Chapter Text
Starting a farm was not part of his plan.
Then again, not much of his life went exactly as planned. Going from the "heir of a count" to the "trash of the count's family". Yet despite his desperate bid to slander his own worth to draw attention away from his family, he hadn't thought very far afterwards.
At the tender age of 18, the war between the kingdom of Roan and the Indomitable Alliance is in full swing.
At the age of 20, Cale joined the army to protect his family from harm. He won't allow his father to risk his life when Cale is younger.
At the age of 40, Cale retired due to an injury that crippled him.
Then came his dilemma. He burned bridges during his youth, acting as trash on purpose and pushing away his family. After joining the army for 20 years, coming back home feels wrong. He was not the same bright-eyed child who trailed after his father with hope in his heart. He was not the ghost haunting the halls in the absence of his mother. He was not the trash that sneered, scowled, and cursed everyone in sight as he drowned himself in alcohol.
Besides, his family had gotten used to his absence. It would be cruel to suddenly come home, carrying sins and ghosts on his back, and expect them to take him in with open arms.
He was no longer the heir to the Henituse County. He was only a Henituse by name, only because his father refused to disown him. Call it sentimental because his father is a foolish man, even in his later years.
Thus comes the problem. Discharged from the army and unable to return home, where can Cale go?
Well, the answer came in the form of a letter from his father. Because Deruth had spent the extra mile to send a servant to deliver the letter to confirm he had opened and read the contents, Cale had no choice but to read.
An inheritance, but not from his father. From his mother.
A sizeable plot of land that used to belong to his grandfather on his mother's side. The Thames used to have a territory before everything went wrong, yet Jour's father refused to sell a single plot of land in the countryside. A farm, complete with a cottage for his use. The intention was to hand over the land to Jour for her to use as pleased, either to sell or to cultivate. Jour had married Deruth before she ever needed to use the farm.
In her will, she stated that the deed to the farm is to be given to her son, should Cale be left with nothing in the event of a divorce, death, or disownment. The deed is unthetered by her marriage to Deruth. It is to be passed on to her child.
Before this, there had been no reason for it. Cale was living with Deruth, who still provided everything he needed. The deed was left untouched along with her will, too important for a child to comprehend the weight of it.
Now that Cale had decided to leave home, Deruth sent the deed as a way to ensure his son would still have support, even if it was independent from him.
'Well,' Cale thought as he held the deed to the land in his hand. 'That solves one problem.'
He won't be homeless after all.
The ride to his new home took a few days. Switching from multiple train stations and then the bus headed to the countryside.
Cale looked out of the window, watching the city line transform into green valleys, spread into a shoreline to the ocean, and rise into mountains. The farm was located in a dip in the mountains, creating a pocket that was partially isolated from the city.
He tapped on the cane beside him.
Then, he stepped off the bus with just a single luggage bag and a backpack. Looking up, he noticed the mayor of the town, who greeted him warmly.
Lewis.
A local who was born and raised in the village. He knew Cale's grandfather when he was a child.
The man was kind, introduced himself and another woman to lead Cale to his new home. They did not remark on his cane, though the woman, Robin, offered to help him with his luggage.
The farm was… in a state. Overgrown, destroyed, and almost completely taken by nature. The cottage was in better shape, courtesy of Robin, whom Lewis hired to fix up the building to be livable.
Not bad, but certainly not the manor Cale grew up in.
"Thank you," Cale said politely.
"It is no problem, Cale." Lewis smiled. "Feel free to settle in for the night. When you are free, come visit the town. Everyone has been excited to meet you."
"And if you need anything built on the farm, you can come to me," Robin added. "I live up near the mountains. It will be a bit of a walk…"
She glanced at the cane in Cale's hand.
Cale ignored her.
"Thank you, I will keep that in mind."
Lewis smiled.
"Welcome to the valley. I hope you will come to love it here."
Cale made no promises.
The first day was spent unpacking. The cottage had been furnished with a bed, a dresser pushed against the wall, a fireplace, a couch, a table, a chair, an old television, and a lamp. A small kitchen with a working sink and fridge. Off to the left is a door leading to a small bathroom, also furnished with the basics.
A few decorations were hanging on the walls, adding a more homey atmosphere. And a chest sat by the doorway that contained farming tools alongside a packet of seeds.
The mayor had gone above and beyond in supplying Cale with the basics.
Cale unpacked his stuff, which wasn't much to begin with. He placed a few memorabilia atop the dresser. A toolbox beside it. Then a medkit and a bottle of pills were atop the table, well within reach of the kitchen sink.
There isn't any food, which would have to be part of his to-do list for tomorrow. He didn't feel like walking to town to find a place to eat, so he snacked on a few energy bars he had left.
Too tired to do anything, Cale turned in early, sleeping in an unfamiliar bed in a new cottage, far away from his birthplace and far away from the battlefield.
He fell into uneasy sleep.
Waking with the sunrise had become part of the norm. So was the familiar twinge of pain radiating from the left side of his torso. The birds chirped outside as he stepped out of bed and slinked to the bathroom. A quick shower, a change of clothes, and a couple of painkillers later, he was ready to explore his new farm and head into town to pick up anything necessary to begin his new life.
A farm. He would have scoffed back then. The son of a count, being a farmer. Life was strange.
Then again, he hadn't anticipated being a soldier in a war either.
Cale opened the door and blinked.
"Good morning."
He blinked again.
No, he was not dreaming.
Standing on his porch is a tall, muscular man.
