Chapter Text
Cale Henituse was missing.
When Choi Han first heard the news, he couldn't help but sneer. He remembered the redhead well. When Choi Han had arrived at Henituse to ask for the Count's help in giving a funeral for the villagers of Harris Village who had been killed by assassins, someone had led him to Cale Henituse, the eldest son of the count.
But instead of finding a wise eldest son, Choi Han had found a redhead who was drinking in the daylight. If that was not bad enough, the bastard dared to say the lives of the people of Harris Village were worth less than the cup of alcohol in his hand.
Choi Han had felt something snap at that time and all the rage and despair he had been feeling had poured out as he had beaten up that man.
After that, Choi Han was certain that after the people who had destroyed Harris Village, Cale Henituse was the first name on his ‘Most hated list’.
Considering Ron, the butler who had raised Cale ever since he was born, had chosen to abandon Cale, it was obvious that Cale Henituse was a scum and rotten to the core.
So Choi Han really didn't care about the news about Cale Henituse being missing.
“He's probably out drinking somewhere. Fucking trash…”
***
Choi Han didn't have much time to pay attention to news of Cale Henituse. He had other things to do. He had to accompany Rosalyn to the Breck Kingdom and then come to Roan and deal with the other issues about uncovering the crime in Harris Village and the attack in the capital.
So it was only after he returned to Roan after months that he learnt that Cale Henituse had still not been found and the Count of Henituse was spending his family's enormous wealth to leave no stone unturned in finding his son.
Truthfully, Choi Han felt bad for the Count. He was a decent man who helped Choi Han even when Cale was beaten up so badly by him. To see that man going through so much hardship because of a trash like Cale really made Choi Han feel bad for him.
He hoped Cale would be found, at least for the sake of the Henituse family who were good people, much better than Cale Henituse deserved.
***
A few days later, Choi Han was called to the Crown Prince Alberu’s office along with the rest of his group.
“The Henituse family has asked me to ask for your aid in finding Cale Henituse. The count is even ready to become my backing in politics as long as he can get even one lead on his son. What do you think?”
For a moment no one spoke. While Choi Han hated Cale Henituse, he owed Count Henituse for the generosity he showed the swordmaster in the case of Harris Village.
“I think it's a good idea. We need funds and the Henituse family will make good backing for you as well, Your Highness.” Rosalyn was the first to speak up.
Ron nodded. “Count Deruth is someone who cares for his family. If we can find Cale Henituse, he will remain loyal to you steadfastly.”
No one pointed out that the man Ron was speaking to casually about was the child he has raised for eighteen years. It seemed accepted by everyone in the room that no matter what Cale Henituse did, he would never become someone who could receive anyone's affection or loyalty.
Since there was nothing to lose, it was decided that the group would head to the territory of Henituse and start looking for Cale Henituse after meeting the Count.
***
The territory of Henituse was tense. Everyone in the capital seemed to understand that the Count's estate was in turmoil due to the missing first born.
As they walked through the streets to gauge the atmosphere, the group could hear the commoners talking in hushed tones.
“Tsk tsk. Our Count-nim is spending so much money and effort on finding a wastrel like that trash…”
“I heard one of the maids say he ran away with a woman…”
“The streets have been peaceful ever since he disappeared…”
All of this seemed enough to understand that aside from the Count's family, no one really missed Cale Henituse. It wasn't really a surprise considering Cale Henituse's impressive record of being a trash for a decade straight.
Seeing as there was no useful information to be gained in the streets, they all headed to the estate.
Ron and Beacrox didn't even bat an eyelid at returning to the place from where they had left some months ago. They had been loyal as long as they stayed in Henituse. That was more than enough for them to do.
Inside, it was Hans, who had now become Head Butler, who led the group to the Count's office. Ron felt a bit complex being led by Hans when, just months ago, it was Ron doing that task.
Pushing down his complicated feelings, he waited until a weak voice allowed them to enter the office.
Inside, they found Deruth Henituse who looked more dead than alive. His cheeks were sunken in and he had lost a lot of weight. His eyes were bloodshot and sunken like he hadn't slept in ages. There were obvious traces of tear burns near his eyes, indicating just how much time he had spent grieving the loss of his missing son.
As Deruth's eyes landed on Ron and Beacrox, rage, hatred and something resembling guilt rose in his eyes.
Aside from Deruth, there were Violan and Basen in the room. Both looked much dishevelled than Ron had ever seen them though they were at least better than Deruth.
