Chapter Text
Cale wasn't supposed to be here today. Choi Han had already instructed him not to be here this week, as he wouldn't be here either.
Choi Han knew if Cale was left unattended, he would linger around that tree.
That damn tree attracts Cale like a magnet. Even after Cale told him that he just felt a familiar warmth from it, it didn't calm Choi Han even a little bit. More like it made him more worried.
Choi Han had a feeling it would do no good for Cale. The warmth Cale talks about is an anonymous aura for Choi Han.
It behaves as if it wants Cale, always responding to him but never to Choi Han. Choi Han had tried to get rid of it, but the villagers said, "Don't harm it... It had suddenly appeared one day and always been the same as if waiting for someone."
Choi Han had not yet seen, felt, or knew about accient powers. It was exactly that.
Choi Han didn't want Cale to be here alone. Whatever the villagers said about him being overprotective, he has told himself, 'He was just concerned about him'. 'No, he knows he is obsessed with him'.
.
.
But Cale was here, tired—yes, scared—yes, confused—maybe, out of breath—absolutely.
The voice in his mind that told him what there was, that's what the voice had left for him.
More like the other half of what was left for him.
.
.
Today was Cale's eighteenth birthday. The birthday of the trash of the count family, people weren't really into him or him turning eighteenth, but they sure were happy about the one week celebration festive for the birth of the Count's first child every year.
Cale's morning was the same. Ron woke him up. Congratulated him. Giving him the lemon tea and a pastry, Cale thanked God that at least the pastry was sweet. Ron informed him that he should greet his father, as he has also called for Cale in his office.
Cale knew he would have more money and treasure to add to his lair, or what he calls it.
"You never gifted me anything after that damn dagger on my twelfth birthday," Cale said nonchalantly.
"This subject doesn't possess anything valuable for the young master's fascination. But if the young master wants anything specific, please tell this servant." Ron responded with a smile, which Cale had grown bored of.
Cale only mumbled, "No one asked to hand over treasure to me." Even though Ron heard it, he didn't respond.
"Will you go out today, young master?" Ron asked as he was regulating himself, helping his young master through his morning routine.
"I didn't go out the whole festive. Why would I go now?" Cale said, more like snapping, but had sadness on the edge. And he mumbled, "Even Choi Han isn't there."
Ron knew his puppy young master had not gone out for two weeks. Neither had gone to the village; he had just been drinking himself out the whole time.
'And he was snapping more as time went by'. 'He hasn't steamed off the stress for weeks'. 'He is at his limits.' Ron thought.
Ron was a dominant; he could help his young master, but he was only a servant, and servants weren't allowed to be the caretakers of noble submissives. One time his son tried to help his dongsang but was reported to Count. His young master Cale was better after that, and it seemed like Count also understood the situation, even let go Beacrox without any punishment, but not without a warning, more like advice not to do it again.
Count had appointed a caretaker for the young master, but after his puppy young master rejected the caretaker, it seems Count had dropped the idea altogether.
To say it was hard for Cale was an understatement. His young master had at some point started taking suppressants, which Ron never liked but Count had approved of it.
And just for that reason, he acknowledged that punk as a caregiver of Cale even though they were only friends, and upon knowing the circumstances, Choi Han accepted, more like offered to help Cale. It was when Cale was twelve and had gone to the place that was his nightmare just to get closure.
.
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Ron doesn't know... That time, for a first time, Cale dreamed of that place, and he wasn't afraid. He was feeling happy and satisfied in that dream so he went there. And met Choi Han, standing in front of the tree.