a Lout and a Prince

by abralhugres

Summary:

in a world where there are no hunters and no white star, there's a lot more time for petty politics and relationship drama

Chapter 1

 A literal prince.

 

Cale flounced down onto his mattress gracelessly as he contemplated his own very poor life decisions.

 

Cale had a lot of those, he probably had more poor life decisions than decisions that were actually worthwhile in any real sense of the word.

 

But tonight, he was stuck rolling around on his bed with his heart throbbing in his chest and a new feeling bubbling up inside of him that he couldn’t seem to control.

 

A literal freaking prince.

 

Cale Henituse had always had expensive tastes. Expensive wine, clothes, food, they were all luxuries that he could afford with his vast wealth and doting father. He could buy just about anything that caught his fancy and enjoy himself until he grew bored.

 

Cale didn’t lack romance in his heart. He’d been a little boy once upon a time and he’d read all the fairytales that talked about a prince charming to sweep the protagonist off of her feet.

 

Even with his expensive tastes, Cale hadn’t been quite foolhardy enough to think that he could aim as high as royalty. Fairytales were just fiction and frankly speaking, he’d probably have better luck aiming for a princess if he really had a taste for royalty.

 

He didn’t think he’d ever become this dumb.

 

Cale Henituse had only attended the event with the intention of causing a scene.

 

A fancy debutante ball in the capital, the perfect scenario for him to make a drunken ass of himself and get disinherited for good this time.

 

Everything had been going according to plan.

 

Cheeks flushed with alcohol, foul mouth at the ready, and his arm ready to swing the bottle at whatever looked the most expensive.

 

He had it all planned out. He’d even been able to dodge Eric’s careful watchfulness and he was ready to go .

 

And then there was this literal prince.

 

First prince Alberu Crossman, gently prying the alcohol from his grip with all the grace in the world and such a genuinely kind expression on his face that it threw Cale for a loop.

 

He’d been guided to the terrace with ease and he expected to be abandoned there. He’d lost the momentum, the prince would take him somewhere private and then leave him to the guards or something equally demeaning.

 

That was fine, Cale could find a way to spin this so that he could still force his fathers hand.

 

But the prince didn’t leave.

 

He seemed to really believe that Cale was drunk, offering him water and staying at his side. Gently speaking about anything and nothing, inviting Cale to join in and even being patient with Cale’s morose silence.

 

The stupid prince spent the rest of the debutante at his side.

 

It didn’t make any sense to Cale. Weren’t these events supposed to be for making connections? Shouldn’t the first prince be out there fighting harder than anyone else to make those connections?

 

Perhaps he was trying to make a connection with the Henituse territory but it was well known that Cale Henituse wasn’t a good place to start with that.

 

It didn’t make any sense to him at all.

 

At sixteen years old, Cale fell a little bit in love with the first prince of the Roan Kingdom and knew that it was the dumbest thing he’d done in his entire life.

 

It was a good thing that he’d still managed to cause enough of a ruckus that his father was unlikely to let him out of the territory anytime soon. The last thing he needed was to spend anymore time with a man he could never have.

 

These feelings would fade with time and it would be nothing but a funny memory of the time that his tastes got a bit too expensive.

 

–

 

“Send Basen.”

 

“Cale.”

 

“I’m not going.”

 

“Cale, this isn’t up for negotiation.”

 

“I don’t understand why you want to send me. Isn’t this an important celebration?” Cale grit his teeth, what the hell was his father even thinking ?

 

It was clear from the invitation that they were looking for the heirs to come to the king’s birthday celebration. It was the Crown Prince’s thinly veiled attempt to create connections with the next generation.

 

The intention behind it couldn’t have been more transparent if it were literally made of glass.

 

Did he have to get injured? Was that his only option to force his stupid fathers hand?

 

There was absolutely no way that Cale was going to go all the way to the fucking capital in a move that would basically declare to the entire kingdom that the Henituse countdum was intending on having the garbage lout of an eldest son inherit the title.

 

Especially not when doing so could potentially undermine Basen’s legitimacy.

 

Cale had just about one goal driving him forth in his life. That was the safety, happiness, and prosperity of his family. For that to happen, Basen needed to be the unquestioned heir and Cale needed to be kept as far away from events like these as possible.

 

Cale Henituse had decided at the tender age of eight that there was absolutely nothing more important in his life than family. Unfortunately, Cale wasn’t a genius by any measure of the word and he wasn’t a skilled manipulator or tactician. Cale had just about one quality going for him and that was his absolute commitment to a goal.

 

So when he’d decided that the best way to protect his younger step brother and the rest of his family from the ridiculing of high society was to become the worst possible garbage in all of nobility… Cale had committed.

 

He was eighteen years old now and there was hardly a day that went by without him causing some sort of chaos. Honestly, it got exhausting. Cale wasn’t naturally all that disruptive of a person but he had a persona to maintain and alcohol to drink.

 

That does it. He’d get into a bar fight and get just fucked up enough to preclude a visit to the capital. 

 

There was absolutely no way in hell he was going to the capital.

Notes:

Cale: Today is a day of running through hurdles.
Alberu: Aren’t you supposed to jump OVER hurdles?
Cale: Whatever. Fear is only something to be afraid of if you let it scare you.

Chapter 2

Cale sat on the carriage heading towards the capital with growing annoyance at every bump, sound, and general reminder that he was here at all.

 

How the hell had his father managed to pull this off? Was he just getting predictable in his tactics?

 

Cale had managed to get into a bar fight a few nights ago, resulting in a scar that wasn’t going to soon fade, but the injuries just hadn’t been serious enough to restrict his movements. One potion later and he was already travel ready with a disapproving father insisting that he absolutely had to go this time.

 

If only there had been a traveling swordmaster with some easily picked at trauma. He could have gotten himself beaten half to death and his father would have absolutely no choice but to concede.

 

Cale… well, Cale wasn’t actually an insane person. He was just a person who was ready and willing to do insane things to get his way. His stubbornness was probably his only good quality, being that it led him into becoming an excessively loyal person overall.

 

He glowered out the window, watching the trees go by with disinterest.

 

He didn’t want to go to the capital. He’d have to throw some sort of embarrassing stunt again and it was just so much easier to pull off in the Henituse territory.

 

For starters, he had to calculate his stunts just right while he was in the capital. He could do just about anything in the Henituse territory and it wouldn’t cause any actual harm to his family.

 

But around the other nobles he had to be just rowdy enough to be a shameful embarrassment but not quite trashy enough to cost the Henituse territory anything of significant value.

 

It was a delicate tightrope to walk and it really exhausted him just to think about.

 

He’d be shaking the Crown Prince’s hand too.

 

Cale frowned at the scenery.

 

Alberu Crossman really did seem like a good guy. He’d probably make a great leader and the kingdom would be better for him and blah-de-fucking-blah.

 

Cale wasn’t romantic enough to still be holding onto a two year old crush from a single meeting.

 

…but it would be a lie to say he didn’t think about it.

 

The prince probably didn’t remember him at all though. Cale reminded himself that as a literal prince who was so far outside of bounds for Cale that it wasn’t even funny, Alberu Crossman was sure to have met with and attempted to make a good impression on many young nobles.

 

Alberu’s transparent attempt to use this event to build connections with the next generation made that all the more obvious.

 

His meeting with Alberu wasn’t anything special. The prince saw a potential heir to the Heintuse territory, regardless of how unlikely it was for Cale to inherit, and decided to spend some time building rapport.

 

It really wasn’t that deep.

 

And yet…

 

Well, what harm was there in romanticizing a silly memory from two years ago? No one had to know if he thought that Alberu had looked striking in the moonlight or that he liked to think about those helpless feelings of affection, here and there, just because having a crush could be fun.

 

He’d meet with the prince and at best, Alberu would remember him as a stupid sixteen year old kid who’d tried to throw a fit at a debutante. Then they’d say their goodbyes again and it would help to thoroughly destroy the remains of the silly little crush that Cale hadn’t been able to let go of all this time.

 

All things considered, it wasn’t a bad plan.

 

Cale could even utilize his trash-mission to help ensure that Alberu wouldn’t remember him fondly. It would be for the best if the Crown prince completely dismissed any potential for Cale Henituse to ever become a person of importance.

 

Those were the thoughts that comforted him on his journey. It was a boring trip all things considered, just like every other trip to the capital that he’d taken, and it solidified Cale’s resolve.

 

There was absolutely nothing he could do on this trip that would matter to anyone. But if it was Basen…

 

Basen was a talented and smart person. He sometimes lacked confidence in himself, but Cale was absurdly proud of how resourceful and intelligent his baby brother was.

 

If Basen was the one on this trip, he probably would have found a way to use the pip stops along the way as a way to develop the commerce within Henituse further or build stronger connections with neighboring nobles or even just studied in the carriage to ensure that he was making the best use of his time.

 

His brother was incredible and Cale was ready to fight absolutely anyone who dared to think otherwise. It was too shallow to refer to the inferiority he felt towards Basen as something like jealousy.

 

Cale felt pride and resolution. Knowing that he’d made the right call to protect Basen at any cost.

 

Cale felt a sincere happiness that his brother was smarter than him.

 

It wasn’t a feeling that a lot of people without siblings could really understand. Or perhaps it was unique to their relationship.

 

Some siblings had rivalries and fought one another for dominance, for a taste of the prize.

 

It wasn’t that Cale wasn’t a competitive person or that he was beyond emotions such as jealousy. It just wasn’t an emotion he could feel towards his precious younger siblings.

 

If there was any emotion inside of him that could be described so shallowly, it was insecurity that led him to believe that his family was better off without him.

 

A foolish puppy that waits by the backdoor and decides all on its own that it doesn’t deserve to go inside and be loved by the family laughing in the warmth. But that he loved that family and he’d die to protect them.

 

He really was a puppy-like person.

 

Cale’s arrival at the villa was met with a stir amongst the staff but that was a rather good turn of events in Cale’s mind.

 

What was less ideal was Eric Wheelsman’s invitation.

 

Cale had known Eric since they were small. The meek looking hyperlogical man had a tendency to just bulldoze over any opinion he didn’t like.

 

Cale actually quite liked that about Eric. It made him interesting company and a compelling friend.

 

Not that they were very close anymore. Cale knew that the best way to really fool the world was to fool everyone , even your friends.

 

Eric didn’t have a lot of interest in being close friends with trash. Cale didn’t blame him either.

 

That wasn’t why he didn’t want to see Eric.

 

Eric presented a unique challenge towards Cale’s goals.

 

He knew Cale well enough to construct fairly good countermeasures against his misbehavior, he had the confidence to drag Cale into his pace, and he always had a few backup plans.

 

Really, ever since their friendship had fallen to the wayside it had been replaced with a strange sort of one sided rivalry. A relationship where Eric would do just about everything in his power to stop Cale from having his way and Cale would try to outmaneuver him without letting on that he was a big faking faker.

 

“...do I have to go?”

 

The butler, a light haired guy with a bright attitude that absolutely got on Cale’s nerves, replied with overflowing enthusiasm.

 

“I’m afraid it’s mandatory, young master Cale!”

 

Oh, he was going to make this guys week just fucking miserable.

 

“Fine. Bring me alcohol.”

 

The butler flinched, clearly understanding that Cale had every intention to get messy day drunk and throw a fit but having no choice but to grant his demands.

 

Cale would have felt just a tiny bit more guilty about it if it were anyone else, but this particular butler sort of pissed him off and he’d needed to create a good cover story as to why he was going to show up messy to the Northeastern nobles meeting tomorrow.

 

‘ Good fucking luck, Eric. I’ve got plans to evade your leash. ’

 

Cale had just about every intention of making the whole goddamn continent regret dragging his ass to the capital.

Notes:

Alberu: Are you sure this is the right direction?
Cale: Certainly, I'm as sure as I am honest!
Eric: In that case, we're definitely lost.

Chapter 3

The relationship between Eric Wheelsman and Cale Henituse was a complicated one.

 

For anyone with a deep understanding of their personalities, it honestly made a lot of sense for them to be drawn to one another and to become close.

 

Unfortunately, there were very few people who had the fortitude to get to know either of them very well. Frankly speaking, they were exhausting human beings.

 

Put into the simplest possible terms, they were like fire and jet fuel.

 

A fucking disaster.

 

Eric had the unfounded confidence of character to believe that just about anything was possible if you really put your mind to it and Cale, Cale had been the sort of child to have all sorts of creatively bad ideas and the fortitude to keep going without giving up.

 

The sort of children that might dream about making a treehouse but would then proceed to actually make the monstrosity without a care for laws such as ‘safety’ or ‘physics’. And honestly, if the two had a tendency to dream as lightly as a wholesome little treehouse, there probably wouldn’t have been any dissent to their friendship.

 

But they were two noble children born into a society where political prowess could be considered more important than common decency. So the scale of their schemes tended to be a bit more… long lasting and influential.

 

There was the time where the pair of them had plotted the downfall of a vassal family because they had childishly labeled them as enemies due to a few ill thought out remarks that the current family head made.

 

It was a rather huge mess to untangle and frankly, there were some damages that still hadn’t been repaired to that families reputation

 

The combination of Cale and Eric was essentially chaos at its core.

 

It was a blessing in disguise then that Cale had turned into the exact sort of garbage that Eric didn’t wish to sustain a relationship with. It created a schism in their friendship that had never been quite repaired and never would be if Cale had his way.

 

It would never make any sense to Eric, who had known Cale before his downturn, that such a bright and interesting person would become an unintelligible drunkard. Sure, he understood that Cale was grieving the passing of his mother, but something about it had never seemed quite right to Eric.

 

Despite feeling at odds with Cale’s behavior, Eric hadn’t been suspicious that it was all a ruse. He couldn’t imagine a person purposely tanking their own future like that and he’d only felt that perhaps he had misjudged Cale in their youth.

 

It was a complicated relationship that was best left forgotten.

 

Still, Eric wasn’t going to allow Cale’s surrender to hedonism to be reflected badly on him or any of the other Northeastern nobles.

 

“Welc–”

 

Cale was just as stubborn as Eric.

 

The bottle flew past his old friend's face with perfect aim and landed on a wall a few feet away. Cale stumbled out of the carriage, letting out an exaggerated hiccup and looking up at Eric with clouded eyes and a flushed face. “Shuddup–do you have any idea what time it is?”

 

“...well past noon, young master Cale.” Eric replied, a certain agitated twitch to his smile.

 

And so the battle of wills commenced.

 

With the support of the other Northeastern nobles, Eric attempted to broach the topic of a safe and sane celebration the following day with his normal bulldozer-esque efficiency.

 

It was just really hard to get a word in edgewise with Cale making crude remarks or breaking things every time he hit his stride.

 

If he didn’t know better, he’d say that Cale was doing this on purpose.

 

Why had Count Deruth done this to them? If this were Basen they wouldn’t be experiencing any of this hardship. Eric let out a long suffering sigh, adjusting his glasses as he tried again to offer Cale a deal that he couldn’t refuse.

