His eyes slowly turned, looking at the calm face of Arvin who was sitting leaning back on the seat opposite him.
Is the true figure of Arvin Vedegra this great? Behind his attitude that is sometimes cold and annoying, he actually changed many people's lives. I too... felt he was my hero during the Grizzly Forest attack incident. His heroic action when he came to save my group was exactly like the knight fairy tales I often heard from my late mother when I was little.
The remnants of doubt in his heart had evaporated and he fully accepted his own feelings. It seems I really have taken a liking to Arvin.
Kylen closed his eyes tightly. He took a deep breath until his chest cavity was full, then exhaled slowly to cast away all his remaining pride. When he opened his eyes again, his gaze immediately locked focus only on Arvin. There was no longer any doubt there.
"It seems I can no longer deny it. I do like you." Kylen confessed honestly, his voice loud and firm. "If you are willing to accept someone full of flaws like me... may I be yours? I swear on the name of my family, I will become your most loyal slave and spouse forever!"
A declaration of love as well as a highly extraordinary surrender from a royal prince made the atmosphere inside the carriage instantly silent.
However, the youth in front of him instead tilted his head slightly.
"But, haven't we not fought in the arena yet?" Arvin chimed in suddenly with a very flat and innocent tone.
Grab!
The mood-ruining remark he had just heard successfully made Kylen's patience evaporate. With a lightning-fast movement, he leaned his body forward and directly grabbed the collar of Arvin's academy uniform with both hands, staring at the youth with a fiery sharp gaze.
"You're actually discussing that ridiculous bet instead of answering my declaration of love to you?!" Kylen snapped in annoyance, his face flushed red due to mixed emotions of embarrassment and anger. "Is your true nature indeed to always deliberately provoke other people's anger, huh?!"
Receiving such an outburst, Arvin did not look panicked at all. He instead turned his head toward Allen who was sitting next to him, giving a small signal through his eyes.
Allen, who immediately understood his husband's intention, could only shake his head in resignation, then stood up and moved to the empty seat that was previously occupied by Kylen.
With a very calm yet powerful movement, he held both of Kylen's wrists that were gripping his uniform, then released them slowly until they came off completely.
And in the next second, before Kylen realized what was happening, Arvin lifted the prince and put him on his lap with a smooth motion.
The bluish-white-haired prince was shocked to realize that he was now sitting right on Arvin's lap, in a position that made their faces very close.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
Suddenly, Kylen's heart beat at a very crazy rhythm upon realizing the distance between them. He could feel Arvin's breath on his face. Due to an incredibly intense and unbearable attack of nervousness, Kylen's body defense instinct took over. Unconsciously, the prince hid his flushed red face in the crook of Arvin's neck and hugged the youth very tightly.
That position allowed Arvin to feel very clearly the prince's pounding heartbeat beating fast through the layers of their clothes.
Is he very nervous right now? Arvin thought, holding back his laughter so it wouldn't explode, feeling highly entertained. I really want to see the look on his face when he is severely nervous like this. He must look so cute!
Arvin returned the hug by wrapping one of his arms around Kylen's waist.
"Kylen, can I look at your face for a moment?" Arvin asked with a tone of voice that suddenly became very gentle and deep, vibrating the prince's ears.
Hearing a tone of voice he had never heard before, Kylen slowly loosened his hug. He lifted his face hesitantly, and at that very second, Arvin could see the prince's face very clearly from a distance of only a few inches. Kylen's face was perfectly flushed with eyes that were slightly teary holding back embarrassment.
"Your face is so cute when you are nervous like this." Arvin praised honestly and full of admiration, his thumb raising to gently caress Kylen's heated cheek. "Why are you hiding it from me instead?"
"S-Shut up!" Kylen answered stammeringly, trying to cover up his embarrassment which had reached the top of his head. "How do you think I feel when you pull me so suddenly like this? My heart feels like it could explode anytime, idiot!"
Hearing that panicked cursing, Arvin's defense crumbled. He chuckled softly, his laughter sounding crisp and sincere echoing inside the carriage cabin.
"What is so funny, huh?!" Kylen said, growing more annoyed because he felt laughed at in the midst of this thrilling situation right now.
Arvin's laughter slowly subsided. He stared intently into Kylen's eyes, his gaze now turning very serious and warm.
"I like you, Kylen. Even since the first time I saw you step out of the carriage and introduce yourself to my four spouses." Arvin confessed very honestly, with no intention to joke anymore. "And I already knew clearly what your true nature is actually like after so many minor disputes that occurred between us during this journey."
Hearing the unexpected reciprocal confession, Kylen's eyes widened broadly. His heart seemed to stop beating for a moment.
"W-What did you say?!" Kylen exclaimed in disbelief. "If you indeed already liked me from the beginning and knew my nature, why didn't you tell me a long time ago? Why did you keep arguing with me instead?!"
"Because I was just very happy seeing your cute face when you were annoyed or flustered." Arvin answered simply, not feeling guilty in the slightest while flashing his mischievous smile.
Knowing that he had been played and his emotions deliberately provoked for days by Arvin, Kylen's face grew even redder, this time due to a peaking mixture of embarrassment and annoyance.
"You... you are a real bastard!" Kylen cursed in annoyance, hitting Arvin's chest lightly, but having no intention of moving from his lap.
Then, the youth straightened his body slightly, staring at Arvin with a gaze full of the dominant ego of a prince.
"Listen!" Kylen decreed firmly, even though his face was still flushed. "Because you have played with me, you must come see my father at the palace with formal procedures, ask for his blessing, and propose to me directly in front of him! That is an absolute punishment for you, Arvin Vedegra!"