As soon as Alver grabbed the spear, the stone door opened.

Rok and Cale were able to sneak past one of the pillars as they dragged Alver out. They needed to be quick and fluid, which is why they hid behind the curtains and exited without being noticed.

When the twins realize they are no longer in danger, they burst out laughing. It wasn't the ideal situation, but their laughter brightened everything.

"We do look like thieves," Rok says.

"It'll be our little secret," Cale says.

Rok leaned against his brother and gazed at Alver.

Alver looked at them. A single tear fell from his eyes. He looked at them and formally closed his palms to his chest.

"I, Alver Crossman, first prince, dark elf, and future Sun of Rowoon, made this pact with Rok and Cale, the Guardian Twins of Northeast."

The twins were taken aback.

"I will respond to your trust and confidence by rising as the Sun to a place of peace and happiness; I will make this pact alone, and no matter what happens, I will accept any punishment you deem to me; and I will never betray you, even until the time you betray me."

"We, the Guardians of the Northeast, made this pact that until you become the Sun of Rowoon, we will help you with your endeavor and fulfill all your wishes. Until you fail or falter, we shall guide you back. Until the day you give our ideals and dreams, be it known, that we will never betray you," the twins said to Alver.

When Alver smiled at them, the twins returned the smile. They exchanged vows, and the twins soon compelled Alver to wear the pendant that revealed his true identity.

"Your Highness, we hope that you will be able to freely express your true self in the future," the twins said with a sincere smile.

They made a promise to each other. It was for a future that would soon become a reality. They don't need any more questions; all they need are promises and mutual efforts to keep their end of the bargain.

Rok and Cale wanted a place where their mother and grandfather could live freely without fear of being chased away. Alver longs for a place where he can be completely honest with himself.

"Ah, beating Alvery exhausts me," Rok remarked as he moved to his younger brother's back and wrapped his arms around his neck. He climbed on his brother's back and pretended to be some spoiled brat.

"My hyung is feeling lazy again," Cale said, piggybacking him up.

Rok laughs and rests his head on Cale's shoulder.

"Well, we'll go home now," Cale said, "because Vicross could be flipping the palace right now." Rok smiled as he waved to Alvery. "Bye! Bye!"

The two redheads were laughing on their way back. It's a good thing they used Alver's dye magic before they left.

"So slow! Giddyap!" exclaims Rok, pointing ahead.

Cale laughs and runs fast, hoping to bump his head into his brother's chin or make him dizzy with his speed. The snow fell soon, and both the twins looked up.

"Hyung..."

"Hm?"

"This kind of life is really good..." Cale said, his gaze shifting to his brother.

Rok looked down and said, "We'll make it even better."

The twins looked up and reflected on some poignant events in their lives. Their attention was drawn to the white snowflakes that danced in the light breeze. They looked down and saw their father's familiar silhouette standing nearby.

Cale: Hyung.

Rok: hm?

Cale: I regretted it...

Rok listened to his brother.

Cale: I regretted not telling him how much I love him and how much he means to me.

Rok understood what Cale was saying. Cale grew distant from the man in front of them, but he never resented him for ignoring him. Cale was only afraid that things would happen again and hurt him, but now he has someone to catch him if he falls.

Cale, there are times when you should be honest.

Cale smiled and said, "Hmm... sure, I'll be honest from now on. So watch me, Hyung, change what is bound to happen."

Rok slightly bumped his head against his brother's head and said, "We'll change it and live a rich slacker life."

There stood their father, waiting for them. Bassen was already latched onto Vicross's arms, asleep.

"Going home?" Deruth opened his arms. "Let's go."

Cale and Rok looked at each other before they ran to his arm while still in a piggyback pose.

[*****]

The news about thieves entering the Royal Library spread like wildfire in the Rowoon kingdom.

Despite having the most history, Rowoon's name was not chosen randomly. It guarded the royal household's secret, but everything was in disarray due to three little cute mice. The madman's laughter filled the air as the three cute little mice wreaked havoc on the Palace of Joy, and a few innocent nobles stood by as if they'd witnessed the worst nightmare ever.

That went on for a few more days.

The twins were wasting their time doing nothing. They're loitering around with Bassen, searching for goods left and right. Sometimes they would go and just spend the day in the villa until the end of the one-month-long celebration. Surprisingly, noble children are not making problems for them now.

Cale came from the count's office. He was searching for Rok when he happened to see his elder brother sleeping under the tree. He looked for Ron and asked for a blanket before going outside.

Looking at his brother, Rok seemed to be sleeping peacefully. He sat beside him and carefully placed his head on his lap. He placed the blanket over him and gently patted his chest before leaning on the tree.

Rok's long hair looked really beautiful. He smiled a bit and placed his hand on the back of Rok's head before opening the pocketbook he had. He slouched back, which was comfortable for him and for Rok, who moved his head to his belly. He kept patting Rok's head as he read the book while listening to the birds and the gentle breeze around them.

Little Bassen who came after his writing lessons, was also welcomed by Cale. He made the toddler lie beside Rok, whom the older man pulled into a big, tight hug.

Cale continued to stroke his brother's head and hear his soft breaths over his chest. Soon, he felt some eyes on him.

"Awake?"

"You should nap." Rok pulls the book off. He moved a bit and settled his head on Cale's abdomen. "You looked tired."

"Hyung should rest," Cale said as he kept combing Rok's hair with his fingers. Rok smiled and closed his eyes. There are times when it's Rok pampering Cale, but today Cale was pampering Rok.

Cale kept watch, but he soon fell asleep as well.

.

.

.

Deruth finally resolved some issues in his office when he decided to take a break. He notices Rok and Cale nodding off, with the older twin sleeping on the stomach of the younger. He was about to approach them when Jour, who was wearing a hood, entered the picture.

