Morning greeted Lazavis City with a pristine, cloudless blue sky. The warm morning sunlight illuminated the magnificent Altavis family residence, giving a golden touch to the floral decorations and silk ribbons adorning every corner.
The atmosphere both inside and outside the mansion felt incredibly alive, filled with anticipation and joy. Today was the highly anticipated historic day: the double wedding ceremony between Kazien Altavis and his three fiancés, as well as Raliana Altavis and Dave.
In the mansion's spacious kitchen area, the clinking of cooking utensils and the appetizing aromas of various luxurious dishes filled the air endlessly. The servants and chefs worked in a highly busy and coordinated manner, ensuring thousands of portions of dishes were served perfectly.
This party was incredibly special and on a massive scale. The Altavis family not only opened their mansion doors to the nobles but also invited commoners from all corners of their territory. The boundaries of social status seemed to blend in the joy of celebrating the happiness of the territory leader's son and daughter.
Among the crowd of guests of honor packing the main hall, the important entourage from the capital finally arrived. King Nalvon was present in person along with his entire family. Beside them, Elisa and Erica were also seen looking very charming.
After giving their official greetings to Duke Elgard and Duchess Larina, Felix and Erica separated themselves from the group of parents. Their eyes swept across the room until they finally found the figure they were looking for.
Kazien stood calmly near a pillar in the hall. The youth looked extraordinarily handsome wearing an all-white wedding suit with gold thread embroidery on the edges. His silvery-white hair and pair of sapphire blue eyes radiated a calmness that captivated anyone who looked at him.
"Hey, Felix!" Kazien greeted when he saw the prince walking closer side-by-side with Erica. Suddenly, a flash of mischievous intent appeared in the youth's mind. "After seeing me this handsome in a wedding suit, don't you want to cancel your engagement and just marry me instead?"
"Shut up!" Felix refused quickly, his voice rising slightly out of panic and without the slightest hesitation. The prince's face instantly turned red. "I will never be willing to marry you! Do you have absolutely no shame spouting such nonsense in front of your cousin who is clearly my fiancée?"
Kazien only laughed softly, not feeling intimidated at all by the prince's harsh reaction.
"Why should I feel ashamed in front of her?" Kazien answered casually, slipping his hands into his trouser pockets. "I just wanted to see your reaction. I must admit, you are indeed very cute when you're annoyed and flustered like this. Hahaha."
Ignoring Felix's quiet grumbling, Kazien then shifted his gaze toward his cousin.
"Then, what about the two of you, Erica? When exactly will you follow suit and hold your wedding in the capital?"
"It seems like it will be about two more years, Brother." answered the purple-haired woman with an elegant smile. "We have to wait until I am exactly over sixteen years old. You and the others will definitely come, right?"
"Of course I will come!" Kazien answered firmly, a mischievous smile once again adorning his lips. "I want to come and stand in the very front row to see Felix's tense and annoyed face when he is at the altar for your wedding later."
"What did you say?!" exclaimed Felix, his face now truly turning beet red from a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. "Don't tell me you plan to tease me again with your crazy antics in public on my wedding day?!"
Kazien once again carved a happy smile seeing the reaction of the Garveon Kingdom's heir to the throne. In his eyes, the prince indeed looked very cute when frustrated, and Kazien always felt entertained whenever he succeeded in teasing him.
"Hahaha." Erica laughed crisply, covering her mouth with the back of her hand after hearing the blatant threat from her older cousin. "I am sure, if you really do that, all the guests of honor from all corners of the continent will have a misunderstanding because of your actions, Brother."
Seeing the laughter of Erica and Felix standing side-by-side, Kazien smiled in relief. He felt happy seeing his cousin had found the right man, a childhood friend who loved her very much and would protect her.
"I pray for abundant happiness for the two of you, Felix, Erica." Kazien said with a tone that now turned sincere and serious.
"Thank you, Brother." Erica replied with eyes sparkling with happiness. "I will also pray for happiness, peace, and smoothness for the wedding of the four of you today."
Felix cleared his throat softly, neutralizing his facial expression, then stared intently at Kazien like a true best friend.
"Thank you, Kazien." Felix replied in a tone no less sincere than Erica's. "I also pray for eternal happiness for the marriage of the four of you. And one thing from me..." Felix paused his words for a moment, his gaze softening. "...if someday we are gone, please never once you hurt the feelings of those three!"
Felix's words were spoken with a tone of sincere friendship, but to Kazien, the phrase 'if someday we are gone' was like a block of ice suddenly dropped right into the pit of his stomach.
Even though his feelings were slightly shaken because the dark shadow of death immediately ambushed his mind, Kazien tried hard to hold back that turmoil. He took steady breaths and forced a sincere smile on his lips, absolutely not wanting to show the heavy burden weighing on him in front of the two happy people.
The absolute reality that Felix, Erica, his parents, and everyone he knew were mortal beings who would one day grow old and die, was always a thorn piercing his heart.
Even though all this time Kazien had tried to make peace and bury that burden very neatly, Felix's words just now once again triggered his inner distress.
Even though I always tell myself that I am ready for that reality... but in the end, I still feel afraid. Kazien thought anxiously, watching Felix and Erica's crisp laughter. I am so afraid of seeing the cheerful faces in this room one day close their eyes and leave me forever due to the limits of age. The burden of this immortality is truly starting to disturb my psychology.
Kazien's sapphire blue gaze swept around the magnificent hall. This happiness... this laughter... this complete family togetherness... all of it will definitely fade one day and disappear into the dust of history. The only ones who will continue to endure and remain are just me, Alvin, Allen, and Arken.
The youth's heart felt increasingly tight. Even though Sister Selena is currently bound by a contract of eternity with me, if one day her husband dies of old age, she will surely choose to follow that man.
Amidst the sound of the passing footsteps of the invited guests, Kazien could only let out a long sigh. He accepted everything with resignation, shouldering that burden of eternity in silence behind his smile.