Wolvin narrowed his eyes, feeling quite puzzled by Arlen's rather drastic change in attitude.
Just a few moments ago, the brown-haired boy had seemed so passionate, asking about the origins of his dimensional storage necklace with eyes sparkling full of excitement. Yet, right after Wolvin answered that the necklace was a gift from his mother-in-law, Arlen merely responded with a single amazed "Wow" before suddenly falling completely silent.
As someone accustomed to reading the slightest gestures and emotional shifts from his targets and those around him, Wolvin naturally caught this anomaly. A fleeting sense of suspicion crossed and haunted his mind for a moment. He wondered, was the boy hiding an ulterior motive after learning where the necklace came from?
However, as Wolvin stared more intently at Arlen, all those suspicions slowly faded away. The boy's face was filled with the expression of an alchemist drowning in the ocean of his own thoughts, analyzing something beyond the grasp of ordinary people. Moreover, Wolvin reminded himself of one absolute fact: his husband had personally chosen Arlen as the future alchemist who would work under the empire's protection.
Armed with full faith in his husband's judgment, Wolvin cast his suspicions far away and chose not to discuss Arlen's silence any further. He let the boy sink into his thoughts.
Meanwhile, on the sofa right next to the Night Wolf youth, Calian was staring seriously at Arlen's tiny, enthusiastic face.
However, there was a technical matter regarding the alchemist's physical condition that Calian needed to resolve immediately.
"So, Arlen..." Calian called out, breaking the silence. His voice flowed calmly, yet it drew everyone's attention back to him. "Do you want to return to your normal form now?"
The very sudden question instantly snapped Arlen back to reality. Hearing the offer, the brown-haired boy blinked a few times, then quickly shifted his gaze and looked straight at the Prince.
Logically, Arlen naturally wanted to return to his adult form immediately. Being in the body of a six-year-old child with clothes currently drowning his figure was highly uncomfortable, not to mention the physical and stamina limitations that came with it. However, his brain quickly formulated a rational calculation about their current situation.
"Before I answer that offer, if I may... I would like to ask you one thing, Your Highness." Arlen said in a very polite and cautious tone.
"Of course. What do you want to ask?"
"Where is your next destination after leaving this city?"
"Wollen City, of course!" Calian answered, stating his main plan without a single ounce of hesitation in his voice. "This very morning, right after you finish making that universal key, we must head there immediately."
The purple-haired youth rested his head on his right hand, which was propped against the sofa.
"We have to arrive there and root out the problem before all the bastards from the slave-trading syndicate hiding there find out what actually happened to Thomas and his henchmen in this city."
Hearing the firm answer coming from the Prince's mouth, Arlen's brain quickly processed the crucial information.
The fact that Calian spoke about Thomas, the lord of Gias City, combined with the situation where Calian had freed the slaves in the man's residence, made Arlen realize one absolute certainty: the city lord had been executed.
However, it was precisely because of Calian's answer regarding their destination to Wollen City that Arlen instantly solidified his decision.
"If that is the situation, then there is no need, Your Highness. Let me stay in this physical form for the time being." Arlen answered in a very firm tone, refusing the offer to return to his adult body. "If my body returns to its original adult form, the guards and syndicate higher-ups over there will undoubtedly recognize my face and identity with ease. But in the guise of a six-year-old child, I possess the perfect disguise."
Calian was quite surprised to hear the unexpected answer that had just come out of the brown-haired boy's mouth. From that analytical answer, he became absolutely certain of one thing: Arlen had unilaterally decided to tag along with them to Wollen City.
On the sofa next to Calian, Wolvin narrowed his eyes, staring straight and sharply at Arlen.
"Are you planning to follow us into their nest in Wollen City?" Wolvin asked, cutting into their conversation with a slightly lowered voice, demanding certainty. "You were just freed from slavery. Why would you want to jump right back in there?"
Hearing the interrogative question, Arlen turned his head and bravely met Wolvin's gaze. His light purple eyes radiated a resolve that could not be shaken by anything.
The brown-haired boy nodded firmly, confirming the future imperial consort's suspicion.
"I have to go there!" Arlen answered, his voice trembling slightly, not out of fear, but from profound emotion. "I must free my younger brother. Because right now, he is still being held captive and enslaved by the lord of that city. As long as I worked for them, my brother's life was used as the main collateral. I will never be able to live in peace enjoying the empire's protection if my one and only brother is left to rot and die in that place."
Silence instantly enveloped the room.
The reason Arlen had just voiced sounded incredibly reasonable to Calian and Wolvin. As individuals who deeply valued bonds, the two of them could not deny what Arlen had just said.
There wasn't a single person in this world who wouldn't want to risk their life to save a sibling still entangled in the agony of slavery.
Calian averted his gaze from Arlen, then turned his head to look at Wolvin, who was sitting quietly to his left.
Noticing the stare coming from his husband on his right, the Night Wolf youth also turned his head. For a few moments, the two of them simply remained silent and looked at one another, as if communicating intensely through their eyes.
Just from that exchange of glances, Calian knew his spouse's decision. Wolvin's calm, unrejecting gaze indicated that the Night Wolf youth fully understood Arlen's feelings, and he personally permitted the boy to tag along with them.
However, it was not that one-sided agreement that made the purple-haired youth's heart feel troubled.
The only thing that made Calian hesitate was none other than Arlen's existence itself.
He felt that if Arlen came with them to Wollen City this time, it meant there was one more life he had to ensure the safety of. There was one more person he had to protect with his blessing's authority besides Wolvin.
The concern clearly radiating from his husband's face was easily understood and read by Wolvin.
He must be overthinking unnecessary things again if Arlen comes with us to Wollen City.
To dispel his husband's anxiety, the Night Wolf youth slowly carved a gentle smile on his face, as if conveying a silent message assuring him that "Everything will be just fine."
Seeing that gentle smile, Calian could only let out a long, resigned sigh. He was fully aware and knew his own weakness all too well. He would never have the heart to argue or question further when his spouse smiled that softly right in front of him.
Meanwhile, on the opposite sofa in front of them, Arlen could only sit in silence. He felt both confused and awkward watching the silent interaction taking place between the married couple before him.
However, that feeling of confusion and awkwardness instantly evaporated the moment Calian looked straight back at him.
"Alright." Calian finally decided, his tone shifting back to the firm voice of a leader who had made an absolute decision. "Since your reasoning is undeniable, you may come with us to Wollen City this morning."
Hearing the Prince's decision, a smile laden with relief and happiness slowly formed on the brown-haired boy's tiny lips.
He felt incredibly grateful to the Gods for being permitted to go save his younger brother, alongside two powerful youths who were not only possessors of terrifying blessings, but also the future rulers of the Erthland Empire.
"T-Thank you very much, Your Highness."