He paused and observed. He didn't dare approach because this was the best. He didn't want to put Jour in danger or make Violan the center of the problem.

"You should go," Violan said, patting his shoulder. He did not expect his wife to tell her to meet them. He looked sadly at Violan. He never wanted to hurt any of them. Their situation was so complicated that keeping his distance was the best choice he could make.

"This is fine," Deruth replied. "This is the best that I can do for both of you."

In the end, the ones who'll suffer most will be the children, not them.

If he can't protect them all, at least the children, he'll keep them safe from nobility's scorn.

Violan wrapped her arm around his and drew him to where Jour and the children were. He panicked a bit, but Violan's gaze and Jour's smile made him feel at ease.

Jour smiles at them as she hands them a sweet she just bought outside. Violan had prepared some tea, so the three of them sat on the picnic mat.

It was awkward. Awkward. Deruth could feel his sweat rolling down his cheeks.

"We will be traveling far away," Jour said, looking at both Violan and Deruth. "It might take months or years before we return."

Deruth felt dejected. They were in the Northeast and the Capital, but they're now going somewhere far away. Deruth wanted to ask where they'll be going but Jour's reassuring smile made him silent. He can't ask her why she's smiling so brightly. She always goes further than she says when she smiles like this. Deruth felt betrayed, but he wasn't in a position to tell her. The only thing that worried him was their children.

He looked at the twins, but Jour's smile stopped him.

"They'll be fine here... You know they're more mature than most people around them." Jour was certain that he and Violan would not ignore them. "I'll see you in a few years."

Violan worriedly looked at him.

Deruth whispered, "Must you go? If you stay here... I'll protect you..."

This will be the last offer he'll make to her. He failed at first, but now he has everything at his disposal.

"I must go..." Jour replied, "The ones after us are no ordinary people. I don't want to compromise your safety."

Your. Deruth sighed. He tried to keep his emotions under control. Whatever he does, he'll be that useless partner who can't even protect shit.

"Your safety keeps our children safe, and that's enough for me."

Jour is not giving him the chance to protect her.

Deruth bitterly smiled and nodded. "I see."

Violan patted his back while Jour slowly stood up.

"See you in a few years then," Jour said, leaving Deruth and Violan seated on the mat.

Violan didn't say a word of advice or comfort, for she knew it was a matter that Deruth should go over alone.

She only looked at the children sleeping soundly nearby.

[xxx]

"Hm. So it took the form of an earring?"

"I haven't activated this yet," Alver said. "I can't remove it, and I can't make it follow me yet."

Rok said, "That would only mean you're not yet worthy to use it."

Cale seconded, "We mean, you're still physically unfit to wield it."

"I have abs," Alver stated, hiding a small smile.

"We know." Both replied, "but it's not the bulky meaty muscles we want..."

"Soon." Alver agrees and wears his normal clothes. The fact that the twins said he didn't have bulky, meaty muscles was ignored.

They're strolling around the capital. It'll be their last day in the capital, so might as well enjoy a blast.

"Hyung!" Cale throttles towards Rok and feeds him some dessert by hand.

"This is good. Where did you buy it?"

Cale hands Rok a small jar of the dessert. So this outing only resulted in Rok being fed sweets.

Alver can see how much Cale enjoys spoiling his older with sweets, while the older enjoys spoiling his younger with strong-flavored dishes. He observed how they fed each other, shared the same smile, and ran around holding hands. They looked adorable walking like that. They're not even concerned about what others might say to them. They're smiling. Unlike all the noble children Alver had met, they were cheerful and genuine.

"You two love each other, huh?"

The twins looked at him, confused.

"Why wouldn't we? We're siblings," Cale explained. "Mom said to love each other as much as you love yourself," Rok continues.

"After all," Cale says, "everyone could leave us."

"But siblings, family, will not," Rok says.

Alver was taken back. Vicross, who was with them, nodded in affirmation.

"And if I let go of Rok-Hyung's hand, he might go somewhere else, so I'm saving myself from cleaning up his mess," Cale stated flatly.

"Right," Rok agreed, making it clear that he has no intention of disagreeing.

"It's amazing how easily you accepted that," Alver snorted, watching the siblings cheer each other on while insulting each other. They're so forthright and honest that they're even broadcasting their insults for all to hear.

"There's nothing wrong with admitting a fact," Rok argued.

"But your rich slacker life, which you always wanted, will never be realized," Vicross argued. The twins frowned at him and pouted adorably.

"You love to destroy our dreams, Vicchi."

Vicross hums and ignores the twins. He enjoys mocking their made-up rich slacker lifestyle.

"Vicchi?" Alver asked.

"Because Bassen called him Vicchi, we're calling him Vicchi now."

Everything would have been fine after that if not for Rok missing one again. Cale was checking some sweets when Rok disappeared once again. Vicross frowns while Alver watched how Cale looked like ready to go to war.

"That bastard Hyung-nim, I told him not to leave my side," Cale grumbles.

Cale: So, Hyung-nim, where the hell are you?

Rok frowned as he looked at the gray-haired bastard he had just saved.

Rok: Somewhere you'd like to commit murder, Donsaeng.

"I'd love to murder you right now, Hyung-nim," Cale huffs, "and I swear I'll cuff you to me the next time we go out."

Rok has hiccups. Yes, he has a bastard brother, even worse than this smiling prince who is having tea with him right now.

Rok: ...

"We meet again, my little savior... You look even prettier in the sun," Din says.

Rok, I'm sorry, but I don't want to meet you.

Should he run away or commit murder right now?

Well, that apple pie looked delicious, so he'll put up a farce for now.

TBC