"Why is the prince acting like a shy maiden?" Rok asks his twin brother.

"Well, who wouldn't?" he says, shrugging his shoulders, "Someone called him Alvery and demanded marriage from him."

Rok had that dreadful feeling. He looked at the prince, who was staring at him and then at his twin brother, who was raising his brows at him.

"I did not..."

"Yes, you did..." Cale smirks, "Congratulations, Hyung-nim! You and your Alvery will be engaged soon because you stole a kiss and proposed to him while mocking him."

"Congwats! Congwats!" chirps Bassen, happily jumping in between his older brothers.

Rok wanted the ground to swallow him whole. His expression became devilish, and Cale jerked back, sensing the impending danger.

"Anyway, since we need him for plans, we might as well bully this prince."

"I thought I was trash," Cale grunted, "but you're scum."

"Because we're twins, and who takes after who?"

Cale shook his head and looked at the thirteen-year-old prince approaching them. He was blushing a second ago, but now he's making his way onto them. Rok, who doesn't remember anything, had a plan or two on how to make this prince blush.

"Hello there, Alvery."

Cale: Pfft- hahahahahahahahahahahahhaha

Rok: Shut up Cale

Cale: Is that how you'll save yourself from shit?

Rok: We're both fucked up now, might as well ride on. Think about it, you shitty trashy brother of mine, we just got ourselves some toy to bully.

Cale: That's the soon-to-be crown prince.

Rok: But he's not right now.

Like a light bulb, something bright happened to cross the twins' heads.

"I don't like how you two look right now," Alver said as he took a step back.

Cale asked, "Who was it who agreed with the marriage?"

Rok asked, "Who was it who made me go for the marriage?"

Alver suddenly felt the shills all over his body.

Both said, "Hey, Alvery..." The twins made him sit down and took turns sitting on each of his legs. Their arms were over his shoulder, and their free hand was on his chin.

Rok said, "A prince shouldn't break any promises."

Cale, "Liars go to hell."

Alver, "I am not a liar."

BOTH: as if.

Cale and Rok looked at each other. It's the first time they've ever finished each other's sentences. And it was fun, especially when teasing this stuck-up prince.

Only if Count Deruth didn't enter the parlor right now.

"WHY ARE MY PEAS SITTING ON YOUR LAP?"

The chills spread throughout Alver's body. He was attempting to get the twins to leave his lap, but they looked at their father and clung to him.

"Hyung-nim said he'd marry Rok... then he'll marry Cale as well," Cale pretended.

"Why would you even want to get married with that?" Deruth asked, pointing to Alver as if he were nothing more than some shit on the ground that he could kick around.

"Whoever Rok marries will also marry Cale," Rok teased, looking at his younger brother, who responded with the same playful smile.

"That's a promise! Mwah!" they both said as they kissed Alver's cheek with a huge chup echoing. At the same time, the fountain pen the Count was holding broke, sending a crisp *crack* through the room.

Vicross shook his head and decided to take the twins from the prince's lap, expertly carrying them in his arms while Bassen clung to his back.

"I pray for your poor soul, Your Highness," Vicross said as he exited the room.

Outside the room, Vicross looked at the twins and said, "You're not even sorry."

"The only people who can bully him are us," they agreed, determined to bully the poor prince throughout his life. Both were aware that in Cale's previous life, Alver Crossman was a glib tongue bastard who forced them to work to the bone even though it was for a greater cause.

Cale, "Imagine him having chills all over,"

Rok finished the question, "and nightmares pestering him?"

Vicross exhaled and said, "Don't finish each other's sentences, it's creepy."

"Right?" They both laughed as they were carried by the twenty-year-old man. He's a cook, but he's here to protect them from harm.

Anyway, while working underground, they discovered a fantastic pastime.

They must approach the prince, make him work to the bone, and live a slacker/trashy lifestyle!

Imagine how they'll stand behind Alver, whispering and finishing each other's sentences.

"Let's make it a goal..." Rok said.

"Yeah, we're the only ones who can bully the prince." Cale seconded.

Vicross just exhaled and listened to the creepy plans whatever these two little rascals are planning. Anyway, he'll just feed the prince lemon tea to add to the bullying. As if the twins don't understand why he's doing that.

[*****]

Violan was preparing for the Rain City's harvest festival. So she took the twins and Bassen with her to look around and help. She had to admit, both Rok and Cale are talented merchants but—

Rok, "Hey, uncle! Your goods are fake! They're not even class B material..."

"And you're selling them like they're genuine antiques," Cale says.

—they're too direct and, to be honest, quite creepy to listen to.

She wanted to brush off their snide remarks, but the way they finished each other's sentences made her feel like she was listening to two Deruths, which was creepy.

She called out, "Sons..."

"Yes, mother?" they both asked, looking at her.

"Please, one at a time," she pleaded, but those smiles reminded her more of their father. In conclusion, they will not listen because it is their way of having fun. It sounds more like danger than actual enjoyment. She shook her head and let the twins handle the situation as they pleased. She can't interfere there now, can't she?

"I'll meet with the mayor first... take care of this deal..."

"Yes, Mother! Leave it to us."

Hilsman, Ron, and Vicross were with them, so it'll be fine. Bassen, her son, admires how his elder brothers conduct themselves. "They'll probably be hungry once they're done with their business," she said with a smile.

She said this and decided to buy a few snacks after sending a servant to book them a table at a restaurant.

"Were they good?"

