Witnessing the warmth that blossomed so naturally within their small family that night, Arvin felt both relieved and happy at the same time. The burden on his shoulders felt a little lighter.
Beyond officially becoming a husband responsible for his two spouses, he had also made a silent vow to himself to be responsible for the safety of Yonna, Alrain's beloved elder sister. He would not let the tragedies of the game repeat themselves.
Once the pleasant dinner concluded and the table had been cleared together, Yonna excused herself and headed to her room to grab a change of clothes. She wanted to bathe and freshen up before heading to bed.
Meanwhile, Arvin, Allen, and Alrain walked side-by-side toward the living room. Arvin sat in the middle of the long, plush sofa, and it didn't take long before he was flanked by his two spouses. With Allen on his left and Alrain on his right, each of them clung to his arms affectionately, leaning their heads against their husband's shoulders.
"My Love..." Alrain whispered, breaking the silence as he tilted his head to look up at Arvin's sharp jawline. "Will I be going to the academy tomorrow morning to start my days there with the both of you?" he asked, seeking confirmation. His voice betrayed his impatience to wear the uniform and study at the same magic academy as them.
"Yes, you're going to the academy tomorrow." Arvin replied casually, leaning further back into the sofa cushions and letting his partners hug his arms tightly. "But you'll be arriving a little late. You have to go with your sister, who will act as your guardian to handle your registration properly."
"I can't wait to study in the same classes as you, Alrain!" Allen chimed in from the other side, sharing the excitement of their upcoming school days.
"Hehehe." Alrain chuckled shyly, imagining himself sitting in the academy halls. "Besides wanting to study and spend time with you both, I'm also very curious... what does Ordion look like while wearing an academy uniform in this youth of his?"
At the mention of that name, Allen recalled their first encounter with Ordion.
"Yesterday, I met him at the academy dormitory." Allen noted, remembering the events of yesterday. "But... their meeting didn't exactly go well. Our husband here was quite rough with him, slamming Ordion's body against the dormitory wall with significant force. Well... although in the end, he was also the one who healed Ordion's injuries with his healing magic."
Hearing the story, Alrain immediately lifted his head and stared at his husband in disbelief. He looked into Arvin's piercing red eyes, which only met his gaze with a flat, innocent expression.
The Green-haired teenager couldn't believe that his husband who was currently being so gentle, could still be so harsh and impulsive when something irritated him.
"My Goodness... My Love..." Alrain groaned, one hand releasing Arvin's arm just to massage his own forehead, which suddenly felt tight. "Whether in that era or in the present, you never hesitate to be rough with everyone. You truly haven't changed. No wonder you were nicknamed the 'King of Terror' at the academy."
"Hahaha!" Allen burst into laughter at the second spouse's lament. The nickname sounded ridiculous yet perfectly fit Arvin's temperament when he was angry. "I bet Ordion was the one who told you about his nickname for you, right?" Allen guessed through his laughter.
"Yes!" Alrain replied casually, a thin smile forming. "He told me everything."
Alrain slowly reached out his free hand, stroking his husband's jaw and cheek with a very tender motion. His thumb brushed against Arvin's skin with deep affection.
The touch was indeed soft and soothing, yet Arvin's sharp instincts immediately kicked in. He could tell clearly that there was an underlying intention behind his second spouse's sudden shift into being extra clingy.
Arvin stared directly into Alrain's eyes. "Just say what it is you actually want to say." Arvin said in a relaxed tone, yet every emphasized word demanded honesty without pretense.
"Hahaha." Alrain laughed softly, realizing his tactics had been read so easily. "I really can't hide anything from you."
Alrain's laughter slowly subsided. He adjusted his sitting position, gazing intently at his husband. He then took a long breath, gathered his courage, and spoke frankly without holding anything back.
"I hope... you will accept Ordion." Alrain pleaded, his voice now turning serious and full of hope. "He is truly loyal and has a sincere heart for you. Even though in this current life he has no memory of that past era, he has liked you from the very beginning. His feelings are pure. I beg of you, My Love... give him a chance to be your spouse so he doesn't drown in his regrets again."
The plea, spoken with a slight tremor in his voice, signaled just how much Alrain cared for the man named Ordion. It caused Arvin's defenses to crumble instantly. He could never resist when his spouse pleaded with such an expression.
Arvin let out a long, heavy sigh, then leaned his head back to stare at the ceiling, as if searching for an answer there.
He then turned to his left. "And what about you, Allen?" he asked to make sure, unwilling to make a unilateral decision that might hurt his first spouse's feelings. "Do you truly give me permission to make Ordion my third spouse?"
"I don't mind at all!" Allen answered quickly and without hesitation, looking back at his husband with a reassuring smile. "My duty right now is only to support you fully. I will accept whatever decision you make, because I believe that whatever you deem good is truly what's best for the future of our family."
Hearing such a supportive answer from Allen, combined with Alrain's pleading gaze, Arvin fell silent for a moment. He then sighed for the second time that night, this time sounding more resigned.
"To be honest... I felt that having just the two of you by my side as my spouses was more than enough." Arvin confessed truthfully, wrapping both of his arms around Allen and Alrain's shoulders simultaneously. "But since the two of you have already decided and agreed upon this..."
Arvin purposefully let the sentence hang, a thin, ironic smile playing on his lips. "...it seems that during the next break, I'll have to visit the royal library. I need to start looking for books on ancient magic that can help me to split myself into three just to serve all of you."