Chapter Text
The dinning hall was so tense that every servant present just wanted to complete their assigned tasks and escape as quickly as possible.
It wasn't anything new for the servants of the Henituse household. Family meals tended to be a tense affair with the eldest young master being as he was. The presence of the trash of the family with his constant tantrums and misdemeanor made the otherwise perfect family unable to enjoy their food or have any casual conversation.
This was different. It wasn't because of the presence of the only redhead in the family. But because of his absence instead.
The eldest young master, who had just recovered from a drowning incident a month ago, had gone back and again gotten into trouble, almost drowning yet again. Even when he came back he was lost in thought and soon after had once again, left for the ubarr shores.
The number of incidents happening there, weren't limited to that. The young master had a tendency to get into trouble so it was what everyone was expecting of him anyway when he had first started going on these impromptu vacations.
That wasn't an issue in and of itself as the ubarrs were well adebt at taking care of any issues he might cause.
No, the problem was that he shouldn't have drowned in the first place, since he was a exceptional swimmer.
It wasn't like he was jumping in the whirlpools so why did it happen twice?
It had led to many speculations regarding the incident. Theories of what actually happened were being passed down from one person to another, supporting or disregarding each new conspiracy.
"It was an assassination attempt. " someone said.
"Of the useless trash?" Their partner scoffed.
"He is the eldest."
"But not the heir."
"Maybe someone finally snapped and decided to get rid of him for good." A thug in the bar snarled while banging his fist on the table.
"For throwing bottles?" Their companion asked, incredulous.
"At people. "
"And missing. Every. Single. Time."
'He might as well be aiming at the walls at this point. ' They thought and decided their companion has had enough alcohol.
"Even if was an accident, why would the child insist on going back again? Shouldn't he be afraid of the water by now?" A kind grandmother asked the vendor.
"Who knows? He hasn't been around the city for almost an year now." -The vendor shrugged and added under his breath- "maybe he wanted to drown."
He frowned at his own thoughts.
The young master in question had been looking more and more tired as the years had passed. As if he was fading away slowly.
'Could it be?'
He shook his head and decided to forget about it.
He will see for himself when the kid inevitably returns to cause more mayhem.
Somehow, when every other possibility had been shut down, one theory had prevailed.
Rumor has it that young master Cale was suicidal and it was only a matter of time before he succeeded.
The tension in the air was so thick, it felt like it was choking them.
The usually cheerful atmosphere when it was just the brunettes presents was nowhere to be seen.
The benevolent Count was lost in thought while glaring at his poor plate that had done no wrong but to be a vessel to feed him.
The countess had her otherwise neutral face set in a frown.
Even the much more mild mannered second young master had his jaw set tight.
The little miss stabbed her steak so brutally with the fork, that the resounding sound of the cutlery clashing in the quiet room made all servants present flinch in unison.
Specially the poor messenger, the bearer of the news that the eldest son wouldn't be joining them since he had left for the ubarr territory yet again.
The poor servant was trembling from the fierce stares of the family and internally crying at his luck for having to be the one to deliver the news.
The countess composed herself first and finally dismissed the servants, who all scrambled away instantly.
"Lily."
Countess Violan gave her daughter a stern look for forgetting etiquette and acting like this.
"Oraboni left again. I couldn't sneak into his carriage!" The youngest of the Henituses was very upset because of that fact.
She had heard the knights say that one of these days, her oraboni would go on his trip and not return ever again.
She won't let it happen. She planned on joining him on his trip and seeing for herself what was so important.
If Lily was with him, he would have to return.
"Lily you can't-"
Basen paused for a second as he let all the things he had heard from the blabbering servants run around in his head.
It was all mostly speculation so there was a chance that the rumor that has had him constantly gritting his teeth was not true at all.
And if that were the case.
-It better be the case.-
Then there was a chance that they wouldn't need to sneak anyway.
Basen nodded to himself at that before turning to his sister.
"Let's ask hyung to take us along first."
Basen had been thinking about this a lot. His brother was partial towards them so it should be easy enough to convince him. If there really is no need for them to worry about anything, their eldest would indulge them and take them along.
"If he refuses. Then we sneak into his carriage."
His eyes sharpened as his hands clenched around the utensils he was holding. None of them having had a single bite yet.
Lily nodded at that, seeing Basen so fierce was new for her and all the confirmation that she needed.
They need to step up. The fact that no one was trying to stop her or advising her against approaching her eldest brother was proof enough.
They nodded at each other and then turned towards their parents in unison. Full of anticipation as they waited for their permission.
"We need to talk to him first."
Violan reminded her children sternly before telling them to eat their food.
They really needed to talk to Cale. They had needed to talk to Cale for years now but had never managed to gain enough courage to face them.
If the rumors were true, then the cause was very likely to be them in some way.
They needed to have the long overdue talk with him. If they didn't step up now, they might loose him forever.
Does Cale even know they love him? Does he even consider himself a part of the family anymore? For him to consider such extreme choices, the answer would have to be no.
It's not like they ever made any effort to make him feel otherwise.
It was a sickening realization that was coming too late.
She hoped it wasn't too late and looked to the side, sure enough, Deruth was taking this the worst. It was just rumors but he probably couldn't think about anything past the fact that he could loose his son.
Since the time Cale almost drowned, Deruth had spent almost all of his time fretting over him, the time Cale was in the Henituse territory anyway. He was trying everything to bridge the gap between them. They had definitely made progress too.
But he had been the only one trying. She needed to grow a backbone too. They were a family and they needed to start acting like it.
Remind Cale he was a part of them and no matter what was bothering him, he can always come to them. That's what parent's are for.
Violan took ahold of her husband's cold hands that were shaking badly and squeezed them supportively, he was far too pale and looked to be on the verge of a breakdown.
They...
Should probably start by telling Cale they love him.
All of them.
Not just his father. Deruth already did that. Now they needed to do it together.