The next day, Cale was the first to wake up. He looked at Athanasia sleeping peacefully,
and couldn't help but stare at her for a moment. He had never believed in love at first sight, but after seeing her, he felt something new. At first, he tried to brush it off, thinking it would disappear, but spending time with her made him realize he was lying to himself about not loving her.
Over time, he secretly wished the rumors about them being lovers were true. Though it was his first time experiencing such emotions as both Kim Rok Soo and as Cale, he decided to patiently wait for Athanasia to say "I love you" to him
Cale sighed and began to get ready for the day. As he walked outside, he noticed a commotion and asked, "What is it?"
Hans replied, "Haha, young master, did you finally wake up?"
Cale inquired, "What's going on? What's all this mess?"
Hans explained, "You see, I think young master Taylor has gotten the wrong idea."
Cale asked, confused, "What wrong idea?"
Approaching Taylor and Cage, Cale inquired further, "What's going on?"
Taylor apologized, "Ah, young master Cale, I'm sorry. It seems like my movements have been detected."
Cage added, "We left in secret, so how is it possible that there is someone who can avoid my detection?"
Cale pondered for a moment and thought, "How would someone at your level detect a dragon?
Well, it's surprising that you left a wild boar behind without being detected."
Taylor continued, "Young master Cale, this incident—"
But before Taylor could finish his sentence, Cale interrupted, "Beacrox."
Beacrox immediately responded, "Yes, young master?"
Cale said, "Looks like we'll be eating steak for breakfast."
Beacrox replied, "Once again, young master? I'm sure Lady Athanasia will like it."
Cale smiled at the thought of Athanasia enjoying her meal.
Taylor and Cage felt embarrassed by the misunderstanding and cleared their throats.
Cale explained, "We have someone in our party who delivers food for us."
Taylor asked, "Who is it?"
Cale replied, "He's shy, unlike his looks, so you will not be able to see him."
Taylor and Cage nodded, realizing their mistake. The attention then shifted to Athanasia
As Cale glanced at Athanasia approaching him, he greeted her with a warm smile, "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Hmm, good morning," Athanasia replied with a yawn, but her smile still adorned her face, "Yeah, I did sleep well, thank you."
Cale found Athanasia's slight drowsiness adorable
Taylor cough ruining the couple moment
Cale and Athanasia turned their attention to Taylor.
Taylor requested, "If it is okay with both of you, may we follow behind you?"
Cale responded with a smile, "Please feel free to do whatever is best for you."
Athanasia echoed his sentiment, "Please do whatever is best for you."
Taylor and Cage smiled gratefully at their response.
Taylor said, "Thank you. We will be under your care until we get close to the capital."
Athanasia smiled, looking forward to finally seeing Venion Ferious's face.
Cale thought to himself, "At least he's not completely unreasonable. If we go to the capital together, we'll be in trouble in many ways. So, we'll only get close to the capital."
Cale smiled and said, "We will determine that later on."
Taylor agreed, "Of course. Please feel free to let us know whatever is most convenient for you, Young Master and Lady Athanasia."
With everything settled, Cale smiled and called for Hans to bring their meals to the carriage.
After eating, Athanasia said to Cale that she would be feeding Zaphyr since Zaphyr didn't want anyone else to feed him unless it was Athanasia or Cale. Cale nodded as they finished their meal, and Athanasia left to take care of Zaphyr.
As Cale watched Athanasia walk away with a smile, he noticed a figure approaching him. It was Cage, the priestess.
"Um, young master Cale," Cage spoke hesitantly.
Cale looked at her curiously. "What can I do for you, priestess-nim?"
Cage hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you really not believe in any god?"
Cale sighed, feeling a little exasperated. "Why are you asking me this again?"
He replied firmly, "Yes, none of them."
"I... I understand," Cage said softly and then left Cale, heading toward Taylor, another member of their group.
Taylor, who had been observing the interaction, asked Cage, "What's going on?"
Cage looked thoughtful as she replied, "It's odd. It's like... I have this feeling that the gods of death are caressing the back of my head with a sympathetic expression.
after that they continued to travel like that until they were at an inn
about one day's worth of travelling away from the capital.
