Chapter 12.5

Seeing Cale pretending to be annoyed made Billos smile. He did not even try to hide it. This really was a very, very interesting young master. However, Billos could tell that he had a pretty sharp mind. “I will be heading to the capital as well. I guess I will be following after you.” “And?” Cale already knew about it. In order for Billos and Choi Han to have an encounter in volume 3, Billos needed to head for the capital soon as well. Billos had a stoic expression as he asked Cale, who was sipping his tea and looking out the window, a question. “Young master, it seems like you have changed.” Seeing Cale turn to look at him, Billos started to smile. Cale motioned with his chin for Billos to continue. “You seem different than your nickname.” “Which one? Trash?” Billos could see the corners of Cale’s lips starting to go up. He definitely was different. This Cale was not the trash that he knew about. That trash did not know how to make such an expression. It was a slightly bitter smile. ‘...Should I have gotten a bit drunk and broken a chair or something?’ Billos did not know what Cale was thinking. “Yes. You are right. Trash. Haven’t you always been a trashy young master?” Did he not have any fear? Cale could not help but wonder, as Billos said such a thing to the Count’s son, the firstborn of the ruler of the territory. Was Billos the one who had something to drink? But Cale did not want to fight with Billos. Billos was someone who was going to take over a large merchant guild. And Billos was being sincere. He was not smiling, he was actually sincerely asking the question. ‘Haven’t you always been a trashy young master?’ Cale decided to answer the question. It was not a hard question to answer anyways. It was easier than figuring out how to make money when you have no money. “Billos.” Cale had a smile on his face but did not laugh as he called out to Billos. “You can’t call your father, ‘father.’ You can’t call your brother, ‘brother.’” Billos’s gaze turned chilly. He started to take notice of the young master in front of him who had no problem touching his sore spot. Just like he had touched Cale’s sore spot, he was returning the favor by touching his most painful sore spot. Cale just silently made eye contact with Billos for a bit. The rain started to pour even harder outside. Cale broke the silence and started to smile as he asked. “Are you going to keep being the bastard? Are you satisfied with that?” Billos could feel Cale’s sharp gaze on him. “I know you’re not.” Cale leaned back on the chair and continued on with an expression that seemed to be thinking about the past. “I’ve acted like trash for about ten years, ever since I started when I was 8-years-old.” ‘Wow. Now that I think about it, Cale Henituse has been doing trashy things since he was 8 years old. He started drinking when he was 15. What a guy.’ Cale thought about the past of the original Cale that was present in his mind and started to smile. That smile looked scary to Billos. At that moment, a small noise cut through the rain to reach Cale and Billos. Squeak. Squeak. It was the sound of someone coming up the stairs. Cale looked past Billos’s shoulder to the entrance of the third floor. He could see someone’s head. Black hair. It was Choi Han. Behind him was Ron. Cale had told a servant to tell Choi Han to come to this tea shop later in the day. Cale moved his gaze away from the two of them and started to speak to finish his conversation with Billos. Choi Han and Ron finished coming up the stairs and looked toward Cale as he started to speak. “Billos.” Billos’s stoic face felt pretty chilly. “It’s okay to throw away something you’ve been doing for around ten years.” Cale’s eyes started to look more alive as he continued. “I can’t live as trash forever.” Of course, Cale would still spend all the money he wants and do whatever pleases him, even if he wasn’t trash. He was going to live peacefully and enjoy life as the son of a rich noble. Although that was different than the direction of Billos’s life, what mattered was that both of them were not going to continue living the way they had been living. “Aren’t you the same?” The corner of Billos’s lips started to slowly move upward. He then bowed and started to snicker. After silently snickering for a bit, Billos raised his head up and looked toward Cale. “I am indeed tired of it.” Billos was laughing as he said he was tired of it. “See? I told you.” Cale shrugged his shoulders and motioned for Choi Han and Ron to come over. At that moment, Billos got up from the seat and started to speak. “Young master.” “What?” “I will see you at the capital.” Cale started to frown. It would be complicated if they met at the capital right away. “Why bother?” Cale motioned for Billos to go away, and Billos respectfully bowed before leaving. Ron, Choi Han, and the descending Billos made eye contact, but they all just ignored each other. ‘Good.’ Cale welcomed that scene. Choi Han and Billos just barely ran into each other. It was just like in the book. Cale started to smile at the other two people with satisfaction. “Ron, I knew you would come with him. According to Hans, Beacrox went with you too, but I presume he went back to the kitchen. He has a strong sense of responsibility for that kitchen.” “Young master, are you close with that person?” Cale shrugged his shoulders at the unexpected question from Ron. “No?” “...I see.” Cale pushed it aside as nothing important, but Ron definitely heard it. He heard Cale say that he cannot keep living as a trash. Cale stopped looking at Ron whose response trailed off and made eye contact with Choi Han. “I guess you can’t trust the rumors.” ‘What the hell is he saying?’ Cale ignored Choi Han’s words. At that moment, Billos brought up the other two cups of tea that Cale had ordered earlier. “Should I give these cups to these two gentlemen?” “Yes.” Cale started to smile again. “I ordered them in advance.” Cale personally picked up the teacups and put one in front of each person. In front of Choi Han was the tea he just randomly ordered from the menu. As for Ron. “I specially ordered this for you since it seems like you like it a lot. Why else would you bring it for me every day?” It was warm lemon tea. Cale could see Ron looking odd and felt the biggest satisfaction he had felt all day. ***** Hong Gil-dong was a Korean outlaw during the Joseon Dynasty who had a similar story of being an illegitimate son.