There is a tall man— mid-thirties perhaps?— standing on his porch. He does not recognise this man. Clad in loose khakhis and long sleeve black turtleneck shirt. A sharp and angular face, with narrowed reddish-brown eyes, and short, cropped black hair. Scars peek out from beneath the turtle neck, long and jagged as if from a knife injury.
Cale tilted his head. "Good morning."
"I apologise for the intrusion. My name is Kim Rok Soo. I had just arrived in town yesterday."
So did Cale.
"My name is Cale," He introduced himself, leaning slightly on his cane, and he looked the man up and down.
The man stood still, meeting his gaze fearlessly.
"Please allow me to work for you."
Cale blinked again. He lifted his gaze to the man's face.
Kim's face remains unchanging from its stoic, almost blank stare.
"Did my father send you?"
"No, sir. I came on my own."
"How did you know I would be here?"
"I overheard that you had just moved in."
Cale stared. "So you heard that a crippled man would move into the decrepit farm and you decided to take advantage of it by… what? To find work?"
"Yes, sir. I am here to work for you. I can do whatever you want me to do, whenever you want me."
Cale raised a brow. An… interesting fellow.
If this person had just come to town yesterday, did that mean that he did not have a place to stay? He did not seem to have any luggage with him, but he could have just left it somewhere he slept last night. Was this person running from home like him?
The thing is… Cale had no reason to turn him away. It was not like he was short on funds. His father had provided him with a monthly allowance that was nothing to sneeze at— one of the few things he had to compromise on since his father had refused to leave him completely. He was also not in a position, physically, to handle the daily upkeep of the farm. His injury would not allow him the ease of physical labour for daily life, let alone the straining task of running a farm.
"…I am not discussing this on my porch."
Cale stepped past the man and locked the door behind him. He began heading to the town, pausing for a second to look over his shoulder. He raised a brow at the man.
Sensing his cue, Kim followed him.
The walk to town was spent in silence. Admittedly, it was quite the walk, especially for somebody like him. He had to cross the entire stretch of path connecting his farm to the bus stop, then to the town. It was also a walk to approach the town, where it seemed people were just starting to wake up.
Including the old mayor standing by the clinic. He brightened at the sight of them.
"Ah! Cale! Kim Rok Soo! How pleasant it is to see you this fine morning!"
"Mayor Lewis," Cale nodded.
"I see you have already met Kim. Going to pick up a few supplies?"
Cale nodded.
"Well, Pierre is still closed until 9 am. However, Joja Mart is open in case you are in a hurry." Lewis didn't look very pleased when he added that.
Cale glanced at the building attached to the clinic. A small store owned by a local of the town, perhaps? Such a store would have difficulty competing with the megacorporation.
However, Cale had no desire to trek so far when he hadn't had a proper meal, and his body was having a hissy fit.
"I will wait until the store opens."
Lewis smiled. "Alright. You can talk to the townspeople to pass the time. I'm sure a few of them are awake and about."
"That is alright. I will just converse with Kim first," he glanced at Kim, who stared back at him. "We had run into each other and haven't properly held a conversation."
"That's fine. There is a bench near the Stardrop Saloon, right in the middle of town. He opens at noon, but he will step out once Pierre opens. You can catch him for a chat."
Lewis is really friendly. Cale just nodded and walked away to the middle of town, where there is a small garden in front of the building that Lewis pointed toward.
Cale and Kim sat down on the bench and were silent for a few moments. Cale, to rest his legs and catch his breath from the pulses of pain on his side. Immediately moving after waking up, painkillers or not, was not a good idea.
Kim seemed content to let Cale catch his breath.
Cale stared at the sky. With the sun rising, the sky is a pretty blue. Thin trails of white clouds lazily float through the vast expanse, casting light shadows on the town. Birds fly overhead, chirping in the air and landing on the surrounding trees and ground. The air is crisp and cool, with a slight dampness from the night dew.
He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with air. He exhaled slowly. Turned his head towards Kim.
"So, why do you want to 'work' for me?"
Kim met his gaze.
"I need a job."
Cale stared back. "There are other jobs."
"Pierre runs his own store and does not need an extra hand. A small town like this does not have a lot of jobs, and I refu- mmm. I would rather not work for Joja Mart."
"So you'd rather work on a decrepit farm run by a new face who may or may not be worse than a corporate boss?"
Kim shrugged. "I don't work well in customer service."
Cale… doesn't have an answer to that.
"What are your experiences?"
"I can cook. Not a professional, but I know how to cook any food that isn't complex, or learn from a cookbook. I know how to use tools for basic upkeep. Some field medic experience. Combat experience. I'm a fast learner, so it will not take long for me to adjust to whatever you want me to do. I'm strong and can do whatever you want me to, within reason," he added.
"Hmm." Cale looked him up and down. "Where are you staying now?"
"At the saloon. Gus was kind enough to allow me a place to stay."
"How patient are you?"
Kim meets his gaze with nothing but blank acceptance. "You will not notice it waning."
Cale snorted. What a bold claim.
"What are your terms?"
"What do you want me to be?"
"Oh?" Cale grinned as he arched a brow. "That sounded like you expect to be more than just hired help."
Kim did not bat an eye. "I can do anything for the right price."
"Even to be my full-time servant?"
"For a price."
Cale laughed. It sounded elegant, something that the army could not truly break out of him, but there are rough edges to the laugh. Harsh yet graceful. His comrades used to say he sounded like those 'rich people laughs' but 'with more trauma added'.
"Alright, since you are so willing," Cale smirked at him, a bubble of amusement rising in his cold, dead heart. "I'll see what you can do today before I draft up the contract."
This man has no idea what he is signing up for.