Early the next morning, Cale was lying on a soft, comfortable bed, enjoying his sleep, when a hand patted him on the shoulder. It felt like the warm touch of an exhausted parent…
Cale’s eyes snapped wide open. “Ngh!”
“Young master, you’re awake.”
It was Ron. Cale was so shocked, he huddled underneath the blanket.
“Meeeow!”
“Meow!”
The kittens were laughing at him.
“Wake up, human! Don’t sleep in!” Raon demanded.
Serenaded by this never-ending quartet, Cale got out of bed. Ron handed him a teacup. “They didn’t have lemon tea. I can’t say I think too highly of the Duchy of Guiller.”
Cale’s lips twitched as he lifted the cup.
With the exception of Frizia and the information guild, all the members of Cale’s group were staying at the Guiller estate. They had arrived late last night, but thanks to Cale sending Vice-Captain Hilsmann to notify the duchess ahead of time, they were permitted to spend a few nights at the family’s property. It would be strange if a duchess couldn’t host a passing noble at her home for a few days. Furthermore, Cale wasn’t just any noble—he was the crown prince’s close confidant and the recipient of a medal from the Mogor Empire.
“They don’t have lemon tea? How disappointing.” Despite his words to the contrary, Cale sounded happy as he took a sip. “Ugh!”
“The Guiller territory seems to favor bitter blends, though,” Ron said good-naturedly. “Ha ha!”
Damn it. Cale grimaced at starting his day off with bitter tea. Once he was dressed, he left the room right away.
“Lord Cale!” Vice-Captain Hilsmann had been waiting outside the door. He fell seamlessly into step behind Cale. “Heh heh! You’re looking very handsome today, young master!”
Hilsmann meant Cale looked like a proper noble this morning. Though his outfit wasn’t fancy—just decently luxurious—he still fit the image of a promising young lordling.
“Is that so? Good.”
Cale’s guileless smile startled Hilsmann. A smile that pure? It didn’t suit Cale at all.
I thought I heard he was going to punish House Krish? Ron had told Hilsmann about Cale’s plans, so he found it strange that Cale looked so wholesome. The vice-captain didn’t yet know about the human trafficking.
“Where is he?”
Hilsmann recovered quickly, answering Cale’s question. “He’s usually in the garden around this time. I heard he likes to take a walk after eating an early breakfast.”
“I guess we can stop by the garden on our way to the main gate.”
Cale headed to the garden without delay, and Hilsmann trailed after him. He glanced back at Ron, who simply followed them with a smile. Hilsmann found the kittens’ absence peculiar as well, but he didn’t question it for the time being.
Once Cale arrived at the garden, he met up with Antonio Guiller—though he pretended it was a coincidence.
“Oh, hello, Lord Cale. Did you sleep well?”
“I didn’t expect to see you in the garden, Lord Antonio. I slept well, thanks to your gracious hospitality.”
Antonio eyed Cale as the pair exchanged a cordial handshake. The count’s son was dressed like a typical noble, not a hair out of place. This man was the crown prince’s close confidant, as well as the person who’d foiled the terrorist attack in the capital. He’d even done something remarkable enough to earn a medal from the Mogor Empire.
Such a man had sent his guard in advance to request a few nights’ stay in the Duchy of Guiller—and he’d asked for something else on the side.
“Can we have a discussion?”
It was obvious what Cale, an intimate friend of the crown prince, would want to discuss with Antonio, the man in charge of the kingdom’s southwestern territory and the trusted counselor to a different prince. It was bound to be a very greedy conversation. Based on the way Cale had requested this talk, Antonio felt that the count’s son was just as power-hungry as any other noble.
That chat would take place in secret tonight.
“Have you had breakfast yet?”
Antonio casually offered an innocuous conversation topic, watching as Cale responded with a trademark aristocratic smile.
“I haven’t.”
“Oh dear, you’re walking before breakfast? You should eat.”
“I’m fine. I’ll be dining soon.” The peaceful back-and-forth took a turn when Cale gracefully added, “I heard that there’s a famous bar nearby, so I’ll have my breakfast there. I’ll see you later.”
“Excuse me?” Antonio was taken aback, but Cale pressed on without a care.
“I happen to enjoy a bit of drinking, and alcohol tastes best in the early hours of the day. I think I’ll drink some beer as a breakfast soup! Ha ha!”
Antonio recalled that before Cale was known as Lord Silverlight, he had a different moniker: “Cale the Lout.” Right in front of Antonio’s eyes, Cale announced his intention to behave quite loutishly indeed.
“I have nothing scheduled for today. Since I’m still in recovery, I figure I can spend the whole day drinking. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Cale was supposedly recuperating after using his Ancient Power in the Empire. He’d claimed he was passing through the Guiller territory on his way to the warmer southern region.
Should a man in his condition be drinking? After a pause, Antonio found his voice. “Will you still be able to talk after that?”
“Don’t worry, Lord Antonio. Alcohol makes the words flow smoothly, in fact. Now then, if you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way.”
Cale remained respectful and polite until the end, even when he was speaking nonsense. A pale Hilsmann and an unruffled Ron departed behind him.
Antonio wore a complicated expression as he watched Cale leave. “I can’t figure him out.” Still, his eyes betrayed a hint of disappointment. The Guiller heir judged people according to how nobly they comported themselves. Cale had just lost a few points on Antonio’s personal nobility scale.
“Was that really wise?” Hilsmann asked Cale, concerned, but the lout tuned him out.
As soon as Cale got to the bar, he ascended to the third floor. He sat at a table by the window and watched the flowing river for a time, then turned to the approaching waiter.
Meeting his gaze, the waiter asked warily, “Would you like to order?” Cale’s gallant appearance and regal bearing suggested he was the son of a count, if not someone higher—he had to be treated with great care.
Yet Cale replied without consulting the menu even once. “I’ll take all of it.”
That powerful statement hung in the air.
“Excuse me?”
Cale repeated his order for the bewildered waiter. “Give me a bottle of every alcohol you have. Oh, and bring out your most expensive snacks too.”
The waiter shuffled away, visibly shocked by the exchange.
When Hilsmann blinked at Cale’s extravagant order, Cale asked bluntly, “What are you looking at?”
Contrary to Cale’s expectations, Hilsmann beamed. “You really haven’t changed, Lord Cale! That’s right—Choi Han isn’t here! Let’s get wasted! Ha ha ha ha!”
Cale shook his head, but Hilsmann opened a bottle, humming all the while. Ignoring him, Cale looked out the window. The nearby river wound through Guiller territory, separating the poorer district from the rest of the area. There was a bridge as well, with the slums just beyond it. He picked out ten shabby houses across the bridge: the buildings where the kidnapping victims were contained.