"What do you think you are doing?!" Violan couldn't help but shout at her reckless husband, "Did you even realize what you have done?"

Deruth remained silent.

"Even if they knew who you are, you should know what to do or not! Do you think they'd accept you just because you forced them? They'd rather hate you!"

"Then so be it!" Deruth shot back. Violan watched her desperate husband.

"Deruth..."

"I'd rather have them hate me..." Deruth replied. "Right... I'd rather have them loathe me than do nothing. They deserved everything. I'll give them everything they want to cope with that eight years. I'll definitely regret everything by the time they decide to leave me."

"Leave?"

"They won't stay... they will never choose me..." Deruth sadly said, frustratingly brushing his hair with his finger, "They'll leave me soon..."

Deruth knows. He knew that they'd leave him behind without letting him into their hearts.

He knew that they'd go away to live far away.

"For a short time... can't I be their father?"

Once they acquire strength and independence, he's afraid that they'll vanish without a trace from his life.

He doesn't want to regret it.

"Jour will take them back..." Deruth continues, "This is my only chance... the only time... I can be with them..."

"You talked to her?" Violan asked.

"Back in Harris Village."

VIolan looked at him. She didn't say anything anymore, she just cupped his cheeks and embraced him on her stomach. Let him cry like a child after all that he has done. She knew that it was wrong.

It's wrong to force love and imprison them by his side.

She knew he would regret it, but she couldn't say anything to the man who has long for his children.

"I'm sorry..." Deruth spoke.

"You shouldn't apologize to me but them..."

"I was wrong..." Deruth continued. "But I can't apologize for what's already been done."

Violan sighed and chuckled lightly, "I hope you mend what you broke."

She sincerely wished for Deruth and the twins to reconcile and be the father and children they were supposed to be.

**

HYUNG.

We're screwed.

"What are we going to do?"

"Kill him." Rok seriously said, but he threw the dagger away.

Deep inside, they've treated Deruth as a father figure, but they couldn't understand how the man was able to unravel their identities and proudly declare them as his. They've been living in the county for three years, that's why they couldn't understand his actions.

"We're going to leave this place, so why is he keeping us by his side?" Rok asked. He's a dense bastard, he knew that. He grew up as an abused child by his uncle, and he had to live a harsh life.

Living by the Thames is silent and peaceful. That was the life he wanted, not this place.

Deruth Henituse might have wealth, but he can't give them that peaceful life.

That's why they vowed to deny him, without hurting anyone, without destroying a family - living as an outsider and just content with simple familial moments.

But Deruth wants more.

They lay on the bed together and looked at each other.

"Should we leave now?"

"I don't think we can." Rok replied, "we're heavily guarded right now."

Rok stared at Cale and cup his cheeks, "it's alright..." he whispered, "it's alright to cry, Cale..."

The pain he had felt in that moment of truth, not only did they share their thoughts but also emotions.

"It's alright to cry..."

He watched the tears that fell from his brother's eyes. Cale's desire to be with Deruth and his mother are clashing in his heart. He knew how much his brother loved them, that's why, in this setup, he agreed on all his whims and wishes - also because, it was better for him.

He didn't want the expectations of a family.

Rok moved closer to Cale and bumped his forehead against his.

"You're an ugly crier."

"Well, sorry for that."

Cale finally smiled and looked straight at him in the eye, "What should we do now?"

"Stay?"

"We'll be the subject of scorn..."

"Let them hate us... ten years of Cale..."

"Ten years?"

"We can leave this place in ten years. We'll be young adults by then, and no one will try to touch us by that time. Let's grow up safe and strong. Let's grow up as someone who can protect what's ours. We can safely grow up here."

At least, that's what Rok believed the moment he heard Deruth announce their legitimacy.

Deruth will do everything in his power to protect them.

He is the kind of man he learned to be within three years.

A silent hard worker.

Cale smiled at Rok and nodded his head. He raised his arm and deposited himself in Rok's arms. "Hyung"

"Hm?"

"Thank you..."

