"Normal speech"

'Thought'

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Cale returned back to the tea shop as soon as he had done feeding the tree. He stayed to read and drink tea until 9pm, when he left the tea shop for the bar he frequented.

"Give me a bottle of my usual drink and packed some roasted chicken breast without salt."

"W-Would you like to take a seat first, young master?"

"No need. Make it quick." Cale frowned unhappily. 'What if I miss Choi Han and got beaten again?'

"Right away! I go get it immediately!" The owner of the bar was extremely afraid of Cale.

It was because just a few days before, he destroyed almost every furniture around the area he was sitting.

Cale looked around the bar and clicked his tongue loudly when he saw the gangsters that usually caused troubles inside the territory. "Tsk"

The sound made the already quiet bar even more quieter.

"Y-Young master, here are the things you requested." The owner really didn't want to close the shop to renovate again. It was good that this young master didn't want to sit down today.

Cale opened the bottle and drink half of the bottle in one go as he walked out of the bar. He licked his lips. "Delicious."

Cale's face flushed instantly, even though it didn't effect him at all. Cale Henituse had a very high alcohol tolerance, unlike Kim Roksoo.

This could help him divert some of the guard's attention on him, also help him build courage to face Choi Han who beaten him to a pulp in the past.

'At least I could used the excuse that I'm drunk if I somehow still offended him.' Cale thought as he approached his destination, 100 steps away from the gate.

He passed by the guards patrolling, they gave him a few glance before continued what they were doing. Cale also ignored the guards.

When he finally reached his destination, he saw his target sitting a bit away from the injured kitten, hiding in the shadow of the city wall.

The swordsman was closing his eyes to rest, but Cale knew that Choi Han has already aware of his presence.

Meeeoow~

Meeoow~

Cale crouched next to the kittens and from the slightly bright moonlight he saw that the bigger kitten that was injured has silver fur, while the smaller one has red fur. And when he got a bit nearer, he could smell the scent of breads and chocolate.

"Huh?" Cale subconsciously think of the two children he met at the slum. They have the same hair color as the fur of the kittens. 'Cat tribe? Perhaps...'

Cale quickly returned his focus to his task, gaining Choi Han's trust. Cale shook his head a little. He tried to ignore the slight violent aura from his side.

"You got injured. Good thing I have some medicines with me today." Cale placed the chicken breast down for the red fur kitten and proceeded to take out the medicine he got from the apothecary.

The silver cat growled at the redhead while standing in front of the smaller red cat. Even though this human had fed them these two days, they were in their kitten form right now.

"It's good that you want to protect your brother, but you have to be healthy first. I won't hurt you. We've just met this afternoon." Cale smiled patiently.

'If they really Cat tribe, I could use a bit of their help. Rescuing the dragon would be easier with their help. And I could look after them in return. To come here by themselves from Eastern continent, I can't leave them alone now.'

Choi Han had opened his eyes at some point after he heard how this guy in expensive outfit talking alone with the kittens.

Choi Han carefully observed as the redhead who seems drunk, skillfully applied the medicine on the kitten. 'He's weak. He poses no threat, I could kill him in one move.'

Cale patted the kittens on their head when they finally eat the chicken breast. He turned to Choi Han. "You also look injured, do you need my help?"

"...."

"Okay. Not talking to stranger." Cale tried again. "I'm Cale Henituse, the eldest son of the Count, Deruth Henituse who is the one responsible for this territory."

"Why are you helping me?" Choi Han bluntly asked, looking at Cale vigilantly.

"Do I need a reason to help a person in need? Ah, I'm not saying that I can help everyone in need, but I definitely won't leave the person that need help that is in front of me." Cale could feel his hand sweaty. "I could feed you, too, if you hungry?"

Choi Han didn't answer but he pushed himself up. Cale saw that he was leaning to his left, probably because he sprained his right ankle.

'Food is really the way to gain trust. Food are best.' Cale felt like he had found a solution for everything.

"Lead the way."

"Oh. One moment." Cale turned back to the kittens. "Will you be okay? Do you want to come with me, too?"

Choi Han was now really wondering if the guy was drunk silly. Even though when the redhead talked with him, he seemed sober.

"Meow..." The silver cat meowed softly and shook her head.

She could felt that Cale was being sincere, but she had to make sure first. She couldn't rashly decide and put her brother in danger.

