The morning sunlight began to seep in through the gaps in the curtains, replacing the moonlight that had bid farewell. The chirping of birds from the Altavis mansion garden became a natural alarm that woke the room's occupants from their deep sleep.
Alvin stirred slowly, his eyes blinking to adjust to the light. Next to him, Allen also began to wake up, rubbing his eyes which still felt heavy.
Their gazes immediately fell upon the figure lying beneath their bodies.
Alvin smiled gently. He brought his face closer.
Mwah!
A sweet morning kiss landed on Kazien's lips.
"Good morning, my dear." whispered Alvin with a husky, just-woken-up voice that sounded seductive.
Allen, also doing the same even though he was already blushing red like a boiled crab, gathered the courage to bring his face closer.
Mwah!
"Good morning, m-m-m-my love..." greeted Allen nervously, yet full of affection.
Kazien gave a faint smile, welcoming his two fiancés.
However, the morning surprise wasn't over. Arken, who had woken up hugging Kazien's neck, suddenly and without the slightest hesitation followed what Alvin and Allen did.
Mwah!
The sound of the kiss was clear. Arken kissed Kazien's lips gently, then looked at his brother's face with an adoring gaze.
"Good morning, my dear brother." greeted Arken with a tone full of affection, far exceeding the greeting of an ordinary brother.
Of course, this made Alvin and Allen wide-eyed with shock. Their jaws nearly dropped. It was the first time they had seen Arken act so aggressively and affectionately toward Kazien in the morning.
However, the figure of Kazien lying there didn't seem to want to make an issue of it. He smiled even wider, looking at the three people surrounding him with a warm gaze.
"Good morning, Alvin! Good morning, Allen! Good morning, Arken!" replied Kazien cheerfully. "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Very well!" they answered in unison, still drifting in the peaceful morning atmosphere.
Arken rested his head back on Kazien's broad chest, sighing with satisfaction. "Sleeping on your body is truly the best, Brother Kazien! It feels so warm and comfortable."
The figure of Kazien chuckled softly seeing Arken's happiness. However, a different reaction was shown by Alvin and Allen. They looked at each other with meaningful gazes. Their instincts told them that Arken had feelings for Kazien.
Before Alvin had a chance to voice his suspicion, the figure of Kazien suddenly sat up, holding the three of them on his lap.
"Come on, wake up and get ready immediately!" exclaimed the figure of Kazien suddenly, his tone changing to become very pragmatic and a bit flat. "There is a lot of work I have to do for all those assassins! I have to prepare a house for them."
The sudden exclamation shattered Alvin and Allen's daydreams instantly.
"Eh? Yes, alright." mumbled Allen in confusion while hugging Kazien's neck tightly.
Alvin, Allen, and Arken, the three of them got up from Kazien's lap and began walking groggily towards the bathroom to clean themselves.
However, just a few steps after their feet touched the cold floor, an unexpected phenomenon occurred.
Poof!q
A small popping sound was heard. When they looked back, the bed was empty. The figure of Kazien they had just kissed and hugged vanished just like that into mana particles fading in the air.
Silence momentarily enveloped the room.
"Hahaha!" Alvin's laughter broke the silence. "I didn't expect that all of his figures here since last night weren't his real body!"
Allen gaped in disbelief, staring at the empty bed. "So... the one we kissed earlier was just a clone?"
"You're right, Allen!" responded Alvin, followed by a small laugh. "I couldn't even tell which was the real one and which was the clone. His skin texture, his temperature, even his breath felt very real."
"But, Brother Kazien is really amazing, right?" praised Arken with eyes sparkling full of pride. "He could copy my ability perfectly! Maybe even better than me. He must have woken up and been working since dawn."
Alvin and Allen nodded in agreement with Arken's words.
Then, the three of them continued their morning preparations. However, before they truly left the room to start their activities, Arken suddenly stopped in his tracks in front of the door. His face, which was previously cheerful, turned very serious. He turned to look at Alvin and Allen.
"Brother Alvin, Brother Allen!" called Arken, his tone sounding mature, far beyond his age.
"What is it, Arken?" asked Allen, surprised.
"Starting this second, listen to me carefully!" said Arken firmly. "Don't let anyone else get close to Brother Kazien! You must be firmer!"
Alvin and Allen were stunned to hear the warning.
"Are you going to let Brother Kazien have many wives again?" continued Arken, his eyes staring sharply at Alvin. "Especially you, Brother Alvin! Don't you know very well that he loves you deeply and doesn't want to betray you? But Brother Kazien's weakness is that he is too kind to the people he cares about."
Arken's words struck Alvin's heart. The High Elf fell silent, contemplating. Feelings of guilt returned to haunt his mind. He remembered how he urged Kazien to accept Allen, and how Kazien seemed so conflicted last night thinking about the future.
