Close Call [LCF Reacts to TBOH]

Chapter 3: Alcoholism

Time is an illusion.

Cale was so sure of it whenever he woke up, staring at the mirror, seeing his face looking forever haggard, courtesy of his best friend in the whole wide world: alcohol.

The said drink had been his closest companion for as long as he could remember. Or, if you want to be precise, it had been around 1 year after he saw Basen being ridiculed by their own vassals.

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Basen's eyes widened in shock.

He was surprised enough that Cale had been consuming Alcohol from such a young age, but also, he was shaken at the fact that him being bullied might have been one of the turning point in his brother's life.

He wasn't ready to see any of this, but it's not like him, protesting to it would make any difference remembering that this whole thing has happened in the past..

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Speaking of that day, Cale, who had been a noble his whole life, knew that the petite boy, his new younger brother, would not stand a chance living in such an environment.

To be honest, at that moment, he couldn't help but think about how selfish the newlyweds were. He also felt that he'd been misled by the old bedtime stories that his mother used to read to him to help him sleep.

Love was not sweet, beautiful, or kind.

Love is not the answer.

In fact, since his father called this whole thing an act of love, then to him, love is being selfish towards others for your own sake.

He didn't want to understand the adults' perspective, and frankly, why should he?

He was just a child.

And now, not only did he feel betrayed by his own father, but he also pitied this younger boy who was now his new brother...

'It's like throwing a piece of meat to a hungry pack of lions.'

Young Cale was enraged.

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'Damn, the Count really didn't think this through, did he?'

Eric, who has always sympathized with the Henituse County ever since he heard of the tragedy that befell them, couldn't help but shake his head as he felt sorry for Cale.

He just realized that the war was not the start of the problems for the redhead, no. Cale was forced to grow up and mature faster due to his circumstances, despite that being exactly what Deruth wished to avoid.

Deruth remarried so quickly, despite understanding the commotion it would cause, because he wanted to fill the vacant spot that Jour left behind. This action might have been taken after a lot of consideration. However, being close to Cale's age, Eric can completely understand the turmoil inside that tiny body of the redhead.

He figures it would feel even worse for the actual boy of that time if he, a young adult and an outsider, feels this awful just thinking about it.

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The anger builds up within him, and it swirls even more the longer he watches on the sidelines, seeing how his new 'family' is being treated by those of lesser status.

"Those rascals!" They dare!

Even though Cale still cannot accept how easily his father replaced his mother, and possibly himself too, it's not right to treat anyone like this.