Inside the bathroom, the silence was broken only by the sound of splashing water.
Kaydan sat leaning his back against the edge of a giant bathtub measuring eight meters in diameter. The tub, adorned with genuine silver engravings all around it, felt like a private hot spring pool.
He submerged his body up to his neck in the clear, warm water. The spreading heat slowly penetrated his pores, relaxing his muscles that had tensed from the series of deadly battles he had just gone through.
On the other side of the same bathtub, a few meters away from him, Calverd was also soaking in silence, trying to wash away the trauma still clinging to his mind.
For a moment, Kaydan closed his eyes, feeling the peace he so desperately needed.
However, that tranquility was suddenly shattered.
From outside the bathroom, a small commotion could be heard. The once-quiet atmosphere turned lively with overlapping chatter and joyful exclamations.
Kaydan's eyes instantly flew wide open. His heart, which had been beating slowly and steadily, suddenly pumped blood so fast it pounded against his ribs.
My Light... he thought in relief, his chest rumbling fiercely with a mix of disbelief and an unstoppable overflow of happiness. My Light... he has returned...?!
Without wasting time, the gray-haired youth immediately stood up inside the giant bathtub. Warm water splashed heavily in all directions as he hurriedly stepped out over the edge of the tub. He paid absolutely no mind to the water droplets soaking the entire marble floor, let alone caring about his still completely naked body.
Seeing his companion suddenly rise and run, Calverd, who was in the same bathtub, immediately stared at him with a brow furrowed in confusion.
"Hey Kaydan!" Calverd exclaimed, his voice echoing off the room's walls. "Don't just leave like that!"
However, that reprimand was like a passing breeze to Kaydan. The youth had shut his ears to everything except the source of the voice calling his soul. He continued to push his pace, running through the cold air out of the bathroom area without even having the time to grab a single piece of clothing.
Slam!
The bathroom door was opened so forcefully it hit the bathroom wall.
Kaydan continued running down the mansion corridor, his breathing starting to quicken. The wet soles of his feet squeaked as they stepped on the floor. He kept running until his steps brought him toward the dining room.
Upon arriving there, Kaydan's breath was slightly ragged. His chest rose and fell rapidly. However, when his light green eyes caught the silhouette of an all-black-clad assassin-like figure standing casually in the middle of the messy room, a smile of immense happiness was instantly etched clearly on his face.
"My Light!"
Kaydan exclaimed with a loud voice trembling with pure joy, then without hesitation, he pushed his legs again, darting across the room toward the figure.
Hearing the echoing exclamation, it wasn't just Arvin who turned his head. His ten spouses who were around the dining room also turned simultaneously.
Their eyes all widened instantly. Bewilderment and shock struck the faces of the ten youths as they watched Kaydan running without caring that he was currently naked.
Thud!
The sound of bodies colliding was heard as Kaydan lunged and hugged Arvin's body very tightly. Both his arms wrapped strongly around the masked man's back, burying his wet face right into the head of the household's shoulder.
Arvin, who was pushed a half step backward by the sudden lunge, did not resist in the slightest. Without hesitation, he raised both his arms and returned the embrace to the still soaking-wet body, letting his black clothes absorb the water from his spouse's body.
"Why are you running and hugging me naked like this in front of the others?" the head of the household asked in a bewildered tone, even though both his hands were protectively holding the youth's bare back. "Don't you feel embarrassed?"
Kaydan shook his head vigorously within his husband's embrace.
"I am not embarrassed!" Kaydan replied, his voice slightly muffled by Arvin's shoulder. "I would be far more ashamed of myself if I just stood still and didn't come to welcome you, especially when you fought to hold off all those elite royal troops alone to protect me."
The youth loosened his hug for a moment. He tilted his head up, looking straight at Arvin's face, which was still covered by the black mask.
"You are truly foolish!" he cursed in annoyance. His gaze radiated deep worry. "You know, I was worried sick about you suddenly wanting to stop the entire royal army and those two monster princes all by yourself. What if something happened to you out there?"