 

As though sensing that Eric was working his way into another spiel, the drunkard collapsed onto the table, letting out a loud snore and completely ruining lunch.

 

A slight twitch had begun to develop on Eric’s left eye as he watched the absolutely useless lout who was definitely going to embarrass them tomorrow.

 

“...what are we going to do now?” Amiru asked, looking towards Eric with worried eyes.

 

It was a genuine concern. They hadn’t been able to keep a leash on him even within the safety of their own territory. There was just no way they’d be able to stop him tomorrow if he was this bad.

 

Eric wracked his brain, glaring down at the cluelessly snoring bastard with contempt.

 

Oh. He wasn’t going to give up that easily. He was Eric Wheelsman.

 

He wasn’t going to let something as ridiculous as an uncouth bastard get in the way of his decoram.

 

A slow and devious smile spread across his face as he made up his mind.

 

“Oh dear, it appears that young master Cale has fallen asleep.” He began, theoretically eliciting his words while giving a meaningful look to the servant from the Henituse estate. “As his close childhood friend, it’s only right that I allow him to spend the night here.”

 

His eyes gleamed with his true intentions. Where I can keep him far away from any and all alcohol.

 

The servant caught on quickly, his orange hair bouncing as he nodded along to the suggestion.

 

Eric could swear he heard an alarmed snort come from the snoring bastard but he dismissed it out of hand.

 

They were going to have a peaceful and productive celebration tomorrow if he had to drag Cale Henituse to it by the damn ear!

 

Cale, who had only been feigning sleep, felt that his plans had gone somewhat awry.

 

He might have underestimated Eric’s determination.

 

Well, he still had ways of being trash even if Eric was going to restrict his access to alcohol. Considering he was completely sober during all of his misbehavior it was actually pretty simple to achieve.

 

There was less than a day left before the pivotal celebration and Cale was sure that he’d succeed in his venture.

 

He was a touch overly optimistic.

Notes:

Cale: Who thinks I can fit 15 marshmallows in my mouth?
Alberu: You’re a hazard to society
Eric: And a coward. DO TWENTY.

Chapter 4

“Isn’t it better to protect?”

 

The young noble had muttered it under his breath as though he hadn’t expected to be heard at all. Alberu’s sharp hearing couldn’t possibly miss it though.

 

He also didn’t miss how the slurring was mysteriously absent from the whisper.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Cale Henituse looked stunned, he really didn’t mean to be heard after all.

 

Alberu had been giving a somewhat trite lecture on the importance of maintaining the dignity of nobility. Some of it he believed, some of it was complete bullshit.

 

The young Henituse had been a good excuse for him to escape the debutante without leaving a foul impression on anyone. Instead of making his desire to avoid the potential marital partnerships obvious, he was able to leave the main hall under the guise of helping a young man find the right path.

 

It was also liable to earn him brownie points with Count Henituse which was always a bonus.

 

Despite how rowdy he’d been in the dance hall, Alberu noted that Cale had come without much complaint. Perhaps in his drunken stupor he still knew better than to cause an incident with royalty.

 

Who was to know?

 

Alberu didn’t have all that much interest in getting to know him. He knew what he needed to know about Cale. He was a young, impulsive, and incredibly rich noble infamous for causing trouble. Clearly he was beloved by his family otherwise he would have been sent away quite some time ago.

 

The typical spoiled youth who had yet to create proper boundaries or develop a proper moral backbone. Honestly, the only thing that really separated him from other nobles his own age were the public nature of Cale’s incidents.

 

Perhaps Alberu just had a dim opinion of the nobility but who could blame them? They’d never given him a reason to view them highly. Their grasping hands that clawed at him for political power and social sway–sometimes it left a person sick to the stomach.

 

Cale was frowning but then let out a drunk little hiccup, swaying in the air. The water that Alberu had presented him with earlier sloshed in his grip.

 

The timing was almost too good. If not for the flush in his cheeks, Alberu would be sure that he was sober.

 

“Just… isn’t if fucking dumb?” He asked, his voice swaying in that same drunk way from before. “What the fuck is the point of maintaining fa-faaa–fave? Face–if you can’t protect anyone? Seems fucking dumb.”

 

It could be taken as the drunken ramblings of a youth who didn’t know anything. That’s probably how Alberu should have taken it.

 

But there was this throughline of sincerity that caused Alberu to feel that Cale really believed it. Under the drunken stupor, this was his truth.

 

So Alberu offered his own honest answer.

 

“Can’t maintaining a persona publicly be used to do just that?”

 

He didn’t know why Cale started laughing so hard, a snorting, laughing, mess of a man who actually slapped Alberu’s back in his enthusiasm.

 

“Yes! You get it, don’ ya? Yer highness?” He was grinning ear to ear as he looked up at Alberu with reddish brown eyes that danced with happiness. “Exactly that!”

 

How weird. Alberu knew he’d been disagreeing with Cale. Being a proper noble was the best way to protect those one cared about, to obtain one's goals. Those were Alberu’s own beliefs that he couldn’t so easily let go of.

 

Had his phrasing been too ambiguous?

 

He didn’t really want to correct whatever misunderstanding Cale was under though. His smile was startlingly bright.

 

Who would imagine that the sour looking youth had such an inner glow?

 

He let out another drunk giggle. “Dun worry, yer highness.” He rested his chin on the palm of his hand, leaning against the terrace as he stared out at the scenery. “I think your way is fine too.”

 

Had he understood it? Were these just more drunken mutterings?

 

Alberu didn’t know. Didn’t really know what to make of Cale Henituse. There was certainly more to him than the surface but what exactly was underneath remained a mystery.

 

He knew that the lout of the Count’s family had certainly made an impression.

 

It wasn’t a night that Alberu would soon forget.

 

Ah.

 

This was a disaster.

 

Alberu’s feet moved instinctively forward towards the flipped table, his thoughts centered solely on unwinding this situation as quickly as possible in order to return to the primary order of business.

 

The family head of red hair shouldn’t have caught him by surprise but it did.

 

He was really striking.

 

Cale Henituse was doubtlessly a handsome man but he wasn’t the sort to stand out solely on that merit. But Alberu couldn’t help but feel that this was somewhat understated.

 

It wasn’t that he was a breath-taking beauty, but he was just striking . The sort of man who stood out in any room.

 

Right now he stood out because of the table he’d knocked over.

 

Alberu was by his side in an instant, holding him back in a way that would look to most as though he was helping him stand.

 

Strange, he didn't’ see the telltale flush that Cale was known for during his drunken fits. Nor was there the stench of alcohol.

 

Sharp eyes locked onto his and Alberu was momentarily taken aback by how truly coherent Cale looked.

 

Well, that certainly wasn’t going to stop Alberu.

 

“Are you alright, young master Cale?” Alberu asked, his voice theoretically louder than necessary. “It’s been a long time since we’ve met. How have you been?”

 

He could control the flow like this. Especially with how taken aback Cale looked over his reaction.

 

Ah, there was some of the flush he’d expected.

 

“Come this way, I’ll help you clean up.”

 

His magnanimous smile and gentility in the face of chaos calmed everyone down significantly. Luckily there was some time before the celebration started in earnest. All he’d need was to find a spot to leave Cale and then–

 

“...you can let go now.” Cale’s voice sounded small, like he’d swallowed something strange.

 

Alberu realized that he’d unconsciously begun to guide Cale by the hip. It was a bit embarrassing, but he didn’t let go.

 

“I can’t do that.” He said, smiling with that same large fake political smile that put everyone at ease. “What if you were to fall over again?”

 

Cale’s expression was complicated. Knit up with displeasure, unease, and something else that Alberu couldn’t recognize.

 

He dismissed it all.

 

Today had to be perfect. His persona had to be perfect as well.

 

Alberu was not the sort to let a tiny hiccup like this get in his way.

 

He was so focused on his goals that he didn’t notice the way his actions were affecting Cale in the least.

 

For such a meticulous man with such a bright mind and observant eye, he could be a real idiot sometimes.

Notes:

Cale: I’m kind of crushing on someone, but I’m worried about telling you who it is, because you’re not going to like it
Eric: Just rip the bandage off.
Cale: It’s Alberu.
Eric: Put the bandage back on.

Chapter 5

Cale could just scream.

 

He was pretty tempted to do just that. Right now. Loudly and with enough deranged dysregulation to really make some people concerned.

 

Instead he screamed on the inside.

 

His face frozen in place and his heart slamming against his chest as he found out the hard way that two years hadn’t actually caused his crush to fade.

 

Oh no.

 

It’d gotten so much worse .

 

He only had himself to blame. When you romanized the idea of a person often enough, you were sure to have some sort of reaction to seeing them again. Add to that how effortlessly charming Alberu Crossman was and it was a recipe for disaster.

 

Cale had been gently and kindly escorted to a carriage.

 

That was enough. It was embarrassing enough for the Henituse territory for him to be forced to leave, to have the crown prince himself be the one to send him off would surely be enough to ensure his complete disentanglement from political affairs.

 

…Alberu’s eyes hadn’t left his own as he’d helped Cale up the carriage steps, refusing to let up until he was ‘sure’ of Cale’s safety. Impossibly blue eyes that looked at him with discrete curiosity that made a shiver run up his spine and his cheeks to flush.

 

And then it was over. He was being sent back to the villa where he’d surely get an earful from the deputy butler and Cale would have achieved all of his goals.

 

His heart was slamming so hard against his ribcage that he could barely even hear his own internal screaming above the sound.

 

Was the ride from the plaza to the villa always this long?

 

Cale couldn’t tell. His hammering heart, distant regrets, and the lingering feeling of Alberu’s touch all left him a bit punchdrunk.

 

This was the best possible scenario. Not only had he managed to be an embarrassment of a lout but he’d even been able to avoid Eric’s nagging by being escorted away by the prince.

 

He couldn’t ask for any better scenario.

 

Numbly, Cale pinched his cheek.

 

No, not dreaming.

 

So why did he sort of feel like the prince might have some regard for him as well? He fell sideways, half laying down on the seat as the scene went over in his mind over and over again.

 

Alberu seemed to remember him.

 

That alone was both mortifying and gratifying.

 

Was Alberu that tactile with everyone? How many people had he accidentally given hopes with that gentle touch?

 

It was the way Alberu had looked at him as he left him in the carriage.

 

Cale knew that he was being utterly delusional. Yet, he couldn’t help how much he wanted Alberu to look at him like that longer.

 

“Mm?”

 

Cale sat up in the carriage, noting that it really had been too long a carriage ride.

 

No matter how spaced out he was, it shouldn’t take this long to get back to the villa.

 

Who had been driving the carriage? A spike of unease stabbed at Cale’s heart as he realized he hadn’t even looked. He’d been too engrossed in Alberu.

 

It wasn’t like he normally checked or anything but the extended journey in conjunction with having no idea who was driving created quite a unique anxiety that swallowed up all of Cale’s hopeful fantasies about gazing deeply into Alberu’s eyes or other equally embarrassing ideas.

 

“Ron?” He called out, dread building up as there was no reply. “...Hans?” He tried again, less hopefully this time.

 

Silence.

 

“...fuck.”

 

It wasn’t unheard of for a young nobleman to be kidnapped. Most wouldn't dream of it, especially amidst a celebration where so many knights and guards were all scattered about to keep the peace.

 

But now that Cale was putting his brain to work, he could admit that he would make a tempting target for anyone brazen enough to try it.

 

The infamous lout who was known for getting so drunk that he didn’t know up from down. Always rescued by his fathers wallet when he caused too much trouble. A presence that no one would miss or look for until it was too late because most would assume that he went out to get drunk.

 

Cale slid a hand through his hair and let out a long sigh, his eyes narrowing at the small closed window between himself and the driver.

 

He’d need to confirm his kidnapping before they caught wind that he’d figured it out. Luckily, he had a trick up his sleeve that was great for assuaging suspicions in a pinch. “‘Ey! More wine!” He banged on the ceiling of the carriage, making the whole thing shake, his voice slurring convincingly. “C’mon–I’m thirsty! This tastes like trash!”

 

His rukus had allowed him just enough leeway to open the sliding window just enough to see out of it. He didn’t go towards it immediately, weary of sharp things that might stab inside. When nothing was forthcoming and he heard unfamiliar chuckles coming from the driver, he stealthily peeked out.

 

Yep.

 

That definitely wasn’t a servant of the Henituse household.

 

Cale didn’t have to have the servants memorized to know, although he did have a good memory for faces of those around him, it was the shabby uniform that confirmed it for Cale.

 

A casual observer would have just seen the same boring clothes that most carriage drivers wore as they carried their charges.

 

Cale saw cheap fabric, cheap workmanship, and tasteless clothes. He could scoff, like the Henituse household would ever dress their servants in anything but the absolute best that money could buy. Please, it was just insulting for anyone to mistake this bastard for a servant associated with the Henituse name.

 

“I’d return to your seat, young master.”

 

A chill ran down Cale’s spine at the voice coming from behind him.

 

Ah, he hadn’t checked to see if there was more than one servant on the carriage. It was a stupid oversight.

 

There was a certain iciness to the tone that assured Cale that those sharp objects he’d been so concerned about were likely pointed at his back.

 

Cale held up his hands placatingly, obediently returning to his seat without making an effort to look at the person threatening him.

 

“Very good. You’re smarter than you look.”

 

Cale showed no outward reaction to the insult and allowed the wind from the open window behind him to tickle his neck.

 

If he made one wrong move, he’d say goodbye to his neck.

 

How vexing.

 

“Just stay like that and you might live, understood?”

 

It was a tempting offer.

 

The bastard on the other side of it just didn’t realize a simple and honest truth that made that offer someone less persuasive.

 

He’d kidnapped Cale Henituse.

 

He really had no idea what he was in for.

Notes:

Alberu: Cale and I don’t use pet names.
Eric: I see. Hey, what do bees make?
Alberu: Honey?
Cale: Yes, dear?
Alberu:
Eric: Don't ever lie to my face again.

Chapter 6

There was just something undeniably unique about the man known as Cale Henituse.

 

He wasn’t a genius by any measure, he wasn’t talented in any field unless being able to hold liquor was a talent, and he wouldn’t stand out in a crowd if he kept his down and his mouth shut.

 

He ought to have been an average man with an attractive face. Nothing exceptional enough to make note of or pay any attention to.

 

He did have certain personality quirks that made him a bit notable though.

 

If a humble narrator were to express that specific aspect of his personality through an analogy, it would be hoped that those who read along would wait patiently to hear the conclusion.

 

Imagine there’s a man, just an average man with an average life, who looked into a mirror and grew infuriated with his own face. Perhaps he was agitated with the glare he was being given or maybe he just didn’t like the shape.

 

The source of his anger is irrelevant.