Since three out of five in the group had less than savoury impression on the Henituse family in relation to Cale, Rosalyn stepped forward to convey Alberu's agreement to help in finding Cale.
From the blank expression on Deruth's face, it seemed like he couldn't really register all that was being said but then he exhaled deeply. In a broken voice, he spoke.
“...I will convey my gratitude to his highness when I contact him to finalise the deal. For now, I will provide you whatever resources you need to find C-Cale.”
His voice cracked when it came to saying his son's name. Ron knew Deruth Henituse was hardly winning any awards for Father of the Year but no one could deny that the Count loved his family.
And no one could deny that if Cale Henituse wasn't found alive, Deruth Henituse would die. Even now, death was heavily cloaking his countenance.
Everyone took their seats while Hans brought in some tea and refreshments so that they could talk comfortably.
It was Rosalyn who led the conversation.
“Count Henituse, could you please tell us when Young Master Cale went missing the details around it?”
Deruth inhaled deeply before speaking in a grim tone. “Cale…he was recovering…”
Choi Han felt a pang of guilt at the words. He was the cause of those injuries. As much as he hated the bastard for insulting the people of Harris Village, now that he was more rational, he knew he had gone overboard to beat up Cale like that.
In the meantime, Deruth continued speaking.
“He stayed in his room mostly due to his injuries. The doctor had come to see him…Hans went to give Cale his dinner but Cale sent him away. Next day, when Hans went to wake him up…Cale…he was gone…”
Deruth's voice trembled and unspoken horrors were visible in his eyes.
Where was Cale? What happened to him? Was he kidnapped? Did he run away? Is he hurt?
…Is he even alive…?
Violan held Deruth's hand to console him but they could see the way her hand trembled. She was forcing herself to be strong because Deruth was already crumbling.
“Did you find any traces which could indicate if he left on his own accord?”
Violan shook her head. “All of his things were untouched in his room. None of the guards or servants saw him leave and he was too injured to leave by himself.”
“He could have packed some things beforehand and escaped at night with some potions to heal his injuries.”
Even though Choi Han put forward the idea, no one seemed convinced of the idea. Cale Henituse did not particularly give the image of someone who could pull through such an escape.
“...Our next option might be him being kidnapped.”
Immediately the air in the office turned cold.
But it was still something that needed discussion.
Basen spoke up. “We have not received any demand for ransom. If…if hyung-nim has been kidnapped…we are not sure what their purpose is.”
“Could it be that someone who hated Cale Henituse kidnapped him to get revenge? He has a lot of enemies from what I gather.”
“Cale hasn't hurt anyone.” Deruth sharply cut off Choi Han. The blank look in his eyes was replaced by a fierce look. “Cale has no enemies who would go so far to hurt him when he has not hurt anyone.”
Thinking that the Count was speaking like this because he was burdened by his feelings for his son, Rosalyn tried to speak gently.
“After receiving your request, we looked around and found a lot of people who did not haboir good feelings towards the Young Master. It's possible that Young Master offended someone and-”
“Ron.” Deruth interrupted, turning towards his former butler. Until now, he had ignored the presence of the father-son duo but now he looked at the man.
“You served Cale for his entire life. In the time you knew him, did you hear even one instance of Cale hurting anyone?”
Ron lowered his eyes a bit to recall all the messes Cale had made for a decade. And after some time, he had to shake his head. “No. There have been enough reports of Young Master-nim causing trouble but not one of him having harmed anyone.”
Lock raised an eyebrow. He had read up on Cale Henituse too since they heard they had to look for him. “Isn't Cale Henituse a bad mark? Maybe he just couldn't hurt anyone because of that?”
But it was clear that Rosalyn had some kind of realisation dawn on her as she slowly shook her head. “...No. If there was at least one or two reports of Cale Henituse having hurt someone, i would have said that he was just a bad mark. But with a decade long track record of bad behaviour and no incident of hurting anyone are contradictory to each other.”
Beacrox nodded. He looked like he had a sour taste in his mouth but he still spoke. “Probability demands that at least one of his throws would have hit the mark. But his throws varied from being nowhere near the mark to just brushing past his victims. They were just enough to brand him as a nuisance but not as a violent thug.”
For the first time, Choi Han’s group seemed to realise that something was amiss about this whole situation.
In such an atmosphere, Deruth spoke up in a weak voice. “Cale, that child…he is a kind child…he is a child who instead of crying at his mother's death held his weak father and consoled him. He…has not hurt anyone…so please. Please find my child. I beg you.”
