Since the restaurant they chose to eat at was near his boutique, Val thought there was no need to drive a car to their destination which was a few walks away. The duke was planning to take him there in a Ferrari.
After persuading him that the luxurious car might capture too much attention, the duke finally listened to him, strolling along the snow drizzling streets to their destination. The sun that shone radiantly futilely brawled against the cold winter snow, which at its mercy for the shivering people, reflected its warm light onto their shadows. Val slipped his hands into his hand pockets.
Their polar opposite style of clothes drew the attention of passers-by who were curious why a person clad warmly head to toe was next to a tall man wearing full length, beige wool coat with no buttons, a white sweater, and black trousers as if he was walking through a different season - unlike the harsh, icy winter - than them. Observing the couple was similar to watching two, incorrigible seasonal fashion shows coming together for a brief moment.
Although the distance to Sake BBQ House was not far and the bustling streets were filled with din, the silence between them was too awkward for Val to bear. Not knowing how to break the ice, he mentioned a topic that came to mind as he thought of the duke. "These years, the nobles are curious about where your wife was. Did she leave or did you guys get a divorce?"
Oh no, he definitely stepped on a landmine. Should he switch the topic? It might have been too personal to ask at the first meeting. But then, won't it be...?
"I am waiting for her to come back." Callisto replied emotionlessly. "As soon as I see her in front of me, I won't let her go."
"I don't get you, nobles." Val shrugged, almost lecturing him. "Only after losing them do you realize the importance of that person."
"I already knew she was significant to me." Callisto mumbled. "I love her."
At his sudden confession, he was baffled. "But, wait. Weren't you guys in a contract relationship?"
Callisto wondered whether it was included in his information paper. "How did you know?"
"It was obvious that you two were acting. Anyone experienced in the area of love could see the both of you were just intimate friends. When you guys made your first appearance together, the ladies could see through your awkwardness." Val pointed out. "But none of them made a fuss because you guys were legally married."
"I see. So, if you discern my relationship with her like this, many others must have thought the same." He looked sad. "She must have also thought I didn't love her."
Val's instinct to tease him kicked in again. Leaning forward, he looked at the duke's calm face from beneath. "Why? Did she leave you because of that little misunderstanding?"
"You do like to pose a lot of questions." Callisto glanced at him before looking ahead again. "Just like Velda."
That short sentence silenced Val for the rest of the way to the place. Observing the scenery made him realize he never bothered to look around at his surroundings and the people living here because these years, he was too busy establishing his shop and bringing in more customers.
Sake BBQ House was a Korean style restaurant with stone tiles for the roof. At the entrance, the hanji paper doors were half open, half closed waiting for customers to come in. Stepping into the restaurant, it was fascinating to see how modern the inside looked in contrast to the exterior.
Various shapes of paper lanterns were hung on the ceiling, lighting up all corners of the room, where two glass fridges were fixed so that people could choose from a variety of fruit juices to expensive brands of alcohol. Directly above the stoves, there were metal ventilation pipes from the ceiling which sucked up the smoke directly as meat is grilled.
To his left, there were two receptionists and an empty counter in front of the busy kitchen. Two long wooden sofa sets, leaning against the other, divided the other side into two fragments. One part of the room was filled with two long tables for big families and the latter had four sets of wooden tables, each with 2 intricately carved wooden chairs underneath.
The duke led him to a small table with a mundane stove, where he took the cushioned seat while Val seated himself on the wooden chair. Despite the bumpy curves, it was peculiarly comfortable to sit on. Out of consideration, the duke offered Val to sit beside him but he politely refused since he won't have much space to eat if he squished in there. "Do you have any allergies?"
"I have a nut allergy." Knowing what the duke was thinking, Val thought of a way to divert your attention. "What? Are you mocking me for my weakness?"
"No." The duke shook his head, summoning the waiter over to the table. "I just remembered nut allergy was very common in this world." Because Velda was also allergic to nuts.
As Callisto ordered the dishes he recommended, the waiter noted two servings of each dish. He smiled enthusiastically since he was definitely getting a raise in pay today. A big customer like him hadn't come in ages. As the waiter went into the kitchen, Val looked around. Aside from the two, there were a few customers chattering in the restaurant, as a result, he didn't feel bored, listening to the music while savoring the smell of dishes wafting around the room.
