Cold and aloofness pervade everything. That's what Deruth thought first thing in the morning. Rok and Cale are not talking to each other. They're not making any creepy remarks while finishing each other's sentences. There's no chaos, no noises—they're terrifyingly silent.

Violan nodded and looked at him. Even good Bassen looked at his brothers but said nothing.

Deruth nodded, knowing he had no choice but to intervene. It's great that they're fighting, but this is far worse than their previous encounters. He took Bassen with him.

"Papa..."

"Yes?"

"Hyunnie and Hyunnim not good," Bassen says, pouting, "not talking."

"But Hyunnie and Hyunnim love Bassen... wait for your Hyung-nims, they'll be good soon," he patted his head.

"Do not like it," Bassen insisted, "not like when Hyunnie and Hyunnim fight."

With the twins in a cold war, everything in the county is in a cold war too. No one dared make a sound whenever the other was present, and no one made any comment.

Deruth had no idea what had happened, but according to Vicross's report, it was all because Rok assisted someone. Helping others is not a bad thing. It was actually quite good. However, the twins are not the type to say things just to say them. Cale must have known something about which Rok was unaware.

"I believe this is a good opportunity," Deruth said. Siblings who do not fight may become dependent on one another. Fighting with your sibling can be brutal because it can lead to indifference, and they will soon fall apart. However, it is the parent's responsibility to supervise and guide their children in order to strengthen their bonds.

"Cale..."

Cale looked at him.

"Do you want to come with me to the tea store?"

Cale looked at him and replied, "Yes..."

Deruth looked at Rok, "I'll borrow Cale first... Let's go together some other time..."

Rok stared at him and said, "Promise?"

"I promise..." Deruth smiled as he nodded to his eldest son.

Rok just decided to visit the palace to go mess with Alver. But Alver was able to discern that emptiness permeating from him.

"Where's Cale?"

Rok gave him a blank stare. "I don't know... He's with Father."

The redhead sagged on the couch, ignoring the prince while highlighting the most important aspects of his studies.

"I think you should go home and do makeup with Cale."

"It's not even my fault, why should I?"

"Does it even matter?" Alver wondered, "if you don't want to... at least have a talk and clear things up... I don't like it if you're not together..." Honestly, Rok wasn't smiling. When Cale is around, he always smiles, but when he's alone, he's more mature, distant, and indifferent. "Do you know when you looked the happiest?"

Rok locked his gaze on him. Alver's face didn't have any hesitation or doubt in his eyes.

"It's when you two are together."

Those words silently touched Rok's heart. He immediately stood up and ran away from him when he heard that. He knew Alver was a glib bastard, but he never expected to hear him say it. He was frantically running around, formulating all of the questions and words he'd say to his twin. He's not used to being by himself. He's not used to being alone without his other half.

But he was well aware that...

He knows nothing about this world.

However, Cale did.

He has no idea what happened here, but Cale was aware of the people he should be wary of.

He bumped into someone and fell to the ground while lost in his thoughts. The noble children who were watching him laughed and began gossiping about his actions. That's when he felt a huge palm helping him up.

He recognized the white-haired boy from the alley.

"What's the rush?"

"Ah... Sorry... I need to return home..." Rok bowed deeply and chose to ignore the man. He dashed out of the stables, taking one of the free small horses. He had no idea that the ring he was wearing had fallen when he collided with that man.

He chose to ignore that man because Cale refused to speak with him. He could be one of the people who harmed Cale. He could be the reason Cale agreed to the deal with the god of death. That man who his other twins asked him to kill could be one of those people who made Cale miserable throughout his life.

I'm such a jerk! He pondered. He should've listened to Cale instead of becoming enraged over his hurtful words. He should've listened to him and let him cry.

His rage-filled voice.

His teary eyes.

Rok had never seen him so vulnerable, with that cold anger permeating his voice.

Cale... He should not have made Cale look that way.

[xxx}

"What's wrong?"

Deruth asked Cale the moment Rok left for the palace.

Cale looked at him but remained silent.

"I don't know what's wrong anymore."

Deruth looked at his son, who appeared to be at a loss for words. Except for this one, the twins had never had a major fight. Even if they fought, they would be together, but not in this way. It feels wrong that the other was not on the other's side.

"Cale..." Deruth knelt before Cale and asked, "What are you afraid of?"

