Caleb was at first confused by her father's exaggerated pause. Was he being haughty? Nevertheless it was clear their suspicions abut anyone approaching their daughter were too strong for even his charisma. It would be awhile before he realized that he hadn't been listening when Sakura Rose had first introduced herself, too busy planning and reading the girl. It would be even longer, years even, before he would have grown up to realize that he never really listened at all.

But that is the future, and in the present Caleb would simply apologize and move forward with the small impression he'd made on Sakura Rose later. At least she'd liked him a bit, and he had learned many important things about her and her family. But that was a booby prize compared to the grand scheme he'd cooked up minutes before. Behind his teeth an apology was being readied that would further establish that he was a harmless young man but before his mouth was opened a senile old man wheeled into the room through the doorway.

He looked familiar- yes, this was the man who had been talking with his grandfather! Count Dante Escobar. What on earth had happened to him? "Sir!" Exclaimed Caleb, standing up to approach the count. " The count was wheezing loudly and wincing, a sure sign of pain. Caleb did not want to force a reply by questioning him. He then turned his face to Sakura Rose's parents. "This man is a recent acquaintance of my Grandfathers," he said to them.

Perfect. He was leaving the family with an impression of goodness, of gentility, and of familial loyalty. This was a friend of his grandfathers, and he was honor bound to help him, as well as because he is just a nice person. A wonderful nice harmless person.