The rational answer he had just heard instantly made Kylen fall silent. There was not a single rebuttal he could throw out.
The youth was very aware that his status as a prince of the Flamort Kingdom meant he could not carelessly marry without official procedures. Moreover, the two of them came from two different kingdoms, where a marriage would be very closely related to the political alliance of both countries.
It is exactly my status as a prince that becomes a huge obstacle for me to marry Arvin faster. Kylen thought, lowering his gaze with a slightly disappointed feeling. I truly feel jealous of the four of them who are not bound by complicated bureaucracy and can officially become his spouses without any hindrance.
....
A few moments later...
....
The shared bathing session filled with restrained turbulence was finally over.
At this time, Arvin had already come out of the bathroom and was getting ready to head to the capital's slum area according to his plan.
Seeing his husband already dressed neatly and getting ready to leave, Allen, who had been sitting on his bed all this time, stood up and approached him.
"My husband, where do you want to go alone?" he asked in a curious tone, his eyes staring intently at Arvin's face.
"I want to go to the slum area for a moment to confirm something there." Arvin answered casually. He then looked at Allen and his three other spouses, along with Kylen who had now joined them. "While I am gone, it is better for the four of you to take Kylen for a stroll around the capital since there is an opportunity for a holiday today."
While speaking, Arvin took out two bars of pure gold from his storage dimension space. He offered the two gold bars and handed them to Allen's palm.
"Just sell this gold if you need money to shop or eat out." Arvin said. "And one more thing, invite Dylan to go with you today!"
Hearing that last instruction, Allen, Alrain, Ordion, Alvein, and even Kylen simultaneously tilted their heads. Expressions of curiosity and confusion were clearly depicted on the faces of the five of them upon hearing that unexpected name being mentioned.
"Invite Dylan with us?" Allen repeated, furrowing his brow because he did not understand his husband's train of thought. "Why do you suddenly want us to invite him for a stroll?"
Arvin met their gazes calmly. "Because he is one of my targets, and he has a potential that is very suitable to become my seventh spouse." Arvin confessed honestly without beating around the bush. "Even though he looks indifferent on the outside, actually, he secretly likes me. Moreover, as a darkness element user, he is an expert in spreading terror to break down the mental state of his enemies. His ability will be very useful for us in the future."
"Wait a minute! We are even in the same class as him!" Alrain suddenly chimed in, joining the conversation while stepping forward. "If you really had planned it, why didn't you do it from the very beginning? Why is it only now that you are asking us to approach him?"
"Because this is the perfect moment." Arvin answered quickly, not wanting to explain too extensively because his time was limited. He then turned his body to face the exit. "I have to go now. I leave the matter entirely to the five of you."
Without waiting for a reply, Arvin stepped out and left the house, letting the five youths digest his instructions without a more detailed explanation of what they actually had to do to Dylan.
After Arvin left, Allen could only let out a long sigh looking at the closed door. He looked at the two gold bars in his hands, then immediately stored them into his magic bag.
Without thinking twice, the youth approached Dylan, who was sitting casually on his bed while reading a book.
Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, Dylan looked up. He was quite surprised to see Allen suddenly standing in front of him.
"Why are you suddenly coming to me here, Allen?" Dylan asked, closing his book.
"Dylan, do you want to come along for a stroll around the capital with us today?" Allen invited in a friendly tone without beating around the bush. "There is an important matter I want to talk about directly with you."
Dylan stared at Allen for a moment, trying to figure out what he actually wanted to talk about. However, seeing the youth's calm expression, he nodded slowly.
"Alright. Wait a moment, I will take a bath and get ready first." Dylan answered without harboring the slightest suspicion.
Allen nodded in understanding and let the youth go bathe immediately.
....
Some time later...
....
The six youths walked out of the shelter house area. With a relaxed, synchronized pace, they walked side by side down the streets of the Victoriaz Kingdom's capital, which were starting to be filled with the hustle and bustle of local residents and merchants.
Dylan, who had been harboring his curiosity all this time, finally spoke up.
"So, what is the important matter you actually want to convey to me, Allen?" he asked, opening the conversation, turning to the youth walking beside him.
Allen stopped his steps for a moment, causing the other to stop as well. He looked straight at Dylan with a very serious yet gentle expression.
"Dylan, if you please, are you willing to become the seventh spouse of our husband?"
The question spoken in that calm tone instantly made Dylan's body freeze. He felt as if he had just been struck by lightning in broad daylight.
The youth had never once imagined in his life that on this bright holiday, he would suddenly be offered the position to become the seventh spouse of an Arvin Vedegra, the King of Terror who was greatly feared by all students at the Astoria Academy.
"W-What did you just ask?" Dylan said in a shocked tone, his voice nearly choking in his throat. His eyes widened in disbelief, staring at Allen. "Why would you directly ask me to be Arvin's seventh spouse? Are you crazy?"
"I deliberately invited you for a stroll outside with us today so we could get to know each other better." Allen answered with a still-controlled tone. "Moreover, our husband personally said that he is interested in you, and you are one of the targets he indeed wants to marry."
Hearing the reality that he was the person Arvin specifically desired, Dylan increasingly lost his words.
"But... how is that possible?" Dylan argued, his brow furrowing deeply as memories of the past spun in his head. "Back during the practical magic exam in the forest behind the academy, didn't he seem to dislike me very much? He even coldly rejected me when I offered myself to join the team of you two. If he is indeed interested, why did he do that?"
Hearing the question full of doubt, Allen smiled faintly, implying a sense of guilt.
"Because at that time, I was a very stubborn person. I did not want anyone else approaching him or becoming his spouse other than myself." Allen answered honestly, recalling his selfishness in the past. "Arvin was very mindful of my feelings, therefore he firmly rejected you from joining."
Allen took a brief pause, staring at Dylan with a sincere gaze.
"But now everything is different. After I opened my mind and allowed him to marry people other than myself, he finally dared to say honestly about how many men he wants to marry." Allen continued explaining in detail. He then pointed at the four people behind him. "These four standing here are also direct witnesses that Arvin himself was the one who said he wants you to become his spouse."
Dylan reflexively turned to Alrain, Ordion, Alvein, and Kylen. The four youths looked at Dylan and gave a slow nod simultaneously, confirming every word Allen had just said.
The youth could only remain stiffly silent. He truly did not expect that his pent-up feelings all this time were actually reciprocated, and he was greatly desired by the King of Terror whom he always paid attention to from afar.
Seeing Dylan still speechless processing all the shocking information, Allen patted his shoulder gently.
"Now that you know this fact, what are your true feelings towards Arvin?"