"Normal speech"

'Thought'

******

Cale was following after Ron as they walked toward the dining room. He could see that every servant bowed their head and flinched whenever he passed by them.

Cale sighed softly at this nostalgic sight. 'As Kim Roksoo, I got bullied for no reason when I was young. As team leader, they looked down on my abilities that wasn't any uses in combats. As Cale Henituse, people are avoiding me instead even though I never actually injured anyone. Should I laugh at being left alone like I wanted or cry at the fact that I am left to fend all of this alone?'

Despite thinking such depressing thoughts, Cale controlled his expression well, keeping it stoic.

"I will now open the door."

"Sure"

"I hope you have a pleasant breakfast, Young master."

"Mn. You should go get your meal too, Ron."

Cale walked into the dining room without looking back at Ron, who has a very uncharacteristic surprise face for a split moment.

Ron bowed his head before walking toward the kitchen #2 where his son was working in.

Cale who saw his family again after so long, clenched his fists tightly. 'I will definitely protect you all this time.'

"Good morning, father."

"You come today. Have a seat, Cale."

Cale nodded and sat down at his usual seat which was the furthest from his whole family. He had started to eat without anymore words, but somewhat he felt that everyone was looking at him.

"Is there anything you need to say, father?" Cale paused his eating and asked.

Count Deruth Henituse, Cale's father, quickly denied. "Ah, no, there isn't. Continue eating, son."

"Oh." Cale obeyed the order and started to eat again. 'I'm so glad I got to eat Beacrox's food again. I remember his cooking clearly. This one is definitely his cooking.'

Cale had subconsciously smiled while he enjoyed his meal. Until...

Clang– Cale raised his head from the juicy sausage he was eating and turned his head toward the sound.

It was Basen, his stepbrother, who dropped his fork. "My apologies"

"It is not a big deal." Cale answered casually.

Cale was thinking about how to actually communicate with his family.

However he found that he was quite awkward with that, thanks to the fact that he made a habit of avoiding people he cared about.

'Though the unreliable God of Death did say the 'curse' has been lessen, I still don't want to cause any accidents.'

"Cale." Deruth tried hard to find something to talk with his eldest son. His son seemed to be a bit more approachable than usual today. He was happy to see that.

"It seems you enjoy your meal today."

"Yes, it is very delicious, father. Everything tastes wonderful today."

"I see. Eat more then. Tell the servant to bring more if it's not enough."

"Okay. You should enjoy your meal as well, father."

"Ho..." Basen had unintentionally let out a sound.

This was the first time since his mother married to Henituse family that he saw his Hyung ever showing any kind of feelings towards the family, or anyone else in general.

'He always keeps his distance with everyone. Even Ron, his personal servant, could only stay a bit closer than the rest.'

Cale turned to Basen when he heard another sound from him.

He thought about the past again. 'Basen had a limp after being injured in the Plaza Terror incident in the capital, in my past life. I have to make sure I will be the one to go, if father decides to send Basen again.'

Cale moved his eyes away from Basen. He wiped his lips after he finished his meal and wait a bit for everyone else to finish as well.

"Father" Cale called out as soon as everyone finished.

"Yes, Cale. Is there anything I could help you?"

"I need some money."

"Of course, I'll give you as much as I can." Deruth answered without a pause and smiled happily afterward. 'Whatever it is for, it is the first time in a while that he asks something from me directly instead of sending Ron. I'll make sure to give him more than his usual allowance.'

"And..." Cale paused a little. "I would like to see the diary that mom has left with you."

Deruth froze. Everyone who was leaving their seats turned their head to look at Cale.

Violan, Cale's stepmother, tactfully led Basen and little Lily out of the room, leaving the father and son alone.

"Ah. Your mother said that only give you the Enchanted box when the time is right. I never know the meaning of that. She was always been a mysterious woman. But I guess this is the right time she talked about." Deruth smiled softly when he talked about his first wife, Cale's birth mother, Jur Thames.

"Follow me then." Deruth got up and walked toward the door, waiting for Cale to follow.

Deruth led Cale toward his private study. He told Cale to sit down first while he went to get the box from the secret space within the the room.

Cale wasn't looking at Deruth but looked around the room and reminiscing the past. 'Mom dragged me here a lot. When I was still too young to figure out the reason for all the accidents happened around my loved ones.'

Deruth finally returned to Cale with a box in his hand. He gave it to Cale.

"I never know what actually inside it. Since she said only you could open the box." Deruth patted Cale on his shoulder. "I think this is very important for you. As for the money you ask for, I will ask Hans to deliver it to you later."

"Thank you, father, for everything until now." Cale smiled as he took the box.

"You're welcome, Cale." Deruth tried his luck, and reached out his hand to pat Cale on his head.

Cale froze a bit, but an innocent smile made its appearance after. He missed his father's pats.

Deruth was happy his son didn't react like he had imagined. "Okay, you should go take a look at what your mother left for you."

Cale nodded and held the box close to himself, and turned to leave, only to see Deputy Butler Hans and Ron standing right outside the door.

"Young master." Hans bowed as he greeted Cale. He didn't dare to look straight at Cale.

Cale didn't look at him either, he was looking at Ron with a frown on his face. "Did you eat your breakfast as I told you to?"

"Young master, but it is my duty to take care of you." Ron bowed slightly as he answered.

"Just go eat your meal when I told you to. I'm going to stay in the study today. Don't follow me until you ate your breakfast." Cale scoffed at him and grumbled as he walked toward the direction of his own private study. "Stubborn old man."

Ron was standing there with a stiff expression while Hans was in shock.

Hans quickly snapped out of his shock and hastily followed Cale. "E-Excuse me, y-young master. Did you just say you want to go to your study? You can not. W-We have not been able to do the morning cleaning of the study yet."

"Isn't it fine without cleaning for one day? I don't mind." Cale rolled his eyes. 'I bet they neglected it since I never go there anymore.'

"No! I can not let that happen. Please give me just one hour! I will make sure it is spotless like it has been used yesterday."

"You are being so dramatic. Fine. I'll wait in my room then. One hour, do not waste my time." Cale turned to Ron who was standing still without moving. He sighed. "Ron"

"Yes, young master."

"It's not like you to blank out like that. Is going to eat your meal that hard to do?"

"My apologies, I will go once I am making sure you reach your room safely." Ron chuckled at his young master rarely shown humor.

"Good. Whatever you say. I'm inside my own house, what danger is there?" Cale changed direction and head toward his room instead.

Ron, who followed behind, stared at Cale's back with an amused face. 'What happened to this young master of mine? He seems to express himself more openly. I'll observe him for now.'

Cale shooed Ron away as soon as he reached his room. He watched until he made sure that Ron was gone.

******

Tsuki: Enjoy!