"Why?" exclaimed Allen, his eyebrows furrowing sharply. He couldn't fathom Kazien's decision to suddenly cancel their schedule to run a mission at the adventurer guild.
Kazien did not answer immediately. He gazed at the faces of his loved ones one by one: Alvin, Allen, and Arken, who was now still clinging to him.
"I want to go on a date with the three of you!" Kazien said finally, a sincere smile dawning on his lips.
There was a moment of silence...
Instantly, Alvin, Allen, and Arken's expressions changed drastically. From being slightly disappointed and confused by the cancellation of plans, their faces now radiated immense happiness. Their eyes sparkled.
They never imagined that Kazien would take the initiative to ask the three of them out on a date together.
"Let's go on a date!" they shouted in unison, their voices filling the room with explosive enthusiasm.
"But before that..." Kazien interrupted, halting their cheers for a moment. He stared intently at Arken. "I want to make an engagement ring for Arken like the ones on your left ring fingers! I will put that ring on him in front of our family so his status is official in their eyes."
His three fiancés nodded in agreement. It was the right decision. Arken needed a binding symbol just like Alvin and Allen.
Even though he was holding Arken while stark naked, Kazien felt no awkwardness. He raised his right hand into the air, palm open. He closed his eyes for a moment, visualizing the shape, weight, and detailed engraving of a silver ring exactly like his and his two fiancés'.
Clink!
A soft clinking sound rang in the air.
A beautifully sparkling silver ring made from creation magic suddenly appeared in his palm. The ring was perfect, without a single flaw.
Allen and Arken were amazed to see the ring appear in his palm out of nowhere.
"Arken, let's get ready immediately!" urged Kazien, gripping the ring tightly. "I have to put this ring on you in front of them right now."
"Yes, Brother Kazien!" answered Arken enthusiastically, his face overflowing with happiness.
Arken was about to get off Kazien's lap to get ready. However, before he fully climbed down, a mischievous and impulsive idea crossed his mind.
Suddenly, Arken grabbed Kazien's hand. And without warning, he pulled it down and forced it to hold his shaft, which was still hard and erect.
Kazien gasped in shock. His eyes widened as he felt the unexpected sensation in his palm.
"What are you doing, Arken?" asked Kazien in panic, though his voice was choked.
"It doesn't feel fair if I'm the only one holding your shaft." answered Arken with an innocent yet teasing smile, his face blushing with happiness. "It's better if you hold my shaft like this too. To make it even, right?"
Kazien wanted to pull his hand away, but Arken held it there with surprising strength, wanting to let his brother's warm hand keep holding his shaft for just a moment longer. He wanted to feel Kazien's touch there.
However, that intimate moment did not last long. Arken suddenly remembered something more important than momentary satisfaction.
The date! The ring!
Arken immediately released his grip when he remembered that they had to go on a date and make this relationship official. His priorities shifted instantly.
With a happy feeling, Arken let go of Kazien's hand and immediately jumped off the bed. "Let's get ready! I can't wait!" he shouted while trotting over to grab his clothes.
Kazien could only shake his head at Arken's behavior, which shifted as fast as lightning. He stared at his hand, which had just been forced to hold his brother's shaft, and sighed in resignation.
Alvin and Allen, who witnessed the whole scene, smiled happily to see Arken smiling cheerfully again, no longer crying like he was a few minutes ago.
Once they finished getting ready and dressing in their best clothes, Kazien led the small group out of the room. He walked upright toward the family room to meet his parents, accompanied by Alvin on his right, Allen on his left, and Arken walking a bit nervously beside him.
They had only one goal: Kazien wanted to put the ring on Arken's ring finger, witnessed directly by his family as proof of their bond.
Their footsteps echoed in the hallway of the luxurious mansion. Kazien's heart beat fast, not out of fear, but because he knew that what he was about to do would shake his family.
Upon arriving at the doorway of the family room, Kazien saw his parents sitting relaxed on the sofa while talking seriously with Elisa.
Without thinking twice and without wasting time, the four of them walked straight in.
"Why have you suddenly come to see us?" asked Duke Elgard curiously, stopping his conversation with Elisa when he saw his son arrive with the full group and a very serious aura.
Kazien took a deep breath, then looked at his father, mother, and aunt in turn.
"Father, Mother, Aunt Elisa... I came here to make the three of you witnesses!" Kazien declared loudly.
Duke Elgard frowned. "Witnesses?"
"Yes!" answered Kazien firmly. He raised his right hand, which was holding the silver ring he had just created. "Because I want to put this silver ring on Arken's ring finger right now!"
Silence...
Duke Elgard, Duchess Larina, and Elisa were completely shocked by Kazien's words. Their eyes widened as they stared at the ring, then shifted to look at Arken, who stood beside Kazien with his head bowed shyly but full of hope.
The statement was clear. Kazien didn't just want to give a gift; he wanted to make their engagement official.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Elisa was the first to react. She immediately stood up from her seat, cutting off Kazien's words and staring at Arken with a sharp gaze full of disbelief.
"Arken!" shouted Elisa loudly. "Didn't you promise me you would find a woman out there? Didn't you promise to live a normal life and not marry your own brother? What was the meaning of your promise back then?!"
Arken flinched at his aunt's harsh reprimand. He bowed his head even lower, not daring to look at Elisa's disappointed face. However, he remembered his oath and his feelings. He couldn't back down anymore.
"I-I... I have fallen for Brother Kazien, Aunt Elisa." squeaked Arken softly, but clearly enough to be heard in the quiet room. "Forgive me... I cannot hold back these feelings."
Slap! Elisa slapped her forehead hard. She shook her head, truly unable to believe what she had just heard from Arken's mouth. Her hopes for Arken to have a normal love life were instantly shattered.
The same went for Duke Elgard and Duchess Larina. Neither could hide their shocked expressions. Duchess Larina's mouth was slightly open, her hand covering her lips. Their son was going to marry three men at once, and one of them was the adopted child who had just arrived at the mansion.
Duchess Larina stared at the brown-haired boy with a scrutinizing gaze.
"A-Are you sure about your decision, Arken?" asked Duchess Larina, her voice trembling as she demanded certainty.
Arken gathered the courage to lift his head, the fire of conviction burning within him. He looked his adopted mother straight in the eye.
"Yes, Mother!" answered Arken without hesitation, his voice steady and echoing in the family room. "I have set my heart on Brother Kazien, and there is no one else I want to marry but him. My happiness lies with him."