AN: Adin should have grey hair for Clearing purposes. Please accept my apologies for the previous paragraph's reference to white hair. I was writing Clopeh's part in another fanfic when I decided to give our psychopath crown prince white hair.
When things had finally calmed down between them, Rok asked, "So who is it?" Cale looked at him, waiting for him to finish his sentence, "Who should I be wary of?"
Cale sighed deeply before turning to face his brother.
"There are only three people you should be concerned about."
Three? Rok looked at his brother. Preparing himself for whatever blasted shit he needs to brace himself for.
"Orsena Duchy and Third Prince, Crown Prince of Mogoru, and the red-haired masked man."
Rok immediately recorded their names.
"The man you just saved... was the Crown Prince of Mogoru; he is the reason the Third Prince rose to power and the red-haired masked man started a war." Cale seriously said.
Rok grimaced. He raised his head and flopped down.
"Wow... I shrewd up, big time."
Cale giggled.
"No wonder you're angry at me..." Rok dejectedly said.
"I'm not..." Cale replied, "I just..."
Rok simply pats Cale's head and remains silent.
Soon after, their adorable little Bassen knocked on the door and opened it.
"Hyunnnie... Hyunnim..."
The twins stood up and turned to face the door. Chubby Bassen was looking at them with concern.
"Come here," Rok summoned.
"Are you no longer fighting?"
"No more... come here..." Cale reprimanded his younger brother.
Bassen dashed over to them and took the space between them. The afternoon is just right for an afternoon nap. The twins squeezed their baby brother in between them and took a long, relaxing nap.
The next few days were routine. That is completely normal. It was so normal that the maids began dressing them up with new koala clothes while they were Koala'ing their way on Vicross's arms.
"Amazing..." Vicross frowns as she wears a matching koala sleeve and overcoat.
"They were really on fire," Cale said.
"Nonna, what's next? Will we be monkeys or sloths?" Rok smirks. Cale and Vicross both stared at him. Bassen, who was once again perched on Vicross' shoulders, was having a good time with this one.
"We'll go see the prince now!" exclaimed the twins as they boarded the carriage. Vicross will accompany them because they need someone to watch over them and keep them out of trouble. If Vicross can keep them out of mischief.
The twins intended to spend their time with Alver in the royal library. It's a good way to show off Alver's wit by pitting him against the scholars who will soon visit the royal library. Cale once stated that Alver rose to the position of Crown Prince after suppressing the rebels and gaining the favor of the scholars. Rowoon's bureaucracy gradually began to delegate power to him; however, Alver was unable to gain the trust of the noblemen. Scholars are commoners or lower-class citizens, as well as a few nobles who work for the kingdom.
If they wanted to establish his influence, he needed to first capture the attention of the scholars.
Cale and Rok have already decided that the nobles who only benefit themselves are pointless. For years, royalties have ignored a larger and more powerful variable. The monarch's strength is derived not from the power that the nobleman guarantees, but from the courage of the people to assert their rights whenever they are ignored or violated. Right truly became meaningful and beautiful as they fulfilled their roles, and if they are kept bright and sharp by those who do not assert them,
The majesty and quality of justice shine brightest when they are applied with more jealousy to the poor, marginalized, and disadvantaged. People define their leader.
"Vicross."
"No matter what happens, don't do anything."
This is a risky situation. Cale and Rok are both aware of what will occur inside. The royal library will soon be transformed into a battleground for words.
It's at this moment that they will make Alver shine the most.
Arriving at the royal palace, the four of them went straight to the library. Vicross bowed before them and gave them some trinkets that can be used for self-defense.
"I can fight," Rok said.
"You can, but not Cale."
"I have a shield."
Vicross frowned and said, "Just take it!"
The twins pouted and waved at their baby brother and Vicross, who will attend another party with other toddlers.
When they entered the great library, they saw all of the princes and princesses aiming for the specific issue that would soon occur here.
Rok predicted the problems that would arise as a result of this. Politics and administration, agriculture, monster attacks, and, last but not least, sexual assaults and rape, are issues that have not been addressed or have been deliberately ignored by the Crown.
Glares followed them until they came across Alver, who smiled at them.
"It's great to see you both together."
"Are you worried?"
"A little... it's good you made it up," Alver patted their heads sincerely.
When they were younger, patting heads and simple smiles were the norm. In comparison to his previous expression, Cale's smile appeared natural and genuine.
Soon after, a swarm of wailing women ran around screaming for the king. Rok and Cale appeared vigilant, but with devilish smiles on their faces.
Alver shuddered, "I don't like your expressions."
"Get yourself ready," the twins said quietly. At the same time, the library's doors unexpectedly opened. The king and the other scholars, disguised as knights, mages, or even servants, entered, attempting to calm the situation.
"He should've brought the royalties into the grand hall instead of the library," Rok pointed out.
"It's not a library if it's noisy," Cale said.
