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“His Highness Prince Aushuvel brought them here, but I’m afraid Their Highnesses are sleepy now.”
Standing some distance away at the balcony’s threshold, Raphael reported.
He had been shocked to see Helios and Sera together like this, but he soon schooled his features.
“Sera, I’m sleepy.”
Ferre nuzzled against Sera’s sweet smelling cheeks, then he buried himself into her embrace like a baby kangaroo.
He’d been suppressing his drowsiness until now, but the moment he finally saw Sera again, he soon felt sleepy.
It was the same with Rosé. As soon as Helios carried her, Rosé wrapped both her arms around his neck and let out a relaxed sigh.
“Heeeli Oppaa, wheen are we goonna go to beeed?”
“Hyuuung, me too, I’m sho sleepy.”
“Are you very sleepy?”
“Yeeeah.”
A troubled look crossed Helios’ expression.
There’s no need for the emperor to stay for the remainder of the banquet, which would last until daybreak, but he still needed to greet a few people and finish up some business.
That’s why he needed to stay here for at least another hour before he could take the twins back.
Children were the neediest whenever it’s bedtime, and RosĂ© and Ferre were particularly sensitive around this time.
This was also the reason Sera usually tucked the kids in bed and waited for them to sleep whenever she had classes with them in the palace.
In such a situation that he didn’t foresee, Helios hesitated for a moment because he attached only knights to the twins for the night.
Looking at Helios, Sera noticed his dilemma and volunteered.
“If it’s alright with you, would it be alright for me to bring Their Highnesses back to their palace first? I don’t have anything left to do here, and I’ve also gotten a bit tired.”
“Will you be going home right away after that?”
“Yes, if I’m allowed.”
Her response was very welcome.
But then. Why.
Why didn’t Helios feel happy about this?
He also didn’t enjoy banquets that much, but he felt a pang of regret at the thought that she was going to be leaving first.
At a time like this, should he just order the knights to come and take his younger siblings back to their bedroom? It wasn’t too far from this place, so it’s not a bad idea.
While mulling it over, Raphael was the first to intervene.
“That’s great. It would be best to leave it to Miss Sera, Your Majesty.”
“To Miss Popo?”
“Miss Sera also wants to go home soon, so it’s a good idea to let her take Their Highnesses back to their bedroom, then she can go home right away.”
Helios also knew that this was the best option, so he couldn’t refute the other man.
With the sound of her breathing close to his ear as she was still hugging his neck, Helios carefully woke Rosé a bit and stood her upright on the ground.
Her drowsy eyes blinked and looked at Helios.
“Oppa, whyy? I’m so sleepyyy. Can’t I just sleep in Oppa’s aaarms?”
“RosĂ©, I know that you’re sleepy, but Oppa still has something to do.”
“Nooooo. Dooon’t.”
“Can both of you walk back to the Star Palace? Or do you want me to call the knights so they can carry you?”
“Nooo. Don’t wanna. I wanna stway with Oppa.”
RosĂ© clung to Helios while whining more with a cute ‘mmmmh’ sound.
Over her well-styled silver hair, Helios patted Rosé on the back.
“Miss Popo will take you back instead.”
“Seeera?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Perhaps thinking that this wasn’t a bad compromise, RosĂ© had a bright grin on her lips even as she was half asleep.
Watching this, Sera smiled at how adorable RosĂ© was. Then, she took the child’s hand from Helios.
“I’ll have to ask you for another favor, Miss Popo.”
“It’s not a big deal, Your Majesty.”
Sera took RosĂ© and Ferre’s hands one by one. She woke up the children with skillful gentleness. Then, after a short bow as a goodbye, she turned around with the twins in tow to leave the balcony.
Helios watched Sera’s back as she left, hand-in-hand with his two younger siblings, waddling in their sleepiness.
He had forgotten for a moment because she was all dolled up with that blue dress, but Helios smiled faintly as he watched her usual teacher-like appearance make its presence here.
“Were you with Miss Sera, just the two of you?”
When Sera and the twins were out of sight, Raphael looked around the quiet balcony and asked this question.
“Ah. Yeah.”
Helios answered lightly.
“And you watched the fireworks display together?”
“We did. Why?”
Helios laughed, asking what the problem with that could be.
“It’s just
”
Raphael hesitated a little, trying to examine Helios’ countenance. Of all places, how on earth did they choose this place?
He wasn’t sure if Helios knew this, but this was the balcony from the very center of the hall, and it had the closest view of the fountain.
This place was one of the most notable spots amongst young nobles because of an old legend. They say that when a couple watches fireworks together here, their love will come true.
“Ah
 nothing. It’s just that this is a famous place. It’s the best spot for couples to watch the fireworks. There’s a, um
 legend.”
Trying to gauge his reaction, Raphael furtively disguised his question.
“Is it the legend about love coming true?”
Helios replied with a smile.
“You knew that?”
“Of course I do. I heard that my parents watched a fireworks display here on the day they first met. But why are you bringing that up?”
Raphael pondered for a moment before he spoke. He wanted to ask what Helios was thinking right now, but Raphael decided otherwise. It would be useless to ask such a question.
A legend’s just a legend, and since Helios was so casual about mentioning it, Raphael was sure that Helios wasn’t thinking much of it either.
“Ah, never mind. I was just wondering if you knew.”
Raphael chuckled as though it was nothing special. Anyway, it was no use entertaining the thought of something that would never even happen.