Why does he look so sad?

Rok and Cale approached their father, who was bitterly smiling at them. They could tell because it wasn't his usual smile. They looked up at him and latched onto his legs.

"What's the matter?" they both inquired, waiting for his response. They had no idea they were getting close to this person despite their decision to avoid him.

"Nothing... It's just... You two have grown so much."

Lies.

They both chimed inside their heads. They adorably leaned on him, their cheeks forming a chump of cute chipmunk cheeks when eating nuts. They felt the gentle pat on their heads to which both of them melted. They were adorable while clinging to their father.

"You have wonderful and cute sons, Lord Deruth," Viscountess Ubar says, complimenting the father and sons' current appearance.

"Thank you, Viscountess. Young Amirel looked so adorable as well," Deruth says as he shakes the Viscounty's Matriarch's hand.

There's also Count Whilsman and Viscount Chetter. It's a neutral houses faction get-together. Other noble families turned to look at them. While these are lowly houses like the rest, the leaderless Northeast moves according to their desires. Especially since the Guardian Household of Henituse has been guarding the Northeast for nearly a thousand years.

The aforementioned county was the foundation of the Northeast region. Despite the fact that it has several chances to help itself to a far more prestigious title, that county remains as it is, motionless and silently waiting for the ideal moment to strike and storm the grand hall in a single movement. It is, indeed, a turtle, defending itself while also protecting those around it. It moves slowly, but it is firm and unwavering.

That is why Rowoon's Crown trusted the Henituse and the neutral faction, which always protected its people without saying anything.

It's even more dangerous now because, despite the arrival of those illegitimate children, the County's future is gradually becoming stable.

While the toddler and ilegitimate children were both brilliant,

They couldn't deny that those twins are brilliant in their own right.

Being able to move the throne simply by appearing.

Being able to gain the favor of a foreign imperial prince.

Being able to win people's hearts solely through their brilliance and abilities.

The Henituse Household is becoming more dangerous.

It has also begun to make its presence known.

It's as if it's making its presence known by taking over the entire Northeast.

Its prominence following the twin's debut at the Royal Hall frightens them.

Deruth Henituse, in particular, subtly but surely participated in politics just a few months ago.

Cale: They must be planning how to suppress the Henituse.

Rok: They'll be desperate to do so. After all, Dad is already making a name for himself.

The twins exchanged smiles as they looked at each other.

Rok: It's time to seize that ancient power as soon as possible.

Cale: Right, after we get the Vitality of the Heart, we should do that now.

The twins exchanged meaningful glances.

It's swimming time!!!!!!!!

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"Who the hell swims in the middle of winter in the dangerous whirlpools of the Ubar Region?" Vicross groused in frustration. He wishes to strangle these two rascals but is unable to do so because they are his Lord. He really wanted to murder them right now, because all they did was cause him trouble! He should not have studied to be a chef; instead, he should have studied to be a nanny!

"Now, now, Vicross, you might as well come with us..." Rok smirks.

"You might as well meet the love of your life," Cale says, completing his brother's sentence.

"In the sea breeze's fresh, salty scent!"

"Shine in the moonlight, with the sounds of waves in the background."

"Yeah, might as well murder you here now before you say those damn things," Vicross deadpans.

The twins laughed and shuddered at him.

"You're no fun, Vicchi!"

"Yeah! No fun!"

"Thank you very much, but I am perfectly sane."

The twins pouted and turned to face him.

"And! Dad! I see you!" Cale calls out to the count who appeared to be following them.

For the time being, they left Ron in charge of Bassen and the noble children. They didn't expect their father to accompany them here.

Vicross lightly bowed his head. Did he hear?

The two daredevils mockingly grinned at Vicross, who was sweating profusely.

"So, what are you two going to do?" sighed Deruth, looking at the eight-year-old twins.

"Gaining some strength," Rok replied, pointing to the most massive whirlpool below the cliff.

"This is dangerous," Deruth grumbled.

"We know... but there's a way..." Rok responded.

"And... it might be advantageous for the outcome that father desires."

"You want it, right? A place where Henituse can't be shaken anymore, right?" Rok nodded in response to his twin's response.

Deruths finally understood what these two were talking about after hearing that.

"This place should be a naval base," Deruth sighed, pulling out the magical items from his pocket. A mana-disturbing device, mana bombs, and, most importantly, scuba diving suits were present.

