Once there was a red-haired child in the northeastern part of Rowoon Kingdom, the Henituse Territory. This child was known to be someone as beautiful, smart, and charming as his mother. He was loved by his father and mother. He was adored by the people and their servants. He was a bright and happy child. You could even compare him to a sun, who shone brightly. Everyone was always drawn to him. His name was Cale Henituse. 

Cale loved to spend his time reading books and studying. He always looked forward to spending more time with his family. You could always see him smiling like a flower who was born to spread its beauty to the land. 

But this all changed when a tragedy happened. One rainy day in his 8th year, his mother, Jour, went to Harris Village to do something. She had a carriage accident which led to her death. Everyone in the County was devastated. Their beloved Countess have passed away. Deruth couldn't bear seeing his dead wife, he mourned. Cale stood in shock with no expression after finding out his beloved mother had died. Cale remembered his mother's last words: 

"No matter what happens, you must survive. Endure everything and your happiness will come. Survive and be happy." 

Jour's funeral was held, people from all over the Kingdom were expressing their condolences. While the ones who got left out, Deruth and Cale, stood before her casket. The husband cried so hard and the son just held his father's hand. 

"Father, it's okay. I am still here," the Young Cale said as he embraced his mourning father in his small arms. The young child held back his own tears and grief as he tried to console his beloved father. 

The day of Jour's burial came and Cale stood there with no expression still. 

"What a monster. He didn't even cry from his mother's death!" 

"What a cruel son." 

"He really must be a monster." 

Those were the thoughts of people around the once revered red-haired child. People started calling him a monster. A person who didn't shed a tear when his mother died. Who could blame him? He needed to be strong for his father. 

After the death of their beloved Jour, Deruth started avoiding his son who looked exactly like his wife. He couldn't bear seeing the redness of his hair. He made excuses whenever his son asked for him. He drowned himself with a lot of paperworks in the County. He avoided his beloved son like a plague. 

Cale was smart, he understood his father. Yet, he tried so hard to reach out. Even though he knew his father was avoiding him, he still tried. Deruth must have forgotten he wasn't the only one who was grieving, his only child was also in grief. 

Cale cried himself to bed every night. His mother died and his father avoided him. He has no one to lean on. He was alone. No one tried to console him and tell him it was okay to cry. Instead people around him kept telling him he had to be strong for his father. It was painful for him to set aside his own emotion as he, too, was mourning still. 

After a year, Deruth finally called the red-haired child whom he had neglected. Cale was no longer the same, he was forced to be mature at a young age. Yet, Cale was exhilarated when his father called him. He excitedly went to the dining room, his eyes were filled with joy. His heart could be seen on his sleeve. But as soon as he entered, the light in his eyes faded and the smile on his face vanished. His broken world he tried to fix all by himself got destroyed and it shattered into pieces by his own father. There, he saw a woman he had never seen and a young boy laughing along with his father. 

"Cale, I want you to meet Violan and Basen. She will be your new mother and Basen will be your new younger brother. I am marrying Violan next week," Deruth said as his delight was too evident on his face. 

Cale swallowed a big lump on his throat, he remained calm on the outside but he was on his breaking point on the inside. 

"I see, congratulations. I have things I need to do so I am excusing myself," Cale said and turned his back and ran as fast as he could towards his room. 

He cried hard during that day. He realized he lost a place in his home and his father's heart.

Years passed and the world around Cale was still the same. The red-haired child might have aged but his heart and soul was still living in the past. The family now consisted of a father, a mother, a red-haired older brother, a younger brother and a younger sister. Cale was someone who sticks out like a sore thumb in a picture perfect family. He felt he wasn't included. He felt like he was a bastard of the family even though he was the firstborn. Cale slowly drifted away from his family. The light that shone brightly before was as dim as the sun clouded by storms. 

Cale started acting out a role. He didn't want to do it but he had no other choice. His brother and his step-mother were being harassed by his father's relatives. They want to drive them out. They were his father's only happiness, he couldn't let other people destroy it. So he acted a role everybody despised. He became a lout. 

"You are a Henituse! Don't let other people treat you like this. Don't be an idiot! The vassals won't leave you and your mother alone if you don't do something. Tell them you are a Henituse! No matter what anyone would say, you are my father's son. You have Henituse blood in you!" Cale said to his only younger brother.

At the age of 15, he drank his first alcohol. He found comfort from it as he could temporarily forget his feelings. He caused trouble and fought against some goons. He threw bottles and threatened people. As a result, the vassals had pushed him out of his inheritance for the position of the Lord. His plan was effective.

Once he reached the age of 18, he started having visions of the future. He was given a message that he will disappear and his soul will be replaced by another. He didn't care. Whether he will die today or tomorrow, no one would care. People might celebrate his death as the troublemaker will finally disappear. After that, he never went out for a while. He stayed home until the time he was gone. 

