My Another Half

Chapter 4: Small Encounter

It is a rare sight to see Cale join breakfast together with his family. Cale often skips breakfast and eats a brunch in his chamber. But today is an exception. It is time for Cale to lay a foundation for his plan. The first and the most important things. Money.

Cale eats the juicy meat in silence while Deruth awkwardly tries to have a conversation with Cale.

'Come to thinks of it, soon it will be 9 months and little Lily will be born. Perfect! At that time they will completely forget about me. Soon I have to go out and prepare for my plan.'

Cale unconsciously smiles, Basen who saw this drop his spoon out of shock. It is extremely a rare sight to see Cale smile. Even though Cale always has a cold demeanor, Basen knows that deep down Cale is a good person. He always takes care of his sibling in his own way. Sometimes he even quietly sorts out Violan's work to reduce her workload.

"Ehem... How is the food Cale?" ask Deruth after he saw Cale's rare smile.

"It's Delicious."

"... Do you need anything Cale?"

"Money."

"...what?"

"A lot of money."

"Yes, sure. I will prepare a lot of it and deliver it to you later."

"Okay."

Deruth doesn't care about Cale's cold demeanor, well, Deruth thinks that he definitely deserves the cold treatment. And because this is the first time Cale asks anything, Deruth will definitely fulfill it. Money is never a problem for a wealthy estate like Henituse. Probably Deruth will give Cale allowance that can fill mountain with gold. It was Deruth way to make amends.

Cale shock when he received the check from Hans, a new competent deputy butler, and is personally assigned by Deruth to take care of Cale, make sure that Cale eat every meal. Not like he is complaining, but to Cale it is a funny situation. Family warm, love and care is something that Cale is not familiar with. After all of the shit both of his souls endures, his heart are bound to frozen. Deruth probably already lost his chance to melt Cale heart. In the first place, Deruth is the reason why Cale soul is almost perish.

Later that day, nobody notice that Cale already sneak out. Even though he is weak, but he is pretty agile. Maybe that is because of his other soul effect. He enters a shop called 'The Fragrance of Tea with Poetry', the owner of this shop, Billos, the bastard son of the 'Flynn Merchant's Guild' in the original story, Billos will help Choi Han and become the owner of the merchant guild.

"Welcome."

Billos know what kind of treatment Cale received when he was a child. He feels like he can relate since he is also someone that can't get along with his family. Cale looked at a pig-like man who welcome him in the counter. A wealthy bastard that his round face and full body resemble a piggy bank.
Cale took out a gold coin and put it on the counter as he ordered.

"I plan on staying on the third floor all day today and keep it a secret that I come here today."

Billos smile while stared at Cale whose hide his appearance with a cloak. Cale pretend that he didn't see this and pointed at the bookshelf.

"Any tea that is not bitter. Do you have novels or just poems?"

"Of course, we have a lot of novels as well, young master Cale."

"Then bring me the most interesting book and remember to keep it a secret that I come here."

"Yes, I understand."

Cale's put the gold coin onto Billos's hand. Cale turns away when Billos try to give a change.

"Just keep it, consider it as a tip."

"...But it is still too much."

"I have a lot of money. Ah! I just remember, do you have any spatial bag?"

"Yes, I have a few."

"Perfect! I would like to buy one."

"I can just give it to you, young master. The money you give me is more than enough."

"Suit yourself then."

It is already dawn when Cale goes out from Billos shop, It is much safer for Cale to roam around because most of the people already go back home. Cale record all the layouts in the Henituse territory and found out that there is an antique book shop in a small corner.

'Tomorrow I will check that store. Maybe I can find any clue or information.'

The sky was already dark when he finishes walking around the territory.

'I should go back now before Hans realize that I was gone.'

Cale goes back in hurry and accidentally bumps into two-man. Cale flinches when they look at each other. The old man smiles benignly while the other just stare viciously at Cale that makes him flinch more.

'The old man's gaze is really scary. The other one is no joke either.'

"Sorry."

Cale quickly mumbles an apology and running away without looking back. He manages to come back home safely after that small incident. Little did he know that it will not be the last time they encounter each other.