"Who are they?" a stern-looking woman welcomed the Count the moment they arrived at the County. The intricate lavish halls were even more luxurious than what Cale remembered before.

Deruth motioned patting their heads one by one, "this is Rok... and this one is Cale." The way Deruth patted their heads reassured them that they'd be safe in this place.

The stern woman had a soft look on his face. She stared at them for good before she said, "I am Violan..."

It was as if she had been welcoming when she was not supposed to be.

Deruth smiled at his wife and looked at the servants, "give them food, clothes and let them a bath. Also give that child proper treatment..." while pointing at the red-faced Beacrox, "How about you, what will you be doing?"

"I'll search for work." Ron replied and smiled, "I want to repay your grace."

"no need... work in the county... the head butler will take care of everything."

Deruth didn't say anything anymore. The head butler guided the father and son. A younger butler came to help the children but it seems the count is hesitant to let go of the twins.

"C, count." The young Butler called. The count still had his hands holding the twins, before smiling pitifully and hesitantly letting them go.

"I may have become foolish." That's what he said before giving them to the servant. He leveled himself to them and looked at them, "you should take care of yourselves... tell anybody in this house what you need."

"mm. thank you," Cale whispered and followed the servant with Rok.

Deruth stood up and looked at his wife. "I have become foolish." Just seeing red hair forces memories from him. "I searched for so long but it was a different person."

"they may be the Thames or anyone with red hair..."

Deruth sighed deeply and replied, "they said she was dead. Said that she disappeared after learning about her pregnancy... that time... I deeply hope that the child or her survived... I just hoped that they were safe and prayed that I hadn't taken the Count position to protect her."

"do you regret it?"

"regret not protecting her or the child... maybe that's why whenever I see red hair... I don't want to let them go." Deruth smiled at his spouse. He had been searching for Jour for three years until all leads directed him to her death. When he received the news of her bearing his child, he was ready at that them to give up everything for her but she disappeared. Like bubbles, she disappeared without a trace.

Devastated.

Mourning.

Everyone told him that she was no longer there. That she died. He was made to believe that Jour Thames met an unfortunate incident.

He was in pain.

In misery.

He searched and searched, in hopes that at least there was a trace of her left.

He hoped that at least, something about her, something important be left to him.

His wife knew that 'that' person will always be his love. Violan was a good woman who accepted the fact that she couldn't entirely take this person's heart. She may be the second one, but she is happy and takes pride that she married this person and the one standing by his side.

She decided that she'd welcome anyone this person will take in. Hoping for him to erase the guilt and regret of not being able to protect someone precious.

Red hairs, two pairs of reddish-brown eyes – a child with a stoic expression that resembled the serious count; and another, with a bright elegant smile resembling the count in happiness. Deruth has become foolish for thinking something different when taking those kids. Violan pitied him. He hopes that those children had some relation to him or to that person.

"Everything will be alright," Violan said and pats the Count's shoulder.

**

Rok and Cale were fed by the servant. They took a bath and had a change of clothes. They both had different rooms but the two of them refused and chose one room to sleep in. First of all, they are not esteemed guests to have a room on their own. Second, they are peasants or commoners right now. Deruth might have been too giving but isn't this too much. Considering their almost lavish room, this is quite too much for country bumpkins.

Rok settled beside Cale. Cale was looking at the ceiling and said, "this used to be my room, in my previous life."

Rok turned his head to him and watch his brother reminisce about his previous life.

Cale also turned to him and moved closer until their foreheads are on each other. Both of them find comfort whenever the other does this. In a world, where they are strangers, the only people they can trust were each other.

Rok turned sideways just like Cale and slumps like a petty child while looking at his brother.

"Being here made me remember things I don't want to remember."

"then don't think about it." Rok simply said and bumps his head toward Cale.

Cale smiled at his action and grab a hold of his hand. "Back then, I don't have anyone I can trust... Even my father neglected me and let me grow up in wealth..."

Rok listened to Cale's rumblings. Honestly, he can't find fault in Cale's action. If he were in his place, he was sure that he'd do worse than what he had done. He'll just leave without a word. Rok who didn't have anyone to cherish already given up on the world. He can't die and here too, he can't die.

