"you look happy," Violan said one morning she and Deruth dine for breakfast.

"I am..." Deruth smiled and waited for the servants to leave. "I found two more precious children."

Violan understood what Deruth was about, "what will you do then?"

"spoil them rotten." Deruth replied without hesitation, "five years... I'm late for five years already... I can't bring them in yet... but someday... for sure... when everything settled... I will take them in and give them everything they deserve."

Violan smiled and said, "I'll keep them close... leave it to me."

"thank you so much."

Five years.

It's been five years since he lost that one and their treasures.

After five years, he found them shaking in the dark, with a small knife in their trembling hands to protect themselves. Five years. Those damning five years. He'll sweep his damn family who parted him from her.

The family who branded that love – a whore – to regain their noble lineage.

The family who branded that love – a witch – bewitched him to take her back to nobility.

He knew how this family did all it can for him to sit on the count's seat while keeping that love away. They loathe her for being a fallen noble. Loathe her for being an ordinary scholar.

Even when he didn't want to lord's seat – he was forced to take it – believing he can have her or protect her.

But they took her away.

He loathes them. This very family he grew up with.

He loathes that this family forced his children fatherless for five years.

He won't allow the Henituse to take those two away. That slip-up meant the world to him. He won't allow them to interfere. He won't allow them to take them away.

Deruth ate in silence, not after the twins came in while bickering about who to hold the food cart.

"I should do it."

"I'm taller than you!"

"Beacrox will get mad!"

"Because you're doing it wrong."

Deruth couldn't help but chuckle lightly. Two pairs of round red cheeks were on display.

"good morning." He greeted. The twins looked at him and replied, "good morning!"

Rok, "look! we're making a mess!"

Cale, "you are the one making the mess!"

Ron followed after the twins in fear that they might make fool of themselves.

Deruth watched them fondly and asked, "how was your hangover?"

"ugh." Rok grimaced, "I hate Uncle Ron's lemon tea!"

"but the best hangover tea. Haha."

"you're not helping." Rok scowled at his brother and placed the small bowls of dessert on the table. Deruth noticed the sweets being placed on the table by Ron. He reached out and place it in a bowl.

"Come here." He signaled for Rok to come over.

The stern kid was confusedly staring at him. "Have you eaten yet?"

"yes..." Rok replied.

"here... some sweet... share it with Cale."

"I don't want to..." Cale refused, "I hate sweets."

"then this is mine... don't ask any from me!"

"What a cruel Hyung!"

"then what would Cale like?" Deruth asked.

"Salted biscuits!" Cale replied with a bit of excitement.

"yuck... old man taste..."

"at least my teeth won't rot."

"My teeth are strong!"

"I doubt it."

"you!"

"haha... now... now... come here, both of you..." Deruth chided the fighting siblings. He stared at their eyes and noted that they have his eyes. He patted their heads and said, "will you be in the library again?"

"nope! The young lord guest said we should go watch him in the field."

Right... there's the King and the First Prince too.

" We have to follow nobility, so we might spend the day with him." they chimed in unison.

"Then have some sweet ready for you... Ask for Butler Rey and give some to the young lord too." He smiled at them.

"Okay!"

I wish there was some pie too.

Let's ask Butler Rey for some apple pie! His family makes the best apple pie!

Do you like it?

Yes. It's not that sweet.

Deruth couldn't hear their thoughts, maybe it was the shared instinct between twins. He can see them sharing one small smile while giggling at each other.

"go on... prepare for accompanying the Young Lord then..."

"YES!" the twins happily left the dining hall.

When the oldies are left, Deruth looked at Ron, "you..."

"yes count..."

"don't let them out of your sight."

"I am afraid, I have duties, Lord."

"I am the lord of this place... I have control of everything... I am telling you, to keep an eye on them and keep them safe."

Ron had an inkling after what his son reported to him, "this servant shall do so, Lord."

**

Ron was faithful to his duties so he had to lurk around with his son to keep the twins from harm. The Gold haired boy was dragging the boys in the knights' field, even letting them hold a wooden sword. He watched them and assessed their capabilities. Cale is weak but his build was better than his older brother. However, Rok – possesses the talent to wield the sword despite his age.

That child was more manipulative and cunning than Cale.

This pair of twins had the brains but one can see the difference from the other. Same face, same demeanor. One was a cunning fox. The other was an innocent puppy.

The Lord Henituse is their biological father – that's for sure.

"they're quite interesting," Ron said.

Beacrox asked, "will you be watching over them?"

