The Heir's Naughty Twins
28. The Load is Too Heavy

It's almost night and it's snowing. While occasionally stopping to feed his sister the rest of the onigiri in hand, Yujerian reached the seafront which tonight was filled with yellow lanterns.

Is there a father behind the sea? He often wonders.

"Yuje-nii."

"Hm?"

"Is Nii sad?"

Yujerian.

"But Nii looks moody." Yuveria closed her mouth as Yujerian wiped the remaining rice in her mouth. "Yuje-nii always looks at the sea when thinking about something. Like Haha-ue."

"Didn't Yuve also like the sea?"

"But Yuve loves the sea for being able to swim."

"When summer comes, we'll swim again."

Yuveria suddenly hugged him. "Yuve wasn't happy to see Yuje-nii moody."

"I told you not—"

"Yuve is also afraid that if he meets Chichi-ue, then we will get hurt."

Yujerian. Although soon after he hugged his sister, sniffing the sweet wood aroma of his favorite girl. "Yuve and Haha-ue will always be happy."

"Yuje-nii does a lot of things alone, like Haha-ue."

The girl stared at her face from a close distance, until the tip of their nose stuck. His round eyes narrowed slightly as he cried.

"Therefore sometimes Yuve wishes Chichi-ue was there so that Yuje-nii wouldn't have to be tired."

Something felt stuck in his throat. Yujerian tried not to cry, but saw his sister's eyes glazed over and said he didn't want Yujerian to get hurt, so he couldn't help himself.

With all his might he clutched Yuveria, hiding on his shoulder so that at least he knew she was crying sobbing.

That man never existed. Because he was not around, Yujerian had to endure it alone.

Actually he was very happy and grateful, but deep in his heart, he was tired and hoped he would not have to do everything himself.

Why doesn't he exist? Why did their father have to be a man who never existed?

...*...

Hestia didn't know what to say.

He had intended to let his two children go freely, because they would not go too far or to dangerous places.

But I don't know why he was driven to follow them. Then accidentally met Shin who passed the stolen kepal rice to Gamabunta.

"Yuuki said that he didn't want to get hurt because of his father." Shin said that suddenly. "Auntie, I think Yuuki's really tormented by that."

Hestia hadn't seen them cry in a long time. Except yesterday when she was sick, they both almost never cried.

It was as if Yuveria's natural law had been crying out to Yujerian alone, not to Hestia.

Yes, his son bore too much of a burden.

"Auntie, may I ask." Shin was still there, accompanying him to see the two children.

"What?"

"Why isn't their father with Auntie?"

Hestia. Really all this time he thought Eros was not very important to them and indeed to himself.

Perhaps he was too ignorant and his children were too independent to ask questions.

"Honestly, I don't like men. Except my son." Hestia looked at them with a rumbling feeling, but was trained not to show when there were other people. "Especially a father."

"Did that man do something bad, Auntie?"

"No. The other guy did it."

"...."

"My father." Hestia gulped. Looking up, smiled gently at Shin. "My father was a disciplined man. I would do anything to educate my son. Including violence."

Shin held his breath in shock. "Do they both know?"

"Of course not. It's not something they should know."

"So Aunt ...."

"I just don't like to trust men, no matter how good they look. Their hearts are not something I can read."

Hestia hugged herself. Exhaling steam into the air while looking up at the gloomy night sky.

"I just can't imagine my life should be like that anymore."

"I think they'll understand, Auntie, if told. Yuuki's a smart boy."

"But it will make them lie again." Hestia smiled bitterly. "I passed on my lying habits to them. I'm a pathetic mother, aren't I?"

Shin snorted. "Auntie, Yuuki lied not because of Aunt but because she decided it was best. I understand Yuuki's feelings. She wants to keep Auntie and Yuui happy."

"Of course."

Just ... Maybe it's too much of a burden for a kid his age.

...*...