Chapter Text
Everyone in the family knows that the young master Cale Henituse has a weak body. Although he may have possessed various ancient powers, he is often seen coughing out blood and fainting whenever he uses his ancient powers, and without these powers he is hundreds times weaker than his allies. After all, he is someone who is said to be even weaker than the two Cat children he picked up that one fateful day.
So yes, everyone knows the young master is weak, at least physically. That is no problem for his family or his servants, for what should they complain about, when their young master is fine as he is? Cale Henituse is crafty and intelligent, sly yet kind in his own way. The ancient powers are enough to fill in the lack of martial arts training he won’t ever receive, and his family is more than willing to protect and take care of him in return.
All in all, there is already a pretty good system running in place.
Cale may do his own thing for his own goal and for the sake of his people, and his people, in return, shall support and protect him. Seeing him cough out blood and fainting often is very frustrating indeed, never mind worrying, but that is exactly why they work hard and train harder, just so they can support him better, just so he can faint less, please, for the love of god, don’t faint for two or three weeks anymore .
But alas, some things are beyond their control.
Like the young master getting sick, for example.
They don’t know the real trigger over this sudden illness, but they have to admit that they have been busy lately. What with the recent battle against the White Star and Arm--in which Cale coughed out a lot of blood, again --as well as other business and preparations they’ve been doing from morning to yet another morning, it might be a blessing that the young master hasn’t surrendered himself into a two-week coma yet once again.
Nevertheless, the fact is this: Cale Henituse is sick.
Specifically…
“His body is too warm, nya,” Hong fusses, his paw tapping gently on the human’s flushed cheek. “I think he got warmer than before, nya?”
“Really?!” A black dragon flies over from where he’s been perched near Cale’s covered feet, his paw pressed on Cale’s forehead. “Y-You’re right! His body is hotter than before! Isn’t that bad?! Human, are you feeling hot? Is it too hot in there?! Should we take off the blanket?!”
As if on cue, the thick blanket covering the young master is lifted by magic, but it soon halts awkwardly as Cale groans.
“No… It’s cold…” The young master curls up on the bed, as if chasing after some warmth, and Raon can only stutter in response.
“C-Cold? Human, you’re feeling cold? Then--Then let’s cover you back up!” And thus the blanket is covering the human’s body yet once again.
“He’s shivering, nya,” On comments from where she’s been quietly curled up near Cale’s neck. Her tail flicks as she gazes at the flushed neck worriedly. “Let’s keep him bundled up for now.”
“Right! Should I use warming magic on him too? Human, should I warm you up with magic? But his body is so hot already! He’s sweating but he feels cold?” The black dragon paces back and forth on the pillow above Cale’s head, the sight amusing if not for the worrying content. “Should I use warming magic or cooling magic?! What if I use warming magic and it makes him hotter?! Will the human explode?”
“E-Explode!” Hong stutters in shock. “That’s bad, Cale can’t explode!”
On smiles awkwardly, “let’s not make him explode.”
“Right! No exploding!” The dragon agrees.
“No exploding!” Hong whisper-yells.
“What’s this about an explosion?” The door opens revealing a red haired mage, and the children scramble to greet her.
“Smart Rosalyn! The human is cold but he’s hot!”
“I think his body got warmer, nya.”
The kittens jump off the bed to tap on Rosalyn’s boots, meowing in content when the mage rubs their heads affectionately. As is her nickname as bestowed to her by Raon, Rosalyn is calm in explaining the situation to the cute kids averaging nine years old.
“That’s because the young master is having a cold. It’s normal to feel cold when you have a high fever.” The mage approaches the bed then, her palm pressing gently on Cale’s forehead. Rosalyn starts to frown. “Though his temperature seems to have risen, as you said.” She wipes away some of the young master’s sweat, a weird feeling appearing in her stomach as she watches Cale who looks ten times weaker than his usual self. And his usual self is usually very pale and thin already. This is a new record, for sure.
“Then should I use warming magic on him, Smart Rosalyn?!”
“I don’t think there’s a need for that,” Rosalyn shakes her head, her lips can’t help but to quirk up fondly as the little dragon flies in a circle around her. “As long as the young master gets enough rest and meals, as well as medicine, he should be fine. In fact, Eruhaben-nim and I have just finished making a potion that can hel--....hmm?”