In the room, Cale sat peacefully while Athanasia read a book beside him
The red kitten, Hong, was sleeping, and the silver kitten, On, was walking around. Zaphyr sat on Athanasia's shoulder, concealed by invisible magic.
Athanasia thought to herself, "Is this the scene where Cale is going to give Taylor and Cage some money?" As if on cue, there was a knock on the door.
Cale stood up and opened the door to find Taylor holding a wine bottle, with Cage by his side. Athanasia smiled, thinking her earlier assumption was correct.
Taylor said with a smile, "Young master, would you like to drink some alcohol? Cale Henituse, the trash who cannot go a day without alcohol."
Cale looked at them, seemingly unaffected by Taylor's teasing. Athanasia knew it wasn't meant as an insult, so she didn't mind. Taylor continued, "But I don't think that's all. When I saw you on my way to the capital, it was different from the rumors I heard."
Taylor remembered Cale's attitude over the past few days and smiled, "Young master Cale and Lady Athanasia, it should be okay to share a drink with us before we leave, right?"
Cale closed the door and asked bluntly, "What is it that you want?"
Taylor seemed to appreciate Cale's straightforwardness and thought, "As expected, this person is no punk. He's smarter than most people."
Cale walked back and sat beside Athanasia. She observed the situation with interest, thinking it was interesting to watch.
Taylor replied, "What kind of person do you think I am, Young Master Cale?"
Cale sighed and threw a bag of money on the table, knowing what they wanted.
Athanasia noticed the money and thought, "I'm still not used to seeing this much money."
Cale said, "The wealthy Henituse family. You want money, right?"
Taylor and Cage were shocked that Cale already knew. Taylor admitted, "So you already knew."
Cale simply replied, "I know."
Cale continued, "I'm sure this was not originally your plan, but now with a golden turtle next to you, would you like to act as a person with an open hand?"
Taylor smiled and expressed his gratitude, "Thank you very much, Young Master Cale."
After the conversation, Cale glanced at Athanasia and said, "Forget about everything."
Cage spoke up, "Young Master Taylor and I will make a vow to the God of Death to not reveal anything. I'm sure that you and Lady Athanasia are aware that anyone who breaks a vow made to the God of Death will die."
Cale confirmed, "Yes, I am. Please make a vow."
Cage initiated the vow, and a dark aura enveloped him.
Athanasia felt a chill down her spine as she observed the scene.
Cage spoke, "I, Cage, and Taylor Stan vow to keep tonight's discussions a secret."
Cage then stared at Athanasia, but before she could reply, Cale intervened with a firm "NO."
Athanasia looked at Cale, confused about his response.
Cale explained, "My fiancée here is trustworthy. Don't worry; she will not leak any information about this."
Cage and Taylor glanced at each other, then nodded in agreement.
Cage added, "Only to be shared with the witness, Cale Henituse. We will not discuss this with anyone else."
Taylor emphasized, "With anyone else."
After the vow, Athanasia still couldn't help but wonder why Cale had refused to let her make the vow. She thought, "Is he perhaps worried?"
Taylor then said, "Young Master Cale and Lady Athanasia, will you have a drink?"
Cage chimed in, holding four cups, "TA-DA!
taylor spoke Alcohol is necessary on a good day."
Athanasia glanced at Cale, knowing he had forbidden himself from drinking alcohol.
Cale noticed her expression and sighed, giving his approval.
Athanasia smiled at his response,
and Cage and Taylor were amused by their interactions.
Cage remarked, "Young Master Cale and Lady Athanasia, is it not weird that a priestess is drinking?"
Athanasia replied cheerfully while holding the cup with alcohol, "Not at all, Cage-nim."
Cale responded, "Is that any of my business?" as he crossed his arms.
Cage couldn't help but admire both of them and said, "Wow, I really like both of you."
Athanasia smiled at the compliment, and suddenly, Cage spoke up again, "Young Master Cale and Lady Athanasia, do you not have any desire to get to know an older sister with a great personality?"
Athanasia shook her head and said sadly not, and Cale replied, "Nope."
Taylor chimed in, "What about an older brother with a great personality?"
Athanasia again shook her head, and Cale responded, "Even less."
Taylor and Cage laughed and exchanged glances.
They raised their cups, and with a cheerful "Cheers," they toasted to the memorable night ahead.
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