He is right! thought Alvin. If I am not firm, then more people will try to enter our lives.
Alvin clenched his fists. I must be able to be firm! Even if it is to Kazien's own relatives!
Alvin lifted his face, looking at Allen with new determination.
"Allen, I need your help!" said Alvin seriously. "I don't want Kazien to have any other wives besides you! You know I can sometimes be too pitying towards others. I need you to remind me."
Allen nodded firmly, his cute face turning serious. "If that is what you want, then I will gladly be Kazien's last fortress! I will do it my way! No more other wives!"
Alvin smiled in relief, then turned to look at Arken.
"Arken, thank you! Thanks to you, my eyes are open. I promise I won't make Kazien feel conflicted again by forcing him to accept someone else."
Arken crossed his arms over his chest, smiling with satisfaction like a teacher seeing a student understand a lesson.
"Good. I will hold you to your promise! I hope you and Brother Allen won't make a fatal mistake again that allows someone else to enter Brother Kazien's life!"
Silence fell for a moment. Alvin and Allen glanced at each other then nodded, as if communicating via telepathy. Suddenly, a mischievous smile appeared on Alvin's face.
"But..." Alvin tilted his head, looking at Arken inquisitively. "What about you, Arken?"
The question was accompanied by Allen who also looked at Arken with raised eyebrows.
Arken was confused by the sudden change of topic. His act of maturity faded, replaced by a confused face.
"What about me?" asked Arken, puzzled. "Why, Brother Alvin, Brother Allen?"
"Is it true you're just a brother?" shot Alvin without hesitation. "Don't you like Kazien? I mean, like him as a man, not as a brother."
Gasp!
Arken's breath hitched. His eyes widened.
"From the look in your eyes, the way you look at him, to the intimate kiss this morning... everything has proven that you like Kazien more than a brother." continued Alvin, analyzing sharply.
Allen nodded in confirmation, then stepped forward approaching Arken. "Hey Arken, we are not blind. If you like him, tell us the truth right now!" emphasized Allen.
Arken took a step back, cornered. His face went pale, then flushed red. He was afraid Alvin would be angry and kick him out.
"I... I don't know, Brother Alvin, Brother Allen." answered Arken nervously, his voice squeaking. "I-I'm confused... But, if I really do end up liking him later... what will happen? Will you hate me?"
Alvin and Allen looked at each other, then smiled gently. There was no anger on their faces.
"If you really like him..." Alvin sighed deeply, as if accepting fate. "It seems I have no other choice but to accept you."
Arken looked up in surprise. "Eh?"
"But remember!" cut in Alvin quickly. "He is very stubborn. He definitely wouldn't want to betray me and Allen. You know, initially, Kazien refused him to death, even arguing with me. But after I forced him and gave him an understanding, only then did he accept Allen as his future wife."
Arken nodded in understanding, but his eyes still radiated doubt. "But... do you two really allow me to become his future wife too?"
"Of course!" answered Alvin and Allen in unison, without the slightest doubt.
"B-But why? Didn't you say you didn't want anyone else?"
Alvin smiled wisely. "My reason remains the same as when I accepted Allen. You know Kazien likes men with cute faces, right? If later I get pregnant and become a woman for a long time due to Goddess Nirfelia's destiny, you and Allen can still accompany him as men. You can fill that void and keep him from feeling lonely."
Alvin added his words again. "It is our cute faces smiling in male form that make him feel happy."
Alvin looked at Arken deeply. "So, if you have set your heart on it, are you willing to accompany Kazien in eternity and accompany him as his wife too forever?"
Arken was silent for a moment. He bowed his head, contemplating that heavy question. His memories swirled around the warm moments with Kazien, when being hugged, the warmth felt real.
He lifted his face again, looking at Alvin and Allen alternately with a gaze full of determination.
"If I really fall in love with him later, I will be willing to be his future wife too. I will also live in eternity with him. After all... I have no one else in this world besides Brother Kazien and you guys." answered Arken firmly without doubt.
Hearing that honest and undoubted answer, Alvin and Allen smiled in relief.
"In that case, keep it a secret from him for now." whispered Allen while winking one eye. "Let that feeling grow naturally. If the moment is ready and you are one hundred percent sure, just tell him directly! We will definitely support you."
Arken nodded in agreement, a wide smile adorning his face. "Alright, Brother!"
"Well, now the serious talk is over. Let's get ready, Arken!" invited Allen, who suddenly grabbed Arken's hand enthusiastically. "We can't be late! We have to go to the adventurer guild to register with my mother!"
"Yes, let's go! I can't wait!"
Allen and Arken ran out of the room, leaving Alvin smiling and shaking his head, preparing to welcome their new day as adventurers in Lazavis City.