"Still... in this world... I am still alone."

"idiot." Rok snarks and pinches Cale's cheeks. "I am here now right? And we're siblings."

Cale dumbfoundedly stared at the person who doesn't have a care in the world.

Rok, "you are not alone... as I am... we have each other now... if you can't trust anyone... that's alright... but you need to trust me as I do... we're blood and soul connected, so we have each other even when we're apart."

Rok seriously said and pulled the blanket over them. He comfortably kept his forehead on Cale's and patted his back to sleep, "you won't lose anything... we will gain something... thinking like that will be the happiest."

Cale smiled and giggled at Rok's serious notion.

"Hyung..." Cale called, "will you be there when I'm sad and lonely?"

Rok did not reply. He just continued patting Cale's back chiding him to sleep.

"Will you be there to save me when I'm in danger?"

"I'm the trouble magnet, mind you."

Cale laughs lightly and embraces Rok, "thank you."

"what are you thankful for?" Rok asked.

"thank you for being family."

Rok snorted as if he heard a gag, "idiot... I am your Hyung, remember?"

"hm... a hyung always in trouble."

That night, both of them were able to sleep peacefully, while snuggling with each other.

**

Dead at night, Deruth walked to the annex building. The night was very cold since winter is coming. He paved his way with a gas lamp and decided to visit the twins he took back home.

"Master."

"where are they?" he asked the young butler.

"they are in the room you said, count..."

"Are they sleeping?"

"yes... they're peacefully sleeping while snuggling each other." The butler said and bid him farewell.

Deruth entered the room he asked to be cleaned for the twins. This is too much to give for children of unknown origin but he had the urge to spoil the twins badly. In the middle of the huge bed, two small figures were breathing lightly. He had been making noises but it seems that both of them were heavy sleepers.

He placed the lamp by the side and sat on the bed. Both of his hands reached out to caress the twin's head. He had a smile on his face, clearly too excited to the point his smile will tear his face.

"Why are you so precious?" he didn't even know them until today. He didn't know these feelings until they appeared. It was a different affection from when Basen was born. He can't shake the feeling. He can't shake them away and treat them poorly. His instincts are taking over shouting at him to take them in without question.

It was a moment of impulse. It was a moment of urgency. He wants them with him. He wants them near him.

He wants to protect them. That's all that mattered to him.

It was brief but the urge inside his heart took over. He leaned over them and kissed both their heads while whispering, "sweet dreams."

Before he left and went back to his room.

**

Rok groggily woke up the next day. It was hot although it was almost winter. He remembered being taken in by the Henituse, fed, and given a place to sleep. He instinctively reached out to Cale and noticed something was amiss.

He stood up, panicking at his gasping little brother. His face was flushed, his breathing ragged and his forehead was hot.

"Cale..."

His brother looked at him and said, "this is normal."

No, this is not. Cale usually had slight fevers but this one was unlike them.

"I'll ask for help." Rok scrambled while fixing the blanket over Cale.

"it's alright..."

"no, it's not... wait for me." He left the room and ran as fast as he could to the servants.

"sister... is there any medicine here?" He asked, "please... my brother is sick."

The maid that he talked to looked at him and took a few bottles of potions and medicine out. "Butler Rey, can you call for a doctor..."

The butler eyed him and the maid who had first aid medicine on their arms. "Understood."

Another maid notified the Master of the House, while the maid with Rok administer some fever-reducing medicine to Cale.

"can you eat?" Rok asked. The old cook was kind enough to give him some porridge.

Cale was wheezing and held his brother's hand. "I'm alright... just... help me a bit..."

Cale had always been frail. It was even a miracle that he lived long in the novel enough to make a wager with the god of death. Rok suppressed the anger inside and helped his brother sit down and eat.

Cale. Rok called out.

Hm? It's weak but Cale's voice is still there.

You're not allowed to leave me. No matter what happens. Rok declared without asking for his answer, I won't allow you to leave me.

They are the only ones in this world who understood each other.

TBC