 

Well, as this hypothetical man grew angrier and angrier, he grew determined to get his revenge upon the entity that had caused this anger.

 

But how could a person get revenge upon their own face? It was an impossible task for most to consider. A person with any remaining sanity would just avoid looking into reflective surfaces.

 

Imagine everyone’s surprise when this hypothetical man proceeded to cut off his own nose, glaring victoriously into his reflection as he succeeded in spiting his own face through his sheer grit alone.

 

Now imagine that the nose re-grew every single day for ten years and that this absolutely unhinged man cut that same nose off every day without ever once giving up on his maniacal goal.

 

The word ‘stubborn’ simply didn’t do justice to a proper description of Cale’s personality.

 

He used stubborn as a leaping off point and blew straight past descriptions such as obstinate or contrary and entered a zone all his own.

 

There were few people who could match Cale’s zealous dedication to his mad goals.

 

As for the relevance to the allegory, it could do something to explain why a rather muscular and otherwise impressive looking kidnapper was currently cowering in a corner to avoid being hit by yet another bottle.

 

It wasn’t that they couldn’t fight back. Cale was significantly weaker than all of the kidnappers individually and most especially combined. There was absolutely no reason that they should be cowering in their own base surrounded by their own men and in a situation where escape for the young noble was absolutely impossible to even conceive.

 

It was just that they couldn’t kill Cale if they wanted a pay out. Or really, to live through the experience. Kidnapping a noble meant that you had money to run away with and people who were relieved to have their loved ones back. Killing a noble meant that you had a large group of very vengeful, rich, and powerful people chasing after you with no money to show for it.

 

It was simple math.

 

Of course, they were all more than capable of incapacitating Cale without killing him. They could usually manage such a feat even without causing any serious injury.

 

With Cale, it was supposed to be easy. They’d given him a bottle of alcohol laced with a sleeping potion that ought to have knocked him out for days.

 

Seeing the young nobleman chug it was especially gratifying because it meant that they could quietly conduct their business while the spoiled brat snorred away.

 

Except Cale didn’t knock out.

 

No.

 

He smashed the bottle after drinking his fill, holding the shards against his throat with an absolutely mad glint to his flushed face.

 

No person was crazy enough to hold themselves hostage.

 

The rather impressive trickle of blood that now flowed from Cale’s neck wound said differently.

 

Cale didn’t stop there.

 

They’d thought that maybe he would knock out after a few minutes so all they had to do was pretend to listen while waiting.

 

They’d let Cale meander his way to a stockpile of alcohol in the warehouse and even celebrated internally when he popped off another bottle.

 

Even if the sleeping potion didn’t work, no one could drink that much while bleeding and still maintain the presence of mind to control a hostage situation.

 

Cale Henituse really was a unique person.

 

From his throne of broken bottles and spilled alcohol, Cale glared at the bastards.

 

Oh, they could kill him. They had crossbows and swords and other weapons and if they ever decided he was better off dead, it wouldn’t take much effort at all.

 

But see, Cale wasn’t in a ‘future thinking’ sort of mood.

 

He was living his life in the present.

 

And in the present, these deplorable scumbags had dared to deride his family. Laughing about the foolish count, the slut of a countess, the bastard son, and the incapable daughter.

 

Laughing their little heads off about how the lout really did fit in among the rest of the garbage.

 

Cale didn’t have a whole lot of things in this life that could well and truly upset him. Despite his trashy persona, Cale was a shockingly level-headed and calculated person.

 

About the only thing that could cause a person like him to cut off his own nose for ten years straight was his ardent commitment to the people he loved most.

 

And his zealous hatred towards those who would look down upon them.

 

A really unique man indeed.

 

–

 

The capital was in chaos.

 

As soon as it became apparent the eldest son of the Henituse family had been kidnapped, every single guard mobilized for the celebrations now had a new number one priority. This wasn’t just about protecting some obnoxious rich drunkard, the pride of all those assembled was at risk.

 

They had allowed for a nobleman to be kidnapped under their careful guardianship. This wasn’t a minor offense that could be easily shrugged away.

 

The Count of the Henituse territory was also on his way to the capital, a vicious vim to him that no one had seen previously. He was known to be rather neutral and easygoing, focused only on increasing his riches and protecting his territory. It was a bit unnerving to see such a man looking so very intense.

 

Alberu Crossman felt particularly frustrated as well.

 

Due to the nature of the situation, he was being heavily guarded along with the rest of the royal family and his aides were strongly pressuring him to remain within the safety of the palace until the situation had been resolved.

 

They didn’t care how it was resolved.

 

Alberu could remember as clear as day every moment of his goodbye with Cale Henituse.

 

When he’d handed him off to some kidnappers without noticing a thing.

 

Alberu clenched his fist, closing his eyes as a deep frown marred his handsome features.

 

He’d been right there. Why hadn’t he noticed anything? Why had he been so preoccupied with making sure the event went seamlessly that he hadn’t even noticed who he was leaving Cale in the care of?

 

It made Cale’s words from two years ago echo in his thoughts with painful resonance.

 

“Isn’t it better to protect?”

 

What’s the point of maintaining face if you can’t protect anyone?

 

It probably would have been different if Alberu didn’t feel so personally responsible.

 

If Cale had been kidnapped in any other time or place, he probably wouldn’t have felt so wretched over it. He could feel that it couldn’t be helped and move on with his life.

 

But what had been going through his mind as he left Cale in the carriage?

 

Make sure to help him up, it’ll look good for the public.

 

Smile one last time, it’ll leave a good impression.

 

Eye contact is always good for leaving a lasting impression. Lout or not, Cale has sway within the Henituse territory. Count Deruth would be a powerful ally.

 

…he really doesn’t seem drunk, what caused his fit this time? What a curious person…

 

He hadn’t spared even a single thought for Cale’s safety. It was all about his image. He dismissed his final thoughts as insignificant, just nothings about how Cale’s eyes drew him in or another stray thought about his striking appearance. Nothing of relevance and he was too busy hating his own obsession with publicity to feel that those thoughts mattered at all.

 

Well, if he didn’t find Cale that would also lose a lot of face.

 

Regardless of whether he found Cale for the selfish reasons of maintaining his image or for the simple guilt that he had been too wrapped up in himself to keep Cale safe, the answer was simple.

 

He needed to find Cale Henituse.

 

There were a lot of ways to go about it.

 

He’d already sent his aunt Tasha to collect as much information as possible about any plots around the capital. The guards, the knights, and anyone with any investment in Cale’s safety were already mobilized and searching every inch of the capital for any sign of him.

 

It was true that there wasn’t much Alberu could do personally that wasn’t already being done. It was also a good opportunity to redeem his public image.

 

If he denied his own guards, joining the search personally then it would show the people how deeply he cared and overshadow his mistake in leaving Cale with the kidnappers to begin with.

 

It would also apply pressure on the kidnappers. The royal family is taking a personal interest in this case and therefore, Cale Henituse’s safety was paramount for their future survival.

 

Image was a tool that could be used to protect. It was something he believed in and lived by. It was the basis for his entire existence as the crown prince of the Roan Kingdom.

 

And strangely, Cale had agreed with him two years ago even while disagreeing.

 

A contrary man who always seemed to catch his attention.

 

Alberu gathered his wits, wallowing in pity would get him nowhere and it was time for him to act.

 

Yet, even as he mobilized his personal guard and joined the search with every intention to prioritize Cale’s safety above all else, he still felt strangely like he’d made the wrong decision.

 

His necklace weighed heavily on his neck, a gentle reminder that everything he was and everything he could ever become was a lie.

Notes:

Alberu: I trust Cale.
Eric: You think they know what they're doing?
Alberu: I wouldn't go that far.

Chapter 7

Damn.

 

It’s hard moving through unfamiliar terrain when injured. But the alternative wasn’t ideal either and even if his vision was spinning, Cale wasn’t really the sort of person who gave up easily.

 

His arm was limp at his side and the blood seeping from his self-imposed injury hadn’t let up for awhile now.

 

He might have bit off more than he could chew.

 

Unfortunately, Cale Henituse had a nasty habit of biting harder in circumstances like that.

 

He could hear the pursuers but they were still going in the wrong direction from the sound of it. Cale sighed and slumped against a tree.

 

He’d need to find his way out of this alive. It’d be really dumb if he died this way.

 

…wouldn’t it just be fitting? He snorted to himself, wincing in pain as he did so.

 

A shadow overcast the moon and Cale looked up, ready to fight off yet another stupid fucker who dared to look down on Henituse.

 

“...I found you…” The tall man was sweaty and breathless, looking down at Cale with a mixture of concern and relief. He didn’t look familiar. Dark brown hair and chestnut skin, a handsome face, and a cloak that he was wrapping around Cale to warm him up.

 

How long had he been shivering?

 

Cale smirked to himself, closing his eyes. “Isn’t this just suitable for trash?”

 

Maybe he just didn’t care because his savior didn’t seem real. It was far more likely to be a near death hallucination.

 

“What is?” The man inquired, pulling a potion from the folds of his clothes and easing Cale to swallow it.

 

Cale shrugged. “Died in the wilderness running away from two-bit loser kidnappers that I only got caught by because of a fucking crush of all things.” He laughed bitterly and felt his injuries begin to mend under the potion.

 

The man was silent for a moment, gathering him up in his arms and beginning off in the direction he came from. “You’re not going to die.” He said finally.

 

Cale laughed bitterly, closing his eyes as the exhaustion well and truly set in. “Says the guy currently kidnapping me from the kidnappers.”

 

“...that’s commonly referred to as a rescue, I’ll have you know.”

 

“Rescuers normally identify themselves.” Cale pointed out. “You’re suspicious as hell.”

 

“...I have my reasons.” He adjusted his hold on Cale and increased the pace. Cale didn’t care, he was halfway unconscious. “What happened to you anyway? Did they do this to you?” His voice sounded tight with anger.

 

Cale chuckled. “Nah. Those bitches didn’t believe I’d do it.”

 

There was a certain amount of hesitance in his voice as he asked. “...do what?”

 

“Slit my throat.”

 

“...” there was a longer silence full of so much judgment that it almost woke Cale from his half-nap. “...why…?!”

 

Cale’s shoulders slumped in what could have been an attempted shrug but his tattered body couldn’t manage much better, even with the assistance of the potion. “They were holding me hostage so I held myself hostage.” He chuckled to himself as if delighting at the memory of their shocked expressions. “Fuckers insulted my family.”

 

“...you’re driving me insane.”

 

“You don’t have to kidnap me if I bother you.” Cale chuckled drunkenly. Maybe with all the adrenaline fading the sleeping potion was finally having some effect. Although the effect was less sleep and more like drunken delirium. “Just leave me anywhere to die. That’s where trash belongs~” His last syllables bounced cheerfully and he hiccuped.

 

The arms holding him securely tightened at his words. “You’re not trash.”

 

Cale actually let out a laugh, like his rescuer had made a hilarious inside joke. “Is that a challenge? ‘Cause I can get trashier.” He cracked open an eye, wrapping his arms around the man's neck and pulling his head down. “Heeey, you’re kinda cute, ya know. You look like what's-his-face.” Cale giggled, deciding that the only appropriate response to this realization was to bite his chin.

 

Not in a sexy or flirty way. He just bit him.

 

His rescuer flinched, attempting to jerk his head away. “Why…?!”

 

“What's-his-face is annoying!” Cale explained, nuzzling up to the man’s neck and breathing in deeply. “I hate his stupid perfect face. It’s dumb. I wanna bite it.”

 

“...friend of yours?” He asked, the sound of resignation deep in his voice.

 

“Naaahhhh, he wouldn’t be caught dead with trash like me.” Cale bit him again, this time it was more of a playful nip on the neck and was significantly less painful. “He’s all busy being perfect or whatever. He’s hot though. Really, distractingly hot. Bitch is the whole reason I got fucked over to begin with.”

 

“...I’m going to have to sincerely request that you stop biting me.” The long-suffering strain in his rescuer's voice would have filled Cale with some remorse if his brain had the capacity for anything but drunken rambling. “Regardless of your issues with ‘whats-his-face’.”

 

“What if I don’t?” Cale challenged, nipping at him again and nearly getting himself dropped. Cale felt the sudden jolting and guffawed, tugging on his savior's hair. “You’re a funny guy. And you’re cuter than what's-his-face.”

 

“...I’m a bit concerned that you’d say that to anyone in your current state.”

 

“Nah, I have the best tolerance, ya know? Never been drunk in my life . It’s really funny ‘cause everyone thinks I’m a drunk but I did that on purpose.” Cale narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, pulling his rescuers hair to force him to look him in the eye. “That was a secret!” He lectured. “Don’t tell anyone!”

 

Warm brown eyes blinked owlishly at Cale and nodded mutely. “I won’t tell anyone.” He assured.

 

Cale settled back down with a satisfied smile, impulsively kissing his cheek in thanks before settling in against his chest again.

 

“...please don’t kiss me either.” The man requested, sounding like he’d aged a few centuries in the short time they’d spent together.

 

“I never kissed you.” Cale said, easily forgetting that he had. “The only person I wanna kiss is whats-his-face.”

 

“Ah, that person. You said you had a crush on him?”

 

“Yup. It’s stupid though. ‘Cause he’s some fucking stupid ass prince or someshit, I ain’t got time for that.”

 

The trek through the woods stopped momentarily. A cool breeze washed over them as the man stood frozen in place.

 

Cale didn’t really care much. It was easier to fall asleep now that his bed wasn’t moving.

 

“I should really bite that motherfucker…” He mumbled happily, falling into a deep dreamless sleep.

Notes:

Alberu: Okay, truth or dare?
Cale: Truth
Alberu: How many hours have you slept this week?
Cale:
Cale: ...Dare
Alberu: Go to bed.
Cale: I don’t like this game.

Chapter 8

He really had hunted down every lead.

 

Even after they insisted that he return to the palace and he’d already earned back his perception in the eyes of society as the perfect crown prince, he snuck back out to search some more.

 

He’d searched and searched and while following a lead that felt flimsier than most, he found Cale’s slumped form.

 

It ought to have been a victorious thing. The first priority was to bring Cale to safety and get a healer and then he’d send back the full force of the royal guard to deal with the miscreants. If he hadn’t been searching alone then he could have done more but even Tasha had advised him to return home and stay home.

 

He just couldn’t.

 

That was precisely how he wound up with an armful of cheerfully napping Cale, a few bite marks, and a chaotic mind.

 

‘First. I need to bring him to safety.’ Alberu used the urgency of the matter as a way to force his feet forward.

 

He just needed to not think about any of what Cale had said. That was the key to getting out of here and solving this problem.

 

Just not a single word.

 

It occurred to Alberu late in the game that, as he was in disguise, bringing Cale straight back to the Henituse villa or even to the palace wasn’t really an option. Even if he brought him to the guards, that would be suspicious. He needed to think clearly and solve this problem calmly.