The duke took the lead of the conversation. "Are you a rogue or a knight?"
"A rogue. I am definitely not a vampire." Val thought he'd better confess early than late to avoid any misunderstandings. "Her Highness, Estella, knew of it yet she still supported me. I am ever grateful for her assistance."
The duke pondered. "Does she like you?"
Val choked on his glass of water. "Th....th.. that's impossible." He put down the glass, wondering how the duke came up with such a ridiculous theory.
Callisto rebutted. "It could happen."
"It could never." Val stopped him before he probed in further. "She already has someone she loves wholeheartedly. A sweet couple, I'd say, in their honeymoon phase. They temporarily stopped traveling around the world because Her Highness had to carry out her duties in this land for a while. After that, I think they will resume their journey."
It turned out even she, who was the most stubborn one to swear she would be single forever, obtained a lover. "I don't get it. If she loved him, then," Callisto asked, "why didn't she announce their official relationship to her people? If she goes on with her status as an unmarried woman, her vassals will haste her into an arranged marriage."
Val sighed, ruffling his hair in frustration. "I know. I've advised her to pronounce it, but she was one to never take my words to heart. I think it also concerns the man's identity. If he's from the other species with a lower rank than her, her vassals and the nobles might judge him to be unworthy of her. She didn't want any hurtful comments to reach his ears."
Talking about Estella's lover reminded him of Velda again. It seemed whenever he was with Val, these memories about her would pop up from time to time, especially in his dreams where the two stayed happily as a harmonious family.
As the meat dishes were served, the two stopped talking. Val dug into the feast, rapidly finishing off many bowls of pork belly and beef ribs, while the duke behaved as if he was in a high end restaurant chewing slowly, yet devouring more bowls than anyone else.
Realizing the duke had a big appetite, Val went outside for a saunter to digest the things he ate while waiting for the duke to satisfy his hunger. After a few rounds of walking, he noticed the plates at the table were already cleared. Callisto had already paid the bill for both of them.
Val, devastated that he wasn't able to pay for what he ate, hated owing anyone a favor. "I will pay you back next time." He gave his thanks to Callisto who had just come out of the restaurant.
"Is there even a next time?" The duke commented sarcastically.
Val endured it. After all, he was the one who paid the bill. "IF there is a next time." Val bid him farewell, since it may be rude to leave without a word. "Then, I am going back home now."
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Val sighed, wondering why he was in the duke's Ferrari, which was parked outside his boutique. After having lunch together, he thought they would go their separate paths, however, he ended up with the duke on his way to fetch the twins.
"Remind me why on earth you are driving me to my children's school?" Val commented sarcastically.
"Because I had a hunch." Callisto steered his wheel to the right, driving neither fast or slow.
"Are you not going to explain further?"
Callisto uttered. "My instincts have always been correct."
"Ha....." Val gave up, concluding this subject with another question. "Do you even know where my kid's school is?"
"I do. They have been attending the same school for 2 years before that they were in a well known elementary school in France from the age of 3." Callisto briefly recited what he saw in the information paper about the 9 year old twins, Raul and Rune. "I guess they inherited their parent's brilliant genes."
"Rather than me, I think both of them resemble their mother more in personality." Val said as a wave of nostalgia washed over him. He remembered how adorable his children were when he first held them after their birth. They were eccentric and mature kids but sometimes they would display their childish side for new sweets and desserts they've never tasted before.
At such a short time, he was happy that they grew up well and at the same time a tad bit sad that they might not need him anymore. Callisto left him wandering his thoughts, as he increased the volume of relaxing music and turned down the AC to provide him comfort.
During their time together, he noticed whether outside the restaurant or in the BBQ house, Val's body was shivering the whole time. Not all rogues he'd met were this fragile. Or, was his body just a special case? Callisto pondered what to do about his condition as he kept on driving.
After a while, Val perked up, switching back to his usual self. "I think you know but the design for your customized tuxedo will take at most 5 days to finish. If you aren't satisfied with the designs I came up with, we will have to readjust them. So, for the whole customization process to be completed, I estimate it will take 2 months and a half."
"I don't care about the price nor the time needed. Just make me a suit more splendid than those imperial members." Callisto spoke confidently.
"Uhm." Val complied. If only the duke didn't speak, with his calm expression, Val wouldn't have been able to read his mood. It seemed like he really loathed the idea of attending a ball. "Your Grace, what made you hate socializing or dancing in the ballroom?" By asking this question, he really was treading on thin ice.