Once again, the twins smiled at each other. They sat quietly and watched events unfold.
"Please, your Majesty! That man has wronged me! Assaulted and raped me because I am dark-skinned and a lowly woman with a disability!"
"Your Majesty."
"Hm..." mumbled the twins, "what a farce."
It's obvious that they're acting, but the Royal children were deeply moved by this performance.
"They're acting," Alver said quietly enough for the twins to understand.
"Right," Rok said, laughing, "but look at them."
"We didn't teach you to believe all these sorry farce," Cale smirked, "so you might as well step up and show off your wisdom."
"The first thing you should do is practice your showmanship," Rok seconded.
It was the second and third princes who first asked, "What's the problem, father?"
Zed Crossman turned to face his children and the actresses.
"That woman was assaulted and raped by a nobleman. All by reason of her race and disability as well as being a slave." Zed Crossman said, "She wishes to have him take responsibility or she'll kill herself with the child."
The royal children all began to voice their opinions. The princesses were stronger in asking for punishment. The other princes also agreed and pointed out that the nobleman must be punished too.
However, no additional evidence was discovered. Other than testimony and a written complaint, nothing else was presented.
"You ask for justice but came in on your own?" Alver says, ignoring his siblings.
Everyone was deafeningly quiet.
"I can see your fearful tears and your statement before me; I can see your dark terrorized skin shivering and barely holding yourself together; I can see your gaping scars wide open, begging for compassion; and I can see your evidence."
The woman who had been acting wanted the man to accept responsibility and marry her or else she would kill herself and the child.
"I have your oppression's encyclopedia in front of me; I have the names and addresses of your demons; I don't have to see you dance to know your suffering; I don't have to hear you cry to know you're crying."
However, Alver is not the type to pursue the life of another at the expense of his own.
"But let's face it... You are not a dissident, and you are not even a liar, you are what I would call a credible witness, but I have no reason to believe that your persecution was official. You were raped not because of your dark skin. You were raped not because of your disability. You were raped because you are a woman, and rape is one of the things that can happen to a woman."
His words rang loudly.
"Why would you go so far as to force the man who hurt you and forced you to suffer like this to take responsibility to make you suffer again?" Alver asked. "When you can ask for punishment, why must you choose that never-ending torture that would endanger that child's life?"
"I... am the child's mother! I can do what I want!" the woman cried.
"That child is neither your possession nor a toy you can use for your gains."
Alver's words rang so loud that the library went silent.
"Why shackle yourself to that man who has made you unhappy and even drags your child into that misery, when you could have a life of freedom?"
Hearing that, Alver looked at Zed Crossman.
"The noble who violates the laws against chastity must be severely punished. He should be taken into prison and made to support this woman and the child." Alver looked at the woman, "and if this woman tries to kill herself along with her child, we should take the child away from her and protect him from them."
"We will do so as you want." Zed Crossman spoke.
The woman who had been acting looked at Alver. Her gaze was satisfied, and soon all the wailing ladies left with that decree. The rest of the royal children were trembling in anger.
"First Prince," Zed Crossman said, looking at Alver, "you've given a very rational reasoning and verdict; I hope you keep learning and polishing yourself."
Zed Crossman left after patting his shoulder.
The rest of the royal members followed along with their noble children's aides.
Robbit was the only one who said, "That was good. You didn't even need your aide."
"They've gone far enough for me to do this on my own," Alver said, smiling at his brother, "and I got the best help I could ask for."
Robbit smiled at him and left with Antonio Gyerre in tow.
Alver walked back to the twins and sat beside them. They were busy reading the books right after he threw that rape thing at a woman.
"Have I done well?"
The twins looked at him.
Rok mumbles, "So-so..."
Cale comments while flipping the book, "Your glib-jerkiness is not enough."
"That was poetic, not glib," Rok continues.
"Yes... too boring... You should have included, you looked at the night sky with your beauty as a flaw!" says Cale.
"Or your imperfection was perfect for a woman of your own class!" Rok concurred.
"I'd sound like a jerk if I did that," Alver complains.
"That's exactly the point."
Alver frowned. He was only looking for praise, but it turned into a string of complaints.
Soon he felt two little palms patting his head.
"Well, for the first time, you've done well."
Alver smiled shyly and leaned against the shelf, but instead of remaining there, the shelf was pushed back. The twins reached out to help him up, but instead of saving him, Rok tripped, and they all fell into the hidden compartment.
"To hell with your bad luck, Hyung!"
"Damn it! Why is it always me?!" Rok exclaims as the three of them roll down the stairs.
The loud thuds echoed, and when they stopped, a massive stone was surrounded by ornately decorated treasures. The fire lit itself, and soon they saw the engraving that was the starting point of their headache.
"Hyung."
"I know."
"This is..."
"I know..."
The twins looked at Alver, and the older one looked at them.
"This means..."
But not one of them said a word...
TBC