"There's no need for thank you's and sorry's between us." Rok replied, "We're brothers, so we're on this together."

Rok, who grew close to Cale, can't watch him cry anymore.

"Let's sleep..."

"Goodnight...

"Night."

That day, they drifted to a peaceful sleep.

The following day, Ron and Hans came into their room. Hilsman and a young knight also came in as they greeted them.

"Young Lord Cale, Young Lord Rok, the Count and Countess, wish to dine with you."

Rok and Cale slowly rose from the bed. They expected that things would soon turn out like this.

"The entire Henituse will also be present." Ron carefully added.

"Alright."

They both wore clothes befitting of the first and second born. The clothes they wore had always been common, so it was a bit awkward for them to wear these noble clothes.

Ron and Hans led the way to the dining hall. The old man nodded at them and opened the doors.

Aside from the count and countess, direct and collateral members are also present.

They slightly bowed their heads and greeted, "A pleasant morning to all."

They were graceful and elegant, it was the sight, befitting of a young noble and more refined than any of the young lords of the Henituse County.

"Deruth."

"Yes, Father..."

"Are they Jour Thames children?"

"Yes, father..."

Who is he?

He was the previous patriarch. It seems that he came here in a rush after hearing about us.

The Henituses lead the barony or territories around the County, that's why they're able to come in time.

Piercing gazes were directed at them, but both of them are used to it.

"For the young Thames and Henituse, your eyes are quite clear." The previous patriarch spoke, "Young men... as our first encounter, what is it that you want?"

They both looked at Deruth, who sighed deeply as if he knew what they were going to say. But his eyes were clear and ready to protest whatever wish they want.

"Nothing, My Lord." they both spoke.

They can see Deruth and Violan looking at them.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing, My Lord."

They repeated, "For us, lowly ones, being acknowledged by the count as his son was enough... we wish nothing more from the county."

They wished to have nothing to do with the Henituses aside from being recognized.

They saw Deruth's sad face. They both bit their lips but chose not to say anything.

"Very well... tell me if you change your minds." the patriarch said and motioned for them to dine with them.

Well, they had a hard time swallowing their food.

They thought everything ended there. Tutors, teachers, and masters were hired to teach them everything they had to know. Deruth didn't bother hiring an academic tutor, fully knowing their capabilities.

They were not overwhelmed with the sudden changes in their lives, only that Deruth would come into their room every night, whispering apologies rather than words of love.

He would stay with them for an hour or two, keeping them close to him, giving them kisses on their heads, but he never approached them when they were awake.

Deruth may have looked indifferent, but it was clear as day that he didn't want to destroy what was left to him.

He's afraid to approach them after forcing them by his side.

Deruth just wanted their presence close to him. Cale and Rok shared the same sentiment.

After a few days, a banquet will be held to welcome them. Violan prepared everything and even thought of things they needed to know. The Countess didn't treat them any differently from before. She was as good as their mother.

"Have you known from the start?" Rok voiced out his suspicion.

Violan smiled at him and caressed his cheeks, "I'm not the right person to tell you that. At least, let us protect you, so grow up safe and happy."

Cale spoke, "You don't hate us?"

Violan gave them a soft look and said, "I will never hate you."

She took their hands and led them to the banquet hall. Every noble glanced at them and congratulated them.

There's Deruth at the apex of the hall, lovingly watching them and memorizing this moment as they enter as his children.

Deruth is proud of them. That's the feeling that they got from him.

Both of them looked at each other, and by the time they reached the podium, they stood next to him. They felt the warm palm on their backs, comforting them, although they were not nervous at all.

It was Rok who unknowingly spoke words that made Deruth smile at him with tears on his face.

"So this is what it feels like to have a father."

Kim Rok Soo, who didn't have anyone in his previous life, learned what having a mother and father is all about.

Cale gaze at him almost teary-eyed.

"That won't be the end of it," Deruth whispered. "We still have time to spend as a family."

Although they all can't be sure - UNTIL WHEN.

TBC