“Take a seat.”
“Yes, Father.”
Cale surveyed the feast on the table. It was much grander than his definition of “breakfast,” but he sat down obediently. Then, feeling that something was off, he lifted his head.
“Is there something you wish to say, Father?”
“No…there is not.”
Deruth and the others gaped at Cale. When he met their eyes, they quickly looked away and kept on eating.
I must really put them on edge.
Cale likewise returned his attention to the table, and what he saw brought a smile to his face. This luxurious feast was totally different from the meager meals he used to eat solely to quell his hunger. He halved a sausage with his knife, and the succulent juices flowed out.
Wow, it’s so juicy.
He didn’t know whether that was because it was handmade or because it was properly cooked, but the appetizing color whetted his appetite.
A loud clatter rang out. Cale glanced at his younger brother, Bassen, who’d dropped the fork in his hand.
“Excuse me.” Bassen’s calm apology fit his personality as described in the novels.
The servant in charge of the meal swooped in to hand Bassen a new fork and pick up the one on the floor. Cale watched, reflecting on how nice it was to be a noble, then ate his food with relish.
At that point, he confirmed the first advantage of having entered Birth of a Hero. This breakfast was extremely luxurious—so tasty, his stomach was practically singing. His broad grin never faltered as he indulged.
“Huh?!” Bassen blurted out, but Cale didn’t even notice.
Having filled his stomach with meat, soup, and bread, he wanted to try something new. Cale surveyed all the dishes in front of him, then moved his fork toward a bowl of unfamiliar fruits. One looked like an orange, though it had a color closer to a green grape. Cale put the fruit in his mouth and gently bit down.
“Mmm.”
Sweet juice filled his mouth instantly. He hated sour fruit, but the citrus’s equally sweet aftertaste made him drool. Right then, he glanced up and happened to lock eyes with his father.
“Cale…” Deruth began, then hesitated. He said nothing more, just furrowed his brow and clenched his teeth.
Finding the awkward atmosphere uncomfortable, Cale tossed out an opinion: “It’s delicious.”
“Indeed, it’s revolti… Huh? Did you say it’s delicious?”
“Yes. Everything tastes wonderful.”
Cale tried a different fruit; tasting sweetness in his mouth once again, he smiled. He probably shouldn’t have continued eating while he spoke with his father, the head of the household, but it was too late for that. Loutish Cale Henituse had never cared for etiquette.
Nothing better than being the lout. No matter what he did, nobody would bat an eye. So long as he kept Choi Han from beating him up, he would lead a good life.
Just as Cale predicted, nobody criticized his lack of manners. Deruth even offered an awkward smile. “It really is delicious,” he said, nodding vigorously. “It’s nice to see you enjoy breakfast for a change.”
As in Birth of a Hero, Deruth seemed to be a doting father. He was apparently the only person who cared for Cale, and he even overlooked his son’s rudeness. Then again, if he loved Cale, he should have immediately addressed the lout’s personality. At any rate, this Cale wasn’t concerned about that, since he wasn’t the real Cale Henituse.
“You should eat plenty as well, Father.”
Bewildered, Bassen let out another, “Huh?!”
Cale, who heard the noise this time, glanced back down at his plate. He felt uneasy around Bassen. The fifteen-year-old was only three years younger than Cale. Unlike his loutish stepbrother, Bassen was smart, sincere, and responsible. The family was pushing to make him the next head of the household, and Kim Roksu—now Cale—was in favor of that.
Rather than living a count’s complicated life, I’d prefer to use my status as a count’s elder brother to laze around peacefully in one corner of his territory.
Cale opted not to comment on Bassen’s cry of shock. The younger boy was looking down on him, to be sure, but it didn’t make sense for him to get up in arms about it. Bassen’s gentlemanly personality suggested he wouldn’t kill Cale once he became count. Nevertheless, if Cale wished to retire to some quaint village rather than face execution in the future, he needed to stay on Bassen’s good side.
If that’s not possible, I’ll just take some money and go someplace the war won’t reach. Pretending not to have heard, Cale continued to eat.
Once the meal was over, Deruth was the first to get up. He seemed satisfied with breakfast; a smile lit up his face. He was right. It really was delicious. If breakfast was like this every day, Cale would probably pass up sleeping in and come eat each morning instead.
After Deruth rose, the other family members followed suit. The count looked around before resting his gaze on his firstborn son. “Cale, is there anything you need?”
The sudden question confused Cale, but he answered frankly: “Could you please give me some money?”
“Certainly,” Deruth said without missing a beat. “I’ll ensure that you have more than enough.”
The count’s family really was well-off. The war hadn’t yet begun, and Deruth’s territory was rich in natural resources, from marble mines to vineyards. For the moment, they were making money hand over fist.
“Perfect. As much as you can spare.”
Cale felt his two younger siblings staring at him. There was no need for him to be embarrassed, though. Wasn’t it far better to mooch than get drunk and cause a ruckus? Either way, he needed money to proceed with his plans. He wasn’t in dire straits, but he needed to figure out how to bolster his strength—to become just powerful enough to keep himself safe. Seizing such opportunities would likely require quite a bit of money.
“Plenty,” Deruth promised. “Rest assured.”
Satisfied, Cale smiled.
When he returned to his bedroom, a deputy butler named Hans gave him a check from Deruth. Cale was lost for words. The check—issued through a partnership with the treasury and magic department—made his heart beat wildly.
So much money!
Apparently, the count’s family wasn’t simply well-off. They were filthy rich. Birth of a Hero had mentioned that Cale received a large allowance but not the exact amount. As soon as he saw the sum written on the check, its excessiveness hit him.
Ten million galleons!
Having received a sum equivalent to about ten million Korean won, Cale could alter his plans. The gears in his brain quickly began to turn.
After delivering the check, Hans excused himself. “I’ll be heading out now, my lord.”
Cale did not respond. The deputy butler treated that as normal, heading toward the door. But when Cale shot to his feet, Hans stopped in his tracks.
“Ron, let’s go to the study,” the count’s son suggested.
Hans was confused by Cale’s words. So was Ron.