In the novel, Cale and his fiancƩ only share a professional relationship. But with Kim Rok Soo transmigrated into his body, he questions how that even happened. Aren't you a bit too handsome to be treated as a co-worker?
Cale Henituse/Kim Rok Soo x FiancƩ Male Reader. Takes place in the beginning because I haven't read that far. masterlist
"It's been a while since you've seen your fiancƩ. I know you both don't like each other, but you should meet at least once a year."
His fatherās words still ring in Kim Rok Sooās mind as he watches the carved stone scenery give way to forest trees, the carriage rumbling across a high stone bridge. The sound of the river below blends with the rustle of weeds and the splash of fish pushing through the current. Elbow resting on the window frame, chin propped in hand, his other hand idly strokes Hong and Onās fur. Heās a bit worried. Since Cale was only a minor antagonist in the beginning, there hadnāt been much written about his personal relationships, especially not this one. Only one throwaway line existed for him to go on.
"Cale Henituse and his fiancƩ only shared a professional relationship."
He suspects that Caleās, now his, fiancĆ© knew about his trashy behaviour and drinking problem, and kept their distance to preserve their reputation. If not for the Henituse familyās wealth, the engagement probably wouldnāt even exist. Still, it complicates things for Kim Rok Sooās goal of living a lazy and mediocre life. He doesnāt know what kind of person you are, whether you resent being engaged to a lout, or if youāll have any significance later. He doesnāt even know what you look like.
āWhy do you look so nervous? Are we meeting someone scary?ā Hong asks, batting a paw against Caleās stomach to get his attention. On looks up silently, her curious eyes mirroring her brotherās. He doesn't blame the two siblings for their concern; this will be the first time he meets someone he has no plan for.
"Perhaps, although they can't afford to hurt us," Cale huffs, quietly amused at his own pun, though the notch in his brow doesnāt fade. He scratches under Hongās chin, pleased by the happy purrs that fill the carriage. His other hand moves to On, brushing between her soft ears. āThatās why Iām expecting you both to dial up your charms and get to work.ā
āYes, sir!ā they chirp in unison, tails swishing as they nudge his hand for more pets. A small smile tugs at Caleās lips as he indulges them. He hadnāt been fond of cats in his previous life, but these two have managed to creep into his heart. Heās confident theyāll succeed, if the extravagant seat Hans had set up for them is anything to go by. If his fiancĆ© canāt treat animals well, itāll be easier to have a valid reason and keep a safe distance.
Heāll just have to do what he does best: play it by ear and ask for a drink.
---
āI didnāt know you were fond of pets, or that your father allowed them in the estate.ā
āI suppose they got luckyā¦ā Cale can feel wrinkles forming from how often heās furrowed his brows. His poor, good-looking face will end up ruined at this rate. Meanwhile, Hong and On are in heaven, snuggling at your legs. Heād told them to act cute, but judging by their enthusiasm, theyāre not pretending anymore. The treats and affection youāve given them have completely bought their loyalty.
āHmm. If you say so. They are quite cute," your quiet laugh brushes against his eardrums, and Cale really needs that drink. He squeezes his eyes shut, rubbing his eyelids until colour bursts behind them. Heās misread this situation completely, and to be fair, he doubts anyone couldāve prepared for this.
Youāre a man. Not the woman he assumed you were. That oneās on him, really. When reading the novel, heād thought the author had simply mistyped and used the wrong character. It was a single sentence about a forgotten character, so he had brushed it off.
Regardless, whether you were meant to be male or female doesnāt matter, because-
Youāre far too handsome.
When Kim Rok Soo first woke up in this world, he thought heād lucked out. Cale was rich, attractive, and elegant enough to wear anything, and everyone around him seemed to have been sculpted by the same unfairly generous author: Choi Han with his sharp angles and heart of gold, Rosalyn with her vibrant hair and ambitious eyes, even the servants looked like they belonged in portraits. But when his carriage rolled to a stop before your estate and you opened the door yourself, sunlight catching on the stray strands of hair that had escaped their tie, he realized instantly that you were on an entirely different level. The faint scent of cedar and ink lingered in the air as your hand met his, steady and warm, and for a beat, Kim Rok Soo forgot to breathe. Even Hong and On had to nudge his leg to stop him from gawking. He coughed into his hand, masking his lapse with Caleās usual nonchalance, but the thought still hit him with an almost comedic clarity: How had someone with that face ended up treated like a background character? How had you and Cale only shared a professional relationship?
āI need a drinkā¦ā he mutters, too low to be polite but loud enough for you to hear. Ah. That answers one question already, your fiancĆ©ās drinking habit mustāve been rough for you.
āMy apologies. I got carried away," the soft smile youād worn fades into a firmer line as you give Hong and On one last affectionate scratch. Their whines follow you as you say, āIāll fetch something from our cellar.ā
Two things stand out to Cale immediately.