 

He hadn’t been calm since first seeing Cale causing chaos, had he?

 

The ever present pounding in his chest that felt so similar to anxiety but oddly made him long for more.

 

‘He likes…’

 

Stop. Don’t think about it.

 

Alberu swallowed thickly, heading towards the area where he knew the guard would be canvassing. When they were close enough, he placed Cale down as though he’d collapsed after a mad dash for freedom.

 

Now he just needed to remove himself from the scene.

 

Alberu lingered.

 

It felt wrong, leaving Cale collapsed so pathetically on the ground. And for what? Well, there were a lot of very good reasons from maintaining his secrets to maximizing the chances of the guard chasing after the real kidnappers as soon as possible.

 

It still felt wrong though. It made him feel like he was making the wrong choice all over again.

 

What choice did he have?

 

He waited until it was at the limit of time allowable, pulling back towards the treeline before the first guard spotted him and gritting his teeth as they clumsily went about picking Cale up and checking him for injuries.

 

They were all trusted men, he didn’t leave him with strangers this time.

 

Yet he still hated it. Hated how cold it felt without Cale in his arms. Hated how his thoughts felt like they were teetering at the edge of a cliff.

 

He really needed a release of some sort.

 

…what a coincidence. In the woods behind him, there were a plethora of scumbags responsible for putting Cale in this state.

 

Alberu wasn’t really the sort of man who normally embraced catharsis as a means for calming down but these were special circumstances and he just had a lot to give at the moment.

 

If the guard eventually found the kidnappers roughed up then so be it. Besides, Cale had already done quite a bit of damage to them in his escape. What were a few more injuries? A few more unconscious bastards?

 

He just needed to calm down .

 

–

 

He hadn’t calmed down.

 

Alberu sat at his desk listening to his aunt berate him, respectfully, for his reckless behavior as she worried over his well being.

 

Cale had been returned home safely but still hadn’t awoken. Ironically, Alberu found that he couldn’t sleep.

 

Or focus on his paperwork for that matter.

 

There was a limit to how long he could avoid thinking about it.

 

“...are you okay?” Tasha’s lecture winded down as she worried about her spacy and tense nephew, feeling his forehead for a fever and frowning. “You’ve been odd since your return.”

 

Should he tell her? Burst out with all the emotions just exploding inside of him?

 

The trouble was he wasn’t really sure what was exploding inside of him.

 

Why did he care to begin with? So what if Cale Henituse had some faint romantic interest in him. There were surely plenty of people who did. Alberu wasn’t being arrogant in saying he was an attractive individual and he specifically geared his outward persona to be likable.

 

It would be stranger if there weren’t a few hopefuls who held onto unfortunate feelings that would never be returned.

 

After all, Alberu had no intention of marrying. Much less falling in love. He was in a committed relationship with his responsibilities to his kingdom and Alberu was no cheater.

 

Romantic entanglements were just too risky. No one was liable to find out about the true nature of his heritage at a distance or in a brief political embrace. But romance was… messy. People had a tendency to find things out about their partners.

 

He wondered how his mother managed it. Alberu certainly had no intentions to even try. He had other priorities .

 

“I’m fine.” He responded after such a long pause that anyone with a brain would understand that it was a lie. “Cale Henituse just said some strange things while he was delirious and they were weighing on my thoughts.”

 

“...like?” Tasha pressed, her unerring instinct as his aunt letting her know that there was certainly more to it.

 

“I should bite him.”

 

Alberu blushed a bit, pushing away the thought and the strange sensations that being actually bitten brought about.

 

“Nothing important!” He said a little too quickly this time. “I’d like to be left alone for a while, if that’s alright.”

 

He normally told his aunt everything. It weighed on his conscience to keep it from her but he really didn’t know what to think yet.

 

No, he knew what to think. He was supposed to dismiss it. So what if Cale Henituse held some feelings? They were none of his business. Being bitten was just a delirious man acting out on impulse.

 

Tasha watched the unique shade of red that her precious nephew had been able to achieve through memories alone and tapped her chin thoughtfully.

 

She wondered when Alberu would finally reach the limit of his ‘no romance’ rule. She felt a bit bad for him but it was inevitable that someone would catch his fancy. Well, she amended the thought, there were actually cases of those who had no interest in romance at all so it wasn’t necessarily inevitable .

 

But she’d always gotten the feeling from her nephew that he was merely suppressing those feelings, not that he didn’t feel them at all.

 

She patted his shoulder compassionately as she went to obey his request. “I’m always here if you’d like to talk.”

 

She was certain he’d reach his limit on how much he could contain it too. He’d need to talk to someone eventually and it was best if she could offer her ear.

 

Alberu nodded faintly, trying to hide his fluster by working on some paperwork. She felt a bit guilty that he’d definitely need to re-do the work later, judging from what she witnessed before she left the room.

 

Now what had that Henituse boy done to leave her precious nephew so distraught?

 

Alberu, lost in the cycle of remembering every single brief interaction he’d ever had with Cale Henituse with vivid clarity, slumped at his desk and held his head in his hands.

“This is driving me crazy .”

Notes:

Cale: Are you sure Alberu's even gay? They barely even looked at me.

Chapter 9

Was it Cale’s imagination or was Ron a bit more menacing than normal?

 

He’d awoken in the safety and security of the Henituse villa in the capital, his ever reliable butler at his side and ready to assist his every request but there was just this tiny hint of menace to it that sent shivers down Cale’s spine.

 

He hadn’t felt like this since that one time he got stabbed in a bar fight and Ron had been there when he’d woken up as well. Somehow this time felt a bit worse though.

 

Cale normally had absolutely no apprehension of his long term butler, in fact the man was something like a second father figure to him. Or, more accurately, a first father figure as Ron had done far more in raising him than Cale’s actual father had done.

 

It wasn’t uncommon, normally nannies and servants spent far more time with the children of nobles than the parents ever did. Cale’s case was only a bit more extreme due to his circumstances.

 

Ron’s smile was benign as ever and of course his work didn’t suffer in the least, but perhaps it was because Cale had known him for so many years, but he felt like perhaps Ron was agitated.

 

He didn’t ask about it though. For starters, the prospect of his ever-composed butler becoming irate was unnerving. And secondly, it wouldn’t suit his persona to go about worrying about others. He had a reputation to maintain.

 

Still, he didn’t make any trouble for Ron as he laid obediently in bed and recovered.

 

It was a welcome break. His thoughts were chaotic.

 

According to the knights who rescued him, he’d escaped and run miles through a forest until he reached safety before collapsing.

 

…so why did he have faint memories of making it only about one mile before he collapsed and was rescued by a mysterious stranger? For that matter… had he bitten him?!

 

Cale winced at the memory. Apparently the various toxins inside of him had done a number on him after all. Cale had been confident in drinking whatever the kidnappers gave him as his insane metabolism caused most potions, toxins, sleeping agents, and recreational drugs to null. It wasn’t that they had no effect on him, the various medicines he’d taken for his insomnia had made him slightly drowsy, but ultimately even heavier toxins had just about as much effect as alcohol did on him.

 

A faint buzz and flushed cheeks.

 

They really must have fed him something extreme for him to have lost control so thoroughly. Cale wished he’d thrown at least one more bottle at their damn skulls.

 

…but who was the man who rescued him?

 

Cale hid his face in his hands and felt the embarrassment acutely. The man had been all kinds of suspicious and …

 

…well, he’d also been attractive and wow, was that all it took for him? Cale remembered the man looking strangely similar to the crown prince and found himself questioning if it was all about the face for him. Did he have a very specific type?

 

“...this is the fucking worst…” Cale groaned, rolling over in his bed and contemplating any possible way of getting out of this reality and entering another one where his life wasn’t so mortifying . Or at least, any aspect of it with regards to romance.

 

“Young master Cale.”

 

Cale peeked out from the pillow he was tempted to scream into, glaring up at his loyal butler. “...what?”

 

He really wasn’t imagining it.That benign smile of his looked like it could cut a man's throat. Cale shuddered at the thought. “You have a guest.”

 

“...tell them to fuck off.” Cale grumbled, turning back to his sheets.

 

There was a beat of hesitation that let Cale know that there was more to it. This wasn’t just Eric or another asshole.

 

“As you wish, young master Cale.” Ron said and Cale knew from the tone that he had to ask.

 

“...who the fuck is it, anyway?”

 

“His highness the Crown Prince Alberu Crossman.” Ron replied without missing a beat and Cale felt ice run down his spine that Ron was about to obey his earlier request.

 

Well–actually that suited him. He should tell Alberu to fuck off. It would absolutely destroy any remnants of his reputation and–

 

…dammit. Cale cursed the flopping emotions inside of him that couldn’t help but remember the feel of Alberu’s hand on his own.

 

…what was the harm in meeting him just one more time? They’d never talk after this. It would be fine.

 

“...the fuck does he want?” Cale asked, some of the chaos of his internal thoughts making themselves apparent in his tone.

 

“It appears that his highness has taken personal responsibility for your abduction.” Was there a hint of spite in Ron’s voice? Did he also blame the prince? Or was he just angry over other matters? “I’ve been informed that he searched for you quite ardently last night. If this Ron might offer his conjecture, he’s likely here to check on your well-being.”

 

That… was a lot of information to take in.

 

Cale unconsciously held his blankets protectively, racing mind trying to take it all in and come up with an answer but really his hedonistic brain was taking charge and letting out delighted little sounds at the idea of Alberu personally looking for him–

 

–dread filled him. No. That man couldn’t have been Alberu. He definitely wasn’t. How would that make sense? By personally searching, Alberu would have been accompanied by various knights and the appearance was wrong and–but were his memories the ones that were wrong? Had he only thought the colors were wrong in his delirium?

 

…no, that couldn’t be the case, could it?

 

“...tell him he can come in.” Cale said, his voice a bit thin with panic as his thoughts raced.

 

He’d know when he saw him.

 

His highness would be here to discuss yesterday regardless. Cale prided himself in his ability to read others. All he’d have to do was look at the prince’s face and he’d just know what the truth was.

 

…right?

Notes:

Cale: When I see initials carved into a tree with a heart I think it’s so romantic. Two lovers on a date... one of them carrying a knife for some reason.

Chapter 10

Cale had to have imagined the disappointment that flickered on Ron’s face at his change in decision. It wasn’t like Ron had wanted to tell the prince to fuck off, right?

 

Well, that didn’t really matter. What mattered was the brightly smiling and impossibly handsome bastard who came into the room looking the same as he always did. Alberu Crossman’s bright refreshing smile and gentle face didn’t offer Cale any comfort whatsoever though.

 

‘I can’t tell.’

 

Alberu was the same as he looked in public during every stupid event or speech and really the majority of the time Cale had known him.

 

…well, not including the evening on the balcony. Just that time, he’d seen a slightly different side to the prince. But that was years ago and it hardly mattered now.

 

It didn’t help him to crack the code that would enable to find out if he bit the crown prince .

 

And the way Alberu took over a room definitely wasn’t helping.

 

The crown prince swept into the room, his smile morphing to one of perfect concern as he approached Cale’s bed. “I’m so relieved that you were able to return home safely, young master Cale.” Alberu spoke, glib tongue at work to ooze out meaningless words that sounded good to the listener. “I was so worried after learning about your capture! Is there anything I can do to make up for my oversight?”

 

Blah, blah, blah.

 

Cale felt a bit of the tension in his heart dim.

 

The Alberu who’d made his heart flutter certainly behaved like this. He was a politician first and foremost. He’d treated Cale like this as well.

 

Maybe it was because he’d allowed himself to get a bit delirious about his position, but Cale had felt that there was something slightly different about how Alberu handled him. Something in the way he listened or talked or just looked at him–it was a really stupid thought that had been brought upon from too many years romanticizing a single evening.

 

The Alberu in front of him proved that was all in his head. Everything about him, his attitude, his speech, his over the top cheer and concern–it all drew a line between them. The same line Alberu Crossman drew for everyone.

 

It wasn’t that Cale was an expert in the Crown Prince’s behavior. He was just good at reading people and, well, just maybe he’d spent a bit of time observing Alberu’s interactions from afar during the two pathetically short times he’d been in the same space as him.

 

It really felt pathetic when he lined it all up like that.

 

It was a stupid crush, he’d known that from the beginning, but it really had bloomed from almost nothing and persisted despite having absolutely no fertile earth to grow in.

 

Cale hardened his own disposition. He was trash. He’d just use this as a good opportunity to make an even poorer impression on the prince and then he’d never be sent to the damn capital ever again and then he’d never have another reason to get his hopes up by spending just even one stupid moment thinking that he was special.

 

He sneered at the prince, surrendering the disposition of a recovering patient to hop out of bed and head towards the liquor cupboard. “Thanks for your concern, highness.” Cale called out flippantly, sarcasm dripping in his words. “Good of you to take responsibility since it’s your damn fault.” He took a swig from a bottle, still not daring to look back towards the future son of the Roan Kingdom.

 

“...ah, yes. We’ll be compensating the Henituse family appropriately for this oversight.” Alberu’s enthusiastic voice stilted with the familiar stilt of a person being exposed directly to Cale’s thuggish behavior. Cale smirked bitterly to himself.

 

That’s right.

 

He’d let himself get drunk on the drama and excitement and for just a moment he’d forgotten that this was his primary goal from the start. Make a fool of himself, get sent home, pave the way for Basen’s future.

 

“Good, now if you’re fucking done how about you beat it?” He swayed, just enough to look convincingly drunk. “I’m busy .”

 

He wasn’t expecting the gentle hold on his shoulders.

 

Cale’s eyes widened, his entire body freezing over.

 

Alberu’s gentle voice reached his ears and in the same way he’d gently escorted him from the event, he was being guided back to bed. “You’re still recovering, young master Cale.” Alberu chastised and Cale realized that he was once again absolutely helpless to do or say anything when Alberu touched him. He even let the wine bottle get pried from his hands as he was brought back to sitting on the bed. “You shouldn’t exert yourself.”

 

And there it was.

 

Cale’s eyes flickered despite himself to meet Alberu’s and there was that lingering look that he’d swear meant something. That made him feel important and fuzzy inside and absolutely drawn into the moment.

 

He was letting himself get fooled all over again. Fooling himself into thinking this moment meant anything at all.

 

He shouldn’t have done his drunken sway. That was the only reason Alberu was doing this. He was just being a ‘responsible prince’ and insisting the recovering victim rest properly.

 

That’s all there was to it.

 

Why did it have to feel like Alberu’s hand lingered on him just a moment too long? Like the world slowed down as he saw that look in Alberu’s eyes? Why was he feeling like he was a stupid brat again, kicking his blankets with a muffled scream into his pillow as he couldn’t help but think about his ridiculous crush?

 

And in a moment that was far too quick, Alberu’s expression closed off again. A bright political smile as he gently urged Cale to lie back down and returned the alcohol to the shelf.

