They just officially turned 4 the day before yesterday. Edwin looked blankly at the floor as he sulked at their current situation.

Before his expression darkens, he felt a feeling of warmth holding his left hand. He slowly looked up and blinked at his sister's worried eyes.

He helplessly smiled at her, a chuckle leaking from him. He couldn't let her worry too much about things that didn't need her attention. He smiled at the fact the child decided to join his sister after hearing our conversation.

He turned to his right to see Alastair standing there looking at them silently. He lifted the corner of his lips into a soft smile.

Unlike his blank and stone-like face, he's soft-hearted towards them which remained unknown to them but they felt his sincerity after the time they spent together.

(A/N: I might be adding a side chapter to it)

They felt sympathy for him. Alastair had already collapsed twice and fallen into a fever during his stay at their mansion. He was stubborn in receiving help from the servants and had a cane of his own to help himself walk.

Edwin raised his hand in front of Alastair and questioned.

"Are you sure you don't want me to ask for help for you...?"

Alastair slowly looked at him and then moved his cane forward. He closed the distance between them and gave him his hand. Edwin looked at the hand that was brought onto his and smiled gently. Linda looked at Edwin with warmth at his action.

If they were, to be honest, they felt Alastair was being treated like a dog if he continued to act that way. He even allowed them to be one of the few to call him by the name 'Aiden.' He can't help but frown, a memory of a gentle and fragile boy smiling at them sitting alongside Aunt Jay.

Linda scratches her cheek awkwardly. Rather than that, they felt safe whenever they were around him.

Linda slowly turned her head back to the front and couldn't help but frown deeply at the situation. You might wonder what made them desperate in this kind of situation.

As the duchess and Maverick weren't present, some upper person other than Nadia was crazy enough to put the twin's position as the current lord of this mansion.

Thinking about it again, Edwin couldn't help but feel anger feeling his chest again. He calmed down and tried not to reveal it on his face.

Linda slowly gazed at the shivering young boy in front of them. He was taller but shorter than Maverick. She intertwined her fingers with her brother's and calmly put his words and her thoughts together.

"So you came here because your father needed help as he protected the civilians as a knight but was wounded by some monster's dark magic that invaded our area?"

She looked at the trembling boy with a raised eyebrow.

An apathetic appearance was shown but she pitied him for coming here with no choice and asking their lords for money. Just like any would, of course.

He repeatedly nodded and held his unkempt clothes tightly as he bowed his head toward them. She sighed again and looked at Edwin.

She knows that in this world, civilians prefer for a male of the noble blood to decide the decisions of affairs of their house so she could only hope for her brother's right decision regarding the pitiful boy's father's health and situation.

Edwin slowly took Alastair's hand onto his sister's hand and slowly went in front of the boy.

Linda held his hand and gestured to him to sit down but stopped after she saw Alastair shaking his head. They stood and looked at Edwin and the boy in front of them.

Alastair calmly looked into the boy's eyes, his eyes glinting a spark of light then fading. His tense body and expression slowly relaxed but paled due to using his ability.

"First I would like to ask some questions."

Edwin crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head upward to look at the boy's eyes. Seeing him nod, he slowly opened his mouth,

"What is your name?"

The boy looked at Edwin's bright smile that was planted on his face, dumbfounded at the unexpected question. Edwin slowly reassured him as he wanted to know what he should be called as he looked older than them.

He nervously nodded his head and softly spoke,

"You can call me Ian..."

"Well, Ian. We can give you the money but you do know that money you get isn't free right?"

He looked at him with the same bright innocent smile but the boy, Ian, felt an unknowingly chill run down his back.

He slowly nodded. He was in a desperate situation as his father was the only guardian left for him and his younger sister to live in this cruel world.

———

"Why did you do that?"

Edwin calmly sipped the cup of orange juice and then carefully put the glass on the table. Linda couldn't help but question her brother's decision and action toward Ian.

She watched her brother place some cookies on Alastair's plate, she glared at him but lowered her gaze when Alastair looked in her direction.

"Why do you think I did that?"

Edwin replied to her with a question.

She raised her head in surprise at her twin's reply. She met her brother's rare stoic eyes. She couldn't help but blink in confusion. She placed her fingers on her chin as she slowly thought of their interaction and deal.

Yes, they made a deal between them so Edwin could benefit from giving out his allowance money in this.

She slowly remembered their conversation a few hours ago and clicked them together. Her mind suddenly stiffened in disbelief and looked toward Edwin.

"Wait, you are going in that direction..."

She muttered and stared at her brother in disbelief. Looking at Edwin's approval with a nod, she couldn't help but raise her voice.

"Are you crazy?! We aren't sure when this is going to happen! What if—"

Before she could continue, her mouth was suddenly stuffed with a tart. She chewed on the tart that was given to her and sat back in her seat as she calmed herself down.

"Hah..."

Edwin breathed out in relief after putting the tart to shut his sister's next words. He couldn't help but glance at his side.

He gazed at Alastair gently, watching him carefully chewing the chocolate chip cookies that he gave him.

Linda also couldn't help but melt at Alastair's soft and fragile features and actions.

She doesn't know why some servants call him a devil's spawn just because of his eyes' mismatched colors, especially that crimson red eye. She wanted to stroke and ruffle his soft and fluffy hair but held the urge to do that.

She heard from the captain of the Ducal and a close friend of the duchess that he was the second prince, their cousin. He was even older than them by a few months which made her disappointed as she wanted to experience having a younger sibling.

Edwin glanced at his twin knowing that she was weak to fragile and cute things. He couldn't help but let out a giggle.

Knowing her brother, she gave him a death glare knowing he would want to tease her once he found the time and loophole he found through her.

 

 

AKS