Chapter 41

Yet, as the heir of Solinar, he always had to maintain his facade and had the duty to treat people with a soft, smiling face. Because that was the behavior fitting of a person with a ‘splendid character.’

As Arkin tried to return to his spot, someone else raised their hand high.

“Um… I have a question!”

Princess Amalfi waved her hands flutteringly. Just seeing her peach-colored cheeks dyed red suggested it would be some kind of embarrassing question…

“Go ahead.”

“Do Solinar men really only have a single partner?”

Arkin paused in silence. He felt like he had been asked the exact same question before, so why ask again? An urge flared up inside him to sting back with a demand: You aren’t even going to be my partner, so why are you being so persistent about it?

“So you were curious about that… Yes, the men of the forest kingdom of Solinar are like wolves of the forest. They choose and imprint upon a single partner for life and live with them.”

“Ah, I mean… because having your heart moved and formal conventions are separate things! I want to know if they truly love their partner! And…”

Amalfi dyed her face beet red and added a bit more quietly.

“When you imagine sharing love, do you… think of only one person…?”

Oooooh! Waaaaah! The mood suddenly heated up. Everyone except Arkin seemed to be enjoying this moment. Even Draconis leaned his head slightly to the side, paying close attention.

“Um…”

Arkin let out a sigh.

“We try our best to love our partner, who is our married spouse. And for the next question… well…”

He hadn’t expected to make eye contact with Nephitia of all people among that huge crowd. No, or had he known? Did his gaze naturally drift over?

“The men of Solinar do not… imagine sharing love. It is solely direct physical contact with one’s partner that matters.”

“You don’t even masturbate? Are you a eunuch?”

When Kaichen exclaimed in shock, Amalfi looked at him as if inspecting a bug and treated him with contempt.

“That is correct.”

Arkin nodded with a stiff face.

“We take a vow of chastity from the time we are young boys. It’s an oath to keep our bodies and minds pure for our future partner.”

Gasp. Zafiri’s heavy breathing sound echoed too loudly, so Arkin involuntarily lowered his gaze in that direction. Zafiri and Nephitia made eye contact and looked surprised. A hot surge of something welled up fiercely from the pit of his stomach.

“I think that’s pathetic, though?”

Draconis shook his head as if he felt sorry for him and let out a sneer. That was precisely why a spark jumped right onto the already turbulent fuel inside him. Unable to hold back his surging anger, Arkin shot back coldly.

“Why is it pathetic? It’s better than being a dog in heat.”

The surroundings grew as silent as if cold water had been dumped over them. Shocked by the usually polite Solinar prince’s prickly attitude, everyone lost their words and just rolled their eyes.

“Now, stop. Respect others. It’s just that everyone has different forms of life.”

Seneca, who had been watching with his arms crossed, appropriately cut off their words. Deciding it would be best to wrap things up here, he looked around.

“Are there any more questions? We’ll take just one last person.”

Another question came in. Princess Stella of Astralia, the kingdom that looked to the stars, showed interest.

“I’d also like to hear about the Solinar royal family’s prophetic abilities. I heard they converse with the spirits of the forest and dream prophetic dreams?”

Arkin possessed no such ability. His mother had repeatedly asked him several times whether he saw anything, but every night the only thing he could see was a forest engulfed in crimson flames. If that were a future destined to actually occur, it would be all the more terrifying a thing.

While Arkin faltered, momentarily at a loss for words, Nephitia murmured softly.

“Or perhaps seeing who the partner they must pledge their chastity to is…”

Why you, too…

The corners of Arkin’s mouth twisted. His constantly scratchy insides flipped over completely.

Would he have felt a bit less annoyed if she had been sitting apart from Zafiri? The expression of surprise when they locked eyes at the mention of the vow of chastity left a very small, yet strangely deep scratch right upon his heart.

“I have never seen my partner in a prophetic dream. Even if I had, it doesn’t seem like something to be so publicly announced.”

Arkin narrowed the corners of his eyes and drove the point home.

“Because it has nothing to do with you lot, it is a strictly personal matter of my own.”

The amber eyes that had been watching him closely widened slightly. Avoiding Nephitia’s face, which flushed slightly as if she felt awkward, he turned back to Seneca.

“I’d like to end it here.”

“Very well. That should be enough for today. Prince Arkin looked a bit tired anyway, so good work.”

Seneca stood up from his seat and checked the roster.

“Next, let’s proceed with the Lake Kingdom of Lakelium.”

Arkin walked back to his seat and leaned against a pillar. He could see Serena, who was next in line, stepping forward, but he simply closed his eyes.

Fatigue rushed in. Not only was his body—which hadn’t slept properly due to nightmares—appealing its limits, but his mood had now plummeted all the way to the bottom, with no place left to sink further.

He felt like crap. Nephitia hadn’t done anything wrong. Just why had he snapped at her so nastily…

Perhaps he truly lacked the qualifications to become the king of Solinar. He couldn’t endure, his inner feelings showed on his face instantly, and he was completely exhausted from forcibly putting up a facade for himself.

Swallowing down his sour insides, Arkin let out a long breath. Serena’s lengthy boast was continuing, but he didn’t open his ears, so her words merely scattered emptily away.

“Next is Floria.”

Princess Amalfi stepped forward with mincing steps. With every step she took, her high, tied-up pink hair swayed rhythmically.

“Hello! I’m Amalfi of Floria!”

As her cheerful and bright voice filled the auditorium, the gloomy atmosphere brightened up little by little.

“Our Floria is a country of love, festivals, and romance! Flowers bloom all year round, and festivals are held every month. We cherish all emotions. Because we believe that joy, sadness, love, and parting are all beautiful parts of life.”

Amalfi’s face was filled with pure joy. She continued speaking in a clear, ringing voice.

“In Floria, every day is special. When you wake up in the morning, flower petals flutter outside your window, and the sound of singing never stops in the streets. People always exchange affectionate greetings and gift flowers even to strangers. There’s no shouting or loud arguing. Mostly, everyone understands and forgives each other.”

“What, is something wrong with you people? How do you live like that all day long? Doesn’t it feel suffocating?”

When Kaichen sneered, Princess Amalfi’s pretty eyebrows furrowed slightly.

“The people of Floria detest people just like that. But we still pity their warped hearts and always make a point to go pluck flowers for them.”

“Then will you give me some, too?”

“The people of Floria sing while working, and smile while encouraging one another even when times are tough. Do you know how amazing the power of positivity is?”

Completely ignoring Kaichen, Amalfi clasped both hands in front of her chest and passionately continued.

“My grandfather, the King of Floria, created a policy called the ‘Magic of Laughter’. To ensure the citizens of the kingdom can laugh at least three times a day, jesters always stay in the public square. They stage free plays, and anyone can rest to their heart’s content in the Garden of Consolation, which encourages the sad.”

“What about military power?”

When Draconis asked while leaning sideways, Amalfi looked at him with contempt, as if asking what kind of stupid question that was.

“Goodness, who would ever want to attack the Kingdom of Flowers? We’re friends with every single kingdom.”

“How very positive. If someone invades, you’ll just get crushed to pulp.”

Draconis clicked his tongue.

“That’s why we are a dependable support group for the Kingdom of Solinar. Because true peace came to this world thanks to Solinar’s Birch Clan!”

Because Amalfi abruptly singled out Solinar, everyone’s gazes converged on Arkin.

Arkin, who had been sitting with his arms crossed and eyes closed, slowly opened his eyes. His brilliant blue eyes blinked sluggishly as he looked around.