One hand leaning against the window propping his neck, as Callisto kept the other hand on the wheel, he coldly answered. "I just hate the nobles' greed and ambition as they push their daughters towards me. I know some daughters don't wish to marry me. That's perfectly fine. I also have my preferences. I want to keep my small social circle as it is even if it won't benefit me. At least I won't be betrayed."
"I understand." Val empathized with the feeling of being betrayed by someone they trusted deeply. It was despairing as if the fragments you worked so hard to piece together were breaking apart one by one. "Have you ever been betrayed?"
"Do you think I haven't? These 20 years, I've experienced many betrayals by my close comrades whether they are human or fellow vampires."
"One of the co-founders of this information guild stabbed me in the back by leaking information to my biggest rival guild, Faded Assimilation. The only motivation that led him into this was money. I would've accepted this treachery, if the guild threatened his family, however, for his sole reason to be money…. I provided him with more than enough salary, but he was wasting it all by gambling. In the end, he gained nothing. He wasn't accepted by the other guild, and lost all his income in hopes that gambling could earn him more money."
Callisto listened attentively, before commenting. "On the bright side, you gained experience to be wary of selfish people, no?"
"Seems like it."
Callisto comforted him. "As for me, thanks to their betrayals, I can distinguish whether someone is feigning their real emotions or showing their real personality. At this moment when we are conversing, I can tell you are sincere with me."
Val was stumped, not knowing he could say cheesy things with a straight face. "Y…you said you were betrayed by humans. Were you hurt when you found out about it?"
"No. On the contrary, I was glad they proved the fact that humans were equally selfish in front of survival and profits. In my life, I have only trusted two people with all my secrets."
"Who are those two?" Val asked inquisitively. "Let me guess. One should be your new butler, Alfonso Diablo, and the other is your ex-wife. Am I right?"
"Yeah." After a pause, Callisto redirected their conversation to a darker topic. "Throughout my life, there were countless times that I had always come close to dying, but I was never able to experience the taste of death." He didn't know why he was talking about this all of a sudden, but there was something comforting about Val that he felt compelled to reveal all his secrets.
"Do you want to die?"
"I wish I could."
Val advised him seriously. "Then, you should find the love of your life before dying."
"Why?"
"It will be lonely to die alone."
"But I won't be lonely. I am okay with how it is." Callisto refuted immediately.
Val chuckled, thinking Callisto was truly a child when it came to matters of love. "The day you grow to love someone so much that you are willing to sacrifice everything for them, you will understand."
"I like someone, but I am not sure whether I would die for her. So, I won't be able to figure out what you are saying my whole life."
"Your life is long. You have plenty of time to explore and look for someone else." Val smiled.
"I don't want to look for anyone else. I am too tired to do so." Callisto grumbled.
"We sound like old friends complaining to each other about the hardships of life." Once he noticed Val's gaze on him, Callisto focused his attention back on the road. Val mustered his courage to ask the duke this. "Even with the gaps within our status and difference in race, do you still want to be my friend?"
Callisto answered at once. "Yeah."
"Then, I will not address Your Grace as a lord any longer, but as a friend I will call you Callisto. Is that alright?" Val asked for his opinion.
"And starting from now, I will be informal with you, Val."
Hearing his name muttered from Callisto's mouth raised a strange sensation from him. Perhaps, it had been ages since anyone had called him that he had a palpitating feeling of excitement. "But then, your name is too long. Should I bestow you a nickname?"
"Do your best." Callisto knew all the nicknames he could come up with would sound female-like.
"Callisto.....Is.....Isto? Nah." Val shook his head, coming up with other names. "Al....Cal.....Carl?"
Before he came up with another name, he cut off Val's sentence. "Carl is the best option."
Val didn't want to give up. "What about Lis? Lis perfectly describes your beautiful, alluring face that is always stoic to others."
"Nope, it sounds feminine." Callisto rejected firmly, not opposing the fact that he was good looking. "The name 'Carl' will do fine."
Despite Callisto's objections to this, Val still stuck with the nickname he thought suited his friend best. "Lis, are we nearly there?"
In response to the nickname he disliked, Callisto neglected his calls, driving silently the rest of the way while Val was enjoying the scenery outside.