The people standing in the eastern gate area remained stunned in silence. Their eyes could not tear away from watching the backs of the three handsome youths who slowly walked further away, swallowed by the dense trees at the capital's outer border.
The air that had previously felt tense slowly began to thaw, but that silence was immediately replaced by a collective realization. The final words spoken by Ordion before he turned to leave still rang clearly in their ears.
"Not a single one of Arvin Vedegra's spouses holds the title of weak."
The crowd, which was initially filled with ambition and dirty calculations, was now starting to be plagued by realistic doubts.
"Wait a minute!" muttered an old woman who had been standing near a row of horse carriages all this time, trying to digest the facts she had just heard. "Does that mean... aside from having an extraordinarily handsome face, the men chosen by that Young Master must also possess magic and physical strength above the average?"
"It seems that is indeed the case." chimed in another middle-aged woman in a tone that sounded incredibly disappointed, shattering her own daydreams. "If youths like Young Master Victor and a prince from the Flamort Kingdom are by his side, that means his standards are exceptionally high. It's absolutely impossible for my son, who cannot even manipulate basic magic, to be glanced at, let alone marry that Young Master. We are simply daydreaming in broad daylight."
The whispers, which initially started as mere murmurs full of disappointment at the eastern gate, slowly turned into a much larger conversation. The news about Victor Zernest discarding his family name, as well as the number of Arvin's spouses having apparently reached eleven people and involving a prince from the Flamort Kingdom, instantly became a hot topic of discussion.
Like a fire burning a dry meadow, the rumor spread wildly and rapidly by word of mouth. It penetrated markets, guilds, military posts, swept across noble residential areas, until it finally breached the high walls of the Astoria Kingdom's palace.
Inside the ruler's throne room, the atmosphere felt a little tense.
King Garland sat on his grand throne, frozen stiff after hearing the report he had just received. His hand slowly lifted, massaging his temples, which did not actually hurt.
The King was not surprised to hear the fact that Arvin's spouses were incredibly strong individuals. He could already guess that much. However, what made his breath catch was the number.
There were more than ten youths who were now officially bound as Arvin Vedegra's spouses. And among them were the fifth son of his own Prime Minister, Hector Zernest, and also a prince from the Flamort Kingdom.
He did once tell me that his spouses might continue to increase. King Garland thought, trying to rationalize the crazy information he had just received. But, by the Gods... I completely did not expect him to move this fast. He already possesses over ten strong men whom he married in such a short time.
Realizing that Arvin's influence was growing larger and his position was becoming increasingly untouchable by the kingdom's political hierarchy, King Garland could no longer waste any time.
"Summon Oliver here right now!" the King commanded to a soldier present in the throne room.
The soldier nodded in understanding, then left the throne room to summon the third prince.
It only took a few minutes until the throne room doors opened, revealing the figure of a yellow-haired youth with a sturdy posture and a calm facial expression.
"I have come as summoned, Father!" greeted the prince in a highly polite and respectful tone, lowering his head slightly before stepping closer to his father sitting on his throne.
King Garland stared intently at his third son. Without beating around the bush or using the political preambles he normally employed, the King immediately threw out a very sharp question.
"Oliver, answer me honestly!" King Garland said, his voice echoing softly within the throne room. "Do you like Arvin?"
Hearing the question that was so sudden and out of context regarding kingdom affairs, Oliver fell silent for a moment. His pair of light blue eyes stared intently at his father's face, trying to figure out the direction of their conversation topic.
He did not answer immediately. His brain replayed the memories of his encounters with Arvin, who always acted as he pleased, before Oliver finally let out a soft sigh.
"If asked whether I like him, yes... I do quite like him." the yellow-haired prince confessed very honestly. There was no trace of doubt on his face. "I am very intrigued by his attitude. He is the only person who is never afraid of anything, never bows to noble etiquette, and never feels the slightest bit intimidated by me, who is, a prince of this kingdom. He... is very different from anyone I have ever met."
The answer slipping from his third son's mouth made King Garland exhale softly. The burden on his shoulders felt slightly lifted, granting him a glimmer of hope. The King thought, if Oliver truly harbored feelings, then there was still a chance to try and melt Arvin's heart of steel, as well as convince all of his spouses to accept Oliver's presence into their household.
"If that's the case, prepare yourself!" King Garland commanded, his tone now turning incredibly firm like a king delivering an absolute decree. "Go to the eastern gate of the capital right now! Await Ordion's arrival there. When they return from the forest later, ask him to bring you along with them."
Hearing the highly specific and aggressive command from his father, Oliver was slightly taken aback. His eyes widened.
"W-Wait a minute... why must I do that so suddenly, Father?" he asked, unable to hide his bewilderment.
"Because I want you to marry Arvin!" the King answered straightforwardly, without the slightest hesitation. "Didn't you just say that you harbor feelings of affection for him? This is your chance."
"But, Father... we are both men! And moreover, I am a prince of the Astoria Kingdom!" Oliver retorted quickly, his tone rising slightly in disbelief at what he had just heard. In his mind, a same-sex marriage involving a core member of the royal family was an unimaginable scandal. "Have you truly considered all the political and social consequences regarding this decision, Father?"
King Garland did not waver in the slightest under his son's barrage of logical questions.
"Yes, I've thought about it thoroughly from the very beginning!" King Garland answered, his gaze darkening. "In fact, long before the inter-kingdom tournament at Victoriaz Kingdom even started, I had directly expressed my intention to him to arrange a marriage between the two of you. But at that time, he rejected it very firmly."
Oliver's eyes widened. His heart beat a little faster upon learning the fact that his father had secretly tried to matchmake him with the 'King of Terror' entirely without his knowledge.
Why did my father act as he pleased behind my back? the youth screamed inwardly, feeling a cold chill creeping up the back of his neck. Father, you don't know what Arvin's true nature is like at the academy! He can destroy anything if he is in a bad mood. Good thing he did not feel annoyed and vent his anger on me at the academy back then because of your reckless actions!
The King stood from his throne, walked down the steps until he stood in front of Oliver. King Garland stared at his son's face with a look that blended a ruler's authority with a father's hope.
"Oliver, listen to me carefully!" King Garland said, his voice lowering but laden with emphasis. "If you truly like Arvin, then your task now is to make him accept you sincerely! Prove your worth before him. I forbid you from using political intrigue, royal pressure, or the frills of your princely status in this romance affair. Because Arvin deeply despises such things. You must come to him as a man who desires him."
Despite his inner turmoil and thinking about how dangerous it was to approach Arvin Vedegra, Oliver kept his expression as calm as possible.
In the King's eyes, his son merely appeared silent for a moment to ponder his next steps.
After a considerably long silence, Oliver finally lowered his head and nodded slowly, giving the answer his father was waiting for.
"Alright, Father. I understand, and I will execute your command." the prince decided with a voice that had returned to calm, firming his resolve. "I will try as much and as best as I can to melt his heart."
A smile of relief and satisfaction finally became clearly visible on King Garland's face upon hearing his third son's willingness.
....
Meanwhile, in a place far from the hustle and bustle and political intrigue of the palace, exactly deep within the eastern forest of the capital, Ordion, Dylan, and Victor continued to walk down a path overgrown with wild grass. The lush leaf canopy blocked out most of the afternoon sunlight, creating a cool and tranquil atmosphere around them.
The three youths were completely oblivious to the rumors currently exploding and spreading widely throughout the capital. They walked side by side very casually, enjoying the silence of the wild without a care. Their focus was fixed on only one thing: thoroughly exploring the eastern forest area to perfectly execute the important mission instructed by their beloved husband.