"So, Hyung-nim..." Cale smiles at his brother before dropping the mana bomb. While Rok was dozing, Cale had already mastered the fundamentals of mana usage.

They both jumped down with their tools, leaving Vicross and Deruth to wait at the designated location.

A series of explosions echoed at the same time, and a powerful bright white light engulfed the area. Deruth looked at his twins, who were beaming at him.

"Done?"

"Got it!" they exclaimed as they begged for help getting out of the water.

Vicross calmly drew them both in and handed them towels. The whirlpools in the Ubar Seas slowly disappeared.

Deruth checked the whole area and said, "this place is best as naval base."

His children made it favorable to him.

"Rok, Cale..."

"Yes?"

"Check your accounts when we get to the county." Deruth smiled, Although they have their own allowances, it'll be better if he pays them for things that they're doing for the sake of the county. "It's right to be compensated when you've done so much, right?"

"Hoho! Yes! Yes! We need that gold!"

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When Deruth returned to their room, Violan was standing by the window.

She looked at her husband, who had a solemn expression on his face.

"There will be no turning back now."

"I know..."

Deruth was in a bad mood right now. Deruth's thoughts were known to her.

"I don't want to admit it, but the twins..." Deruth murmured. "It's as if they know what will happen in the future," he said as he sat on the couch and brushed his hair.

Deruth had never met them before. Deruth wasn't there when they needed him the most. He was completely unaware that he had children from his first love.

Yet.

"It's terrifying... I'm terrified..."

He's afraid that knowing something about them will cause him to disregard them.

"Something about them is different. It's as if they came from a future I didn't know."

There were their movements, their plans, and the people they feared and kept by their side.

It's as if they're preparing something despite their tender age, as if some tragedy will happen.

Deruth didn't voice it out. The fact that he found them made him really happy, but all these incidents frighten him.

"You need to talk to them."

"Should I?"

"Whatever they'll tell you... I hope you accept it without pushing them away," Violan sighed and sat down beside him. "Regardless, they are still your children..."

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Rok and Cale looked at their father. He's silent, and there's a gloomy atmosphere around him.

They were taken aback when he invited them to accompany him. They are sitting by the cliff, holding a fishing rod. Despite the fact that fishing is currently impossible, they both sat down and waited for one of them to speak.

A long and awkward silence followed.

"Rok... Cale..."

They raised their heads.

"Is there anything you want to tell me?" Deruth inquired.

They were both perplexed.

"I didn't ask you last night because Vicross was there... but..."

Rok and Cale exchanged glances.

"Can you tell me who you really are?"

Both Rok and Cale remained silent. They looked at the count, who was not looking them in the eyes. They despised his expression. It's like putting their heart through a meat grinder. It's as if he's going far away.

"Who do you think we are?" they both asked.

Deruth remained deafeningly silent.

"Will you be willing to accept us no matter who we are?"

"Won't you despise us?"

The questions they posed to him were words that neither of them wanted to say right now.

It was a closely guarded secret, but it appears that their movements sold them out.

"Father," Cale spoke, "what do you want us to be?"

Deruth finally looked at them.

Cale's question caught him off guard.

Rok remained silent.

"Can you confidently declare that you will not discard us?"

"Would you still accept the way we are now if you knew?"

Cale stood up and extended his hand to Rok after saying that. Rok looked at him, knowing how painful it was for him to say all of that.

Deruth is skeptical.

He's not that oblivious to their movements.

"Why do you want to keep everything hidden?"

It was a vow to stop expecting anything.

"You know, father... It's painful to expect something that isn't meant for us..." Rok responded, "Who do you think will suffer from all expectations?"

Deruth looks at them with sadness.

"It's not you... it's us..."

The twins decided to leave the count and go somewhere to relax.

Cale grumbled bitterly as Rok dragged him around the town..

"Cale..."

"Hm?"

"I am here."

There are really times that Rok acts the best brother, although he's not saying anything.

They both shared one sad smile before their entire surroundings went dark.

"ROK!"

"SHIT! CALE!"

They both scream loudly and inside their head.

They can hear people's laughter.

"We'll earn a lot of money now."

"We just need to deliver them."

"No hard feelings, runts, we're just doing business."

"You'll be taken somewhere you'd be of use."

TBC