Nodding his head, the red-haired boy watched as his father's butler walked out of his room before turning his gaze to the pair that stood before him, noting the amused smile on the older man. Cale couldn't help but recall the night they met, only for him not to fall asleep for the whole night.
Which was why he had missed his morning training and decided he wanted a good tea time to calm down, before meeting the people Astraea had arranged for him. However, the pleasant morning was ruined by the arrival of the head butler, with the odd old man and a youngster.
He couldn't help but flatten his lips into a firm line, displaying his displeasure at how efficient his older sworn sister could be when she was truly dedicated. Although he knew she was concerned for him, considering how much she knew him, he still wanted to complain about it somehow.
Maybe writing it down in his diary? That doesn't seem to be a bad idea, but first.
He looked at the pair and spoke lazily. "How did you get in contact with her?"
He hell sure wasn't going to let any threat go anywhere near his godmother's family and the Henituse Family.
Ron Molan smiled benignly, speaking politely. "Lady Elentiya has recruited us to serve the young master until coming of age."
Cale almost asked another question. Luckily, he didn't, as he connected the usage of different names easily. In the end, he didn't need to worry about his godmother's family at all, huh?
He was satisfied, just a bit.
He scoffed, knowing the meaning behind the old man's words. He waved his hand as he added a sugar cube to his tea, stirring it slowly.
"Guess as much. And this is…"
Ron chuckled and introduced his son. "Vicross Molan, Young Master Cale. He will be your chef."
Cale just nodded, and Vicross nodded back, face very stoic. He couldn't blame that since it seemed his newly appointed chef seemed to be a very professional one, and was that a dozen gloves in his pockets?
Cale turned his head; he didn't even want to know. He waved his hand, "Alright. Since that's the case, you two will be under me from now on."
Ron and Vicross bowed, but not in loyalty. Merely for their responsibility, they have duties to respect the conditions of their recruitment.
Cale doesn't need loyalty; all he needs is professionalism and unconditional concentration on their work.
Because he knew that a loyal heart from someone whose background he didn't know the background of wouldn't be sincere and long-lasting.
Or else his mother's servants wouldn't be so daring to steal what belonged to her.
⥢◈⥤
Apparently, his sworn older sister was very good at choosing people. Cale took a long sip of the sweetened tea, hiding his twitching lips as he tried to gulp down whatever this tea was.
He could feel his father's gaze boring into him nervously. The man was right to be nervous, Cale internally gloated, holding back those unsavory words no matter how much he wanted to say them.
It was funny. This was the first time they had a tea party together after his mother's death. If he were the same as before, he would have naively thought that his father was here to talk about them, about their relationship.
However, that boy died along with his mother long ago. Now? What was left was a boy who was too smart for his own good.
Cale placed the teacup on the saucer and looked at his father's brown eyes. "You want Ron and Vicross to help take care of the Countess and the baby when they are born?"
Dearth nodded, hands interlocked together on the table. That was not a show of nervousness, even if those eyes conveyed one. No, that act was an act that the man knew his son would give in to.
And Cale hated that his father was right. Because he couldn't selfishly keep Ron and Vicross to himself. Because Ron and Vicross were publicly known to be a pair of father and son who were chosen by this young master. Because the person responsible for giving the salary was the head of the family, the count.
Suddenly, Cale wondered if he mattered to his father. He looked behind the man, trying to find the old butler among the bushes. However, Ron was not here. That left a bitter note in his mouth as he spoke again.
"Ron and Vicross have only been serving me for a few months. Are you sure you can trust them with such heavy duties?"
And it was a wonder as well. How this duo got the attention of the former head butler before retiring, prompting the old man to recommend Ron to be the next head butler. Somehow. His corner of the mansion was recognized by someone who served at the main mansion.
Deruth smiled, speaking lightheartedly. "Elic has observed Ron for a long time before recommending. I believe in his judgment, Cale."
Elic? Wasn't that the current head butler? Does it mean that from the beginning, Cale was never meant to own anything? Not even his servants?
Cale breathed. The hand that held the cookie dug into the cookie with force. He lowered his head to lick his lips before nodding.
His voice was soft but emotionless as he obeyed.
"Alright, I'll tell Ron and Vicross of the current development."
Since then, he has heard nothing. He just watched as his father walked away from the corner of his eye, his eyes looking at the teacup in front of him.
He grabbed the teacup and flunked it.
Crash!
He was heaving, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the broken teacup.
"Fuck…"
Not noticing that Ron was observing from the beginning of the conversation to the end from behind a tree nearby.