Hearing the tone of voice trembling with fear, Arvin's gaze from behind the slits of his mask softened. He gently pulled his spouse's body to lean back into his embrace, then hugged Kaydan far tighter than before.
"I was only buying time until you all truly left that hell without the slightest obstacle." Arvin replied with a voice so gentle and soothing, crumbling all the walls of fear still remaining in Kaydan's heart.
His right hand moved up, affectionately stroking the youth's gray hair. "Welcome back home, Kaydan. Because starting today, you are Kaydan Vedegra, the tenth spouse of Arvin Vedegra!"
"Yes, My Light!" replied Kaydan, who could no longer hold back the dam of his tears. He sobbed softly onto his husband's shoulder. His hug around Arvin's body tightened, as if afraid the man would disappear if he let go of his grip. "I'm home..."
Allen, Alrain, Ordion, Alvein, Alrian, Kylen, Dylan, Davin, Arion, and Victor exchanged warm smiles. They also felt relieved and happy, witnessing such an emotional reunion scene.
However, the touching and peaceful moment that had just been created instantly turned tense when a voice so loud and full of anger echoed, shattering the silence.
"Hey you, mysterious man!"
Everyone in the room instantly turned toward the kitchen. There stood Calverd, who had just followed Kaydan from the bathroom. He stood tall with ragged breathing, glaring sharply while pointing his index finger straight at Arvin.
"What is it, Calverd?" Arvin asked in bewilderment, still maintaining his composure behind the mask. "Why are you suddenly raising your voice at me like that?"
"Answer me!" he demanded firmly, ignoring Arvin's status as the homeowner. Calverd's face radiated a look filled with a mixture of anger, frustration, and deep sorrow. "Why did you let those who had been freed die?! If you were truly that strong, why didn't you directly fight to help us from the beginning?!"
A gripping silence immediately took over the room. Arvin thoroughly understood the two accusing questions just thrown at him.
The tragic deaths of all his comrades right before his eyes, exactly when they were fighting for freedom, had shattered Calverd's heart to pieces.
The youth was looking for a foothold to vent his survivor's guilt.
"Kaydan, please let go of your hug for a moment." Arvin requested in a very gentle tone.
Kaydan, understanding the tense situation, roughly wiped away his remaining tears and, without hesitation, released his embrace. He stepped back one pace, giving his husband space to settle their matter.
Once the warm embrace was released, with slow, measured steps exuding a cold, intimidating charisma, Arvin walked toward Calverd, who was still standing and glaring sharply at him.
"The reason for your first question!" Arvin answered, breaking the silence as he continued to step forward. His voice sounded clear and undeniable. "At that time, right after the palace's main entrance gate was destroyed, I had to immediately return to this mansion to ask for Alvein and Davin's help. I needed them to help me get you out of that place through a gate as quickly as possible, as well as to create this set of assassin clothes for my disguise!"
His steps halted. The masked man now stood face-to-face, right in front of Calverd. The two of them stared at each other with high intensity.
"But, when I arrived there, all those prisoners were already dead, and you were almost killed by the slash of Wiltan's sword!" he continued again, his tone slightly raised to emphasize the bitter fact that could not be changed. "If you still don't believe me, just ask the two of them directly! They came with me when we arrived at the top of that gate wall!"
Calverd stood frozen stiff. His pointing hand slowly lowered. His pupils trembled in reaction as his rational brain began to process the sequence of events just stated by his hero.
No intention of letting them die on purpose? he thought, feeling struck by his own assumption.
"And the reason for your second question..." Arvin answered again, interrupting Calverd's thoughts. Now his tone returned to being flat, cold, and devoid of sympathy. "Because I am not a hero fighting for justice! So, there is absolutely no reason or obligation for me to risk my life to help everyone whom I don't even know."
"What did you say?" Calverd responded in annoyance. His guilt was now reignited into dissatisfaction, feeling insulted by an answer that sounded so selfish. "They had lives! Was their lives worth no—"
"I'm not that naive, Calverd!" Arvin cut in firmly. His voice sliced sharply through the air, completely severing the youth's words. "Didn't I also tell you very clearly before? My purpose in infiltrating that underground prison was only to free my spouse!"