The touching atmosphere following Borris's release ritual slowly began to thaw. Kazien still gazed intently at the brown-haired boy's face. He wanted to make sure once more, so there would be no doubt between them.
"Arken?" Kazien called softly, both hands holding the boy's shoulders. "I ask you once again, in all seriousness. Do you truly accept me as your brother and forgive my actions?"
Arken looked into Kazien's sapphire blue eyes, then nodded firmly. A sweet smile slowly emerged on his face, which still bore traces of tears, a sincere smile signaling the beginning of his new life.
"Yes, Brother Kazien. I accept you." he answered.
Seeing that smile, Kazien's self-defense crumbled instantly. The doting (and slightly obsessed with cute things) side of him exploded.
"Oh my gosh! You are so cute, Arken!" Kazien exclaimed in adoration. Unconsciously, he pinched Arken's cheek gently. "Thank you for being willing to be my brother! I promise to spoil you!"
Witnessing the scene, Elisa, Alvin, and Allen sighed in relief. The tension that had choked them vanished, replaced by warmth at seeing the newly formed bond of brotherhood. Arken had accepted Kazien as his older brother, and that was the best outcome they could have hoped for.
They stepped forward, approaching Arken, who was happy with his new brother.
"Hello, Arken." Elisa greeted warmly, bending down slightly to match his height. A motherly smile radiated from her beautiful face. "Let me introduce myself, I am Elisalva Altavis. You can call me Aunt Elisa. I am Kazien's aunt, which means now I am your aunt too."
Arken nodded politely. "Hello, Aunt Elisa."
Then, the purple-haired young man stepped forward with a wide grin. "I am Allenzi Altavis, Kazien's cousin. Just call me Brother Allen. Welcome to the family!"
Finally, the figure of the man with distinctive pointed ears stepped forward. His aura was elegant yet friendly.
"And I am Alvin." he said softly. "I am Kazien's future wife."
Hearing Alvin's introduction, Arken fell silent for a moment. His brow furrowed in confusion. He stared at the High Elf figure from the tips of his golden-yellow hair to his toes, then back at his handsome face.
"Future wife?" Arken mumbled innocently. "But... isn't Brother Alvin a man? His voice is also a man's voice."
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Arken's next reaction. Usually, ordinary people would be shocked to see a High Elf, a race nonexistent on the Azvel continent, right before their eyes. However, what surprised everyone was the reality that Arken didn't care at all about Alvin's racial status, which always caused a stir among many. His focus was precisely on the concept of a "male wife."
Alvin smiled amusedly. "You don't mind my form as a High Elf? Usually, humans would be shocked."
Arken shook his head casually, then answered Alvin's question with a mature tone that didn't match his age.
"I don't care about that! Long ears or short, human or high elf, we both breathe, both live, and both have souls, right? What's the difference?"
The answer that came out of the thirteen-year-old boy's mouth left everyone astonished and simultaneously impressed by him. The room was silent for a moment in awe.
An extraordinary way of thinking, thought Elisa. Is this child really thirteen years old?
No one had ever expected that a teenager could speak so wisely, as if he viewed the world without prejudice, even though he himself was drowning in grief.
Alvin chuckled softly, feeling he liked his fiancé's new brother even more. "You are absolutely right. Your answer is smart. But about 'future wife', that's because..." Alvin glanced at Kazien teasingly. "...Kazien only likes cute-faced boys! He doesn't like girls!"
Instantly, Arken stiffened. He slowly shifted his gaze to Kazien, who was carrying him. His face paled.
He recalled his brother's words, praising his cute face repeatedly just moments ago. His innocent brain began to form the wrong conclusion.
"W-W-What..." Arken stammered, his body shivering slightly. "Does Brother Kazien like me? I mean... like that?"
Seeing his brother scared, Kazien panicked and glared at Alvin.
"It's not like that!" Kazien denied quickly. "I like you as my brother! Pure brotherly affection! Even though you are cute, I only admire your cute face, nothing more! Don't listen to Alvin!"
Arken let out a long breath, feeling very relieved after hearing the answer. His shoulders slumped. "Thank goodness..."
However, his curiosity wasn't fully satisfied. He looked at Kazien again with his clear purple eyes. "So, Brother doesn't have romantic feelings for me, right?"
"Of course not!" Kazien affirmed.
"Good!" Arken nodded. "Brother Kazien is indeed handsome! Very handsome, actually! But, I don't have feelings for men. I am still normal. Besides, you are my brother, right? How could I love my own brother as a lover! That would be weird!"