The Count's voice was filled with such heart rending sorrow as he lowered his head in front of Choi Han’s group that they needed a moment to gather themselves before they could speak.
“...there's no way someone who was drunk out of his mind could make such calculations about whatever he was throwing. So either the most impossible of probability worked in Cale Henituse's favour or…”
The other proposition was so unbelievable that Rosalyn couldn't even complete her sentence.
It was Violan who finished the sentence. “Cale was pretending to be drunk.”
A weak smile appeared on the Countess’ face at the shocked looks on the hero group. “Yes, we have been thinking about all this over and over again. When we look at Cale's behaviour in detail, it is obvious…Cale…he was pretending to be drunk. And since all of his misdemeanors seem to stem from him being drunk, he was never the villain everyone believes he is…”
“...why…why would he pretend…?” Lock frowned.
For a moment no one spoke.
It was Basen Henituse who started speaking in a trembling voice. “...when I joined the Henituse family…this is what hyung-nim said to me… ’You are part of the Henituse household. Remember that. No matter where you go, your last name is Henituse, you got that? Don’t you remember what father said? Listen to me unless you are an idiot. Tell people that the Henituse blood flows through you, no matter what.’ ... ’Shut up and do as I say. Otherwise, you won't be able to live in this house. Do you think the cousins and the others would leave you alone? Are you going to act like an idiot?’ ”
Basen took a shuddering breath before spitting out the rest of the words. “ ‘You need to protect your mother. At least you…’ ”
Deruth's shoulders shook as he cried softly. This time, Violan was unable to console him as her own eyes were filled with tears and self reproach and desparation.
Basen’s voice cracked as he spoke once more. “Please…find my hyung-nim…i-i have yet to thank him and apologize to him for everything…”
As Choi Han stared at the three bowed heads in front of him, it felt like he had been doused in cold water.
He could picture Cale Henituse and the hateful expression on his face when he had said all those vile things about Harris Village.
Cale Henituse wasn't drunk at that time? Cale Henituse had tried to warn his step brother about the extended family and convinced him that Basen was a Henituse? Because he was worried his step mother will be in danger?
Choi Han had heard from Deruth when he has last met the Count that Cale's mother had travelled to Harris Village and she had died on that journey when Cale was eight years old.
All of these complex thoughts muddled together to form one clear thought.
Cale Henituse…he had deliberately made everyone thinks he was trash because he cared for his family.
At the same time, Ron felt like he had slammed on the head with a hammer.
For the first time, he was stunned silent like this.
Cale Henituse, the child he ha raised from infancy…how could he have been so blind to everything that child was.
To think an eight years old child had managed to fool him, Ron Molan.
…No.
Cale had not fooled him, not truly. It's just that, Ron had chosen to remain blind. He had closed his eyes, covered his ears and silenced his tongue towards Cale because he was scared of becoming close to this family because he knew Beacrox wanted to leave this place one day.
Ron had tended to Cale while ignoring every sign of distress from him. Because now that he was looking back on it all, it all seemed to obvious.
The way a sweet smart child turned into trash all of a sudden. Why did that happen? Why did Cale start drinking daily but never drank in front of his siblings? Why did Cale never create a mess in front of his family?
As these thoughts revolved in his head, Ron couldn't help the part of himself that reminded him of how Cale had always treated Ron properly.
In this whole estate, aside from his family, Ron was the only one whom Cale treated well.
And in return for that, Ron abandoned Cale.
‘No. I had abandoned him long before that…’
Beacrox wanted to argue that the points the Henituse family was putting forward were all favourable for Cale because they were all drowning in grief.
But he had to hold himself back after seeing the expression on Ron's face. Just a glance told him that there was truth in the words he had just heard.
And wasn't that painful?
Because that meant Beacrox had stood aside and let Choi Han beat up Cale.
It was just now that Beacrox was realising how young Cale was. He was just eighteen years old.
He was eight when he lost his mother, younger than Beacrox had been when he had lost his own mother.
As much as he wanted to deny it, Beacrox had to admit it. He has hated Cale Henituse because even after losing his mother, Cale Henituse had his home and family. He also seemed to have all the time and attention of Beacrox’s own father, Ron.
That's why Beacrox had felt a sense of satisfaction when Ron had agreed to leave Henituse in the middle of the night, leaving everything behind.
Leaving Cale behind.
A dreadful thought emerged in his mind at that moment.
What if…Cale Henituse ran away because Ron left…?
As the group sat in stunned silence, only Deruth Henituse's weak cries filled the room.
“Please find my son…please give me my heart…my child…please…”