 

“It’s good to see you’re doing so well.” Alberu said with all the cheer that indicated that he was sincerely grateful. It still felt political and fake. “I won’t hamper your recovery anymore, young master Cale. Please rest well.”

 

Cale could do nothing but wordlessly accept it as the crown prince swept away from the room with the same authority as he swept in.

 

Cale stared blankly at his ceiling.

 

Had he imagined it?

 

That lingering moment? Was it just a product of his wishful thinking from his pathetic crush?

 

Or was he misreading the flickers in Alberu’s emotions? Maybe his composure had cracked but it was just a simple concern for another human being?

 

Cale frowned, wanting to seek out that bottle of wine all over again to drown all these useless thoughts away even though he knew that would be an entirely futile effort.

 

“...bastard means to drive me fucking crazy.” Cale muttered miserably and turned over in bed, trying in vain to calm his fluttering heart.

 

He really was weak to that bastard.

 

And he still had no idea if he’d bitten him or not! Probably not, right? He would have looked more awkward, right?

 

Right?

Notes:

Alberu: Bro, I had a dream we fucked.
Cale: Bro, relax it was just a dream.
Alberu: Huh, gay, I wouldn’t fuck you.
Cale: You wouldn’t?
Alberu: I mean, unless you want to-

Chapter 11

All bad ideas need to happen sometime. How would the vastness of reality understand that it was a truly bad idea unless someone, somewhere decided to act it out in an impulsive decision that they would surely live to regret?

 

This bad decision was made by Alberu Crossman.

 

The awkward and stilted visit to check up on Cale Henituse had left him feeling a bit more worried than before he’d gone. Cale’s behavior had been anxious in a way that stuck out starkly from all of Alberu’s previous interactions with him.

 

Of course, as the crown prince they had no deeper relationship so to speak of and thus it would be strange for him to press for more information. And truthfully that should have been the end of it. Alberu really did have no connection to Cale other than the complicated feelings of responsibility that arose due to the kidnapping.

 

There was nothing else to it.

 

Restless and unable to let it go at just that, Alberu made what is commonly referred to as a ‘stupid decision’.

 

He couldn’t visit any further as Alberu Crossman but that wasn’t his only option, was it?

 

Alberu’s feet tapped down gently on the balcony. Despite all of the stealth he currently utilized, he couldn’t help but check his surroundings yet again to make sure that he hadn’t been spotted. Once he was sure that absolutely no one was paying any mind to Cale’s balcony, and why would they? It was the dead of night, he gently knocked on the window. Adjusting the veil concealing half of his face yet again, anxious not to be recognized.

 

There was a long enough silence that he thought he might have to knock again but then the window opened to reveal Cale’s confused face.

 

“...you’re that one bastard.” Cale hissed out, apparently crude even when he was too surprised to even scowl. “What are you… how…”

 

Alberu shrugged helplessly, only now understanding that his very bad idea also had very poor planning because he didn’t have the slightest idea how to answer. “I was worried about you.”

 

It was the truth. There really wasn’t any deeper meaning to that simple fact.

 

Alberu was entirely unprepared for the red that flooded Cale’s pale cheeks, entirely prompted by his words.

 

Alberu’s heart picked up, pounding restlessly in his chest. He suddenly couldn’t help but remember Cale’s words and actions in vivid detail.

 

“W… why would you worry?” Cale sputtered a bit, attempting to scowl to hide his fluster. “Who are you? Why did you help me?”

 

For some reason, Alberu heard the question differently than he ought to.

 

Maybe it was the way the moonlight danced on Cale’s deep red hair or the way his too brown eyes sought out answers. The disheveled appearance of a man who’d only just dragged himself from bed. The memories dancing inside of his mind mockingly.

 

Alberu knew, logically speaking, what Cale was actually asking.  A suspicious stranger helps him escape kidnappers and checks up on him afterwards? Who wouldn’t be curious about such a shady individual.

 

And yet the question really cut through to him.

 

Why was he, Alberu Crossman, so intent on helping Cale Henituse? Why was he so concerned over him? Why did his eyes follow him in any room? Why did he remember their every interaction with such attention to detail?

 

Why was he so entirely enraptured by everything that Cale was?

 

“I don’t know.” Alberu reached out without really intending to, his thumb gently caressing Cale’s cheek as for just a moment he wondered what it would be like to make a really bad decision. “...I think I might be enchanted.”

 

Bad decisions have to occur somewhere to be real. Someone has to make all the mistakes for the universe to mark down that, yes, that was indeed a stupid thing to do.

 

Alberu leaned forward, grazing his lips gently against Cale’s through the veil as though asking for permission.

 

Anyone in their right mind would push him away. Anyone would be smart enough not to get swept away in this ridiculous impulse.

 

Cale wasn’t known for his good decisions either.

 

Cale pulled away the veil, wrapping his arms around Alberu’s neck and pulling him inside the dark bedroom to deepen the kiss.

 

Foolish and hasty with pounding hearts that mirrored one another, it didn’t take very long at all before Alberu was pressed up against the wall with his arms securely around Cale’s waist and insistent kisses littered down Cale’s neck.

 

“That doesn’t answer my questions at all.” Cale complained but the weight of his body kept Alberu pinned, his fingers running through silky dark locks.

 

“I know, I’m sorry.” Alberu apologized between kisses.

 

How long had he wanted to kiss Cale Henituse?

 

He couldn’t say for sure but at this moment he couldn’t understand why he’d held back from doing so for so long. The taste and feel of Cale was addicting.

 

“Is this revenge for when I bit you?” Cale asked, arching his neck as Alberu kissed the base of his neck softly.

 

“Yes.” Alberu hadn’t intended for it to be so but Cale had left a rather uncomfortable mark that was hard to hide. He wondered how it would feel to leave a matching mark on Cale…

 

The sharp gasp that Cale let out made his heart hungry for more.

 

Alberu’s fingers danced along Cale’s spine and an impulsive thought made him wonder if he could feel his skin.

 

Cale pulled him up by his hair and he was met with a greedy glare before Cale claimed his lips in a possessive kiss that made his knees feel weak.

 

Alberu knew they needed to stop. This couldn’t continue. Cale didn’t even know who he was and for that matter, this was a match made in hell. The crown prince and the trash of the count’s family? It couldn’t work.

 

He knew he needed to gently push Cale away and apologize for instigating this mess. Leave before he caused anymore damage. He needed to do the right thing.

 

Perhaps he’d just spent too much of his life pushing away any hedonistic instinct in favor of doing the right thing because Alberu couldn’t find the strength.

 

It felt good. It was insane and stupid and he could feel Cale’s heart beating against his own with how close their bodies were pressed together and he didn’t want to stop.

 

Cale pulled away, lips pink and eyes dark with a desire that sent shivers down Alberu’s spine. “Are you at least going to give me a name?”

 

Alberu wondered how much worse this could get. Should he come clean right here? Admit fault and leave? That would be the right thing to do. But he also couldn’t let his identity be revealed and the truly correct thing to do would have been to never cross this boundary.

 

“...Bob.”

 

Cale snorted. “That’s a dumb name.” He pulled ‘Bob’ into a biting kiss and smirked. “I think I’m a bit ‘enchanted’ too, Bob.” He said without a hint of shame and there was an elegance to his expression that looked so out of place on Cale’s normally roguish face. “How about we do this again sometime?”

 

Alberu nodded mutely. Some alarm in the very back of his mind was blaring with piercing accuracy. If he let this go on then there was very little he’d be able to deny Cale Henituse. It was learning he had a weakness all the while falling prey to it.

 

Cale smiled again but it was softer this time, pressing his lips against Alberu’s gently. “You should leave now.” He said. “Otherwise I will definitely take this farther.”

 

It was startling for Alberu to realize how tempting that was. But even he had enough self control left to agree with the line Cale was drawing. They shouldn’t go any farther yet.

 

Yet was implied in the way Cale’s eyes consumed him hungrily and the way Alberu wanted nothing more than to throw away his every reasonable reservation. Cale’s loose clothes and the fresh hickeys lining his neck and lord it was hard to walk away.

 

Alberu nodded again, swallowing his impulsive desires and fixing his veil, looking off towards the window. “...when should I come back?”

 

He could hear the smirk in Cale’s voice. “Tomorrow night.”

 

This was well and truly a bad decision.

 

It was a bad decision that they had every intention of repeating.

Chapter 12

What the fuck was he thinking ?!

 

Cale Henituse had a lot of self confidence as a human being. He was confident in his ability to handle most situations in a manner that suited his overall priorities and plans, even in a state of emotional, physical, or mental duress. He wasn’t impulsive, he just acted impulsive for his goals.

 

“...I’m an impulsive idiot, what the fuck, what the fuck …?!” Cale could just about scream into his pillow.

 

He didn’t just kiss the highly suspicious stranger, he invited him to come back ! And he was excited about it!

 

“...I thought my taste didn’t get any worse than that damn prince.” Cale bemoaned, flipping over in bed.

 

That was the single fringe benefit to the whole unfortunate situation. Cale hadn’t had the presence of mind to ruminate over the prince while he was busy screaming over Bob with the stupid fucking name and the stupid fucking face and–

 

Cale wasn’t entirely irrational.

 

He’d come up with the perfect plan for the evening.

 

He’d prepared the very best for his meeting with Bob. Bathed, dressed handsomely, requested dinner, snacks, and tea all be delivered to his room without anyone daring to enter without his explicit permission.

 

And then, when Bob finally turned up, Cale was going to murder him. Yep. It was a great plan. If there was no Bob then there would be no feelings of panicked confusion raging inside of him and then he would live peacefully with his other hopelessly confusing feelings.

 

It was a perfectly rational plan.

 

It was a shame that there was no possible way he’d manage it. Well, all the early steps had been easy, but that final murdery thing was going to be a sticking point for him.

 

He rather liked Bob. Or at least what he knew about Bob. But everything thus far had been likable. He was a good kisser, he saved Cale from kidnappers, he was witty, and he wasn’t hard on the eyes either.

 

At least it was a relief for Cale.

 

Now that he’d moved on to a second miserably helpless crush he now knew for sure. It wasn’t that Alberu Crossman was special or anything stupid like that, it was just that Cale was a shallow motherfucker who liked a pretty face and a quick tongue.

 

Cale was much more comfortable with the idea that he was shallow than the idea that he was stuck having feelings for the crown prince. This was better.

 

For starters, there was actually some potential for him and Bob. The crown prince was a nonstarter. There was absolutely no possibility of filling the the chasm of reasons why nothing could and would happen between himself and that stupid prince.

 

But Bob . Well, he might be about as trustworthy as they came but at least they might actually be able to have fun together before the inevitable end.

 

Cale’s lips twitched upwards despite himself.

 

He was pretty excited.

 

He had no reason to put up any front for Bob and no reason to do anything but to be himself and indulge in a pleasant evening with a person he was interested in. It was hard not to feel a bit fluttery at the prospect.

 

Maybe they’d kiss again.

 

It was silly and childish but the idea made his cheeks heat up with the memory.

 

Crown prince? Who needed that guy? He had Bob .

 

A gentle knock at his window caused Cale to retreat from his fantasies and rush over to open it. He caught himself just in time, grateful that he’d chosen to close the curtains and collect himself.

 

He had a plan for the evening and even if that plan wasn’t going to include the initial murder plans, he was pretty sure Ron would help him hide a body, he still wanted to maintain some composure in front of his guest.

 

He pulled back the curtains and frowned at the unfortunate sight Bob was.

 

Cale had taken the time to pick out a flattering outfit that he knew he looked good in.

 

Bob was in the same worn out cloak with worn out clothes beneath it with that damn veil hiding half of his face again.

 

Some people really had no manners.

 

Cale opened the window ready to criticize him. “You’re late.”

 

“We never arranged for a time.” Bob pointed out.

 

Cale rolled his eyes, conceding defeat on that front because I was waiting for you or I was nervous you weren’t coming was just too vulnerable for him to cope with saying. He swept away from the window, one hand effortlessly tugging at Bob’s cloak to force him to follow him inside.

 

It wasn’t that he was nervous that Bob would leave but he… Well, he didn’t want Bob to leave.

 

Bob let himself be half dragged over to where snacks and wine were all neatly arranged on the table between Cale’s couches. It was a surprisingly neat set-up considering Cale’s reputation.

 

Cale released his cloak, plopping down on a couch and gesturing for Bob to follow his lead.

 

Alberu was aware this was something like a date.

 

They kissed and agreed to meet again. There wasn’t a lot of room for debate over whether the second meeting constituted a ‘date’ or not.

 

He just wasn’t prepared for it to be so… formal.

 

He sat obediently, looking questioningly into Cale’s elegant smile for any hint.

 

It was really shocking how composed Cale was throughout this entire ordeal. Despite being known for his poor temper, Cale looked for all the world like he was in his own element from the moment Alberu had kissed him. Taking control of the situation like he’d dealt with similar situations countless times before.

 

…had he? Alberu felt a faint concern that Cale was engaging in reckless affairs that could be dangerous despite how hypocritical that thought was.

 

Cale poured a glass of wine and took a sip, the panicked screaming happening behind his smile hidden by the familiar taste of good wine.

 

“First things first.” Cale said, taking in how stiff and nervous Bob looked with some level of enjoyment. At least he wasn’t the only one who was freaked out. “You never properly explained who you are or any of what happened.”

 

The implication that Cale would be rather unforgiving of any none answer was evident in his tone.

 

Alberu had expected at least this much. He’d prepared an answer that at least made some sense. “I work for his highness.”

 

Cale froze in his place and that confident smirk he’d been wearing suddenly looked rather forced as the panicked chaos threatened to burst forth.

 

“I was sent out to look for you along with others.” Alberu continued. “My existence as an attendant for his highness is a secret.”

 

Cale nodded stiffly. Royals having secret attendants or shadows who do their bidding wasn’t unknown. It made sense.

 

Cale wanted to throw his wine glass.

 

“...and last night?” He asked, potential anger simmering up and threatening to burst.

 

“...that…” Bob looked down and he looked so sincerely sheepish that it almost quelled Cale’s uneasy emotions. “I meant what I said. I was worried about you.”

 

“So he didn’t send you?”

 

The nauseous prospect that one of his crushes had sent another crush to his window to kiss him was, well, unsettling. Cale definitely didn’t like the idea.

 

“No.” Alberu wondered if that counted as true. Did he send himself? But ultimately his primary motivation had been just as he stated. Well… that and he’d wanted to see Cale again.

 

He was going crazy.

 

Cale’s smile was elegant and peaceful as he placed the wineglass onto the table and stared into Alberu’s eyes with calculated cruelty. “If I find out you’re lying.” There was a gentle crack as the stem of the wine glass shattered in his grip and red wine spilled to the carpet. “I’m going to be displeased.”

 

Alberu had an intuition that he didn’t want to see Cale ‘displeased’. Ever.

 

He nodded in acknowledgement and finally the fire in Cale’s eyes died down enough that the tension between them eased.