Cale was taken back. He had so many fears, but he couldn't figure out where to begin. He's simply terrified of repeating history. How he was used, mocked, and discarded by those who claimed to trust him.

He was afraid that the same could happen all over again and that he'll lose everyone he cherishes.

The masked man.

The Mogoru crown prince.

The war.

The darkness.

Standing in front of the forces, awaiting his demise.

It wasn't Rok's fault. In fact, he knew how generous Rok was, and how he would never abandon those in need. It's just... The thought of that brother abandoning him for someone or something frightens him the most.

Rok was someone he subconsciously trusted his entire life in a world where he couldn't trust anyone, including his own father.

Cale's tears began to fall miserably from his eyes as he reflected on all of this.

"I was wrong..."

The mere thought of everyone abandoning him terrified him.

"I was really wrong..."

But he's not used to being alone anymore.

"Rok did nothing wrong...!"

He was the one. His fears and nightmares.

"There was nothing wrong with him."

But he can't express all of his reasons aloud.

Even though he wanted to cry, he swallowed his tears and maintained his stern demeanor.

Rok, the stranger who became his brother, the man the God of Death wished to take in this world, has become an existence he can't let go of.

Deruth was about to embrace him when the doors opened, and an older twin was on the verge of crying as well.

Deruth smiled inwardly, and as the other began to cry, he couldn't help but cry back and rush to his side.

"No! No! Don't cry!" Rok rushed toward his brother and embraced him tightly. "Sorry... sorry. I'm sorry... don't cry..."

To see both the stern mischievous pair flustered by a fight was a cute scene that anyone would enjoy seeing.

"I don't know what to do when you cry!" Rok was already crying out loud. It was so cute that Deruth couldn't help but chuckle.

"You reek of sweat! Yuck!" Cale complains but buries himself in Rok's arms. "You smell like sweat and dust!"

"You're just smelling my sweat for free! You should be happy! You better be grateful because I rushed back here for you! The pony was not even friendly to me!" Rok carries his younger brother.

Cale raised his arms around Rok's neck and wrapped his legs over his brother's waist.

"Idiot..." Rok pats him on the back and returns to their room. He looked at Deruth, who gave them a soft smile while nodding his head. Rok smiled at him, meaning that he'll take care of his brother.

Rok and Cale cuddled on the bed when they returned to their room. Cale is silent, and Rok is not even asking a question.

"This is the best," Cale said with a chuckle, looking at his brother.

"Yeah," Rok replied, patting his head, "I can't really leave you alone."

"You miss me?" Cale asked.

"How about me?" Rok replies.

The twins laughed together, their foreheads touching.

"You know..." Rok said, "I will never leave you..."

Cale looked at him.

"We're blood brothers... and our love for each other is unparalleled..." Rok smiled at Cale, "the one who knows and loves you without saying anything."

Even though they came from different worlds, Rok wanted Cale to know that he will always be in his heart.

"The person who, for no apparent reason, will listen to and understand you."

Rok was telling him that he is constantly thinking about him.

"The one who will watch over you and catch you if you fall."

Telling Cale that they will always be together and that he will always look after him.

"The person who believes you're obstinate and spoiled, but you're not..."

Rok is a sweet and caring person. Cale has someone in this world who will calm the turmoil in his heart and soul.

"I'm the one who misses you when we're not together..."

They're strangers, siblings, best friends, etc., and family...

"Cale...Tell me..." Rok looked at him, "your fears... your nightmares... I'll fight it with all my might... Tell me what bothers you and what you can't say to everyone."

Rok was aware that this person had not told him anything.

"So that I can avoid ever hurting you..."

Cale stared at him, tears streaming down his cheeks. While holding his brother tight, he muffled his cries and squirmed in his arms.

"Just having you here... is enough..." The reassurance, the soothing words, were enough.

"Being with you is enough..." Cale smiled brightly, "and we'll think about things together..."

Rok once told him, "I will never leave you alone."

"Thank you..." Cale spoke, "I'm sorry..."

Rok hits his head lightly and said, "between us... there's no need for sorry and thank you..."

Cale looked up, and his brother's smiling face met him.

"Just keep smiling, and that's enough for me."

Cale smiled and said, "Hyung..."

"Hm?"

"Let's live a rich slacker life in the future."

Cale and Rok laughed at their antics.

"We need to plunder Alvery's funds more."

"Right..."

That day became the finest with laughter filling the room.

TBC