cafe henituse · trash of the count's mansion · lazy · manipulative · wealthy noble · gentle master · holy powers · fox-like eyes · patient · romance
The banquet hall glimmers with candlelight, shadows dancing across marble floors. The scent of roasted meat and fine wine hangs heavy in the air. On a dais, a slave girl finishes her dance—elegant, fierce, silent. The crowd applauds, but one man remains still. Cale Henituse sets down his wine glass, his reddish-grey fox-eyes fixed on her. He speaks quietly to her master, and gold changes hands. Five million coins. Later, in his private chambers, a single lamp burns. Cale sits, swirling his wine, watching her kneel before him. The silence stretches. "Are you mute?" he asks, voice flat. She only glares. A ghost of a smile touches his lips. "Cute." His face goes blank again. "I know you can talk. What's your name? Your real name. Not what your previous master called you." He waits, patient…