Reddish-orange hues slowly painted the twilight sky of the Kingdom of Astoria, replacing the blue of the day with a soothing evening warmth. Arvin and his three spouses finally arrived in front of their mansion.
Ordion's steps gradually came to a halt. His eyes widened, staring unblinkingly at the building that now towered before him.
The house was surrounded by sturdy yet beautifully carved stone walls. Its roof was a bright sea-blue, appearing perfectly harmonious and contrasting against the mansion's impeccably clean white exterior walls. The yard was vast, covered in a well-maintained carpet of green grass.
Until now, Ordion had only known the harshness of life in a simple, modest home and the cold, rigid walls of the academy dormitory. Seeing the grandeur before his eyes, the place that would now become his home with his husband, made his breath catch in his throat. A sense of overwhelming wonder washed over him, but a sliver of inferiority also crept in. Do I truly deserve to be in a place as beautiful as this?
Ordion's long reverie was suddenly broken when a light, friendly pat landed on his shoulder.
"Why are you just dazing off like that in front of the gate?" Alrain asked curiously, leaning in slightly to see Ordion's expression. "Don't you want to go inside?"
"I-It's not that!" Ordion answered stiltedly, his face flushing slightly at being caught daydreaming. He swallowed hard, looking at Alrain and Allen one after another. "I'm just... I'm just amazed by such a luxurious house. Is... is this the house we will be living in together?"
Hearing that innocent question, Allen smiled warmly and stepped closer. "Yes, of course!" he replied with a contagious, cheerful tone. "Starting today, the three of us will live here with our husband, and also Yonna."
Ordion's brow instantly furrowed. A foreign name that had just slipped from Allen's lips triggered curiosity in his mind.
"Yonna?" Ordion asked, confused, glancing back and forth between Allen and Alrain. "Who is Yonna?"
Alrain's smile faded for a moment, replaced by a gaze that dimmed slightly but held a firm resolve.
"She is my older sister" Alrain answered, his voice sounding heavier now. "In that era, you know the reason why I became a general in our husband's army, right? It was all because that bastard king killed my sister for his insane ritual for immortality. At that time, I felt completely betrayed by this kingdom."
The evening breeze blew gently, brushing through Ordion's red hair. The teenager stood frozen. Slowly, the puzzle pieces of his past began to fall into place.
So, that was the reason... Ordion thought, his chest feeling a bit tight. All those years ago, they had stood on opposing sides of the battlefield. He had never known there was such deep pain and loss behind the sword swung at him.
Now, Ordion looked at Alrain with a newfound respect. It made sense that in this repeated life, Alrain was so protective and chose to have his sister live with our husband, the strongest person who could guarantee their safety.
"Does your sister know the truth about us miraculously returning to the present?" Ordion asked cautiously, lowering his voice. He had to ensure the boundaries of this secret and didn't want to say the wrong thing.
"Yes, my sister knows everything!" Alrain replied, smiling again to soothe the anxiety in Ordion's eyes. "Everyone living in this mansion knows about everything that happened in that era. That's why, in class earlier, Allen asked you to tell us what happened during that time from your perspective."
Allen nodded and then looked at Ordion with a gentle, pleading gaze. "After we have dinner together later, please tell us everything. I really want to know what actually happened from your side, the side that used to be the enemy of the Vedegra family."
Feeling the sincerity and openness from his husband's two spouses, the doubt in Ordion's heart evaporated completely. He smiled firmly. "Yes, I will definitely tell you all everything without hiding a single thing."
"Good!" Alrain prompted as he walked toward the door. "Now, let's head inside."
As soon as the main door was pushed open, the warmth and golden glow from the crystal chandelier in the living room immediately welcomed them. There, Yonna was sitting on a comfortable sofa. She turned her head the moment she noticed their arrival.
Her eyes scanned the group, and her gaze instantly locked onto the red-haired teenager standing a bit awkwardly near Arvin. That gaze then shifted downward, catching the white Contract Symbol permanently engraved on the back of his right hand. A friendly smile immediately spread across her face.
"Is he the one named Ordion?" Yonna asked softly, standing up to greet them.
"Yes, Sister!" Alrain replied quickly, his tone filled with pride. "He is Ordion, our husband's third spouse."
Yonna walked toward Ordion without hesitation, extending her hand in a friendly gesture. "Hello Ordion, welcome home. I am Yonna, Alrain's biological sister."
Ordion immediately returned the handshake. Yonna's grip felt warm and sincere. "Hello, Yonna. I'm Ordion. I look forward to working with you, and I apologize if I'm a bother in the future."
"I ask the same of you, Ordion." Yonna replied with a small laugh.
"Of course!" Ordion answered, his voice sounding much more enthusiastic and relieved this time.
After that warm introduction, Yonna turned toward Arvin, who was standing in front of her. "I've already prepared the food in the dining room. Come, let's eat together soon. You all must be feeling hungry, right?"
Hearing this, Arvin stopped his movements. He stared at Yonna's face with a look of disbelief. "You've already cooked? Everything?"
"I came home early today." Yonna answered casually. "Rather than having nothing to do and just sitting around waiting for you all, it was better to prepare the food before everyone arrived."
Arvin gave a thin smile, feeling grateful for Yonna's thoughtfulness. Allen and Ordion also nodded happily. Their stomachs were indeed starting to demand to be filled. Moreover, it was already starting to get dark.
However, it wasn't the same for Alrain. The green-haired teenager suddenly looked at his sister with a protesting expression.
"Sister!" Alrain exclaimed suddenly, his voice rising slightly in a sign of disapproval. "Why did you cook everything all by yourself?! You should have waited for me so I could join you and Allen in the kitchen!"
Alrain clenched his fists with determination, his eyes gleaming with absolute ambition. "I have to learn how to cook properly so I can be the perfect spouse for my husband!"