Stab!
That innocent yet logical answer felt like a hard slap to Allen's face. Allen, who was notably Kazien's cousin and also his fiancé, felt thoroughly called out and froze in place.
"Pfft..."
Elisa couldn't hold it in anymore. She burst out laughing upon seeing the shocked expression on her son's face.
"Hahaha! Oh, my stomach!" Elisa held her stomach, pointing at Allen whose face was turning beet red. "Arken, you are truly honest! At least you aren't like my son, Allen, who is none other than Kazien's first cousin! He actually fell madly in love with him and is now his fiancé!"
Arken's eyes widened perfectly. He stared at Allen with disbelief.
"Eh? Is that true?" Arken asked in shock. "Are fellow relatives allowed to fall in love?"
That question made Elisa's laughter stop abruptly. The room went silent again. Kazien, Alvin, and Allen looked at each other awkwardly. No one could answer easily because their relationship was indeed unique, but it still sounded strange to ordinary people.
Seeing the situation become stiff, Elisa hurriedly cleared her throat loudly to break the ice so Arken wouldn't misunderstand and fall into "deviant" thinking like her nephew and son.
"Ahem! Actually, it's not allowed!" Elisa exclaimed quickly, giving a sharp look at Kazien and Allen. "Especially between a man and a man like them! That is a special case that is... well, complicated. I hope you don't become like him, Arken! Find a beautiful girl who suits you in the future! Do you understand?"
Arken nodded obediently. "I understand, Aunt Elisa. I will look for a girl."
Kazien, Alvin, and Allen could only smile wryly hearing Elisa and Arken's words. They felt openly criticized but couldn't refute their words.
"Well..." Kazien changed the topic. "Since you will be living with us from now on, do you want to get the things from your old house?"
Arken's eyes lit up. "Can I go home for a bit and get my things there?"
"Why not?" Kazien smiled warmly. "Surely there are precious memories of your parents there, right? We shouldn't let them be neglected. Let's bring everything you need here!"
Arken nodded in agreement enthusiastically.
Before long, the small group was ready. Accompanied by Kazien, Alvin, Allen, and Elisa who wanted to see the condition of Arken's house, they went to Arken's old house riding Kazien's sophisticated magic carriage.
Upon entering the carriage, Arken's eyes widened. His mouth opened slightly in awe. He touched the soft seats and the soundproofed walls. The carriage cabin was much more spacious than it looked.
"Amazing!" exclaimed Arken while spinning around inside the carriage. "It's like a house in here! So spacious!"
Suddenly he stopped and looked at Alvin. "But... does Brother Kazien know where my house is?"
Alvin, Allen, and Elisa looked at each other. They just realized one crucial thing: they didn't know where Arken and Borris's house had been all this time.
"Ah, that's right..." said Alvin.
Finally, Arken came out of the connecting door and sat in the front seat next to Kazien to give directions to his house located on the outskirts of the capital.
Not long after, the black carriage arrived in a slum neighborhood and stopped right in front of a very simple wooden house, looking somewhat fragile. A stark contrast to the mansion Kazien occupied.
One by one, they started to get out of the carriage. Kazien looked at the house with mixed feelings. This was where Borris struggled to support his son.
"Let's go in!" Arken invited them cheerfully, as if not ashamed of his house's condition.
They all entered the cramped but clean house. Without disgust or hesitation, Kazien, Alvin, Allen, and even Elisa immediately rolled up their sleeves to help Arken pack his belongings. Old clothes, wooden toys made by Borris, and some small furniture were put into Kazien's dimensional storage space.
While folding his father's clothes, Arken fell silent for a moment. The brown-haired boy looked around the now-empty room. He took a deep breath, steeling his heart to welcome his new life as Kazien Altavis's brother.
I must not cry anymore, Arken thought, strengthening himself. I must be strong and tough in living life! I don't want to hurt Father's feelings who is now at peace there.
He looked at Kazien's back, who was helping lift a box.
Right now, I am also not living in loneliness. I already have a new family that is very kind and sincere to me.
Arken clenched his small fist. Father, I will definitely live happily as you hoped. And in the future, I promise to become a great and strong assassin, surpassing you! I will protect my brother and this family!
His strong determination not to disappoint his father had revived Arken's mentality. His sadness slowly faded, replaced by spirit. He turned to Kazien and smiled. A smile of pure happiness radiated from his face.