"Mother, it's rare for you to come home earlier than—"
The handsome purple-haired boy stopped speaking immediately when he saw two boys who looked roughly his age.
He was also very surprised when his eyes landed on Alvin.
Elf? Why is there an elf in this kingdom? This is the first time I've seen one in real life like this.
"Mother, who are they?" he asked again.
Elisa touched the shoulder of the person on her left and said, "Allen, this is your cousin. His name is Kazien Altavis."
"My cousin? Is he Uncle Elgard's son?"
Elisa nodded, confirming her son's words. "Correct."
Then she held the shoulder of the person on her right and said, "And this is Alvin Dass'el Latreess, your cousin's future wife."
Gasp!
Allen was even more shocked when he saw Alvin, who looked like a boy, was introduced as his cousin's future wife.
"F-Future wife? No matter how I look at it... isn't he a male?"
Elisa understood very well why her son was so shocked. However, Alvin suddenly chimed in to explain to Allen.
"Let me explain." Alvin said in his melodious voice. "Originally, High Elves like me don't have a fixed gender at birth. But because Kazien proposed to me, I intended to become a female for him."
Alvin glanced at Kazien with a playful look. "But, he suddenly asked me to become a male instead."
Allen frowned. "But why? Isn't that weird? Why did he ask you to be male if you were willing to be female?"
Alvin shrugged lightly. "Because he only likes boys with cute faces!"
Silence...
Allen gaped in disbelief at the answer Alvin gave. His mouth hung slightly open.
Is that the only reason? Allen thought skeptically. Doesn't that sound very ambiguous? And... a little crazy? I'm sure there must be another reason he's hiding! It's impossible for my cousin to have such strange tastes.
Kazien, who had been silently watching the interaction, finally spoke up. He looked at Allen with an appraising gaze, his eyes sweeping over his cousin's face.
"So, you are the one named Allen?" Kazien asked flatly. Then, the corner of his lips lifted slightly. "Turns out your face is cute too, huh?"
Gasp!
Instantly, the words that came out of Kazien's mouth made Allen's skin crawl.
The compliment "cute" which had just been explained as Kazien's "ideal type," was now directed at him. Alarm bells rang loudly in Allen's head. And unconsciously, he took a few steps back as if trying to avoid a predator.
I don't know why I became scared of him after hearing his words, Allen thought in panic. My instincts say that he will try to approach me and maybe even ask me to be his wife too!
Seeing his cousin backing away in fear like he was seeing a ghost, Kazien sighed wearily. He could read Allen's mind easily from his facial expression.
"Why are you scared like that?" Kazien asked lazily. "Relax. Even though your face is cute, I'm not fascinated by you like when I look at Alvin's face. I'm not interested in you."
Allen didn't believe him immediately. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, creating a defensive barrier.
"Still, I'm scared of you!" Allen exclaimed defensively. "We can't guess other people's feelings! Who knows, that might just be your tactic. Watch out if you dare to approach me! I don't care if you're my cousin, I will definitely beat you up if you try anything!"
"Pfft... Hahaha!"
Alvin laughed out loud hearing Allen's paranoid words. His laughter was so free that it made the handsome purple-haired boy wonder about him.
"What's so funny?" Allen asked curtly.
Alvin wiped the corners of his eyes which were watery from laughing. "Your reaction makes me laugh. You're too confident, Allen. Relax, my dear will never say that he likes you first!"
"How can you be so sure?" asked Allen suspiciously.
Alvin's face turned soft yet serious. He looked at Kazien with deep affection.
"Because right now, I am by his side!" Alvin answered briefly but full of conviction.
Allen fell silent hearing that answer. He stared into Alvin's eyes intently, looking for a lie. However, he didn't find one.
His gaze is full of conviction, Allen admitted inwardly. And it seems he also trusts my cousin very much.
Allen then shifted his gaze, looking at Kazien's face which had been staring at him with a flat expression all this time.
If I look closely, my cousin is indeed very handsome, Allen thought to himself. That silver hair, those sapphire eyes... And as a fellow male, I have to admit his handsomeness is far above mine. At the academy later, I'm sure he will be the center of attention for everyone, especially the women. But unfortunately, they will definitely feel disappointed and heartbroken because of his rejection. He isn't interested in women.
