The creaking of the carriage wheels against the cobblestone streets echoed rhythmically, piercing through the hustle and bustle of the Flamort Kingdom's capital. Under the strict escort of six soldiers guiding the front and rear lines, the carriage carrying Arvin, Kylen, Vian, Tania, Ziona, and Anna gradually began to slow down as they approached the heart of power.
The moment the group arrived at the entrance gates to the palace, the armored guards on duty immediately identified the royal crest engraved on the side of the carriage.
Grrkk...
The guards moved swiftly. They immediately pushed the tightly shut double iron gates wide open with a heavy rumble, allowing the carriage to enter the grand and expansive palace courtyard.
The horse-drawn carriage continued to glide across the front yard adorned with manicured gardens before finally coming to a complete stop right in front of the palace's main grand staircase.
"We have arrived at the palace, Your Highness!" one of the escort soldiers reported loudly from outside the carriage.
Upon hearing the call, the cabin door opened. One by one, they began to step down from the carriage. The fresh air of the capital swept across their faces, carrying the distinct fragrance of the palace flowers blooming this season.
However, right after Anna, as the last person, set her foot on the cobblestone ground of the courtyard, Arvin did not immediately follow them toward the palace steps.
With a calm, flat expression, he reached out his right hand and placed his palm right against the exterior wall of the carriage.
Instantly, a very subtle yet dense fluctuation of mana flowed from his hand. The cabin space inside the carriage, which had been modified using high-tier spatial magic and alchemy magic, previously so spacious that it could accommodate several plush sofas and beds, now shrank and distorted in the blink of an eye.
In just a matter of seconds, the spatial illusion completely vanished. The carriage returned to its original form: a standard horse-drawn carriage with a narrow cabin that only possessed two seats facing each other.
Seeing the spatial and alchemy magic erased so effortlessly with just a single touch, Vian, Tania, Ziona, and Anna could only widen their eyes.
However, they chose to keep their mouths shut and not question it. All of them were smart individuals. They immediately realized one thing. Arvin indeed had absolutely no obligation to give something as remarkable as that modified carriage to a foreign kingdom.
In the midst of that brief silence, a soft voice broke Arvin's focus.
"Darling?" Kylen called out softly, standing not far from his husband's side.
Arvin turned his head, looking at his spouse's face. "Yes, Kylen?"
"To be honest, I feel really nervous right now." he said softly, letting his vulnerable side show in front of Arvin. "Could we... could we hold hands while walking to the throne room later?"
Instead of replying with lengthy words of comfort, Arvin took the initiative. He immediately reached for Kylen's right hand and gripped it very tightly, channeling warmth from his palm.
The grip from the person he loved so deeply worked like a high-tier calming magic. In an instant, Kylen's wildly racing heartbeat slowly began to settle. The feelings of anxiety and nervousness that had built up in his chest evaporated, replaced by an overwhelming sense of safety and relief that made the bluish-white-haired youth smile in relief.
However, the sweet moment that had just formed did not last long.
"Hahhh... how long are the two of you going to stand frozen there holding hands like that?" Vian complained suddenly, ruining the atmosphere with his deliberately exaggerated tone. He stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the two of them. "Come on, let's go inside! We have to report to His Majesty the King in the throne room right now!"
Hearing the mood-ruining complaint from his childhood friend, Kylen immediately turned and glared sharply at Vian.
"Could you use a little empathy to understand my mental state right now?" Kylen retorted. "You know yourself that I am incredibly nervous about meeting my father right now, right? In there, the person holding my hand is going to propose to me in front of my father! PRO-POSE TO ME!"
"You don't need to spell it out like that as if I'm a child just learning to read." Vian replied, rolling his eyes, completely unaffected by Kylen's protest. "Weren't you the one who said with full conviction that you would accept and face whatever happened after Arvin proposed to you? Where is that courage of yours now?"
Without further ado, Vian immediately placed both his hands on Kylen's back. He then pushed his childhood friend slowly but surely, forcing the Prince to step up the stairs leading to the palace doors.
"Hurry inside and stop complaining so much!" Vian urged like a mother scolding her child.
