The long story flowing from the mouth of Delvian Mossard, Kylenciel's childhood friend, successfully struck a devastating blow to the sanity of the entire royal family. Even the maids standing in the corners of the room felt the exact same shock.
However, after hearing the description that the Fifth Prince had now transformed into someone willing to bow his head and apologize to the commoners, it felt like listening to a fairytale about a total stranger they completely did not know.
Yet, behind his honesty in recounting his childhood friend's change in attitude, there was one crucial thing that Delvian Mossard completely hid from King Galeo and the rest of the royal family: the fact regarding the awakening of a legendary power after centuries, the Corrosive Hard Water Magic.
Vian was acutely aware that if he were to leak this fact, his childhood friend's desire to marry Arvin would be obstructed. Especially if it reached the ears of the First Prince and the Second Prince.
The two of them are power-hungry figures, deeply paranoid about anyone who could potentially become a threat to the throne. If they find out that Kylen possesses that legendary magic, they will definitely resort to any means necessary to get rid of him. I will not let these two rotten princes do anything bad to my best friend!
At the same time, Vian fully understood the fatal consequences of his actions. Concealing vital information related to the awakening of a legendary power, a power that could threaten the stability and security of the Flamort Kingdom, was treason of the highest order.
If his lies were to be exposed in the future, it was highly likely that he himself would be branded a traitor. The absolute punishment for the crime of treason in any kingdom was execution by death.
Even though he knew all the terrifying risks lurking around him, Vian maintained a calm demeanor, as if he were truly ready to accept whatever might befall him later.
Meanwhile, in his seat, King Galeo was pondering every word of Delvian's story and calculating the worst-case scenario of this proposal.
Just as I suspected. Kylenciel has truly fallen in love with Arvin Vedegra. the King mused with a resigned sigh. I have no other choice. Whether I like it or not, I must give my blessing to their marriage.
However, King Galeo's memory suddenly snagged on one specific detail from the story Delvian had just delivered. A detail regarding his son's hierarchy within Arvin Vedegra's household.
"Young Master Arvin Vedegra." called King Galeo.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" Arvin replied politely.
"Earlier, if my ears did not deceive me, Delvian mentioned that Kylenciel declared himself as your sixth spouse. Is that true?" the King asked, trying to confirm the matter once again.
"Yes, you are correct, Your Majesty." Arvin answered in a very calm voice and without the slightest hesitation. "Kylenciel is my sixth spouse."
"Then... exactly how many spouses do you actually have?"
Arvin looked at the King unblinkingly, yet perfectly maintaining his noble etiquette.
"Including Kylen, I have a total of twelve spouses, Your Majesty."
Boom!
It was as if an explosive magic had just struck the psyche of everyone inside the dining room.
Queen Fentiloa's eyes widened drastically, her hands unconsciously crumpling her napkin. The royal princes and princesses froze in place, their brains failing to process the number that had just slipped from the blue-haired youth's lips. The number twelve was far too fantastical and absurd, even for a high-ranking noble like the Vedegra family.
"Are they all men?" King Galeo asked, confirming once again.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Arvin answered without hesitation, as if what he was saying was the most normal thing in the world. "They are all men."
The shock sweeping through the dining room now multiplied, reaching its limit.
The highly unreasonable number of life partners, coupled with the fact that the entire household consisted solely of men, seemed to have forcefully stripped away the sanity of everyone present.
This was the very first time in the history of their lives that they had heard of a man building a harem consisting of twelve men.
This is completely insane! He has lost his mind! Princess Helena screamed in shock internally. Her admiration was instantly replaced by a creeping sense of horror. Does this man with a perfect face have no interest in women whatsoever?! Good heavens... in all my life mingling in high-class society, this is the first time I have ever encountered a noble as bizarre as him!
Amidst the silence laden with heavy shock, harsh words shattered the stillness.
"You are truly a lowly human!" Cylenciel insulted with a sharp and blunt intonation.
The prince glared sharply at his twin brother, who was still sitting next to Arvin.
"You, a prince with the pure blood of the Flamort Kingdom flowing in your veins, are actually willing to become the sixth spouse of that man?!" Cylenciel continued, disgust and fury lacing every syllable. "To be the sixth out of twelve men?! Where have you placed your pride as a royal prince, Kylenciel?!"
Hearing the insults that directly attacked his dignity and relationship, Kylen, who had been looking down due to nervousness, now raised his head. His anxiety vanished in an instant, replaced by a burning anger.
Kylen glared back at his twin brother with a gaze that was equally sharp and intimidating.
"That's not your business, Cylenciel!" Kylen retorted, thoroughly despising it when outsiders meddled in his romantic affairs. "Even our father doesn't have a problem with it! So... why are you the one making a fuss and throwing a tantrum here?! This is my romantic life and the future of my household, not the business of someone like you, who knows absolutely nothing about our domestic life!"
"Have you lost your mind? Do you have no shame at all?!" Cylenciel shot back, his voice rising. "Marrying a man just like you is already a scandal in itself. You have brought shame to our family name!"
"I'm not ashamed in the slightest!" Kylen answered firmly, his voice echoing with absolute conviction throughout the dining room, completely unbothered by the numbers or hierarchical positions. "He always treats me and the others with the utmost fairness. To me, that is more than enough! I should be the one asking you, Cylenciel! Do you have no shame interfering in someone else's love life like this?!"
The barrage of seemingly provocative answers coming from Kylen's mouth made Cylenciel feel incredibly irritated, furious, and unwilling to accept his pride being trampled on.
Bam!
He slammed the table with one hand. "How dare you defy my words, Kylenciel?!"
"Shut your mouth!" Kylen shot back with a defiant glare, not flinching in the slightest at his twin brother's intimidation. "I came here with Arvin solely to ask for my father's blessing, not to sit nicely and listen to trash from someone like you!"
"What did you say?!" Cylenciel snapped, staring at Kylen's face with a sharp, hostile glare. "You're insolent! Kylenciel! Are you openly challenging me?!"