Lost Faith

Chapter 1

After the truth has been revealed, the closest people to Cale went back to their house (rooms) with heavy hearts. The faces of the knights and servants in the Henituse Castle were dim. Nobody had said a single word about the deceased Young Master Cale Henituse. Even Violan, Bassen, and Lilly didn't speak a single word. All of them were silent. Bassen went to his older brother's room and the all familiar smell permeated in Cale's room. The red-haired always smelled like flowers, his scent was always comforting.

Hyung protected me from the collateral family's harassment. I should have protected him too like how he shouldered every single insult to the family towards him. I should have believed in him. Did I even say thank you? Was I able to apologize? I don't remember. Father's relatives were right, I am stupid, Bassen cried as he slumped on his older brother's bed.

Cale was the kindest person to Bassen. The moment he saw him, he already admired his older brother. He was always strong, firm, and beautiful. He was the most beautiful person he had ever met, both inside and out. His brother seldom smiled, but when he did it was the most precious sight.

What did Hyung think when he knew he would die? Was he hopeful we would save him? Yet, we failed him. Hyung, Bassen continued to cry, he didn't even notice Lilly entered their brother's room too.

"Orabeoni," Lilly cried. Bassen looked at her.

"Orabeoni, we ... We are not Cale-orabeoni's family ... we abandoned him when he needed us the most," Lilly cried with hiccups in between.

"We don't deserve to be called his family! I trained ... and studied hard to become the best ... swordsman, and yet I didn't protect a single ... family member!" Lilly shouted. Her heart was breaking.

She was young however she remembered all the times Cale spent his time with her. It was a secret bonding since Cale didn't want to stand out. The times her older brother had shared snack time with her. The times where he personally tutored Lilly. The kind smiles he often gave out. His praises and all were her everything. It was what kept her progress as a swordsman. But she failed to protect her one and only Cale-orabeoni.

I'm sorry, Orabeoni! Lilly slumped on the floor as she cried. Bassen tried to comfort his sister but he, too, was crying. The servants who heard their Young Master and Lady's cries kept quiet. They were mourning too.

Deruth went to Cale's empty room and heard his son and daughter inside.

"We don't deserve to be his family!" Lilly shouted which made Deruth flinch.

It was true, he doesn't deserve to be Cale's father. His precious son died with no justice. Cale tried to explain to him but he didn't listen. Deruth walked towards the room where their old portrait was. The portrait shows a family of three, Deruth, Jour and young Cale. His beloved red-haired child was smiling brightly. It was devoid of any misery and no one would imagine that this child met the most miserable death a person could have.

"Cale, I'm sorry," Deruth cried. He already failed his son so many times, and he failed him once again. He knew his firstborn son was forgiving and he was disgusted with himself for taking advantage of his child's hope. He didn't want to say it out loud: he abandoned Cale once again.

Violan was standing where their current family portrait was hanging. Cale was truly a beautiful child, too beautiful for a man. She remembered the talks with the other ladies that if Cale was a woman, a lot of men would be flocking around her. But Cale was already famous to men and women, but her son was dense and didn't notice the admiration given to him.

Her beautiful son looked filthy during his execution as blood from before had dried up. He was also covered with dirt. He looked famished and nobody cared. Violan hated herself for not trying to protect her son. They may be not blood-related, but she treated Cale as her own.