 

As though nothing had happened, Cale poured himself another glass and gestured for Alberu to do the same. There was something strange about his movements though that belied a certain anxiety.

 

“...and why the hell did you kiss me then?” He asked finally, looking a bit more bashful and Alberu was starting to notice all the little hints that Cale was actually quite nervous.

 

“I wanted to.”

 

It was stupidly honest but there wasn’t any other answer to give.

 

Cale met his eyes with a question in his expression. “And what about now?”

 

It really wasn’t fair how easy it was for Cale to drive him crazy.

Notes:

Alberu: What are you drinking?
Cale: Vodka.
Alberu: Straight?
Cale: No, gay. Why?

Chapter 13

He could stop anytime he wanted to.

 

That was the lie Alberu told himself as he left, yet again, to meet up with the lout of the Henituse family.

 

He hadn’t been able to stop himself even once nor had he made any great effort to do so as each time he told himself that he’d put an end to this soon.

 

It wasn’t right. It wasn’t sensible. It wasn’t logical.

 

He could stop at any time. He just didn’t want to stop for the time being.

 

And when he snuck in through Cale’s window yet again, getting dragged inside impatiently and pinned against a wall by a man who’s eyes lit up with mischief and passion, Alberu wondered distantly how he could ever stop wanting to.

 

Cale didn’t kiss him though like he was anticipating and the sensation was sorely missed.

 

“Let’s go out.” Cale said, the twinkle of mischief letting Alberu know that he knew exactly what Alberu had been anticipating and had denied him on purpose.

 

“Where?” Alberu asked, inspired by Cale’s impish trick to pull a prank of his own. In one swift movement he’d switched their positions and pinned Cale to the wall.

 

He had just about every intention of denying Cale a kiss just as he had been.

 

Brown eyes blown wide in surprise and pink lips parted ever so slightly in a gasp. Alberu leaned in and kissed him gently, giving in to desire instantly.

 

It was worth it too. The way Cale wound his arms around Alberu’s neck and pressed his body against his–

 

Alberu pulled away from the kiss, breathless as he tried to ground himself. “Did you mean going to the festival?” He asked, changing the topic swiftly from how much he wanted to hold Cale closer and yes, a public space was a good idea. He’d be able to cool his thoughts there.

 

Cale nodded mutely and he was wearing that perfectly vulnerable expression that Alberu could only see in times like these.

 

Cale could be as elegant and graceful as royalty. And he could be as thuggish and crude as the average crook. But only in moments like these, when it was just the two of them and no need for any pretense, Cale would look softer.

 

As though he could trust Alberu with his heart.

 

Of course that was all Alberu’s presumption and he absolutely didn’t think that he was truly all that special to Cale–a momentary fancy at best.

 

Or maybe that was just Alberu’s way of running away from the reality that he wanted to hold Cale’s heart. Wanted to give the irresistible man his own.

 

“Shall we go then?” He suggested. The dangerously devious thoughts caressing his impulses and asking just how bad would it be if he pressed Cale back against the wall and took this as far as his desires begged him to.

 

Cale nodded again and collected himself, pushing Alberu away and heading back towards the window without any hesitation at all.

 

Alberu liked that about him. No matter what he was saying or doing, there was an unmistakable confidence in the way Cale walked that left absolutely no question as to his capability.

 

Cale could probably walk into a room and fuck up every single thing he’d attempted to do but achieve it all with such a confidence of step that no matter how horrifying the remaining scene was, it would come across as powerfully purposeful.

 

It was equal parts cool and cute.

 

Alberu decided that it was time for him to actually get some revenge for Cale’s tiny prank so he scooped Cale up into his arms, enjoying the surprised yelp he let out as he jumped down from the balcony.

 

And as they gently floated to the ground he could feel Cale scowling at him. “You might want to have mentioned you can use magic.” He said saltily. Alberu chuckled and placed Cale gently back onto the ground. He’d flown them down to an alleyway near the Henituse estate, not quite close enough to the festival to enjoy the festivities but close enough that he could hear them. They could walk from here.

 

“But then when would I have the opportunity to surprise you?” Alberu teased and kissed the crown of his head affectionately. “Shall we go?”

 

Cale pulled up the hood he’d been wearing to conceal his most noticeable feature and Alberu thought that was quite a shame. He didn’t want Cale to have to fuss about his hood all evening although he understood that it was probably better if no one recognized young master Cale Henituse, the trash who caused nothing but trouble wherever he went.

 

He gathered his mana and caressed Cale’s hair gently, presenting the common brown color for Cale’s inspection with a playful grin.

 

Cale grunted in acceptance, allowing his hood to drop back down. “Can you change my eyes too?” He asked and Alberu nodded without a thought.

 

“What color would you like?” He asked, leaning in close and quite tempted to kiss him again.

 

Cale thought for a moment before he answered. “Blue.”

 

It could have been any color. And it wasn’t like blue was a strange request.

 

It just reminded Alberu with guilty acuity what he’d accidentally learned about Cale while in disguise. The ‘stupid crush’ he had on the crown prince.

 

Alberu swallowed, feeling the strangest welling of jealousy that he’d ever experienced. It hardly made any sense to be jealous–it was him. He was the same person.

 

And yet he felt strangely bitter at the idea that Cale was still starstruck by the prince he hardly knew when the real person was right in front of him.

 

Cale’s lips grazed against his and he was startled back into reality. “Don’t be jealous.” Cale chastised with an eye roll. “I just wanted to know what I’d look like with blue eyes.”

 

“I wasn’t jealous.” Alberu protested as he wrapped his arms around Cale’s waist possessively.

 

“Bullshit.” Cale said with a scoff. Alberu really had to wonder how Cale had gotten so good at reading him after only a few meetings. Either Cale was impressively perceptive or Alberu was simply easier to understand than he’d thought.

 

Both options held within them a certain level of apprehension.

 

But Alberu couldn’t care about that at the moment. “Alright. I was a bit jealous.” He admitted. He felt like a fool over it. “You inspire the strangest emotions in me.”

 

Cale scoffed again but he looked rather pleased. “Don’t blame me for your own dysregulation.” He nuzzled his face against Alberu’s neck and nipped at him in the spot where he’d bitten him before. “If it helps, I like you more.” He said, kissing the spot.

 

It didn’t help.

 

It didn’t help at all.

 

Guilt spread all throughout Alberu’s body as it truly hit him how morally bankrupt his current actions were. He’d lied to Cale about his identity and now Cale liked him under a completely false pretense. Cale even compared him to his other self favorably.

 

He remembered the severe look on Cale’s face when he warned him against lying and felt like the ground was coming to swallow him whole.

 

But what option did he have?

 

He couldn’t come clean about his identity. The risk of being revealed as a dark elf was far too great even if it meant he had to make ethically dubious decisions.

 

But he couldn’t give up Cale either.

 

It dawned on him as he hugged Cale closer and buried his face in his shoulder that he’d been stupid and wrong.

 

He couldn’t give this up any time he wanted.

 

His feelings were growing beyond his own control at a rate that he couldn’t even comprehend.

 

How long had he been infatuated with Cale? Was it the first meeting with Bob? Before that?

 

That first night on the terrace?

 

It was impossible to grasp.

“...like you too.” He murmured into Cale’s shoulder, wretched and miserable as the words didn’t do anything to encompass all of the feelings he only now recognized.

Chapter 14

It was for the best that Cale was probably just about as awkward about emotions as Alberu was. Shortly after their rather dramatic alleyway hug, the pair departed towards the festival with flushed faces that sought to look anywhere but directly at one another.

 

It was a lucky thing that they were headed to the festival, with the lights and music and vendors all lining the street there was hardly any place without something interesting to look at.

 

However, despite their notable inability to look at each other, their fingers were laced together in a silent acknowledgement of how much they enjoyed the others' presence.

 

From the perspective of any outsider they might just look like a shy couple on a first date, which in some ways wasn’t inaccurate.

 

Cale finally managed to collect himself when they were about halfway through the line of vendors and approaching the dancers by the firelight in the town center. He’d caught a glimpse of how he ‘looked’ with brown hair and blue eyes and felt a certain satisfaction that a face as attractive as his own would look good any which way.

 

But really what he noticed in the reflection was how nice Bob looked at his side. He was a bit taller and his chestnut skin and dark brown hair looked vibrant in the firelight. His hand still linked with Cale’s in a way that perfectly portrayed their current relationship.

 

Cale’s heart raced in his chest.

 

For a second love, this wasn’t bad at all. First time he’d fallen for some doofus prince who would have never given him a second glance and second time he’d accidentally met a man who he could truly be sincere around.

 

It was new and strange but Cale’s heart raced with excitement whenever he thought of the mysterious man who had so swiftly and thoroughly stolen all of his attention.

 

Cale hadn’t fooled himself into believing it was perfect but… well, he had some hopes that it might last. He had no intention of inheriting and who was to care who he spent his time with once Basen was the Count.

 

There was obviously no future with the prince.

 

But there might just be a future with Bob. A quiet and sweet one just for the two of them.

 

Cale would never in pain of death admit to being a romantic but it would be a lie to say he wasn’t one. For all his cynicism and crass personality, Cale was the sort who treasured love.

 

It was how he’d hung onto such a faint first love with the crown prince for such a ridiculous amount of time.

 

That was in the past though. Even if the thought of the man could still tickle Cale’s heart, he had no intention of looking anywhere but at Bob for his future romantic fantasies.

 

This was one of them.

 

It was a silly dream of his but when he’d been young, his parents had walked with him through a festival and somewhere in his heart, he’d always wanted to go to one with a person he cared for. It was a romantic ideation that crossed his thoughts every so once in a while, when a festival lit the streets with joyful celebration.

 

And Bob liked him too. He’d said as much and frankly, the man was garbage at hiding how much he enjoyed Cale’s company.

 

Cale pulled Bob towards the dancers, smiling at him with an expression just for him full of the affection he felt building in his heart.

 

“Let’s dance.” He said, confident and full of hope.

 

Bob smiled softly at him in return, bowing his head to kiss Cale’s palm. “It would be my pleasure.”

 

A shiver of delight ran down Cale’s spine as they spun into the bodies of commoners who danced without the elegance of nobility but with the spirit of those full of joy.

 

Bob matched his lead to the music coming from bards and laughter, sending Cale into a fit of happy giggles as they found their rhythm.

 

Cale didn’t really know any folk dances but he could follow the patterns and Bob’s lead and in a moment it really didn’t matter.

 

There wasn’t any right or wrong way for them to dance with one another so long as they were laughing and smiling and remembered that every separation to spin or dance or flirt just meant that they would have to hold one another tightly in return.

 

Cale particularly liked the moment when, after the dance had called for him to extend his arms and stand nearly a yard away from Bob, the man had jealously pulled him in and dipped him low before kissing him chastely.

 

It was every bit as magical as he could have hoped for and the romantic corner of his heart, that had merely hoped to walk side by side, felt that he would have difficulty topping the height of this feeling in all of his life.

 

When they separated themselves from the dancers, panting and giggling and sweating from the effort, Cale leaned against Bob’s chest and closed his eyes. “You should kiss me again.” He suggested but he hardly needed to say it.

 

In the quiet of a single dark nook among the celebrations, Bob stole his lips with a kiss so full of affectionate tenderness that he couldn’t breathe.

 

Cale smiled at him when he pulled away, caressing Bob’s cheek and feeling that he’d really struck lucky.

 

A snigger escaped him as he thought that the silly prince had been something like a cupid. If he hadn’t been kidnapped so foolishly then he might not have met this irresistible bastard.

 

“What’s so funny?” Bob asked softly, resting his forehead against Cale’s.

 

Cale hummed. “You probably wouldn’t like it if I said.” He teased before he leaned up and kissed Bob impishly on the nose. “But mostly I’m just happy.”

 

He really was.

 

The happiness spread from his heart to his finger tips, making the very ends of his toes feel as light and bubbly as he felt right now.

 

“Good.” Bob said and gently escorted him back into the throng now that they’d had a moment to catch their breath. “What do you want to eat?”

 

“Anything.” Cale said. He guided them towards a stall that smelled appetizing as he said that though. “I worked up an appetite.”

 

Bob chuckled. “Whatever you like.”

 

And the leisurely walk through the stalls, buying whatever caught his eye whether it was a trinket or a meal, leaning into Bob’s warmth and feeling his hand locked with his own, feeling that this was the height of happiness he could experience.

 

Cale went home that night, humming and happy and full of much more than just food or drink.

 

And as Alberu lingered on his balcony, heart aching as he was pulled into one more delightfully joyful goodbye kiss, he knew that the only right thing to do was to end this before either of them could get more hurt.

Chapter 15

Alberu was weak. Plain and simple.

 

He had a million good reasons to end things with Cale Henituse and not a single good reason to proceed. Even when he allowed himself to think romantically rather than logistically, there was still absolutely no version of this relationship that ended well.

 

He absolutely could not reveal himself to Cale and what was the alternative? Seeing Cale forever under the false pretense of being an attendant named Bob ? With the ethically dubious nature of their relationship being based upon lies and more lies.

 

The sensible thing was to pull away before he was drawn in any further. Before the depth of their feelings drowned them.

 

That, of course, would require that Alberu was capable of treading water at all.

 

Bob sought out Cale’s lips in another urgent kiss as they met yet again on his terrace, smiling as Cale wrapped his arms around his neck and pulled him into the privacy of his bedroom.

 

Cale returned his smile, pulling away from the kiss to nuzzle his face against Alberu’s neck. He nipped the skin playfully, a reminder that yes Cale did bite and yes Alberu was struggling very hard to control himself when Cale chose to. “You’re late.” Cale complained, it was a familiar complaint.

 

“We didn’t agree to meet tonight.” Alberu countered.

 

“But I wanted to see you hours ago.”

 

Shit. Alberu hugged the precious and bratty punk close and buried his face into the crook of his neck.

 

Letting go and ending things was the correct course of action.

 

Alberu was a weak fool and he couldn’t let go, not for all the best reasons in the world.

 

“...I did too.” He confessed, leaving a chaste kiss at the base of Cale’s neck and feeling the shiver that ran down his spine.

 

Cale was sensitive there. It was all of Alberu’s broken self control not to take immediate advantage of that fact and see if he could make the lout moan .

 

And his conscience wanted him to break it off altogether? When he was barely restraining himself from taking more ? It was a laughable ask.

 

Cale’s fingers tangled with his hair and Cale arched his neck invitingly.

 

Fuck –they should meet somewhere else. The privacy that Cale’s bedroom offered invited a sort of intimacy that Alberu couldn’t resist.

 

He kissed Cale’s neck again, holding the man flush against him as Cale let out a sharp breath. Alberu was quite tempted to take matters a step farther when there was a curt knock at the door.

 

“Young master Cale.” An elderly voice called out. “Are you quite alright? This Ron heard a strange sound.”