However, despite acknowledging his handsomeness and hearing Alvin's explanation, Allen's wariness did not disappear immediately. He still felt uncomfortable with his newly met cousin's sexual orientation.
Kazien noticed that gaze. A gaze full of suspicion and judgment.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Kazien coldly. "Are you still wary of me? If you keep staring at me with a hostile look and being wary of me like a criminal, I could just refuse Aunt Elisa's request to stay here!"
The threat was clear. Kazien didn't like being suspected in his own family's home.
Allen was confused about what to say to answer his words. His tongue was tied. Because honestly, right now Allen was indeed very wary of Kazien. He couldn't lie to his own feelings.
Seeing Allen silent and not answering his words, Kazien snorted in disappointment. He didn't need acknowledgment from a cousin who was prejudiced against him.
Kazien turned to his aunt.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Elisa, we will refuse to stay here!" Kazien decided firmly.
Elisa was shocked. "Why, Kazien? Is it because of Allen's wary attitude towards you?"
"Yes, that is my reason!" answered Kazien without hesitation. "It's better for me to stay outside, in a vacant lot or wherever, than to live with someone who looks very wary of me and looks at me with disgust."
Kazien patted Alvin's shoulder gently. "Let's go, Alvin."
It was a signal for them to leave the house immediately. Alvin nodded obediently, his previously cheerful face now turned cold as he glanced at Allen. He walked following his future husband towards the exit door.
Allen continued to watch their departure without lowering his wary attitude. He felt a little guilty, but his fear was more dominant.
Seeing her nephew about to leave, Elisa panicked. She didn't want them sleeping on the streets.
"Wait, Kazien!" shouted Elisa, stopping their steps at the threshold. "If you don't want to live inside this mansion with us, you can use the mansion's courtyard to rest!"
Kazien stopped walking. He turned his head slightly. "What do you mean, Auntie?"
"The side yard is spacious enough. You can park your carriage there and live inside it like your initial plan. At least it's inside my house's fence, it's safer," persuaded Elisa.
"Is it okay for us to use the mansion's courtyard for us to stay?"
"That... is better than having to pay rent for someone's land at a high price! And I don't need to interact with him," said Elisa while glancing at her son with an angry look.
Kazien weighed the offer. The reason makes sense. But, is it okay if Alvin and I use the mansion's courtyard? Kazien thought doubtfully. Allen looks very wary of me. Even though I have absolutely no feelings for him. My presence in his yard might still disturb him.
Kazien sighed. Out of respect for my aunt and for Alvin's peace of mind, maybe this is the best middle ground.
"Alright," said Kazien finally. "If Aunt Elisa has permitted it, then we will accept—"
"I don't agree!"
Allen's shout cut off Kazien's words.
All eyes turned to Allen. The purple-haired young man's face was beet red, a mix of embarrassment and baseless paranoia.
"You could peek at me while I'm taking a shower, right?!" Allen accused loudly. "My bathroom window faces the side yard! If you live there, you will definitely look for an opportunity!"
Silence...
That accusation was not only ridiculous, but also insulted Kazien's pride.
Kazien's face hardened. His respect for his cousin vanished instantly. That cheap accusation made Kazien even more reluctant to live with his aunt, even in her courtyard.
Without saying a single word, without looking back, Kazien immediately turned around and stepped out of the mansion. His steps were fast and firm. He was fed up.
Alvin, seeing the hurt and disappointed expression on Kazien's face, felt his own anger explode.
He stopped right at the threshold. Alvin turned his head slowly towards Allen. His usually gentle mint-green eyes now flashed with a deadly cold light.
Without a chant, Alvin stomped his foot.
Whoosh!
He fired ice magic instantly at Allen. Not to kill, but as a harsh warning.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Sharp blades of ice appeared out of nowhere, embedding themselves hard into the marble floor, right around Allen's feet. The ice formed a prison circle trapping Allen's body, making him freeze in horror on the spot.
Alvin stared at Allen with a gaze that could freeze hell. "You are the worst cousin for Kazien!" hissed Alvin, his voice full of venom.
"Don't you ever approach him! Whatever happens, I don't want you showing your face in front of him again!"
Alvin turned his body while saying: "Even at the academy... don't you ever dare to greet him! Consider him non-existent, because to him, you are already dead!"