Three days before the assigned time, he started having meals with his family again. He at least wants to carry some memories once he disappears. Cale took those three days to revert back to his original personality. He told his father how much he loved him. How much he cared for him. He even told him he should take good care of his family. He finally smiled brightly after all those dreaded years. Deruth was happy seeing his beloved firstborn son smile like before. 

Cale turned to his step mother. He told her she was a great woman, too great for his father. He told her she should take good care of his father and siblings. He expressed his gratitude to her for making his father happy and got back on his feet again. He called her 'mother' for the first time. Violan cried tears of joy. 

Cale spent his time with his younger brother, Basen, and younger sister, Lily. Cale told Basen he should study hard so he could inherit the County and protect his place. He told him he should be strong for his family and always protect his sister. He told him he supports him in everything he does. 

Cale told Lily she would become anything she wanted. He told her she shouldn't dwell on the things people tell her about her. Lily told his dreams to Cale, and the red-haired just told her he will root for her. He told her ahe would become the greatest knight in their family.

Cale showed his family how much he cared for them, how much they meant for him. He thanked the servants who kept him company during his loneliness and solitude. He told Ron he was the best butler he could ever had. He told Vicross he was the best chef and his food was number one for him. Cale told Hans he should always do his duty and to never forget taking good care of himself.

Cale apologized for all the things he did and said to his family. After those long, dreaded years, he finally embraced his father and mother. He hugged his younger brother and sister. He told them they should be happy no matter what happens.

Night came and it was the last night Cale will spend his time in this world. His family then noticed Cale was acting weird as if he was planning to go somewhere. A place where they couldn't reach him anymore. They were supposed to talk to him but his butler told them he was asleep. Unbeknownst to them, Cale was writing a letter to the person who will inhabit his body.

To you who will become Cale Henituse,

Hi. This is my first time writing a letter in a while. I don't know what kind of a person you are but I hope you are a good one, unlike me who is known as a lout in this family. I may not know why this will happen but I hope you'll treat everyone well.

To you, I only have one request. Protect my family as they are precious to me. Protect them the way you want. Don't let harm come their way, if it's inevitable don't let them die. I would wish to see my brother and sister when they get older but I will not have that chance.

Enjoy your new life and be happy. Do not get hurt. Read my diary if you are unsure how to act like me to avoid suspicion.

From,
Cale Henituse

The red-haired teen placed his letter on the bedside table along with his diary. He fell asleep.

.oOo.

Morning came, Ron greeted Cale. The redhead frowned upon seeing the old man. He felt like he knew the old man. Then, Cale, no Kim Rok Soo, realized he got transmigrated to the novel entitled The Birth of a Hero and he managed to possess the minor villain, the trash named Cale Henituse.

His family immediately came to his room when the butler had reported the Young Master Cale Henituse felt different. But the person possessing Cale got weirded out and somehow had acted trashy, different from how the Cale they knew treated them the past days.

"No, my son's gone."

"Hyung/Orabeoni, feels different."

Cale's family didn't know what to feel. They left him alone for a while for them to process everything and for the person who's in their beloved Cale's body to adjust.

Kim Rok Soo, now Cale Henituse, saw the letter and the diary on the bedside table and he read it. His eyes widened and sadly laughed.

The person named Cale Henituse was a broken child, forced to become mature and act like an adult. A person who was neglected and yet fought really hard to protect his family in a way he could. Cale Henituse wasn't a coward, he was a brave man. He endured the pain, neglection, and the harsh words of everybody. He directed all the hate of the people towards his family to himself. He selflessly sacrificed his youth and happiness for his family's wellfare. He was a child filled with love and gave love, and yet it was ironic how he couldn't receive and feel love from others.

The character Cale Henituse was greatly misunderstood in the novel and will continue to be misunderstood until the end. Cale Henituse wasn't a trash, he was a sweet and lovable child.

"I'll be happy in your stead and protect your precious family, I hope you live well too, Cale Henituse," the current Cale sincerely and solemnly wished.

// E N D ...

A/N: I dunno what came to me, the words just kept rushing and ended up writing this. I hope you enjoy this one. ( ◡‿◡ *)

I really love original Cale Henituse so I might write some fanfics about him. Kim!Cale had received equal amounts of love and pain, and yet all fanfics I've read about OG!Cale was filled with pain. (ಥ﹏ಥ) If ever you have read some works which ended happily (about Og!Cale), may you grant this poor lady and share it with me? Hehe (o'▽'o)

Anyway, thank you for reading. Oh, I am still working on on the chapters for "A Chance towards Happiness". See you next time! Keep safe. 🍀