 

Bullshit. Alberu could curse. There was hardly a single noise in the room. If he didn’t know better, he would think that the benign old butler interrupted them on purpose. He had an unerring timing for knocking just as Alberu’s restraint was about ready to snap.

 

Cale pulled away gently and Alberu watched as his expression changed from one of easy-going happiness into a thuggish sneer, perfect to portray the emotion of his words. “For the last fucking time, Ron! I don’t want to be disturbed!”

 

Perhaps the old butler was a mischievous old fox because he replied with. “Would you like some lemon tea, young master Cale? To help you sleep.”

 

Cale responded by throwing something breakable at the door and the pair of them listened to the butler retreat, surely to retrieve the tea that Cale did not want .

 

Alberu wrapped his arms gently around Cale from behind, resting his chin on his hair, blowing away a strand of lawless red hair that tickled his lips. “Why do you do that?” Alberu asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

 

Cale stiffened in his arms but made no effort to pull away. “Do what?” He asked snappishly.

 

“Pretend to be someone that you’re not?”

 

Cale let out a barking laugh, leaning back against Alberu’s chest and closing his eyes. “Why the fuck does anyone lie?”

 

“I don’t care why anyone lies.” Alberu challenged, seeking out Cale’s hands and lacing their fingers together. “I want to know about you.”

 

Cale let out a shaky laugh. “You’re a greedy bastard.”

 

“I am.” Alberu admitted, caressing Cale’s hand with his thumb. “I won’t be satisfied until I know all there is to know about you.”

 

“And what then? After you’ve learned everything?” Cale’s voice held just the slightest hint of unease.

 

Alberu held him closer in response, leaning down to place a kiss on his cheek. “Then I’ll know all the reasons that I want you.”

 

Despite himself, Cale’s lips twitched and he turned to meet Alberu’s lips in a proper kiss. “Sappy bastard.” He accused but he looked quite pleased, a shy blush across his pale cheeks and a smile in his kiss.

 

“Well? Why is it then?” Alberu pressed and Cale sighed, pulling out of his arms and taking a seat on his couch and grabbing a bottle of alcohol that was knowingly placed nearby.

 

“I don’t think you’ll really like the answer.” Cale said, watching with interest as Bob chose to sit beside him instead of across from him.

 

“I’d like to make up my own mind with regards to that.” Alberu replied, gently taking the bottle from him and kissing the palm of his hand. “And I’d rather talk to you like this, without the false pretense of inebriation.”

 

There was a special pleasure that came from watching Cale’s pale face darken with a pink flush that was purely inspired by him. Knowing that Cale, otherwise shameless and brazen and loud, was just as weak to Alberu as Alberu was to him.

 

He loved it.

 

Cale growled, taking back his hand and averting his eyes away from Alberu’s intense eyes.

 

“You wouldn’t understand.” Cale said.

 

“I want to.” Alberu said, earnest and honest.

 

“Fuck.” Cale ran a frustrated hand through his hair before turning back to Alberu. “ Fine , it’s really not interesting though. It’s just–it’s the way I chose to be.”

 

“Why?”

 

It was true that Alberu already had his suspicions, his speculations, and all the little pieces that Cale had given him over their various contacts with one another but he had yet to hear Cale explain it in his own words.

 

He felt that was important. More important than any speculation, he wanted to know what Cale thought and felt.

 

He truly was greedy. He wanted everything that Cale was and more.

 

“...I wanted to protect them…”

 

Alberu wasn’t prepared for his voice to sound so small and vulnerable, alarm filled him immediately as he regretted pressing so hard. He reached out, gently caressing Cale’s face to let him know he really didn’t have to continue if he didn’t want to.

 

Cale smiled wanly at him and had this man ever before looked so small or vulnerable?

 

He regretted his greed but Cale didn’t pull away, rather he held Alberu’s hand against his cheek and closed his eyes. Cale let out a shaky chuckle as he continued. “I couldn’t think of any other way.”

 

Alberu kissed him. Sweet and supportive.

 

This foolish man.

 

How could Alberu be asked to let him go? When his every act and thought was so heartrendingly endearing?

 

When it was becoming harder and harder to imagine a future where he didn’t see Cale and breathe Cale and stay at his side?

 

He pulled away softly. Cale’s broken expression was mended as he smiled at Alberu.

 

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.” Alberu assured.

 

“...I think I want to.” Cale said, entrusting Bob with a part of his heart that he’d never once opened to anyone else.

 

It was a perfect moment in time so of course Ron disrupted it with a curt knock and the information that he had, in fact, retrieved the tea for his young master.

Chapter 16

It was the little things.

 

Subtle slip-ups that anyone else would have missed and dismissed, but Cale based his whole existence off of reading people and their reactions.

 

Bob was hiding something.

 

Cale couldn’t say what exactly, considering his position as a secret assistant to the crown prince there would surely be more then one secret, but Cale felt there was something else to it.

 

Bob was definitely high born. Or he’d had extensive exposure to noble etiquette. It wasn’t the clumsy way that an attendant might attempt to mimic his liege in order to fit in, Bob’s thoughtless and unconscious gestures and movements all portrayed the mannerisms of a nobleman.

 

Bob tried to hide it too. Sometimes he’d catch himself behaving with too much poise and nobility and he’d do a rather sloppy job of doing something else. It was as simple as almost selecting the correct fork for a meal before quite obviously changing course to the incorrect one. Sloppy and obvious.

 

In his defense, Bob wasn’t actually a bad actor. To the untrained eye, it would look merely like he was indecisive about which fork.

 

Cale was just a better actor. He could perceive all the ticks and tells that identified Bob.

 

The secret wasn’t important, plenty of the closest aides to royalty were selected from the highest in society. It would be stranger if Bob didn’t have a strong background.

 

What was strange was how Bob persisted in hiding it. As though he was nervous that Cale would realize.

 

There were a few explanations for this. Perhaps Bob was from a family that was at odds with the Henituse or he was of some shame to his family, an illegitimate child or somesuch. However Cale wasn’t the sort to care about any of that so of course it bothered him that Bob thought he might.

 

Then there was his appearance.

 

That was where Cale’s thoughts grew complicated. There was, of course, a certain amount that magic could change a person’s appearance and so there was always the possibility that Bob was hiding his true looks.

 

That was why Cale had, on one occasion, hidden a mana inhibitor in the depths of his room. To his relief and confusion, Bob’s appearance hadn’t changed in the least but…

 

There was no noble families within the Roan Kingdom that Cale knew of with an appearance like his. It seemed that the only possible explanation was an illegitimate child and–

 

Cale let out a wretched little sigh.

 

Bob, from his position being used as Cale’s pillow, brushed his cheek gently. “What’s wrong?”

 

Cale looked up into perfectly affectionate eyes and felt guilty. Whatever Bob was hiding, it was important to him and Cale ought not to snoop. He respected Bob’s privacy and if it was something that Bob wasn’t ready to share, he shouldn’t fuck around with that.

 

He was just anxious.

 

He didn’t know anything about Bob other than his connection to the crown prince. A connection that the prince would be sure to deny due to the nature of secrecy. If Bob chose to leave or simply disappeared, Cale would have no way of knowing what happened to him.

 

No way of hunting him down and demanding to know why .

 

He was insecure. Bob had slowly but surely whittled away at everything there was to know about him and had become his closest confidant, friend, and a person he loved dearly. He knew all of Bob’s mannerisms and all of the little things that mattered, the way he laughed and how fun it was to tease him. The way Bob thought about things too seriously but was delightfully silly as well.

 

He knew Bob.

 

He just didn’t know anything about Bob.

 

“Nothing.” Cale scowled, turning his face away and burying it into Bob’s stomach.

 

Bob caressed his hair gently. “You’re a bad liar.”

 

“I really don’t want to hear that from you.” Cale replied crossly, clinging to the moment and to this fragile love. Bob liked him well enough, that much was sure, but sometimes Cale felt that his own feelings were growing deeper than Bob’s ever would. Bob wanted him but did Bob need him the way that Cale needed him?

 

He was too scared to ask.

 

“What have I lied about then?” Bob asked, knowing best that Cale needed a certain amount of cajoling to admit what was bothering him.

 

“...lots of things…” Cale said morosely and in a moments impulse, he bit Bob’s stomach.

 

Bob jolted, lettingout a surprised gasp before looking down at Cale with the most adorably appalled expression he’d ever worn. “Do you have to keep biting me?”

 

Cale grinned up at him impishly. “You say that, but don’t you like it?” Cale rested his teeth against the cloth of Bob’s shirt, concealing the hard muscle below that Cale would very much like to distract himself by touching.

 

Bob’s expression just about short-circuited and Cale loved that. Moments like these he could feel that Bob really did want him and it eased some of his insecurities. Of course, it was also quite enjoyable to see Bob’s cheeks darken and his eyes flicker with desire.

 

“You’re doing this on purpose.” Bob pointed out accurately, looking away from Cale’s face with a deep flush. “And what would you do if I said yes?” Bob asked, a hint of sarcasm to his voice.

 

Cale let his fingers sneak underneath Bob’s shirt, just to let them dance along his spine. “I’d bite you a lot more.” Cale replied with a cheeky grin.

 

“Lord, spare me.” Bob sighed, wisely pulling Cale up from his position lying in Bob’s lap into a sitting positon, still on the aforementioned lap. “You’re driving me nuts.”

 

Cale nipped Bob’s lip, wrapping his arms around his neck as he cuddled against him. “You love it.”

 

“I do.” Bob admitted and even that casual admission had Cale’s heart racing. His skin tingling beneath Bob’s fingers as they traced along Cale’s sides and teased at the edge of his shirt. “I’m starting to think you’re trying to hint something.”

 

“Hm?” Cale asked, entire body alight with excitement as he memorized the feel of Bob touching him. It was never enough–no matter how many times Bob hugged him, touched him, kissed him–Cale couldn’t get enough of it.

 

Bob’s breath tickled Cale’s neck and it sent another delighted shiver down his spine. “I think you do to me what you want me to do to you.” Bob said, voice a bit huskier than normal as he nipped Cale’s neck gently.

 

‘Fuck–’

 

Cale didn’t know he had a sensitive neck. He didn’t know that he liked getting bitten. He didn’t know he loved to be touched and manhandled.

 

Or maybe he just loved everything that Bob did to him.

 

Cale let out a sharp gasp and found that words were a bit too difficult to grasp with Bob holding him like this.

 

Bob chuckled against his neck. “I think I’m right.” He kissed the spot gently before nuzzling against him softly.

 

He never pushed further.

 

It drove Cale a little bit crazy. He wanted to feel everything that they could do together but Bob was quite strict in the strangest ways. He’d even started to suggest that they met outside of the bedroom more often. Not that Cale minded, he liked going places with Bob, but he was getting quite frustrated in certain very specific ways.

 

Maybe he just wanted a way to hold Bob down.

 

Cale held him closer and prayed that whatever secrets Bob kept hidden from him wouldn’t tear them apart.

Chapter 17

Cale did not want to go.

 

He tried kicking up a fuss about it but shockingly enough it had been Ron who put his foot down and assured him, in the gentlest possible way, that he had no choice in the matter.

 

It was unusual for Ron to insist on anything with him and so Cale listened to his butler's gentle suggestion.

 

From Ron, a humble if you’d take my modest suggestion, young master was akin held the same strength as do it or else . Not that Ron had ever or would ever do anything to harm Cale but there was an unspoken understanding between the two of them that Ron would only dare to suggest something to Cale if it was an absolute necessity.

 

Cale trusted Ron’s judgment.

 

He still didn’t want to go.

 

Cale had spent far longer in the capital than his original itinerary had planned for and continued to extend his visit with increasingly ridiculous excuses that were respected merely because Cale’s misbehavior had actually been curbed quite significantly ever since his arrival. Sure there had been hiccups and Cale’s kidnapping had been a rather significant sticking point, but no one could deny that Cale had apparently turned over a new leaf while staying in the capital.

 

Of course he also spent most of his time in his room, which was concerning in itself.

 

The trouble was that staying in the capital came with certain responsibilities. Chief among them being that there were certain events and meetings that the Henituse head, or a representative from him, had an obligation to attend. And as Cale had been on his absolute best behavior he was the ideal person to send to those events.

 

He’d been able to avoid it up until not but it appeared that the limit of patience had been reached. Cale must attend or he must return to the Henituse Territory. There simply wasn’t an alternative.

 

But attending this particular event would mean the most dreaded thing of all.

 

Meeting the crown prince face to face.

 

Cale knew that his feelings for the crown prince had been merely puppy love. A crush at best. He didn’t know nearly enough about the man to really have true depth to those feelings. They couldn’t be compared to his feelings for Bob and ultimately, there had never been anything at all between them. Not even the mildest of friends. Logically it shouldn’t be awkward to meet with him.

 

But Cale felt awkward about it nonetheless.

 

Puppy love or not, Alberu was the man that he’d spent the better part of three years fantasizing about. The first person to truly steal his attention and keep it there. And he had been quite charming in the few interactions they’d had.

 

The truth was that while his feelings for Bob were undeniably deeper, he hadn’t quite buried his feelings for Alberu. It was just a lot easier to avoid him then it was to admit that.

 

He definitely didn’t want Bob to know that. With the strange progression of their relationship and Bob’s clear jealousy towards Alberu, it was bound to cause unnecessary tension if Cale admitted that some part of his heart still beat at the thought of Alberu.

 

It just wasn’t so easy to forget his first love.

 

But he couldn’t avoid it forever. So Cale got himself dolled up and arrived at the venue, ready to put on just enough of a trash-act to maintain his reputation without misbehaving enough to be sent home.

 

It was a delicate balance to manage. But it was worth it if it meant he could stay in the capital and continue to meet with Bob regularly.

 

He was just about getting his cheeks red with alcohol, ignoring Eric’s obnoxious chiding, when a familiar posture caught his eyes.

 

With a racing heart he turned to look and found his eyes drawn to the crown prince.

 

But out of the corner of his eye he could swear it was Bob…

 

His eyes met with Alberu’s and the crown prince smiled at him with his friendly political smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes.

 

Cale stared.

 

He’d spent far too many nights memorizing every curve of Bob’s face not to notice the similarities at a glance.

 

Alberu’s cheeks, his chin, his nose, his lips, his eyes–it was all the wrong colors but they were identical.

 

Eric tried to persuade him to stop staring but Cale’s face was hardening the more he looked, the more a terrible suspicion filled him.

 

It couldn’t be, could it?

 

He’d already tested to make sure that Bob wasn’t wearing any sort of magical disguise.

 

His fists clenched at his side as a largely impulsive anger to just punch the crown prince and find out filled his limbs with energy.

 

Alberu looked confused by his glare but returned to the others vying for his attention as though he didn’t think very much about Cale at all. As though they were strangers.

 

It was a good act if it was an act.

