BOMW 08

chapter 08

The first to regain composure was Pervin.

“Kids, how did you get here? Come on in.”

Seren and Eren stepped back slightly, their eyes scanning Pervin from head to toe.

“Dad, you were bothering Mom, right? If you’re going to fight, why do it at night? At night, we can’t even help Mom.”

Pervin stammered in disbelief.

“Wh-what are you talking about? Why would I bother Mom?”

“We heard everything! The bed creaking and you fighting with Mom!”

Pervin sighed and scratched his head as if he finally understood.

“Kids, that’s not it…”

“What’s going on? Oh my, it’s cold—how did you even get all the way here, my little ones?”

Irwen came out wearing her robe. Seren and Eren ran into her arms immediately.

“Mom! Don’t fight with Dad. Sleep with us instead.”

Irwen looked at Pervin, bewildered, and he could only sigh in exasperation. She took the children inside.

“Let’s sleep with Mom here.”

Irwen led Seren and Eren to the bed. The twins hugged her tightly from both sides and whispered.

“Mom, don’t worry. We’ll protect you.”

“I… don’t really understand what you’re saying…”

Irwen was confused by the children’s words. That’s when she noticed Pervin standing by the door.

“Come on, close the door and sleep here with us. I guess the kids were scared to sleep alone in a strange place.”

Pervin slowly closed the door and crawled into bed beside the family.

However, the space he had so longed to occupy beside Irwen had already been taken by the twins.

Watching his wife smile while kissing the twins’ cheeks, Pervin’s gaze was tinged with loneliness.

Until just a moment ago, the space beside Irwen had been his. Now, the twins had claimed her entirely.

His frustration soon turned toward one person. He muttered under his breath so the children wouldn’t hear.

“How on earth did Alfred manage the kids? Letting them come out in the cold night all the way here!”

“Honey, it’s time to sleep now.”

Irwen spoke firmly, like a final warning.

Pervin silently obeyed his wife. After all, sleeping with the children wasn’t so bad.

He snuggled up next to Seren, watching his family lying together.

His rabbit-like sons and his fox-like wife.

A satisfied smile spread across Pervin’s face.

The people he loved most in the world were gathered beside him.

Seeing Irwen and the twins reminded him of his past—lonely nights wrapped alone in bed, trying to stifle cries from the pain his father caused, and so on.

But those times were now distant memories.

Though he had once lacked love, it was now filled by Irwen and the children.

Could he be any happier? He thought as he stretched out his arms to embrace Irwen, Seren, and Eren.

Tonight, he felt certain he would have a good dream.

The next day.

It was the day the Carlyle family finished their trip and returned home.

Count Montague and his wife insisted on giving them breakfast despite the early hour, unwilling to see them off empty-handed.

While having breakfast, Montague Youngsik cleared his throat and spoke to Pervin.

“Brother, did you have a good night? My efforts weren’t in vain, right?”

Romeo winked slyly at Pervin, smiling mischievously. He had worked so hard to ensure that Pervin and his wife could have a romantic night alone. He even gave Pervin a perfume famous in the county, said to improve marital harmony.

And that morning, both Pervin and Irwen appeared in the dining room with bright, radiant faces.

Pervin paused mid-cut of his food.

That boy really had no sense. Didn’t he know the twins had come to the cabin and the family had slept together in one place?

Of course, it had been nice to sleep with the children after so long.

Seren, chewing thoughtfully, glanced at Romeo.

“Yesterday, Dad and Mom slept with us.”

Eren chimed in.

“Uncle Romeo, you told me yesterday that there was a monster in the garden. But when Seren and I went out there, there was nothing! We weren’t in any danger at night at all!”

“W-wait a minute.”

Romeo looked utterly confused.

“You went wandering in the garden last night? Why?”

The twins shrugged at each other.

“We thought Mom and Dad might fight alone at the cabin at night, so we went to stop them. We did the right thing, didn’t we?”

Stella chuckled quietly nearby. Countess Montague also laughed, glancing at her husband.

All eyes were on the Carlyle couple.

Irwen, trying not to laugh, met her children’s sparkling eyes.

“Well done, my little ones. You’re the only ones who truly think about Mom.”

Pervin made a strange face beside her. Seren and Eren looked at him resolutely.

“Dad, don’t ever bother Mom at night! Don’t fight either! You have to get along!”

“You kids… I really don’t know how this misunderstanding happened.”

He resumed cutting meat, feeding each child a piece.

The children chewed as they stared at Pervin. He studied their innocent faces and pondered how to explain.

“Kids, Mom and I weren’t fighting.”

“Not fighting? Then why weren’t you in your room and were at the cabin? Wasn’t that to hide the fighting from us?”

Snickers came from all around. The Montague family lowered their heads in defeat.

Pervin’s face turned crimson. Irwen decided to help him.

“Sometimes, Dad and Mom just want time alone together.”

With a playful wink at the children, she added,

“You know, Mom and Dad were busy meeting people during the day. So they played together at night. You need to understand that.”

Pervin’s red face gradually returned to normal.

He nodded to Irwen, grateful to his wife for rescuing him in that awkward moment.

Pervin looked at the children with his usual solemn expression.

“Do you understand what Mom said?”

Seren and Eren exchanged glances. Eren tilted his head, but Seren smiled.

Seren whispered something into Eren’s ear. Then Eren beamed.

“Got it! We won’t disturb you at night! Mom and Dad should have fun together!”

Irwen and Pervin nodded at each other.

The Montague family laughed and wiped tears from their eyes.

“What a fun family.”

A few days later.

The Carlyle family finished their trip and returned to the capital.

It had begun as a secret journey, but their identities were eventually exposed in Count Montague’s territory.

