Kazien was still standing in front of the mirror, tidying up the collar of his black uniform with red stripes. He looked at himself, ensuring his appearance was perfect for the first day.
Suddenly, Alvin approached him. Alvin's mint green eyes sparkled when he saw Kazien's figure looking so dashing and very handsome in the academy uniform that fit perfectly on his athletic body.
Zap!
A faint whirring sound was heard. Using blink magic, short-distance teleportation, Alvin cut the distance between them in the blink of an eye. He appeared right behind Kazien, then wrapped both his arms around his fiancé's waist, hugging him tightly from behind.
"My dear, you look so handsome wearing that academy uniform!" praised Alvin in a spoiled tone, inhaling Kazien's fresh body scent.
Kazien smiled hearing the compliment. He turned his body slowly within Alvin's embrace, so now they were facing each other. Kazien looked at Alvin's sweet face looking up at him.
"Alvin, your face is really cute this morning!" replied Kazien honestly, his hand stroking Alvin's smooth cheek.
However, that romantic moment turned slightly naughty.
Alvin felt something strange. Because their bodies were pressed tightly together, he could feel something suddenly protruding forward and hardening at Kazien's crotch, pressing against his lower abdomen.
Alvin smirked mischievously, his eyebrow raised teasingly.
"Are you still holding yourself back?" whispered Alvin, glancing down briefly then looking back into Kazien's eyes.
Kazien's face turned slightly red, but he didn't deny it. He just smiled broadly at him, trying to cover his embarrassment with awkward laughter.
Alvin shook his head. "What a troublesome future husband! I don't know what got into you that you enjoy torturing yourself like that. Even though I'm already here, ready anytime."
Kazien kissed Alvin's forehead briefly. "At least, I can be proud of myself for successfully guarding your purity until our wedding day!"
"You're ridiculous! Just do whatever you want." sneered Alvin adorably.
Alvin pinched Kazien's waist gently out of annoyance with his fiancé's pretentious attitude. The pinch wasn't painful, instead triggering laughter between the two of them. The sound of their happy laughter filled the spacious room.
Not long after, the bedroom door opened. Allen entered the room, already neat in his own academy uniform. He smiled seeing the intimacy between the two of them.
"Hey, you two. Let's go down, Mother is waiting." invited Allen. "She invited us to have breakfast together before leaving."
Kazien and Alvin nodded, then followed Allen down to the dining room.
Arriving at the dining table, Alvin's eyes widened in amazement. On the long table, there were so many dishes provided. Starting from roast meat, soup, warm bread, to various fresh fruits. The aroma was very appetizing.
"Wow... So many dishes!" commented Alvin enthusiastically while pulling out a chair. "Who cooked all this so early in the morning?"
Elisa, who was already sitting at the end of the table sipping her tea, answered casually. "I ordered catering from the guild. From the beginning, no one can cook in this house! I'm busy working, and Allen... well, he can only boil water."
Hearing the answer, Alvin's cooking soul was instantly summoned. He looked at Elisa seriously.
"Aunt Elisa, how about starting this afternoon I cook for everyone in this mansion?" offered Alvin directly.
Elisa blinked in surprise. She put down her tea cup. She felt uncomfortable letting Alvin, who was technically a guest, bother to cook for her family.
"Alvin, you are a guest here." refused Elisa gently. "And I was the one who invited you and Kazien here. It feels impolite to ask a guest to work. It's better if you just focus on your academy lessons! Let the kitchen matters remain handled by catering."
Alvin shook his head firmly. He glanced at Kazien briefly.
"But I already promised to cook various dishes for him!" said Alvin while pointing at Kazien. "That is one way I make him happy. I beg you Aunt Elisa, allow me to cook! I guarantee my cooking is delicious!"
Elisa fell silent. She looked at the High Elf's face sitting in front of her. She searched for doubt, but only saw a gaze full of hope and sincerity in Alvin's green eyes.
Seeing such great hope in his eyes, Elisa's heart melted. The beautiful woman with long purple hair sighed in resignation while smiling.
"Alright, if you insist. The kitchen is yours starting this afternoon."
