"Normal speech"

'Thought'

Past narrative

"Past speech"

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There wasn't much reactions from the people inside the tea shop anymore. They simply got used to this harmless young master for the past few days.

And even gladly welcome his visit, because although he always spend his time alone on the third floor, he generously treated everyone to a cup of tea with his extra generous tip.

"Welcome, young master. I've another book ready for you as it seems you'll finish the other book soon. Shall I prepare the tea from last time?"

"Yes. Hmm, prepare 3 cups of tea today. Bring the other two later." Cale sat down at the counter to talk with Billos a little.

"What tea should I make for the other two?"

Cale grinned and told him what he wanted. He left a comment before he got up to go to the third floor. "I like the book I'm reading. I especially like the main character whose abilities are appreciated and the way he grows."

Billos was listening silently. Cale would comment on the books he read here from time to time this past few days.

Cale didn't wait to see what reaction Billos would have at his comment. He wanted to finish the book today. Cale enjoyed reading normally once in a while.

Billos followed soon after Cale sat down and read a few pages. He set the tea down in front of Cale and sat across from him.

Cale didn't lift his head to look away from the book. But he was thinking. 'I don't know much about him except that he will be the Flynn Merchant Guild Leader in the future. And from the way novel described him as a greedy person who was just trying beat his father and brother.

He wanted an acceptance from them. He wanted to make it so they had no choice but to accept him. So he was creating a situation where they have no choice but to introduce him as their son and brother.

He lives such an exhausting life. He must be feeling exhausted as well. I wanted to help speeding up the process of him becoming the guild leader. His greed made him seem more human.'

Billos had noticed that Cale is lost in his thought because the page wasn't flipping anymore. He decided to talk since Cale had stopped reading. "Young master, I've heard that you are going to head to the capital?"

Cale finished his thought when he saw that Billos decided to talk. He pretended to be annoyed anyway. It's a reflexive reactions towards people that wasn't family.

"Why are you still here? Are you that free?" Cale took a sip at the tea that had cooled down a little.

Billos smiled a little at the cute little act. He had interacted with the young master for quite a bit, so he had noticed some interesting things about this rumored trash.

He didn't mind and continued. "I will also be heading to the capital. I guess I will be following after you."

"So?" Cale focused on his book again and flipped the page, waiting for what Billos gonna say next.

"Young master, you seem to have changed to a completely different person. You're very different from your nickname." Billos tried carefully.

"Which one? Trash?" Cale had wanted to act nonchalantly, but a bitter smile appeared instead.

"Yes. That nickname, Trash. Haven't you always been a trashy young master?"

"Heh, you are so bold." Cale's bitter smile quickly turned into a faked gentle smile. "Billos"

Cale looked straight at Billos. He returned he favor. "You can't call your father 'father'. You can't call your brother 'brother'."

'Damn you. I was planning to sincerely help you but you just have to stab me where it hurts. You think that I wanted to act like a Trash, I hate the fact that I bring shame to my family name, too. If I don't stab you back a few times, I'm not Cale Henituse.'

Billos's gaze turned chilly at the obvious taunt back, however he also felt a few drops of cold sweat running down his back. 'He touches my sore spot in returns for touching his.'

Cale calmed down a little after returning the taunt. He was still going with the original plan, but maybe he would work this piggybank harder than original plan.

He looked at Billos and sharply asked. "Are you going to keep being the bastard? Are you satisfied with just that? I'm pretty sure you're not."

Cale closed his book and leaned back on his chair. He heard the sound of someone coming up the stairs, so he continued on with the expression that seemed to be thinking about the past.

"I've been acting as a Trash for 10 years, since I was 8." Cale looked past Billos's shoulder and see Choi Han and Ron. He could see them finished coming up the stairs and looked back at him.

Cale moved his eyes back to Billos and finished what he had planned to say. "It is fine to throw away something you've been doing for ten years." Cale's eyes turned very lively. "I won't live as a Trash forever."

Cale smiled. "Aren't you the same?"

The corner of Billos's lips started to move upward. He snickered silently before looking at Cale. "I am indeed tired of it."

"I told you so." Cale shrugged and gestured for Choi Han and Ron to come over.

Billos had finally noticed the two, he got up from his seat. "I guess, I will see you at the capital, young master."

Cale frowned at that statement. It would complicated his plan a little if they meet at the capital. He hated extra work on his brain. "Why bother?"

Billos respectfully bowed without answering. Ron, Choi Han and Billos made eyes contact, but they all just ignored each other afterward.

'Hmm, everything about their relationship seems very different from how the novel described. Did my presence did that?'

"Young master, are you close with that person?"

"No, we've only known each other for a few days." Cale shrugged. "Well I thought that Beacrox might accompanied you guys to buy stuffs but I guess he went back to his precious kitchen, as expected."

"... I see." Ron was deep in thought and wasn't pay attention to what Cale said about his son. He was still thinking about what Cale said to Billos a few moments ago.

"I guess rumors can't be trust, after all" Choi Han said with a smile.

Cale nodded at that statement. He advised Choi Han like how an adult teaching a child. "You have to confirm things with your own eyes to know what is true and what is not. You can't blindly believe a rumor."

At that time, Billos came back with another two cups of tea. "Should I give these cups to the two gentlemen?"

"Yes." Cale replied and opened his book to read again. He felt that he couldn't finish this book if he stopped one more time.

Ron looked oddly at Cale after seeing a cup of lemon tea in front of him. Cale felt his back chilled for a few seconds.

Cale gulped his saliva silently. "I just wanted you to try some yourself, since you always have me drink it everyday. Isn't it good for your health?"

Cale didn't dare to look at Ron's face. 'It's just a little prank. Is he angry?'

Ron was helpless. He just couldn't keep up with his young master sudden changes. 'He always catch me off guard nowadays.'

Ron drank his lemon tea without any complaints. But the sound of him putting the cup down is a little bit loud in the silent room.

Choi Han, who currently enjoy the tea that reminded him of what he used to have once in a while when he was still with his family in Korea, frowned. "Couldn't you enjoy your tea a little bit quietly?"

Cale was trying hard not to laugh. He used the book to hide his face from the two. 'Haa~ only this elder with innocent teenage face could scold Ron like that.'

Ron revealed a smirk after seeing how Choi Han take a peek at Cale before speaking in a more respectful tone with him. 'This punk never been this respectful when they are alone.'

Ron recalled what happened right after this punk won against everyone in the knight brigade.

Beacrox asked him to fight him again. "Fight me."

"I will not fight against someone who is trying to cut someone else with a cooking knife."

"Ho. What a funny punk. Do I need to bring around a bloodied sword like you?"

Choi Han closed his eyes for a moment before opened them back up and responded to Beacrox as if he was confirming himself. "I will be someone who protects. He said I could I do."

"What the heck are you talking about?"

Ron had watched how Choi Han and his son bickering like cute little children before he dragged them both to buy the stuffs that the young master has instructed through deputy butler Hans.

'I know who this punk talked about now. Though, I really never expect to hear such a precious words from the young master.'

"I won't live as a Trash forever."

That was what Ron was thinking about, but from Cale's perspective, it looked like Ron was giving Choi Han a very vicious smile.

Cale smiled in satisfaction when he saw that there was a scapegoat to distract Ron's attention. He subconsciously spoke. "Sweet teas are great."

Ron flinched at Cale's word. However, he smiled genuinely afterward.

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Tsuki: aah I ended up changing everything from the drafts I wrote again lol.

Well, please comment. It's very appreciated. Enjoy!