The Terezia Empire buzzed with news of their travels. Several media outlets reported on their journey.

The fact that the young emperor, the Carlyle Duke and Duchess, and Prince Carlyle traveled incognito intrigued the public.

Moreover, Duke Carlyle’s victory at the fencing tournament in Count Montague’s county attracted considerable attention.

Especially notable was that he defeated fully armed men without any equipment.

Articles included interviews with those who faced Pervin in the tournament. They said they would never forget the honor of dueling him.

Interest in the twins was also immense, especially since Seren and Eren appeared publicly outside the capital for the first time.

Their beauty and distinct personalities drew attention wherever they went.

Back in the capital, the twins returned to the academy as usual.

They were warmly welcomed by fellow students after a week away.

During fencing class, attended by first through third years, the twins distributed gifts they had brought from the county to all students.

They also gave special presents to their friends.

To Modred, whom they hadn’t seen in a while, they gave an old herbalism book; to Prince Hayden, a jewel-encrusted helmet; and to Miss Hope, a finely crafted dagger.

Modred carefully examined the book and smiled brightly, his joyful blue eyes sparkling.

“This is exactly the book I wanted. I couldn’t find it in the capital… Thank you so much.”

Seren shrugged.

“It’s what Youngsik wanted, wasn’t it? He’d been singing about it for months, so I had to get it for him.”

Nearby, Hope examined the dagger. Its sheath was studded densely with red rubies.

Eren said to her,

“Miss, you have a fiery personality. That’s why we picked red jewels for you.”

Modred and Hayden chuckled at each other.

“You saw that correctly. Miss Hope’s temper is unbeatable.”

“What did you say?”

Hope swung the dagger, and Modred blocked it with the thick herbalism book.

Hayden exhaled in relief, speaking to Seren while holding tightly to him.

“Seriously, watch where you swing your blade! Last time, Modred almost got hurt.”

“Thanks to Miss Hope, I feel more agile now. Maybe I’m even quicker than before.”

Modred met Hope’s competitive gaze without flinching. She smirked at him.

Then she turned to Eren, glancing at Modred as if conscious of him.

“Thank you so much, Prince Eren. You chose a gift that’s exactly to my taste.”

Eren replied, bewildered.

“Who’s the one that’s been wanting this type of dagger for three months…”

“It’s really only Prince Eren!”

Smack!

Hope kissed Eren on the cheek, drawing everyone’s attention. Modred froze, staring at her.

Hope stuck out her tongue at him.

“Jealous, aren’t you? Then try to catch me!”

As she ran off, Modred chased after her.

Hayden shook his head at Eren.

“Good thing Princess Celia isn’t here.”

Seren nodded.

“Miss Hope must have kissed him dozens of times. She won’t let anyone else get close.”

Eren shrugged.

“Princess Celia tends to be possessive. I prefer freedom.”

“Eren, aren’t you giving too many girls chances? Like Dad, you should focus on one. Look what just happened with Miss Hope’s kiss.”

Eren scratched his head.

“You can’t refuse someone’s kindness, can you?”

At that moment, several young ladies who had come specifically to see them approached Seren. About a dozen handed him bouquets.

“Welcome back to the academy.”

Seren held the bouquets, smiling faintly at their lily-of-the-valley scent.

“Why all this?”

“You like lily-of-the-valley the most, right? We used them in flower arranging class to make these bouquets. We hope you like them.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t like something the girls made with such effort?”

Eren and Hayden watched from behind, barely suppressing laughter at Seren’s unusual reaction.

“The way he talks in front of girls is so different.”

“Seren seems to have inherited Dad’s romantic phrasing. Or maybe he read one of Alfred’s romance guides.”

Finally, the young ladies left, looking back repeatedly with lingering affection.

Seren held the bouquets close, smiling.

“Ah, the flowers smell so nice. They remind me of Mom.”

Eren looked amused.

“How many girls gave you flowers? Aren’t you giving too many chances?”

“You should be grateful for such wonderful gifts. They worked hard to make them.”

Seren examined the bouquets and added,

“When I get home, I’ll make a bouquet with lily-of-the-valley for Mom, too.”

At that moment, the bell rang, five minutes before class.

Hope and Modred entered the building hand in hand.

Seren, Eren, and Hayden hurried along together.

“I forgot to ask the thing I was most curious about. So, did you enjoy this trip?”

Seren and Eren tilted their heads simultaneously.

“I’m not sure. We had a goal, but I’m not certain if it worked.”

“What was it?”

“We tried to show only pretty things to Mom during this trip. Then Mom and Dad would bring our little sister together. But I don’t know if it worked.”

“Don’t be so anxious. Soon it will be Seren’s and Prince Eren’s birthdays.”

Hayden winked playfully.

“The Duchess might even bring a younger sister as a birthday gift for Their Highness and Prince.”

“How would you know that?”

Eren asked, and Hayden winked mischievously.

“My sisters always talk about getting a younger sibling for their birthdays, so I got one!”

“Hey, what’s that!”

Seren clung to Eren’s shoulder, shaking his head. But his heart raced as if hiding a great secret.

His blue eyes, like Irwen’s, sparkled. He whispered softly into Eren’s ear.

“Eren, I have something to tell you, just you.”

“Hm?”

“Actually… last night I dreamed a baby tiger ran to me. It was so cute, I played with it for a long time. I didn’t want to wake up from the dream.”

Eren looked at Seren in surprise.

“You too? I also played with a baby tiger in my dream. Its eyes were blue, like yours.”

“Huh? That’s the tiger I saw!”

Seren and Eren locked eyes, their hearts pounding so loudly it felt like the other could hear it.

“Could it… be a pregnant dream?”