/
Sera spoke firmly towards Rosé and Ferre.
“You cannot.”
“Whyyy!”
“How cooome!”
Refusing to accept Sera’s answer, the twins protested differently than usual.
“Because
”
She had already explained it to them five times before. Nevertheless, she had to do so calmly once again.
Sera took in a long, deep breath for a moment—which she needed because of the two stubborn children—then she continued to speak. She raised one hand and counted one finger at a time.
“First, the squirrel has to live in the mountains. If you try to keep it like this, it will never be able to return home. Second, it’s a baby. I’m sure that Mama Squirrel and Papa Squirrel are looking for Baby Squirrel, right? Third, you cannot raise the squirrel indoors, please just look at how much it’s messed up the room like this.”
“But still, Sera! Baby Squirrel likes us.”
“Yeah. Baby Squirrel won’t separate from me and Ferre.”
“Baby Squirrel wants to live with me and RosĂ©.”
“Baby Squirrel will stay with us for a long time.”
In their own way, Rosé and Ferre tried to give reasons as to why they should keep the baby squirrel. However, Sera still shook her head.
“You cannot.”
As if they had eaten a hundred sweet pumpkins like squirrels preparing for winter hibernation, RosĂ© and Ferre’s cheeks puffed up with all their complaints stored inside.
Keeping the baby squirrel in her embrace as though she was hiding it from Sera, Rosé turned away to show how upset she was.
The now-lively baby squirrel squeaked in Rosé’s small chest.
“Hmph! Sera is bad.”
“Yeah. I’m with RosĂ©.”
“Haa. Please
 how can you be like this?”
Sera sighed in frustration. Then, she pointed towards the curtains and wallpaper.
“Please look over there. The wallpaper is already half-torn, and the curtains are ripped. Everyone’s having a difficult time.
“

”
“

”
Rosé and Ferre stubbornly refused to speak, as if they really had nothing to say.
It’s true that they also thought that the baby squirrel was ill-behaved.
Whenever it’s time for the twins to eat, it has a habit of dipping its tail in their soup bowls. Because of that, the maids had to bring them newly cooked dishes every time.
It was also shedding quite a bit of fur. The maids used to only come once a day to clean, but now, they needed to come back and forth three times a day.
The squirrel was very cute, but it also kept tearing their blankets with its little teeth. It’s fortunate that they were just thin summer blankets. If they were full goose down blankets, the maids would have had to suffer a lot from all the feathers.
However!
The squirrel was very very cute and lovable. The twins just didn’t want to let it go.
“Don’t wanna.”
“Sera, please.”
Rosé and Ferre clung to Sera and pleaded. This time around, however, Sera did not budge from their cuteness. She took on a firm stance, looking as if she would never yield.
“You cannot. I’m serious. And His Majesty also told me to release it back to the forest today.”
“Really? Hyung said that?”
“Of course. His Majesty also agrees that Baby Squirrel must go home.
Sera could understand the children’s feelings, but she couldn’t give in to them this time. It’s been two days since the squirrel was brought here.
The children would become more attached to the squirrel as time goes on, and at the same time, it would become more difficult for them when they have to go their separate ways.
It’s just been two days now, but the situation at the Star Palace has already become so different.
“This can’t go on. I’ve made up my mind. We are going to have our physical education class up in the mountain forest today!”
Sera was forced to give them an ultimatum.
* * *
“Sera, really?”
“Do we really have to let Baby Squirrel go?”
“Yes, Your Highnesses. Please bring it to the base of that tree over there.”
Rosé and Ferre were both pouting. However, despite the cute action, Sera was like an unwavering, ironclad pine tree.
After she proclaimed that they would be having their class in the mountain, Sera immediately asked to borrow a carriage, and they set off for the mountain they went to during the day of the hunt.
“Go on.”
Rosé and Ferre hesitated, but with a silent final warning, Sera frowned with a stern face, which the twins rarely ever saw.
Seeing her determined eyes, the children flinched, but they eventually nodded.
“O
Okay, Sera.”
“Okay
 Sera.”
In the end, they couldn’t go against her. RosĂ© and Ferre turned around and walked forward. Still, they slowed down their steps because they really didn’t want to let the squirrel go.
Sera followed about ten steps behind them, wanting to give the twins and the squirrel some time alone. But when they finally arrived in front of the tree, Sera spoke firmly.
“Please say goodbye and let it go.”
“Haaaa.”
“Haaaa.”
They couldn’t believe that it’s really their last goodbye. The twins sighed deeply as they crouched to the ground. To make matters worse, the squirrel kept coiling its tail on the twins as if to show just how much it likes them.
“Squeak— Squeak— Squeak— Squeak—”
“Ferre.”
Instead of lowering her hands to put the squirrel on the ground, RosĂ© called her brother’s name with a small voice.
“Whaaat.”
Ferre whispered in the same ant-like voice.
“Do you wanna bring it back secretly?”
Suddenly, Rosé revealed her sly plan. Ferre gasped, not expecting it.
“Wouldn’t they scold us a lot if we’re caught? Both Sera and Hyung?”
At his question, Rosé’s serious eyes turned to Ferre. Her tightly closed lips made it look like she was ready to take that risk.
“Still
 Ferre. I want Baby Squirrel to stay with us. Aren’t you thinking the same?”
“But
 I
 Yeah, but
 I don’t wanna get in trouble.”
Ferre was honest about his nervousness. Then Rosé raised the squirrel and brought it to Ferre, who then embraced it.
The lovely squirrel wagged its tail as Rosé gingerly carried it to him. The soft, cute creature continued to be so lovable in their eyes.
“Ferre, Baby Squirrel likes you.”
Ba-thump.
The simple sentence made Ferre’s heart skip a beat.
Baby Squirrel likes me!
“Look, Ferre. Baby Squirrel doesn’t want to leave us.”
Ferre lowered his gaze and glanced at the little squirrel in his arms. The squirrel’s cute little cheeks were rubbing against his hands.
At this point, an irresistible temptation washed over him.
“Th
There’s no choice
”
Opening his small lips reluctantly, Ferre eventually agreed.
As soon as Ferre agreed to be her accomplice, Rosé quickly whispered in his ear. They had to hurry and commit the crime before Sera could notice.
The twins nodded, their eyes filled with determination.
“Baby Squirrel, don’t make a noise, okay? You can’t get caught.”
“Squeak— Squeak— Squeak—!”
Right then, she put the squirrel into Ferre’s clothes.
And not long after, they whispered, ‘Hide tight! Don’t let yourself be seen, Baby Squirrel!’