What cuts off her words is a slight movement near her palm, and it doesn’t take her too long to realize that it’s Cale who moved.
“Young master Cale?”
As expected, no answer comes from the sleeping young master. Instead, Cale simply groans weakly, shifting closer to Rosalyn’s palm that is now pressed near his cheek.
Said palm twitches in surprise when Cale nuzzles closer to it.
...Rosalyn can’t help but to think it’s irresponsible of her to feel a flutter in her heart when Cale does this.
The kids seem to be mesmerized as well, as they’re frozen in place, shaking eyes staring intently at their father figure who is still nuzzling Rosalyn’s palm.
...This reminds her a little bit of affectionate puppies… Is this why the butler Ron calls him as a puppy young master?... She supposes she can see it when the young master is like this. Though , her mind supplies, this is because he’s sick.
Then, Cale’s hands are grabbing hers, basically pressing her palm closer to his cheek. It’s so close she can feel each time he releases his breath. Unbidden, a small smile appears on the sleeping young master’s lips, the vision completed with his flushed cheeks and his ruffled hair, making a scenery as if that of a content maiden blushing after receiving affection.
Rosalyn nearly lets out an embarrassing noise.
Such… Such defenseless--!
Get it together, Rosalyn , the mage shakes her head. Young master Cale is sick.
Gently, hesitatingly, she pulls her hand away from Cale’s hold. The sleeping man’s brows furrow at the loss of warmth, and the sight is near heartbreaking that Rosalyn shoves her hands into her pockets to prevent an impulsive desire to rest her palm on Cale’s face once again.
“Ahem,” she coughs awkwardly, glancing at the kids whose gazes are still fixated on the sleeping man. The noise attracts their attention soon enough, though their eyes tell her enough that they will not let this incident go. They might end up telling this to everyone including Cale when he’s healthy and lucid.
If Rosalyn were less of a person she is right now, perhaps she would fear for the consequences. But the Rosalyn right now is too focused on her rapidly beating heart.
The young master is too cute .
Coughing once again, Rosalyn doesn’t let her mind wander more as she speaks. “We should let the young master rest. Come, it’s time for lunch.” In fact, she did come in to call the children for lunch in the first place. “When young master Cale wakes up, we’ll feed him meals and potions to help him recover, okay?”
Thankfully, the children listen to her easily enough, quickly rushing towards the dining room as if summoned by Beacrox’s cooking. Sighing in relief, she lets her gaze wander back towards the sleeping young master. Slowly, she adjusts the thick blanket to cover his body more properly, her hand once again patting Cale’s red hair a few times.
As if by instinct, Cale leans on her touch yet once again.
The sight makes her smile.
“Rest well, young master Cale,” she says, before she walks out of the room to join the others for lunch. Hopefully, the young master would wake after they’re done with lunch. That way, they can feed him his meal and his medicine.
After that, he can rest some more and get better, she nods to herself.
Yes, considering his situation right now, it would be great indeed if Cale Henituse can rest some more. In fact, she is sure this family--including her--would be in agreement about this. After all, for someone who keeps on saying he wants to be a slacker, he works a lot--often too much to the point where everyone can’t help but to worry and wish to glue him on the bed--and look where that got him? Coughing out blood, fainting for days and even weeks, and now sporting a huge fever.
Sigh.
Cale would be lucky if he’s not tied up on the bed indefinitely after this.
Shaking her head, she continues her walk towards the dining room. The promise of Beacrox’s delicious cooking is truly tempting no matter how many times she’s eaten it. She hopes the young master will wake up soon, so he can eat his meal and his medicine.
Beacrox’s cooking has always been a favorite of his, after all.
Indeed, by the time they have finished with their own lunch, Cale is up and about.
The existing keywords being: up and about.
A missing keyword being: kitchen .
Cale Henituse is in the kitchen, his hand holding a potato and frowning at it as if it has offended him and his ancestors.
At the kitchen’s entrance, Beacrox is standing rock still.
“...Young master-nim.”
...Why is he in the kitchen?!