One: youād called Count Deruth his father, not your father-in-law, despite your engagement being publicly acknowledged. That single phrasing already told him more about your situation than a dozen letters could have. It meant you were being careful, maybe even trying to keep the Henituse name separate from your own, to preserve some independence or dignity. That alone set you apart from everyone else heād encounteredāpeople who fell in line or played their roles without a thought.
Two: despite your status, you were the one whoād opened his carriage door and helped him down, hand steady and polite, the faintest trace of callouses brushing against his palm. Now, youāre the one offering to fetch his drink, a task heād normally assign to Ron or Hans.
The picture is painfully clear. Youāre well-mannered, intelligent, probably too kind for your own good, and, unfortunately, broke.
He leans back against the chair, crossing one leg over the other. The cushion dips under his weight, a faint creak of the frame cutting through the quiet room. The house isnāt neglected, but it feels tired. The polished floorboards have dulled in certain patches; the curtains look older than they should.
It fits the narrative.
Cale drums his fingers against the armrest, eyes half-lidded. In a world with dragons and ancient relics, being short on funds must be worse than being cursed. He can almost hear Ronās dry chuckle or Choi Hanās gentle disapproval in his mind. But Cale doesnāt pity you. He just finds itā¦ interesting. The way you carry yourself, all poise and composure, as if you havenāt noticed the cracks showing. You play the part of a noble well.
āCale Henituse and his fiancĆ© only shared a professional relationship.ā
He can see why now. Thereās nothing to gain from sentimentality when survival depends on pretending not to sink.
āYouāre running out of funds, arenāt you?ā Cale says suddenly. Your steps halt at the doorway. Thereās a pause, a single sharp intake of breath, before the hinges groan and the door eases shut. The faintest shift of your weight, the soft click of your boots against the floor.
āYes,ā you say quietly. āYou are correct. Will that be a problem for you, regarding our engagement?ā
The honesty is disarming. No hesitation, no excuses, no attempt to hide it behind pride. Just a simple agreement. Cale exhales slowly, thoughtfully, and lets his gaze drift just slightly downward, trying to disguise the curiosity sparking behind his usual calm demeanor. Honest, agreeable, and, frustratingly, too handsome for your own good. You would have been the fan-favorite side character who dies halfway through to give the protagonist emotional depth.
He sits up a little straighter. The leather glove around his hand creaks as he folds his fingers together.
āOf course not,ā he replies without missing a beat, āIām loaded. I donāt need your money.ā
That earns the faintest twitch of your lips. Not quite a smile or pity, but it's charming all the same. Cale shifts slightly in his seat, willing down the heat travelling up his pale neck to his cheeks. He's tempted to fake another cough, but he's already done that before. He knows you were nice enough to not point it out. You've been watching him as carefully as he has you.
He gestures toward the seat across from him, āSit. I want to learn more about my fiancĆ©.ā
You move without hesitation, crossing the space deliberately, and settle into the chair opposite him. You adjust slightly once, ensuring your posture is straight but comfortable. Cale notes the subtle movements, the small indications of confidence in the way you arrange yourself. He shifts his weight again, resting his elbows lightly on the armrests, and studies you more closely. The distance between you is polite, exactly the kind that would suit a āprofessional relationship.ā. He wonders, briefly, if thatās why Cale Henituse, the original one, never bothered to get closer. Maybe heād thought you were too unremarkable, too ordinary in a story filled with heroes and villains. Or maybe he just never looked close enough.
Kim Rok Soo, however, has always been the kind to notice the background details. The light catches along your hollow cheekbones, outlining the slope of your bony jaw, the faint shadow of fatigue beneath your eyes. You look like someone whoās been holding a crumbling house together with spit and blood.
āYou donāt need to act so formal,ā he says after a moment, āItās exhausting to watch.ā
Your brows rise slightly, āThen how would you prefer I act, Lord Cale?ā
āLike someone who doesnāt care whether I approve of them or not.ā
A pause. Then, to his mild surprise, you actually relax a little, leaning back in your chair. Thereās something almost amused in your eyes now.
āAs you wish,ā you murmur.
The silence that follows is oddly comfortable. Hongās purr rumbles softly in the background, and On yawns, curling into a ball near the chair legs. Caleās gaze drifts to the faint gold ring on his own hand, a symbol of an engagement that had never meant anything. Until now, perhaps.
āWeāll get along fine,ā he says at last, mostly to himself. āJust donāt cause me any trouble.ā
You hum in acknowledgment, āIāll do my best, Lord Cale.ā
He watches the slight tilt of your head as you speak, the even cadence of your words, the calm certainty behind them. Thereās no hidden agenda, no attempt to manipulate, no sign that you intend to interfere with his plans. You are competent, careful, and measured. He realizes that because youāve been able to remain unnoticed until now, despite your capabilities and presence, you likely wonāt bring trouble to him. You understand boundaries and have learned to navigate situations without attracting conflict. That in itself is a relief, and a rare one at that.
He hums back, low and unimpressed, but the faintest smirk tugs at his mouth as he leans back in his seat.
Professional relationship, he thinks. Yeah, right.