"Okay then. Let's meet at the usual place tomorrow. I need to feed that guy." Cale got up and signaled Choi Han to follow him. "I'm done, let's go."

Cale chose not to help Choi Han, because he knew Choi Han wouldn't want his help more than needed. He only followed Cale because it would be easier to report to the Count about Harris village that way.

When they reached the residential area, Cale took another gulp of the alcohol in his hand. 'Ugh. I'm so nervous.'

The action though caused the citizens to step further away from Cale.

Choi Han stopped his step, looking at the back of the drunk noble. 'Is something wrong with him? Why would the people avoiding this guy? Should I really trust him?'

Cale noticed that Choi Han had stopped so he spoke to reassure him. "Hmm, are you worried because of their reactions? Don't worry, even if I am known as a Trash, my father is known to be a good count, he'll help you with your problem. So are you still coming?"

Cale avoided Choi Han's eyes, and continued his way. Choi Han didn't know why but he seemed to see some self-depreciation from the noble's eyes but it disappeared in a flash.

Choi Han followed after Cale, who walked slowly in his drunken steps.

(Tsuki: He's just being considerate of Choi Han who sprained his ankle and shouldn't walk fast. 😝😝😝)

"Young master." The guards at the entrance of the estate quickly bowed and greeted Cale while staring warily at Choi Han.

"He's my guest." Cale said before walking in.

Two knights followed Cale and Choi Han.

Cale frowned. "You guys don't have to follow."

The knights flinched at the order, but one of them still decided to follow Cale and Choi Han and escorted them to the entrance of the residence.

'Hmm, they do their duty well. They didn't leave me alone with a stranger even when I said he's my guest.' Cale nodded to himself.

"Welcome back, young master." Ron greeted Cale, but his smile turned stiff, he looked straight at the young man behind Cale.

Choi Han was also looking at Ron. His hand quickly reached for his sword handle. Cale could see the invisible spark and was afraid to leave them alone now.

"Follow me." Cale called out to Choi Han and led him to Beacrox's workplace.

"Young master, I could take care of your guest for you if you tell me what is needed. You don't have to do it yourself."

"It's okay, Ron. Tell Hans to prepare a room for him."

Someone approached Cale as they were talking. "Young master, how could I do my duty when you didn't even come home to eat? You also returned after drinking. Do you still want dinner?"

"Why is everyone so nagging today? It's not like it's the first time I've gone out to drink." Cale looked at Hans and lifted the bottle of wine in his hand.

"Aaack!" Hans couldn't help but raised his hands to cover his head on reflex.

He knew the young master behaved differently yesterday, but seeing him drunk still triggered the reflex reactions.

Silence filled the whole hallway.

Cale rolled his eyes and scoffed at Hans's exaggerated reaction. His ears rang from Hans's shout, so he looked at Hans in annoyance.

Hans's face turned completely red from embarrassment, he bowed to apologize. "I apologize for my unsightly behavior."

"Put this away. Hmm, I might actually throw the bottle at you next time." Cale said jokingly.

Hans turned a little pale at the comment. Choi Han who witnessed everything, frowned at Cale.

"Ahem. You could go prepared the room for my guest now." Cale felt that he might have gone too far with scaring this poor guy. "Also requested my father's audience for my guest."

"Yes, sir."

When Cale opened the door to kitchen #2, what he saw made him getting goosebumps. Beacrox was sharpening his knife with a smile on his usual stoic face.

'How scary that his smile resembles his old man, totally vicious, especially with that knife in his hand.' Cale gulped his saliva. "Beacrox, please give him something to eat."

"Excuse me?" Beacrox raised his eyebrow.

"He's hungry. Give him something to eat." Cale repeated. "Actually, I'm hungry too. I haven't have dinner yet. Please make me some steaks. Your steaks are tasty."

The knife in Beacrox's hand shook a little, before he answer. "As you instructed."

Thinking about the delicious steak, Cale had temporarily forgot that it was not a good idea to leave Choi Han with Ron and Beacrox at the moment. "Mn. I'll go back to my room to take a shower then."

Ron was making sure that Cale was gone before took out his hidden dagger and aimed for Choi Han's neck. Beacrox also slashed his knife at the same time, though both attacks failed.

Well, this is the situation only the three involved individuals knew about.

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Tsuki: Hope that everyone like it. Do let me know how you like it. Enjoy!