A gentle but bright voice inquired. She looked to her side, and a woman in dark robes approached her slowly. Her heart started pounding loudly. She was well aware of who she was. One point was the portrait in Deruth's safe and how he described her.

"Relax... I'm not here to cause trouble for your family..."

She nodded, followed the woman, and sat on one of the benches away from the crowd.

"Um... were they any good?"

"They are..." Violan turned to face her and said, "I am Violan."

The woman removed her hood and smiled brightly, "I am Jour! It's nice to meet Deruth's wife!"

A bright smile, a bright demeanor, and laughter that could sweep any man off his feet. She was also courteous.

"Don't worry," Jour reassured her, "Deruth knows I'm here... and we're done as well."

However, her voice says otherwise. Violan pursed her lips. She didn't know what to say or how to talk to her.

"I'm only here to talk to you because I wanted to talk to you... When I heard that Deruth declared their legitimacy, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'm doing you wrong... " Jour smiled, "It's as if I'm giving you the responsibility to look after them when you could spend it solely with your children and Deruth."

She is a kind person. That's what Violan thought.

"As a mother, I know you understand how I feel, but... I want to apologize first for entrusting you with their care... You know... my family went into seclusion, and there are people after our lives... So I made a decision and told my children to go to their father and live with him."

Violan looked at her sadly. She remembered the night when the twins first came to the county.

"When they first came here, Deruth was so happy... " She admitted, "but he was devastated when he found out you died and with his children."

Jour looked at her.

Violan continued, "He wallowed in grief for a long time... but three years ago... meeting them in the slum gave him hope.... I used to hear him say, I feel guilty for using them as substitutes for my dead child. It was painful to hear that. Those two have a clumsy side too. That night when they said you're their mother, Deruth was beyond happy. He was thankful and scared that something might happen if he brought them into the family out of nowhere... He said he'll willingly become a stranger in their life if that can help them..."

Jour was silent.

"Why did you leave?" Violan asked.

Jour smiled and said, "Would you believe it if I said that it was because I love him?"

"Then you should've stayed by his side."

Jour smiled bitterly and said, "If I stay with him, I will die. If I die, who will take care of my children? Deruth was the kind of person who'll wallow in grief and eventually let go of things. If he loses you, he'll surely cry himself in grief."

Violan's heart pounded as he heard this. Jour stood up and bowed her head as she stared at her.

"Please...as a mother... Madam," she begged, lowering her head, "protect my children..."

Violan gave her a look that made her raise her head.

"Deruth's children are also my children," Violan smiled, "so come whenever you want to meet them. I'm sure they'll be delighted."

"Thank you," Jour said, his face brightening.

"I know what you're going through is difficult... and I understand why you sent them here... We'll protect them... so be at ease and protect yourself... if not... come here..."

"I appreciate your offer, but the county won't be safe if I remain here," Jour said. "Just knowing that my children will be safe is enough for me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Meeting each other seemed like chaos to go through, but it was not.

They both understand each other.

They both understood why Deruth had fallen in love with them.

Jour, "I think you should go now... I only came here to properly ask you of that..."

"Don't you want to meet them?" Violan inquired. "Stay here. I'll tell them to come here and meet you."

"No, it's fine. I'll meet them somewhere else, but not now," Jour responded, handing Violan a red beaded bracelet. It's an artifact that allows owners to communicate with one another or leave short messages.

"All right," Violan said, "let's have some tea another time; is it okay if Deruth and the kids come?"

It's the same as telling Jour she's a member of the family.

"I'd love to... See you again... Violan..."

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Jour."

Violan stood there watching Jour leave with two more people. She was taken aback when the twins arrived quietly.

"Ah, she left..." Rok remarked.

"Too bad," Cale says, "but we'll meet mom when it's safe..."

The three figures soon turned around. They can see them waving, and Rok and Cale both waved their hands at the same time. The three departing individuals turned around and vanished from the county's gates.

"Is it okay not to talk to her?" Violan inquired.

"Mom wants to talk to Mother," Cale and Rok say, "so it's okay... just seeing her safe and healthy is enough."

"Let's go eat then," Violan said, patting both of their heads and handing them the bracelet Jour had given her.

Cale called out, "Mother..."

"You're not upset that mom came here?" Rok asked.

"Why would I?" Violan asked, looking at them.

"Because you're Dad's wife."

"Even before I knew your father was in love with her... but that doesn't mean I should be angry or jealous because she was his first love," she said, leveling herself to their heights.

"So, why?"

"It's because the present is more important than the past; Deruth and Jour both said they were done... but..."

"But?"

"If Jour wants to live with us... It's alright..."

How can that be alright?

"Because I believe your father will show us the same love that he showed you two and Bassen."

Hearing that, Rok and Cale both smiled at her.

"Thank you very much, mother."

"There's no need for sorry or thank you between us; you are now my children, so be at ease and open with me," she kissed their foreheads, before standing up and saying, "let's go eat now?"

"Yes!"

.

.

.

"So she came here..." Deruth said, smiling at Violan. He paid attention to her stories and even thanked her.

"Even the twins wondered why..."

They both exchanged glances.

"She's a nice person."

"And so are you..."

"I'll make the best tea then, and I can't wait to have some tea with her and talk about your embarrassing moments."

"You two will undoubtedly set fire to the house."

And soooo...

Cale: Why are we here?

Rok: to take some ancient power.

Cale looked at Rok.

"Ready, dongsaeng?"

"So we're starting our plan now?"

Time to feed the black tree!

TBC