The twins were very attached to Helios, so he was already expecting that their reaction wouldnât be very positive. But still, he also wasnât expecting that they would hate it so much. And they kept bringing up Sera.
There was a strange emotion swirling within him, but to show that he understood his younger siblingsâ thoughts, he nodded.
Somehow, Rosé and Ferre were sulking to the fullest as they stared at the ceiling above.
Rosé turned her head suddenly and grabbed his wrist.
âIâm not going anywhere. I can also just not marry.â
Seeing the small hand that was like a maple leaf grabbing onto his wrist, Helios touched his sisterâs cheek.
Normally, RosĂ© would have leaned into his touch, but todayâs sulking was lasting for a little while longer.
âThen whatâs the matter, RosĂ©?â
RosĂ© stared up at him without a word. Her Oppa was as gentle as ever, and he said that he wouldnât marry anymore. But still, she had a vague feeling.
âOppa wouldnât just ask me and Ferre something like that suddenly.â
A vague feeling that her Oppaâs question wasnât just a question.
And that maybe, just maybe, her Oppa was hinting at how the red-haired woman was the one heâs going to marry.
Thatâs probably why he brought her to the banquet as his partner before.
âI donât like it⊠Iâm on Seraâs side! And that woman is kinda scaryâŠ!â
If thatâs really what her Oppa had in mind, then she wanted to stop him at all costs. And, RosĂ© wanted to tie her Oppa to Sera somehow.
If itâs not Sera, she would never ever accept her Oppaâs marriage.
âOppa, before when you said that youâll give us anything we wish for, is that true?â
Helios replied, his gaze soft as he gazed upon the serious Rosé.
âThen canât we go to the villa with Sera?â
âI wanna go to the villa with Sera.â
The request came out of the blue, but Rosé asked him with an endlessly serious gaze, each word she spoke full of weight.
âRosĂ©! Thatâs a great idea! Hyung, you asked us what we want, right? I also want Sera to come with us! Hyung!â
Ferre, who also liked only Sera, was a good younger brother as he helped his older sister.
âOppa⊠Please? Canât she come?â
âRosĂ©, Ferre. ThatâsâŠâ
Ah. Sighing, Helios rubbed his forehead with one hand.
It wouldnât be difficult to invite her to the villa, but the problem was that the trip was after the contract was over.
âAnd Iâm sure, back thenâŠâ
When Helios broached the topic of extending the contract before, Seraâs face came to mind. With the way she reacted, it seemed difficult to expect a positive answer.
He was still thinking about how he should bring up Seraâs class to the twins, but he decided that now wasnât the right time.
But if he gave the children some time to prepare for their imminent separation from SeraâŠ
âRosĂ©, Ferre. Actually, thereâs also something I have to say about Miss Popo.â
Helios hesitated for a long time before he finally spoke. And this time, there was a much more troubled look on his face.
âWhy, whatâs wrong?â
They thought that heâd just say no, or that heâd think about it.
Feeling the unusual shift of their older brotherâs mood, RosĂ© and Ferre gulped.
As they sat on the bed, their backs suddenly became rigid.
When Helios said this, he regretted it. He shouldnât have said anything, but it was already too late.
He gently placed one hand each on his younger siblingsâ shoulders.
âBefore we leave for the villa, your classes with Miss Popo will have ended. So it would be difficult to invite her to come with us.â
His voice was exceedingly calm. But the children couldnât quite process what theyâve been told just yet.
âItâs been decided from the very beginning that Miss Popo will be teaching you only from March to August.â
Rosé and Ferre were confused.
âAnother tutor may come.â
âHuh? Another tutor?â
âYes. Another tutor whoâll come to replace her by September.â
He paused, then explained slowly. However, after he finished the sentence, tears had already welled up in the childrenâs eyes.
âHâŠHyung? I canât understand what youâre saying.â
âOppa, what are you talking about?â
Helios reached towards the children and pulled them into a hug. And when they realized what that hug meant, they cried out.
âHuh? Whyy? Se⊠Sera⊠Sera wants to stop?â
âSh⊠Sheâs not gonna miss⊠us?â
As if a dam had burst, their tears started to fall.
âNo, of course not. Miss Popo had children she had been teaching from even before. She started teaching you because I asked her to. You know what happens when someone doesnât heed the Emperorâs words, right? Thatâs why she started teaching you.â
âNoooo. I hate that. Hyung, Iâll just live with Sera. I donât want her to go!â
âWhy is it like that suddenly? Oppa! Then just ask Sera to follow the Emperorâs order one more time!â
RosĂ© and Ferre ended up sobbing. Helios wiped away his younger siblingsâ tears with his big hands.
And their tears trickled endlessly down his hands.
âRosĂ©, Ferre. Do you really want to force Miss Popo to stay in the palace?â
His voice was infinitely gentle.
âYou should enjoy the rest of the time you have with Sera.â
Rosé and Ferre shook their heads, their tears continuing downwards without stopping.
âDun wanna. I said I dun wanna! Iâm gonna live with Sera!â
âYeah! Me too! Hyung is always the one who calls Sera to the palace!â
âCome now. Stop crying. Your eyes will get swollen.â
His gentle voice tried to soothe the children, but Rosé and Ferre could not stop crying.
All the while, Helios regretted it and kept thinking that he shouldnât have said anything.