment like they did.
They wanted to ask why Calverd was acting a bit distant like that. Yet, not a single one of them dared or wanted to do so. Their mouths seemed locked by a profound understanding.
They all remembered Arvin's firm words in the bedroom earlier, which specifically discussed the trauma Calverd was currently experiencing. Their husband had forbidden them from asking or discussing the matter carelessly.
And for the sake of protecting the feelings and mental condition of him, they all chose to understand his actions and gave Calverd plenty of space to adapt at his own pace.
"Arvin?" Calverd called out suddenly, his slightly hoarse voice breaking the silence in the dining room.
All eyes once again looked toward the youth.
"Yes, Calverd, what is it?" Arvin replied in a very gentle tone, turning his head and focusing his entire attention on his spouse.
Calverd swallowed hard, nervously squeezing the edge of his pajamas. "W-When will you come back here again?"
Hearing the question that implied a fear of being abandoned, Arvin gave a small, comforting smile.
"After my business in the Flamort Kingdom is finished, I will immediately return here to bring Kylen so he can live and settle down with all of you." Arvin answered, explaining his plan patiently. He then glanced at Dylan briefly. "I also have a promise to Dylan to formally propose to him in front of his late mother's grave. As his husband, I must do it and keep my promise!"
Hearing his name mentioned, Dylan smiled warmly, eagerly looking forward to the moment of the proposal.
"After that, will you live here?" Calverd asked again, as if he was still unsatisfied and needed more certainty.
"It seems I will be going back and forth for a while." Arvin answered honestly without hiding anything. "Because after proposing to Dylan, I still have to go and pick up two more people in the Holy Kingdom of Galdius."
Calverd froze in his place. His eyes widened slowly. He never expected that the hero who was now his husband had such a very busy schedule and shouldered incredibly huge responsibilities.
And what amazed him even more, Arvin could still spare his time and pour his attention to all his spouses without exception.
It seems I must try it. Calverd thought, trying hard to convince himself amidst the doubts still enveloping his mind. If I don't do anything, I, who already owe him my life and freedom, will truly seem ungrateful.
He slowly stood up from his chair, turned his body, and began to walk closer to Arvin's position, who was standing not far from the dining table.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
His heartbeat pounded fast like the beat of a war drum as his feet stepped forward. The distance between them eroded step by step. Cold sweat began to appear all over his body.
Seeing Calverd approaching with an increasingly erratic breath and a tensing body, Arvin's brow furrowed slightly.
Why is he so nervous? Arvin wondered in his mind, analyzing his spouse's body language. What does he want to do?
The atmosphere in the dining room instantly turned silent and stiff. All the youths there, from Allen to Victor, simply stood frozen, witnessing the interaction between Calverd and their husband.
Not a single one dared to make a sound, as if afraid that even the slightest noise would destroy the moment.
When Calverd's steps halted and the distance between them was very close, he looked up, staring directly into his husband's face with a pair of trembling eyes.
"A-Arvin... M-May I hug you?" Calverd asked, stuttering, sounding almost like a desperate whisper.
That question naturally surprised Arvin a little. His eyes widened slightly. He felt deeply worried about Calverd's action of forcing himself.
Just a few moments ago he fainted unconsciously in the bathroom, and now he is trying to make direct physical contact with me? Arvin thought, afraid that Calverd's reckless action would trigger his trauma again and threaten his mental condition.
However, as he looked deep into the eyes of his indigo-haired spouse, he saw a faintly burning determination there. A silent plea not to be rejected.
He could not bear to refuse the request.
"Go ahead, Calverd." Arvin answered in his gentlest tone. Then, he spread his arms. "Hug me if you truly want to hug me."
Hearing his husband's permission, the youth slowly raised his hands. His hands trembled violently yet slowly, as if fighting gravity and an invisible fear chaining both his hands.
Everyone in the dining room carefully watched what was happening right before their eyes. They even unconsciously held their breaths and almost forgot how to breathe, sharing the tension experienced by their new family member.
Both of the youth's hands began to move closer to Arvin's body. The distance narrowed with every passing second.
And then, the first touch happened. The fabric of the clothes Arvin was wearing touched the surface of the youth's hand.
Calverd jerked back slightly when he felt the sudden physical touch. His body automatically gave a reaction of rejection due to the dark memory of the trauma he endured.
However, his determination was already set. Biting his lower lip, the youth suppressed his fear and forced himself to continue his action.
Until finally, both his arms had completely touched the sides of his husband's body. Calverd began to slowly pull his body forward.
Rub...
Their bodies finally touched, accompanied by the soft rustling sound of their clothes meeting.
Calverd buried his face in Arvin's shoulder, wrapping his trembling arms around the waist of the person he had chosen to be his husband.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
The youth's heartbeat pounded increasingly fast and uncontrollably as he felt the warmth of Arvin's body, who now held the status of his husband. Calverd was fighting fiercely against the shadows of trauma in his head.
I must be strong! he thought, trying desperately to strengthen himself in that embrace. Arvin has done everything for me. He gave me a new life, gave me a place I deserve to call home, gave me a new family, gave me hope. As his spouse, I must not make my husband feel disappointed and hurt just because of this useless trauma of mine!
Feeling the body in his embrace tremble more violently and the breath starting to race erratically, Arvin immediately realized that the youth's tolerance limit was almost crossing the boundary he could endure.
"Please don't push yourself too hard, Calverd." Arvin reprimanded gently, his hands raised floating in the air, hesitating to return the hug for fear of applying excessive pressure. He truly did not want to make his spouse faint again like what had happened previously.
However, Calverd completely ignored the reprimand. He instead tightened his embrace even more, hugging Arvin's waist with all his might as if his husband was the only lifebuoy in the middle of a stormy sea.
The youth's heartbeat thundered so loudly that Arvin could hear and feel it very clearly beating against his own chest.
Goodness, Calverd... Arvin thought with a deeply worried feeling. Don't let yourself faint again just because you are stubbornly pushing yourself like this...