A few moments prior, coinciding with the moment the other groups began combing through their respective areas, the footsteps of three strikingly handsome youths parted the bustling crowd at the eastern gate of the Astoria Kingdom's capital.
Under the bright, shining sun, the presence of Ordion, Dylan, and Victor easily captured the attention of anyone who crossed their path.
To the guard soldiers on duty at the gate, the figure of the red-haired youth was highly familiar and widely known as the third spouse of Arvin Vedegra. The same went for Victor. There was not a single soldier in the capital who did not recognize the fifth son of Prime Minister Hector Zernest.
As the three youths walked toward the checkpoint, a guard soldier immediately stepped forward. His demeanor was highly polite and full of respect.
"Good afternoon, Young Masters!" the soldier greeted amiably, bowing his head slightly. "If I may ask, where are the three of you heading?"
"We have all been ordered by our husband to go and search for several specific types of herbal plants inside the eastern forest." Ordion answered in a relaxed tone with a convincing facial expression. "Later, he will use those plants as the base ingredients for his potion brews."
Hearing the answer from the red-haired youth's mouth, the soldier who had just greeted him instantly froze. His eyes widened slightly. It was not the destination to the forest that shocked the soldier, but rather the implication of the sentence regarding the other two youths standing by Ordion's side.
The soldier's gaze shifted hesitantly toward the purple-haired youth.
"P-Please forgive my insolence!" the soldier said, his voice trembling slightly in disbelief. "I-Is... the fifth son of Prime Minister Hector Zernest also... Young Master Arvin Vedegra's spouse?"
Hearing the question laden with doubt, Victor did not show the slightest offended expression. Instead, he straightened his shoulders. There was no hesitation or burden in his eyes. There was only undeniable pride.
"Your guess is correct!" Victor answered in a loud and firm voice, without the slightest hesitation. "However, you must correct one thing. Right now, I am no longer the Prime Minister's son. I have been kicked out of my home and permanently erased from the Zernest family registry because I insisted on marrying Arvin."
Victor paused his sentence for a moment, letting that fact sink into everyone's ears, then continued his declaration. "The one standing before you right now is solely Victor Vedegra, the eleventh spouse of Arvin Vedegra!"
The answer bursting from the purple-haired youth's mouth was like an invisible explosion. It was not only the soldier who was shocked to the point of his jaw dropping. The other guarding soldiers, several civilians, and a group of merchants queuing not far from them were also left paralyzed.
A momentary silence swept over the eastern gate area, before finally being replaced by the low hum of hushed whispers.
They truly did not expect that a son of the Prime Minister would willingly strip away his noble status, throw away his wealth and political future, and let himself be kicked out of his own family just to marry Arvin Vedegra, who was, in fact, a man, just like himself.
This Young Master is truly insane! the guard officer remarked inwardly, staring at Victor with a look of utter disbelief. He chose to lose everything, all his privileges as part of the Zernest family, just for a man? I truly cannot fathom the thought process of those willing to sacrifice everything for this same-sex relationship.
Realizing the awkward atmosphere emanating from the people around them, Ordion smiled faintly.
"This handsome black-haired person beside me is Dylan Vedegra!" Ordion stated, his voice breaking through the crowd's whispers, deliberately introducing one of his family members to the soldier. "He is Arvin Vedegra's seventh spouse."
Dylan, whose name had just been mentioned, merely offered a faint smile and a polite nod.
"Hello..." Dylan greeted in a friendly yet authoritative tone, reflecting the composure of a nobleman.
"N-Nice to meet you, Young Master Dylan!" the soldier replied quickly, lowering his head to conceal his multi-layered shock.
However, after the introduction, the soldier looked a little restless. His eyes glanced to the left, to the right, and tried to peek at the street behind the three youths, as if searching for the existence of someone incredibly important.
"What are you looking for?" Ordion asked, feeling bewildered and slightly curious about the gate guard's behavior.
"Ah, nothing..." the soldier answered, flustered. "I just feel confused because Young Master Arvin's presence cannot be seen alongside the three of you here."
"Of course he is not here with us!" Ordion replied in a highly relaxed tone. "Right now, our husband is on his way to the Flamort Kingdom. He went there to officially propose to a prince, directly before the king in their palace!"
Silence...
One second... two seconds...
That casually delivered answer slipping from Ordion's mouth successfully rendered everyone around the eastern gate area paralyzed in silence. This time, it was not merely shock, but an extraordinary uproar.
They never expected, not even in their wildest dreams, that Arvin Vedegra's charm had reached a foreign royal family. A prince from a neighboring kingdom had become one of Arvin Vedegra's many spouses.
However, everyone in the eastern gate area immediately realized one undeniable fact. The charisma of Arvin Vedegra did not solely stem from his extraordinarily handsome face, but also from his strength, power, and highly dominant personality, much like a true leader.
It had become an open secret among the capital's residents regarding Arvin Vedegra's sexual orientation, showing a preference for handsome men. Quite a few people, ranging from commoners, wealthy merchants, to middle-class nobles, started to have their minds churning with calculations.
Even a prince is willing to be his spouse... thought a wealthy silk merchant who accidentally overheard the conversation. His eyes sparkled full of calculation. It seems I will try to arrange a marriage between my youngest son and Young Master Arvin Vedegra! My son's face is also very handsome, no less charming than those three youths.
Similar thoughts, the opportunistic desire to marry off their respective sons, were spinning wildly in the heads of the majority of adults in the crowd. The reasons behind this desire varied. Some aimed to elevate their social status, seek wealth, or simply secure absolute protection under the grand name of the Vedegra family, which was viewed as the strongest, most feared, and most respected entity throughout the Astoria Kingdom territory.
However, they never knew one highly crucial fact. Arvin did not arbitrarily choose who deserved to be by his side. Any parent who dared to matchmake their son with the intent of seeking profit would only meet a dead ending in rejection.
Seeing the people beginning to whisper with calculating gazes, Victor snorted softly. He felt sick of such political stares.
"We must immediately go to the forest!" Victor stated firmly, breaking the whispers and dirty calculations taking place in the gate area. "If the three of us continue to dawdle here, our precious time to complete the task from our husband will be wasted in vain!"
Hearing the reprimand full of dedication and the highly reasonable excuse from the purple-haired youth, the soldier had not the slightest right to interfere with the Vedegra family's business and granted them access to exit the capital.
"P-Please pass, Young Masters!" the soldier said very politely while bowing his body. "Please be careful inside the eastern forest out there."
Hearing the friendly warning, Ordion smiled with full confidence.
"Just relax and don't worry about us!" he said casually as he stepped through the gate. "Not a single one of Arvin Vedegra's spouses holds the title of weak! If any monsters or criminals dare to attack us, I guarantee we will defeat them!"