"of course... I want to see what kind of interesting thing that pair would do." He can't shake the feeling that both of them are dangerous – but that kind of demeanor gives him that sense of ease.

**

Cale hated the sword for the first time. While Rok seemed too used to it as he began swinging his sword like it was nothing.

Hyung-nim, you know how to wield a sword?

It's better safe than sorry, no? Grandpa also taught me some.

Cale paused and watched his brother's beautiful form.

Your sword is really beautiful.

Rok looked at his brother. Cale didn't know how to use the sword. No. he did not have the talent to use the sword. He remembered how Cale told him once that he used to wear the military clothes of the northeast with nothing but himself leading the forces who couldn't trust him. He was known for being trash, the heroes that used to serve him – abandoned him. He was miserable at that time. There was nothing but dead people surrounding him.

Dongsaeng. You know, you are not alone anymore.

Cale looked up to him. Rok was looking at him straight in the eye, I am here to protect you, so... just live the way you want.

Cale stood up and approached his elder brother. He hooked his arm over Rok's arm and pressed his head on his shoulder, with you here, no one can hurt me, right?

Of course, I thought I told you, I won't allow you to leave me.

Cale replied when we grow old... let's live the silent and peaceful like Hyung... me as a lazy bastard and you the slacker bastard.

Rok smiled at him. Somehow, it's reassuring that both of them would want to live a peaceful life. Rok raised his arm that Cale was hugging and wrapped it around him. Cale in turn hugged him back. While they gallantly ignored the stalkers watching while cooing at them.

"How cute!" Alver squeals and raised both of them in his arms. The prince was giggling badly while shaking the twins' in his arms. "come on, you're one stern pair of babies. Call me Hyung!"

"who is your babies?!" Rok exclaimed.

"You are! Come on! Call me Hyung! Hyung-Nim!" Alver protested while shaking the twins in his arms.

Well, stubborn pair of redheads refused to call the Prince – Hyung-nim.

The day went on with the twins accompanying the prince for the day while Deruth and the Golden-haired man went for business as usual.

The Henituse garden was filled with beautiful shades and varieties of flowers. The twins had never seen this garden before. They were always coped in the room or the library or worse with Beacrox in the kitchen.

HYUNG! Cale happily cried while pulling Rok into the field. They sat on the ground and began making things with these beautiful flowers.

Cale, look! Rok placed a flower crown over Cale's head. The flower crown looked like jewels when Cale's blazing red hair reflected the rays of the sun. Rok felt that fulfillment and contentment as he watched the always miserable and gloomy Cale smiling from the bottom of his heart.

"Hyung!" Cale laughs and placed a very beautiful flower crown much better than what he made. "your long hair is really beautiful with these flowers!"

As if his hair is not the same color as his.

They noticed the sleeping Alver, not from afar. They were also making one crown for the prince and another with no plans at all. They slowly approached the sleeping prince and placed the crown on his head while holding the other free crown in their hand.

We made extra.

Who should we give it to?

They looked at each other and giggled. A small token for taking them in would be better than nothing and freeloading.

At the same time, the person they were looking for as if by chance, came into their view with a small basket of treats in his hands.

"Down!" Cale called out while trying to keep the wreath on his back.

As if Deruth hasn't seen the crown, he crouches down and smiled at the twins.

"come on, give it to him." Rok was chiding his brother to give it to him.

"I'm nervous!"

Deruth laughs, "what do you want to give me?"

"you're messing around again." Rok reprimands Cale.

Cale, "you, do it then!" "aish!"

Cale places the crown over Deruths head. Two childish giggles echoed.

"thank you, Lord!" they both said in unison, "for taking us in!"

However, they were taken back when Deruth's tears fall without warning on his cheeks. He had a small smile on his face before pulling both of them into his arms.

"Good... very kind and good children." He praises them, making them smile sweetly before giggling loudly calling him.

"crybaby count!"

"yes... yes... I am a crybaby..." Deruth pats their head and hands them the snacks. "come with me?"

Rok's eyes twinkled. Cale frowns at the sweets but eventually smiled after seeing the jelly beans in them.

Jelly beans!

Yuck! Rok frowns at him.

Cale looked at him and glared. You're the yucky one.

Deruth helplessly said, "what are you two talking about while staring at each other? Or should I bring it back... these sweets would be wasted then."

"NO!" they cried in unison, "Give it to us, pretty please."

Doe eyes, cute pouty lips, and two pairs of round red cheeks. Deruth wants to pinch those cheeks too.

Unfortunately...

They forgot the prince sleeping soundly under the willow tree.

TBC