They looked at each other for a few moments, as if trying to determine who should drink the Elixir of Archmage first.
Before long, Alvein broke the silence while raising his hand enthusiastically.
"I will be the one to drink it first tonight!" he exclaimed enthusiastically without hesitation. "So that tomorrow, I can immediately stand guard and protect the security of this mansion optimally, just as our husband instructed earlier!"
Hearing Alvein's initiative, Alrian, who was standing not far from the table, immediately turned his head toward his younger brother.
"In that case, I want you to drink it tonight as well, Alrain!" Alrian said without the slightest hesitation. "The two of us possess a sharp sensitivity to detect the presence of others outside the mansion. It will be much more effective and secure if one of us can take turns guarding this mansion!"
The logical and tactical suggestion just spoken by his older brother was immediately met by Alrain with a firm nod.
"Alright, I agree with your line of thought, Brother!" Alrain replied calmly. His eyes then looked at the faces of his other family members. "Then, who else among you will drink the elixir with us tonight?"
Exchanging glances for a moment, Davin, Victor, Kaydan, and Calverd took turns raising their hands. The four youths stated their willingness to drink the elixir without hesitation.
Everyone in the room nodded in agreement with that decision. The four youths then stepped forward and, together with Alrain and Alvein, each took one bottle of the Elixir of Archmage lined up on the table.
"Considering the process might cause us to lose consciousness," Alrain said with his ever-calculating demeanor, "it's better for us to head to bedroom right now and drink it there. That's much better than having to burden the others if we suddenly fall unconscious here."
"A great idea!" Allen agreed. The pink-haired youth stepped closer to the table and took the five remaining bottles of the Elixir of Archmage. "I will store the rest of these elixirs in my magic bag for the time being to keep them safe. Tomorrow, when our turn arrives, I will hand them over to you."
Ordion, Alrian, Dylan, and Arion nodded in agreement with the division of tasks stated by the first spouse.
After obtaining their approval, Allen immediately stored all the Elixir of Archmage bottles into his magic bag.
Once the distribution of the elixirs was settled, Alrain, Alvein, Davin, Victor, Kaydan, and Calverd excused themselves. The six youths turned their bodies and walked together up the stairs toward their rooms on the second floor. Only Allen, Ordion, Alrian, Dylan, and Arion remained in the dining room.
"Now, only the five of us are left here." Allen said after making sure the footsteps of his six other family members could no longer be heard. He leaned his back against the chair, his facial expression turning very serious.
"I keep thinking about the limits of our immortality." he continued, looking at his four family members. "We are indeed immortal. But, our immortality is merely due to the effects of the Elixir of Immortality. We are only immune to lethal poisons, aging, and all kinds of diseases. However, we are not immune to fatal physical damage at all. The five of us can still die if our hearts are pierced, our bodies are destroyed, or our heads are decapitated. So... do you all agree if, someday, we also ask him to bind our souls to his through the Soul Seal ritual?"
Allen's weighty question made the atmosphere turn silent for a moment. But it did not take long for the four youths to nod in agreement with the rational suggestion Allen had put forward. All of them were essentially willing and deeply desired to bind their souls absolutely to their husband.
"I strongly agree!" Arion replied in an enthusiastic tone, looking at Allen. "I don't want to die a foolish death just because of a physical attack after everything we have been through."
"I agree too, but we must be patient and it's better for us to wait a little longer." Alrian chimed in wisely. "The Soul Seal ritual severely drains his mana and stamina. Besides, aren't there still a few more people out there whom he wants to marry and bring home?"
"Yes, you are absolutely right, Alrian!" Ordion replied while crossing his arms in front of his chest. He scoffed softly but agreed. "We must not be selfish and burden him right now. After their souls are bound to our husband's soul later, that's when the five of us will directly ask him simultaneously to bind our souls to his."
Hearing the conversation about new members and future plans, Dylan, who had been silently listening all this time, slowly lowered his face.
"After Kylen, it's my turn..." Dylan said softly. "He has to keep his promise to officially propose to me in front of my late mother's grave."
The black-haired youth bowed deeply before his four family members, feeling extremely terrible.
"Forgive me... I have made everything take longer and be delayed." Dylan said in a tone fraught with regret. "I truly never expected that my selfish desire to be proposed to there would instead hinder everything."
Seeing Dylan plagued by guilt, Allen, Ordion, Alrian, and Arion exchanged glances before finally smiling gently at him. There was not the slightest hint of anger or blame in their eyes.
"What are you talking about, Dylan?" Ordion chided in a tone deliberately made slightly teasing to lighten the mood. "Isn't that exactly what our husband should do? He has made a promise, so he is obligated to keep it to respect you. All you need to do now is just properly prepare yourself mentally after the sacred proposal procession is over, right?"
Allen chuckled softly. He raised and showed the back of his right hand to Dylan.
"Ordion is right! Later, after the proposal is over, you and he will definitely spend time together to make love very intensely... until this white contract symbol is permanently engraved on the back of your right hand."
Hearing the explicit teasing from Allen and Ordion, Dylan's face instantly flushed crimson.
He is right! Dylan thought, with his heart suddenly beating fast. After the proposal is official, I must be ready to surrender my entire body and soul completely to My Beloved.
"I-I will try hard to make him happy in... in bed later!" the black-haired youth answered in a very nervous and stuttering tone, drawing soft laughter from Allen, Ordion, Alrian, and Arion who were near him.
However, amidst the soft laughter, Allen suddenly let out a long sigh and rested his head on the table.
"But honestly, if he still has not mastered that cloning magic soon, this is all going to start feeling very annoying!" Allen grumbled, pouring out his honest feelings. "We're forced to patiently wait our turn for a very long time if we want to make love with him. And holding back my sexual desire for that long... honestly, it really frustrates me."
The blunt words that came out of the first spouse's mouth instantly created a comically awkward atmosphere. Dylan and even Arion, who actually knew nothing about intimate relationships, somehow could feel the aura of frustration and loneliness exuding from Allen.
However, none of the five youths could do anything to solve that problem.
They could only let out a resigned sigh and wait patiently, while continuing to hope that someday, when Arvin returned, he would have found a way to clone himself and share his body so he could provide warmth to all his spouses fairly, without anyone feeling neglected or feeling frustrated while waiting for their turn.
And such was the irony of Arvin Vedegra's fate. He was willing to form a harem after being urged by Alrain in the past.
Now, with the harem established, he bore an immensely heavy responsibility. He had to be able to divide his time, give his attention, and channel his affection fairly and evenly to all the youths he had chosen and who had chosen him.
The sole key to resolving his household dilemma was only one: to immediately find and master the cloning magic which currently, according to what Kylen had said, resided inside the palace library of the Flamort Kingdom.