Under the warmth of the sunlight illuminating the streets of the Flamort Kingdom's capital, life moved dynamically.
The hustle and bustle of residents and merchants filled every corner of the street. However, amidst that crowd, there were two youths walking to their own rhythm, as if the world around them meant absolutely nothing.
Kylen and Arvin's clone body walked side by side with a relaxed pace. Kylen's right hand was tightly intertwined with Arvin's left hand, locking their fingers in a warm grip.
Their main agenda today was to head to the academy to personally bid farewell to Vian, Tania, Ziona, and Anna before they entirely left the capital's territory forever.
Along the crowded main street of the capital, Kylen kept holding Arvin's hand tightly. He paid absolutely no mind to the bewildered stares, the whispers, or the judging gazes from the people around who were watching them. To Kylen, the residents around him were merely grass swaying in the breeze.
"Darling..." Kylen called out in a low voice that only the two of them could hear. "...will I also be joining them tonight?"
Hearing that question, Arvin turned his head, looking straight into the pair of his spouse's blue eyes with an incredibly soothing smile.
"In the eyes of the Gods, you and the five of them are already lawfully married to me." Arvin answered in a gentle tone yet filled with certainty. "So, there will be absolutely no one forbidding you if you want to join them tonight. Your rights and position are just as great as theirs."
Arvin's affirmation warmed Kylen's heart, and a sincere smile slowly bloomed on his face.
"Okay, Darling." Kylen replied with sparkling eyes. "Tonight, I will join them!"
After twenty-five minutes had passed since they set foot out of the inn, Arvin and Kylen finally arrived at their destination.
Before them now stood a massive, towering, and majestic building.
That classically architectured building surrounded by high walls was the Flamort Magic Academy, the most prestigious institute of magic in the entire kingdom.
Without wasting time, the married couple stepped inside, passing through the academy's main gate. They walked side by side across the front courtyard, then began entering the academy's main corridor, which was currently filled with students enjoying their break time.
And right at that very second, Arvin's presence instantly drew the full attention of the students. The black uniform, the signature uniform of the Astoria Magic Academy, that he wore became incredibly conspicuous in that place.
"Hey, look at that! Why is there a student from the Astoria Academy roaming around here?"
"Is he a transfer student who will start studying here today?"
"Oh my... who cares where he's from? His face is so handsome!"
However, the awe and curiosity of the students in the academy's corridor abruptly turned into immense shock as their gazes dropped toward the arms of the two youths.
They realized that the incredibly handsome student in the black uniform was currently walking side by side with Prince Kylenciel, holding hands tightly, without the slightest intention of hiding it from the public.
And what caused the biggest uproar was that the students who happened to be standing on the right side of the academy corridor could see an extremely glaring detail.
On the back of Kylen's right hand, a white Life-and-Death contract symbol was permanently engraved on his skin.
"What?! Do you see that?!" whispered a student with wide-bulging eyes, pointing with a trembling hand. "Why... why does His Highness have that white Life-and-Death contract symbol on his hand?!"
"T-That's impossible! Since when was that symbol engraved on the back of his right hand?!" responded the female student next to him in an unbearably shocked tone. "That white symbol will only appear if someone has engaged in intimacy after they are officially married!"
Those whispers quickly spread like a wildfire sweeping through a dry meadow, creating a wave of commotion all along the corridor.
Yet, Kylen seemed blind and deaf to all those reactions. He paid absolutely no attention to the shocked stares or the wild gossip from the students. His expression remained calm. He kept walking straight down the corridor while holding his husband's hand with full pride.
"KYLENCIEL!"
A shout filled with anger exploded and echoed loudly along the academy corridor.
Kylen, hearing his name shouted quite loudly, instantly stopped in his tracks. The same went for Arvin, who was walking by Kylen's side. He immediately halted his movements right after his spouse stopped walking.
The eyes of both Arvin and Kylen simultaneously locked straight ahead, toward the figure who had just shouted with that booming voice.
Before them, standing about a dozen paces away, stood a youth with bluish-white hair identical to Kylen's. The youth's gaze glared sharply like a drawn blade, radiating undisguised anger and hatred.
That youth was Cylenciel, Kylen's twin brother.
"After what you previously did at the palace, you still dare to set foot in this academy?!"
"So what if I do?" Kylen replied flatly, too lazy to entertain his brother. "This is a public facility, not your private palace. I came here today solely because I want to meet Vian. I have no business with you whatsoever."
Hearing Kylen's calm and indifferent response, Cylenciel's emotions flared up even more.
"You...! Not only do you dare to set foot here without any shame, you now also dare to talk back to me?!" Cylenciel snapped in a high pitch, unable to accept his authority as the historically more dominant sibling being undermined.
"Hahh...." Kylen let out a resigned sigh, shaking his head slowly. "If I answer your words, I'm considered wrong. If I stay silent and don't answer, you will definitely consider it wrong too. What exactly do you want from me, Cylenciel?"
Cylenciel's eyes shifted, glaring at Kylen's hand, which was currently tightly intertwined with the hand of the black-uniformed youth beside him. The sight seemed to burn his eyes.
"Stop your insane intention of marrying that man!"
Hearing that ridiculous demand, a lopsided smile full of confidence slowly etched itself on Kylen's lips.
"I think that is already impossible."
Without breaking eye contact with his twin brother, Kylen let go of his grip, then slowly raised his right hand into the air.
And with full pride, he turned the back of his hand toward Cylenciel, blatantly showing off the white Life-and-Death contract symbol permanently engraved on his skin.
"Look closely, Cylenciel!" Kylen said, his voice ringing out firmly amidst the tense silence of the corridor. "He and I are already married! And our marriage is valid and official in the eyes of the Gods. There is not a single person in this world, including you, who can separate the two of us!"
Hearing the statement that came out of Kylen's mouth, and seeing the absolute physical proof displayed clearly in front of him, Cylenciel's eyes bulged. His breath caught in his throat. He truly didn't expect that his twin brother now already had a white Life-and-Death contract symbol engraved on the back of his right hand, even though just yesterday, that symbol had not been there at all.
Hearing Kylen declaring his marriage, right then and there, a wave of shock spread widely along the academy corridor.
"What?! His Highness actually married a man?!"
"H-Hey bro, did I hear that wrong just now?"
"You didn't hear wrong. He really said that he is already married!"
Hearing the murmurs and the uproar happening around him, Cylenciel shifted his gaze away from Kylen, then glared sharply with full anger at the blue-haired youth who had been standing very calmly by his brother's side all along.
Even though he already knew that his father, The King, had removed Kylen from the royal family lineage, the Fourth Prince of the Flamort Kingdom still could not accept his brother's same-sex marriage.
To him, their marriage was a shameful disgrace that would forever be written in the historical records of the Flamort Kingdom.
The anger consuming his common sense made Cylenciel point directly at Arvin's face.
"Arvin Vedegra!" he shouted loudly, unleashing all his frustration and hatred. "You are truly a bastard! You are the destroyer of our family! Ever since you arrived here, everything has fallen into a chaotic mess!"