As Arvin and Kylen stepped out of the merchant guild building, the cool afternoon air greeted them, carrying with it the hustle and bustle of city life that had yet to subside.
The two of them walked side by side, parting the sea of people who were busy with their own affairs. However, after walking for only about two hundred meters, their footsteps came to a halt in unison.
Right on the right side of the capital street, a grand building towered high, exuding an aura of luxury that sharply contrasted with the surrounding buildings. In its courtyard, several carriages belonging to wealthy merchants and nobles could be seen dropping off passengers.
"Is that the luxury inn of this capital?"
"I don't know, Darling." Kylen answered honestly. "I know almost nothing about the inns or places outside the capital's palace."
Hearing Kylen's honest answer, Arvin's heart melted. He understood perfectly that his spouse's life all this time had only revolved around the palace walls and the academy dormitories. He smiled gently, deciding not to prolong a topic that might remind Kylen of his confined past.
"In that case, let's just stay there!" Arvin decided with a light tone.
"Yes!" Kylen answered instantly. His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm once again, but there was a meaningful flash behind his gaze.
The two of them crossed the capital street and stepped inside through the inn's double doors. Once inside, Arvin led the way to the reception desk, where a neatly uniformed woman greeted them with a professional smile.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen." the woman greeted warmly. "Do the two of you wish to stay here, or are you visiting a guest?"
"We would like to stay here." Arvin replied politely. "How much is the room rate per night?"
"For a standard room, the rate is 20,000 Rems per night, Sir. But if you desire a much more spacious room with full amenities and an en-suite bathroom, the rate is 35,000 Rems per night."
Hearing the prices mentioned by the receptionist, Arvin and Kylen instantly realized that this place was the most expensive inn in the capital, just as Mr. Kevin had mentioned earlier.
However, with the abundant money from selling the magic crystal, it was not a problem at all. Without a second thought, Arvin rented one of the luxury rooms for two nights.
After paying 70,000 Rems in cash, the receptionist stepped out from behind her desk to guide her customers personally. They walked up the thickly carpeted stairs to the third floor.
Upon arriving in front of a room door, the receptionist opened it, handed the room key to Arvin, then bowed respectfully and returned to her desk.
Arvin and Kylen stepped inside. As soon as the door closed, they were welcomed by a highly spacious, elegant, and classy room. There was a king-size bed, beautifully carved wooden furniture, and two long dark red sofas with a glass table in between them.
They felt satisfied with the room they rented today, especially Kylen. He could not wait for the white Life-and-Death contract symbol to be permanently engraved on the back of his right hand.
"Kylen?" Arvin's soft call broke Kyken reverie.
"Yes, Darling?"
"Let's sit down first." Arvin said as he casually walked towards the sofa.
Kylen nodded in agreement and followed his husband's steps to the sofa.
Just as Arvin sat down and leaned his back against the sofa, instead of taking the empty seat beside him, Kylen straddled Arvin's legs and sat right on his lap, facing him.
Kylen's hands naturally wrapped around his husband's neck. From this close distance, he looked at the face of the man he loved the most in the world. He smiled, a smile so pure, happy, and laden with anticipation.
Seeing his spouse acting so affectionately and smiling happily on his lap, Arvin gave a faint smile. His hands reflexively wrapped around Kylen's waist. He completely understood what the person he loved desired and was waiting for.
"Are you feeling happy right now after I proposed to you in front of all your family members earlier?" Arvin asked playfully, his thumb gently caressing the side of Kylen's waist.
"Of course I am happy, Darling! Very happy!" Kylen answered without a shred of hesitation. This was clearly proven by his eyes, which were sparkling with sheer happiness. "You truly kept your promise to me!"
"In that case..." Arvin trailed off.
Kylen held his breath. His eyes widened with enthusiasm, incredibly curious and impatient for his husband's next words. Deep in his heart, he was waiting for the moment when his husband would propose and recite the Life-and-Death vow before the Gods.
And what happened next seemed to make time stand still. As Arvin raised and opened his palm, a highly exquisite gold ring adorned with a transparent blue gem lay resting there.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
Kylen's heart beat so fast upon seeing the beautiful ring. He had been eagerly anticipating the moment when that ring would be slipped onto his ring finger.
Arvin looked straight into Kylen's eyes with a gaze full of utter earnestness.
"Kylenciel, are you willing to marry me, and always be together in sorrow and in joy, in life and in death, for all eternity?"
Even though he was filled with overwhelming nervousness and deep emotion inside, Kylen instantly answered the proposal with a perfectly blooming smile of happiness. "Yes, I am willing!"
Hearing that conviction-filled answer, Arvin immediately recited the Life-and-Death vow.
"O God who holds the universe..." Arvin's voice sounded straightforward, echoing solemnly to break the silence of the room. "I, Arvin Vedegra, wish to marry this person whom I love deeply. I want to bind a Life-and-Death vow, forever with him. May You bestow Your blessing upon our marriage, and let our fates be intertwined as one!"
After the vow was spoken, with a very gentle and careful movement, Arvin reached for and held Kylen's left hand, then slowly slipped the transparent blue-gemmed gold ring onto his ring finger.
As the ring sat perfectly on his finger, Kylen looked at it with teary eyes from the overwhelming emotion. He truly did not expect that this moment had finally arrived and the ring was finally on his finger.
Finally, he proposed to me! I am happy! So happy! he screamed inwardly, full of explosive happiness. Soon, the white Life-and-Death Contract symbol that I have been waiting for all this time will finally be engraved on the back of my right hand!
As a result of the overflowing happiness over the proposal and the vow recitation that had now become a reality, Kylen immediately lunged forward and hugged Arvin's body very tightly.
Mwah!
Kylen could not hold himself back anymore. He proceeded to kiss Arvin's lips so fiercely and demandingly, as if he could no longer contain the passion churning inside him.
Arvin did not stay still. He immediately returned the hug and kissed his spouse's lips back. His hand slipped into Kylen's strands of hair, pulling the youth's nape to deepen their kiss.