The grand hall bustled with activity as the generals and former generals gathered to celebrate Arthur's return. Unlike typical royal events, the celebration was kept exclusive—only they were invited, not the entirety of Aetherlight's nobility.
"S-So, Alyssia, Elyssia... why are you both here? I mean, I can understand why Elyssia came, but what about you, Princess Alyssia?" Mixarnt asked nervously.
Both sisters were Mixarnt's fiancées—Elyssia, the 18-year-old princess, and Alyssia, the 11-year-old princess, who was gentle and deeply admired him. Since Mixarnt's rescue of Naeva from Kaelzar, they hadn't spoken, as he had fled the celebration, rejecting the rewards from their parents. Before leaving, he boldly declared that he would return someday and marry them once he was older.
Unwilling to lose Mixarnt, the King of Naeva secretly issued a royal decree, officially engaging his daughters to him—without Mixarnt's knowledge.
"Hmm... shouldn't you apologize for just disappearing?" Elyssia said coldly. She wasn't in her usual adventurer's attire but instead wore her royal gown, looking absolutely stunning.
Meanwhile, Alyssia peeked out from behind her older sister, smiling shyly.
Mixarnt felt the weight of multiple gazes on him, each one carrying a different kind of intensity. Elyssia's cold stare, Alyssia's shy smile, and the glaring eyes of Eclipse and Sunshine from the corner of the room—it was a pressure he hadn't felt even in the depths of the Aether Maze. He scratched the back of his head nervously, trying to figure out how to navigate this minefield of emotions.
"Uh... well, you see..." Mixarnt began, his voice faltering as he tried to come up with an explanation. "I didn't mean to vanish like that. I just... had some things to take care of. You know, adventurer stuff. Fighting monsters, gathering, that kind of thing."
Elyssia crossed her arms, her icy blue eyes narrowing. "Adventurer stuff? Is that what you call running away from your responsibilities and leaving us without a word? Do you have any idea how worried we were?"
Alyssia, still hiding behind her older sister, peeked out with a shy smile. "We missed you, Mixarnt. Especially after you saved Naeva and promised to come back for us. But you just... disappeared."
Mixarnt's face turned red as he remembered the promise he had made. "Ah, right... about that. I didn't mean to leave you hanging. I just... uh... got caught up in some stuff. And I'm not going anywhere this time."
Elyssia's expression softened slightly, though her tone remained sharp. "You'd better not. If you disappear again, I'll freeze you solid and keep you in the palace dungeon until you learn to keep your promises."
Mixarnt chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Noted. No more disappearing acts. Got it."
Alyssia giggled, her shyness fading as she stepped out from behind Elyssia. "We're really happy to be here with you Mixarnt. And we're looking forward to the day you fulfill your promise."
Mixarnt's face turned even redder, and he quickly glanced around the room, hoping for some kind of distraction. His eyes landed on Eclipse and Sunshine, who were still glaring at him from the corner. Their expressions were a mix of annoyance and something else he couldn't quite place. He had no idea that the two harbored romantic feelings for him, and their intense stares only added to his confusion, so he decided to approach the two.
"Uh... hey, Eclipse, Sunshine! What's up?" Mixarnt called out as he approaches, trying to deflect the attention away from himself.
Eclipse's glare intensified, her Lunar Eyes glowing faintly. "Nothing. Just enjoying the show," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
Sunshine, on the other hand, crossed her arms and looked away, her golden flame eyes flickering with irritation. "Yeah, nothing. Just wondering how someone can be so clueless."
Mixarnt blinked, completely lost. "Clueless? About what?"
Eclipse and Sunshine exchanged a glance before both turning their glares back on him. "Never mind," they said in unison, their voices cold.