"Hey! Don't push me like that, stupid Vian!" Kylen lodged a fierce protest, even though his feet kept following the push. "I have legs, I can walk by myself! Besides, you don't need to bother, I have my husband who will walk right by my side!"
Arvin, whose hand was still tightly held by Kylen, was inevitably pushed to step forward alongside him, shaking his head slowly at the interaction between the two of them.
Even though he appeared flat on the outside, deep in his heart, Arvin felt quite relieved. Having a best friend like Vian, who always knew how to melt Kylen's tension, was an advantage in itself.
However, Arvin's gaze slowly sharpened once again. At this moment, he could not afford to relax for too long. He had to meet the king in the throne room right away, officially propose to Kylen so he could quickly return and continue all the plans he had meticulously arranged beforehand.
"Kylen, Vian is right. Let's go inside immediately." Arvin suggested in a soft tone that hinted at firmness. "I want to settle all my business in this palace right away so I can quickly return to the Astoria Kingdom."
Hearing his husband's suggestion, Kylen instantly stopped his petty argument with Vian. He nodded in understanding.
Kylen was very aware that at this moment, his husband was shouldering many plans that could not be delayed.
The prince did not want to waste any time. He immediately led the way. With Arvin walking beside him, their steps fell in sync, their fingers still tightly intertwined.
Behind them, Vian, Tania, Ziona, and Anna followed suit, tailing them in a neater formation as soon as they passed through the palace's main doors.
The main corridor of the Flamort palace stretched wide and majestically. A thick red carpet absorbed the sound of their footsteps. Towering marble pillars supported the palace's high ceiling.
While continuing to walk through the silence of the corridor, Arvin's eyes wandered, observing the array of decorations lining the palace walls. Instantly, his attention was drawn to a historical fact openly displayed there.
There was a sequence of large paintings framed in pure gold displayed neatly along the corridor walls.
There are twenty-five paintings of previous kings displayed on this wall. Arvin thought as he kept walking, quite amazed by the kingdom's foundation. It turns out their leadership lineage is quite long. Judging from the twenty-five generations of kings depicted, assuming each king ruled or lived within a reasonable lifespan, it is highly likely that the Flamort Kingdom has been around for 1,500 to 2,000 years.
After walking through the long, history-laden corridor, the group's footsteps finally halted in front of double doors carved with the Flamort Kingdom's crest. Two elite palace knights stood tall, guarding its left and right sides.
Kylen turned his face, gazing at his husband's side profile. His grip on Arvin's hand tightened once again.
"Behind these doors is the main throne room." Kylen whispered, his voice trembling slightly to hold back the turmoil in his chest. "And to be honest, the more I realize that I'm going to meet my father, I'm truly very nervous right now!"
Hearing the confession, Arvin turned his head. He returned the anxious gaze with a look that was incredibly deep, calm, and exceedingly gentle.
"Kylen, do you truly want to marry me?"
That fundamental question acted as an anchor pulling back the Prince's consciousness. Without needing to think twice, Kylen answered with eyes that did not waver in the slightest.
"Of course I want to!"
"If that's so, calm yourself. Besides, wasn't it your own wish to have me propose to you honorably in front of your father? And right now, I'm here to make it happen."
Those words seeped into Kylen's mind, sweeping away the last remnants of his doubt.
The bluish-white-haired youth closed his eyes. He immediately took a deep breath, held the air in his lungs for a moment, and then exhaled slowly through his lips. He repeated it once more, taking a long breath, and letting it out. He performed the small ritual to neutralize his heartbeat.
Slowly, Kylen opened his eyes again. Now, that pair of eyes no longer hinted at anxiety. Instead, they radiated an immense sense of conviction.
"Yes... you're right, Darling!" Kylen answered firmly. "Let us go in now!"
Grrkk...
The double doors slowly opened, letting out a heavy sound of hinges scraping against the floor, revealing a stretch of red carpet running straight toward the throne.
Without letting go of their handhold, Arvin and Kylen stepped forward simultaneously across the threshold. Behind them, Vian, Tania, Ziona, and Anna followed in silence. They walked tall, entering the throne room to meet the King.