Alvin smiled broadly, full of happiness after Elisa allowed him to take control of the kitchen.
Kazien also felt happy seeing the happiness of the person he loved very much. He knew how much Alvin liked cooking.
However, a different reaction came from Allen. He was very curious about what kind of dishes Alvin would make.
I am really looking forward to the dishes he will make! thought Allen enthusiastically. If it's special cooking for Kazien, surely he will cook the best and most delicious for him. I'm lucky to be able to taste it.
While thinking about that, Allen reflexively turned to look at Kazien's face. And at the same time, Kazien accidentally also turned to look at Allen's face. Their gazes met across the table.
Allen, who was in a happy mood imagining delicious food and having new friends, smiled broadly at Kazien. That smile was sincere, innocent, and radiated a natural sweet aura.
Gasp!
Kazien froze. He was stunned by the smile from his cousin's cute face. The oath he broke in the bathroom earlier seemed to come back to haunt him, because the fact was, Allen indeed had a charm that was hard to resist.
Alvin, sitting next to Kazien, noticed it. He saw Kazien's gaze momentarily locked on Allen. But strangely, he didn't feel jealous of Allen. Alvin just chewed his bread calmly while smiling inwardly.
I already guessed this would happen. thought Alvin wisely. Blood cannot lie. Allen has genes that are just as attractive. Kazien won't be able to last forever against a sincere smile coming from his own relative. But the problem is, my dear is very stubborn! Even though I've given him approval and allowed him to marry someone else besides me if he wants, he will definitely persist in not wanting to two-time me to protect my feelings.
Alvin glanced at Kazien who was still slightly daydreaming. Without warning, Alvin kicked Kazien's leg gently under the table.
Thud!
Kazien flinched in surprise. He turned quickly and found Alvin staring at him while smiling meaningfully. That kick brought Kazien back to reality.
Kazien realized instantly that Alvin had known about what had just happened to him that he was momentarily mesmerized by Allen.
Guilt enveloped Kazien again. He broke eye contact with Allen and could only eat his breakfast with uncertain feelings, trying to hide his awkwardness.
Alvin resumed his inner monologue while feeding himself the breakfast menu in front of him.
My dear, I already know very well your personality. You are too loyal. For now, I will pretend not to know. But if one day Allen falls in love with you, and you also like him but hold back... I will force you to make him your future wife too!
Alvin nodded firmly inwardly. That's right! I have to be firm so he doesn't always torture himself by holding back feelings like this! I am willing to share if it is with Allen.
The breakfast atmosphere returned to calm until Elisa broke the silence with a more serious topic. Her face turned slightly worried.
"Alvin..." called Elisa. "You are a High Elf. And you are the only non-human race there! The majority are humans, and some might have narrow views. Are you ready for everything that will happen at the academy later?"
That question made Alvin stop eating. He looked at Elisa's face calmly. There was no fear in his eyes. He smiled gently but full of confidence at Elisa.
"I am very ready, Auntie!" answered Alvin firmly. "Whatever the challenge, it doesn't matter. Because being by his side..." Alvin glanced at Kazien, "...is my obligation as his future wife! As long as I am with Kazien, I am not afraid of anything."
Hearing such a mature and brave answer, Elisa felt relieved. The burden of her worry reduced slightly, but she also still felt worried at the same time as a guardian.
His determination is strong, thought Elisa. Hopefully you and Kazien can live life as academy students comfortably without significant disturbances.
Time went on. The plates were empty.
After finishing breakfast, the three of them got up from their chairs. They took their respective bags and walked side by side towards the mansion's front door, preparing to go to the academy located right across the street.
Kazien stood on the threshold, inhaling the fresh morning air. He stared at the grand academy gate in the distance.
"Our new life as academy students is about to begin!" murmured Kazien full of spirit.
"Hopefully we can be in the same class!" shouted Alvin and Allen in unison, voicing their biggest hope this morning.
Elisa stood behind them, leaning on the doorframe. She smiled with relief seeing the backs of the sight of three young men who were already very close and supporting each other warmed her heart.