One Last Chance

Chapter 1 : The Ring

At a peaceful day that filled with soothing birds chirping and the sound of the wind brushing the trees' bushes, there's a certain red-headed man sitting in his room while writing words by words on a book.

“Haa..."

He sighed.

His pale fingers were running through his shiny red hair. His reddish brown eyes looking tiredly at the book where he just keep filling with thousands of words.

He wrote everything he could remember so he can read it again and not forget about it since it was important to him.

His memories that he could not and do not forget.

His timeline which have filled with numerous tragedies.

Importantly, his family.

He could not risk to lose them. Not again. Not after he's well aware of the future now. Not after he knew hell is waiting for him.

“Young Master, may I enter?" a voice snap the redhead out of his trance immediately. This action caused him to shove his book somewhere crowded so the assassin won't find it weird.

“Enter," he said, allowing the butler to entering his room.

Cale look at Ron with stoic expression while waiting patiently for what the butler might say.

With his benign smile, Ron started to speak. “The Count is requesting you for a lunch together, Young master."

Cale's eyes darkened upon hearing those words entering both of his ears.

He is not sure if he's ready to face them. Knowing they're safe right now is enough for him. Facing them is not necessary. It is not the right time yet.

“I will be eating in my room", he said. "Tell that to the Count."

“Very well, Young Master. This Ron will make sure to inform the Count."

“Good. Now, leave."

The butler lower half of his body to the front before walking out of the room.

Cale have no intention to be mean. However, his trash reputation needed to be exactly the same in the past so he could move freely without any suspicion.

He also did not want to be in the same room with someone who had been betrayed him in the past, even if it was unintended.

Being distracted before anything happens surely is a doable.

•••

In the middle of the night, where most of his family have go to bed, Cale Henituse wasn't found in his room.

The servants has figured it out that maybe the noble was out for another drink. They turn a blind eye. Most of them.

However, it makes Cale focused on his goal. It is how he have expected days before.

“...It's been so long, mother."

He, with his brown cloak, standing in front of his mother's grave before kneeling before the tombstone with a smile. A sad, longing smile.

“Have you been well up there?" his voice was very gentle as if he was talking to a child. However, there's no one will give his question an answer.

He then sit down on the green ground and continue his one-sided conversation.

“Mother, I'm seventeen now. Are you proud of me?" He asked.

“Ah. Of course not. I've failed you."