 

Cale grit his teeth and left the venue, ignoring Eric’s complaints and the confusion of the servants, practically kicking open the carriage door as he went.

 

If he stayed for a moment longer he really wouldn’t be able to control himself.

 

It couldn’t be, right?

 

Right?

 

“Take me home.” He demanded, growling and glaring at anyone who dared to ask for an explanation. His heart was rabbiting away in his chest mercilessly, assuring him that he must have been crazy to see the resemblance.

 

Assuring him that he had to have been crazy to miss the resemblance.

 

Hadn’t Bob reminded him of Alberu from the very beginning? Hadn’t he suspected that the man who rescued had in fact been the crown prince that very next morning?

 

He thought he’d been wrong. Alberu certainly hadn’t acted like he’d been the one to save Cale. The one who he’d bitten and confessed to. It had been horrifying to think that Alberu might have been that man at the time.

 

But that had been before .

 

Cale clenched his hand to his chest and tried to quell the pain as the initial anger faded.

 

He didn’t know what to think. How to feel.

 

If he was right though, if Bob really was the crown prince–if they really were one and the same–

 

Was any of it real?

Chapter 18

In a single look, it was over.

 

Alberu quelled the panic that surged inside of him as he saw the emotions flash across Cale’s face, raw and harsh. In a moment of stupidity and selfishness, all he could think about was self preservation. How bad it would be for him should anyone, even Cale, realize who and what he was.

 

His entire life collapsing atop of him in the agonizing certainty of failure. Everything was for nothing. Someone knew and that heralded the end to everything he’d worked so hard for–

 

And like a slap to the face he saw the betrayal in Cale’s eyes and his heart froze in his chest.

 

Cale was hurt. And it was his fault.

 

It took all of Alberu’s considerable restraint and self control not to follow after Cale as he stormed away.

 

He needed to calm down.

 

Think logically.

 

It was foolish of him not to anticipate being recognized by Cale. He’d been good, in the beginning, about meeting Cale while cloaked and veiled but he hardly met with Cale as the prince. He’d grown complacent and allowed petty desires to be closer to cloud his common sense.

 

His heart thrummed inside of his chest wretchedly and time sludged forward as though taunting him. A minute stretched on into a short eternity and he still had so much to do.

 

He couldn’t just follow him.

 

He couldn’t act rashly.

 

He could still fix this.

 

He could preserve his secret without hurting Cale. He had to. He couldn’t let Cale know about him, couldn’t let anyone know about him, but he also couldn’t tolerate seeing Cale suffering. He just needed to think logically. He’d find the answer. He’d find a smooth solution.

 

The shattered look in Cale’s eyes crushed his heart when he arrived on the balcony. Unlike so many nights before, Cale didn’t drag him in. Didn’t make any attempt to touch him. He stood stiffly, just inside the window. Behind the line that would allow him to close the curtain on Alberu and turn away.

 

Alberu’s heart throbbed in his chest. Was it too late? He needed to make this work.

 

Whatever was between him and Cale couldn’t last. It just couldn’t. He ought to have ended things sooner. Before the risk ever rose this high.

 

Alberu schooled his expression for concerned confusion, a feeling of disgust that he couldn’t describe boiling inside of him. “What’s wrong?”

 

“Stop.” Cale held up a hand, knowing that Alberu was about to approach. “You get one chance to explain.”

 

His voice was just as hard and cold as when he broke the wine glass.

 

The one warning Cale had offered him not to lie. That he would regret it if he did.

 

He didn’t have a choice.

 

What awaited him on the other end of the truth? Cale’s disgust at learning he was a quarter dark elf? Everything he’d worked for his entire life falling apart? Cale’s hatred that he’d lied to begin with?

 

There was only one sensible path forward. He’d have to talk his way out of this and then end things with Cale. It had gone too far. He ought never to have let it begin. Whatever momentary insanity had overtaken him finally sobered up with the cold knowledge that there was no version of telling the truth that wouldn’t hurt them both and destroy his life.

 

This was the only way.

 

Perhaps if Alberu hadn’t been so afraid, he might have thought of a better solution. But despite his internal insistence that he was only doing the logical and sensible thing, the truth was he was only doing the cowardly thing.

 

He was a coward. It was as simple as that. He didn’t want to lose his future. He didn’t want to lose Cale. He didn’t want any of this. He selfishly wanted to have it all.

 

“You noticed the resemblance.” He said, his voice was calm. As though he didn’t have anything to hide. As though he wasn’t about to lie.

 

Cale’s temper flared and he took an aggressive step towards him with a snarl. “No shit I noticed–how could I not –you’re practically identical–!”

 

He saw his own fear reflected in Cale’s eyes. Behind the anger and trembling. Just as cowardly as his own.

 

Alberu needed to be convincing. “...I can’t tell you why.”

 

Cale grabbed his collar, dragging him down until he was nose to nose and growling low in his throat. “You will or you’ll learn exactly how unforgiving I can be.”

 

“We’re relatives.”

 

The lie came out smooth, convincing, just as he planned. Just as he intended. Just the way to convince Cale. A relative of the crown prince who had to live in hiding , it was a story that held some merit with consideration to how complicated matters of succession could be. It explained his loyalty and resemblance as well.

 

It was a good lie.

 

It was a convincing lie.

 

It was a lie that Cale could believe.

 

So why did it feel so vile on his tongue?

 

Cale let go of his collar, pushing him away.

 

“I need to think.”

 

“Cale–”

 

“ I need to think .” He spat, shooting a glare at the liar.

 

It was the right thing to do. Cale couldn’t know the truth. This relationship couldn’t last. It was the right thing to do.

 

But if that was true, why did Alberu feel as though he’d made the biggest mistake of his life?

 

He clenched his hands and bowed his head. “I understand.”

 

Cale walked back towards his room, closing his curtain with his back turned towards the now unwelcome guest. Disappearing from Alberu’s sight.

 

His heart clenched painfully.

 

His feet were moving before his thoughts caught up.

 

His arms wrapped around Cale through the curtain,He heard Cale’s gasp and felt his warmth behind the cloth between them. He held Cale close and willing himself not to rescind it all. To tell Cale everything. 

 

The truth wouldn’t change anything.

 

Cale didn’t pull away from him but he didn’t lean into his touch.

 

Alberu closed his eyes and let go.

 

He felt cold as Cale wordlessly walked away.

Chapter 19

Alberu put down the quill.

 

His currently blue eyes stared in incomprehension at the papers before him and he tried in vain to force himself to focus on the work at hand.

 

It wasn’t the first time that day he’d done this. Tasha had lost count of the number of times her nephew stopped functioning. Her normally diligent nephew who worked with tireless efficiency, to an extent that it quite worried her, hadn’t been able to make it through even one parchment and it was already midday.

 

She was aware, to some degree, about the situation that was weighing on Alberu’s thoughts. How could she not? It was obvious he’d been sneaking out on a regular basis and through the bits that he’d confided in her, she knew that he’d been engaged in a rather heated romance.

 

She didn’t ask for details and he didn’t provide them. She always let him come to her when a situation troubled him rather than prying the details from him. Her nephew was an awkward boy and he had the tendency to clam up when pursued for answers too forcefully.

 

Still, his current behavior was concerning and she feared that he might not seek out counsel despite needing it. He’d been unusually guarded about the whole affair. He was normally quite a sincere child, at least with his aunt, and while she absolutely respected his privacy on the matter she couldn’t quell the concern that had built up steadily inside of her.

 

Gently, she picked up the quill and moved it away from his hand, attracting his attention as she smiled down at him. “It’s time for a break, dear nephew.”

 

She very rarely asserted any sort of control over him. He was free to act however he liked and she would loyally support him. However, there were times when she needed to let him know that she was his aunt and she wouldn’t allow him to work himself into an early grave.

 

Alberu frowned but nodded, following her to the seating area and sending a servant away to make fresh tea and snacks for them.

 

“Is this about Cale Henituse again?” She asked neatly when the tea arrived, causing Alberu to choke on his tea and look up at her with large guilty eyes.

 

Oh dear. This problem was going to be a tangled one.

 

Alberu collected himself, still looking shaken but calmer now. “Why do you say that?”

 

“Dear nephew, I love and respect your privacy. I only hope that you can respect my intelligence in return.”

 

Alberu’s shoulders sagged sadly. He knew he hadn’t done a terribly good job covering things up but it was still quite embarrassing to be caught by his aunt.

 

Especially when the mere thought of Cale filled him with shame and regret.

 

“I understand that you would like to deal with matters on your own.” Tasha said gently and he knew that she would love him regardless of how despicable he’d been but he still hated to confess anything to her. “But I think you might need some help this time.”

 

Alberu stared down into his tea.

 

“I’m going to end it.”

 

That was the right thing to do after all. He couldn’t keep lying to Cale and he couldn’t keep dragging this out.

 

“Why? Did Cale Henituse do something wrong?”

 

“No!” Alberu said quickly, startled by the assertion. “He’s–”

 

Everything I could want.

 

A person dear to my heart.

 

Amazing, breath-taking, unbelievable, stunning.

 

Precious, too precious to lose–

 

Alberu looked down at his tea, swallowing thickly and choosing not to finish.

 

“Then why?” Tasha asked, knowing that it was best to let Alberu work things out this way.

 

“It can’t continue.” He said firmly and the words stabbed his heart. Every unforgettable moment at Cale’s side. Every smile and kiss and secret shared just between the two of them. Cale’s undeniable charm. Cale.

 

“Oh dear…”

 

Alberu looked up at his aunt who was watching him with eyes full of pity. “Does he not care for you in return?”

 

“What? No, he…”

 

Alberu felt as though he’d been slapped in the face. Hard. With a brick.

 

Bob saw a side to Cale that no one else in the world was privy to. Every secret that had been hidden in Cale’s heart. Exposed and given to him as a gift. Lovingly poured into whispered kisses.

 

Cale had cared for him.

 

Every bit of him. From the very beginning, from before Alberu had given Cale much thought at all, Cale had cared for him and accepted him.

 

“...he seems to care for me greatly.”

 

Tasha’s face pinched with confusion. “But you must end this?”

 

Alberu nodded, firm and resolute.

 

Tasha sighed deeply, holding her head in her hands as she despaired at her nephew's foolishness. She loved him, truly and unconditionally, but there were certainly times like these where she had to wonder if he had a brain in his skull at all.

 

“You can’t trust him?” Tasha asked finally, searching for a reason that made any sense at all.

 

Alberu’s expression was complicated, he opened his mouth to answer but hesitated. “I…” Alberu frowned. “This isn’t about that.”

 

“I understand.” Tasha sighed, not understanding at all. Sometimes she truly couldn’t fathom what Alberu was thinking or feeling but she never wanted to force him to do anything. Perhaps the problem was too personal for him to share with her. “So long as you’re happy without him.” She said finally, meaning every word. She felt bad for the Henituse boy but her priority would always be Alberu’s happiness.

 

She wasn’t anticipating the frozen expression that overtook Alberu’s face.

 

“...are you alright?”

 

Alberu’s pupils shook and he brought a hand over his mouth, as though unable to contain something unspeakable. Worried, she placed a hand on his shoulder.

 

“...I’m a fool…”

 

His voice was small. It held a level of insecurity that she hadn’t heard from Alberu in a great many years. He was well and truly shaken and Tasha couldn’t quite figure out why.

 

‘Happy’.

 

What a strange and simple thing to miss.

 

Perhaps it was because Alberu had spent the better part of twenty years never prioritizing his own happiness. He prioritized all sorts of important things that truly mattered but never something as foolish as happiness .

 

Happiness came and went but it wasn’t something he could hold onto. There wasn’t a possibility of a path in his life that would make him happy , just many that would bring him satisfaction.

 

Did happiness exist away from Cale?

 

Had he ever felt such joy as he had dancing with him in the firelight?

 

Kissing him under the stars?

 

Did happiness exist without Cale?

 

And what of Cale’s feelings?

 

He’d spent so much time thinking that he must end this before it was too difficult to let go but was it ever possible to let go? He’d already tried many times to do so. And every time he’d only ever been able to pull Cale closer to him.

 

He couldn’t let him go. Couldn’t endure life without him.

 

He needed Cale.

 

Not because Cale was useful or a good tool. Not because Cale assisted in his plans or benefited his goals.

 

He just needed him.

 

It was a stupid thing to realize when he’d already done so much to ruin things between them. He ought not to have ever appeared as ‘Bob’. He ought to have confessed as himself from the very first. The tangle of lies was his own doing.

 

The betrayal and hurt adorning Cale’s dulled eyes was his doing as well.

 

“...I love him…”

 

Plain and simple truth.

 

Unfortunately, truth couldn’t unwind pain or mistakes.

Chapter 20

There's no one more gullible than the person who wishes to be fooled.

 

It really wasn’t an implausible explanation and Cale really could half believe it. There was no hint of deceit on Bob’s face when he spoke either.

 

There was no hint of honesty either.

 

More so the realization that Bob could possibly be the crown prince, the possibility that he could have been lying caused his heart to tremble.

 

If Bob was telling the truth and he really was a secret relative to the prince, then Cale’s reaction was irrational and cruel. To mistrust a man whom he’d given his heart to on an unfounded suspicion was ridiculous and he would owe Bob an apology.

 

If Bob was lying…

 

There were few reasons why he would persist in a lie such as that and very few of them boded well for the relationship.

 

Cale wanted to believe him. Want to believe him with every fiber of his being. Wanted to be completely wrong and forced to apologize for acting so impulsively. And perhaps his desire to be fooled did most of the work in convincing him that it was quite possible that Bob was telling the truth.

 

It would explain how he looked so similar without a magical disguise. It would explain why he was clearly noble but had no obvious ties to any nobility that Cale knew. It would explain why he was so secretive.

 

It was a neat explanation and there wasn’t any rational or logical reason to disbelieve it.

 

And yet, when Bob had looked at him and explained it, every inch of Cale’s body itched with the word liar . It wasn’t like when Cale would observe a man and find his tells, learn what he looked like when he lied and come to a logical conclusion.

 

It was instinctual and illogical.

 

There was only one thing that Cale was absolutely sure about though.

 

He couldn’t meet with Bob like this. If Bob was innocent, Cale risked losing everything by losing his temper and tearing the bastard apart. If Bob was guilty, Cale risked losing his rationality and surrendering himself to a fucker who truly didn’t care about him at all.

 

The opportunity to return home was always available and Cale was swift to take it. He’d already stayed in the capital far longer than was planned. He’d leave and think matters through.

 

He needed to clear his mind before he faced him.

 

Yet the fear that rumbled in Cale’s heart wasn’t satisfied merely with returning to the Henituse territory. Regardless of Bob’s innocence or guilt, he was a man with the resources to make a swift journey to meet Cale there. If Cale was merely a plaything to him then he’d have no reason to give Cale the space he needed. If he truly cared about Cale then he might try to seek Cale out for an explanation before he was ready to provide one.

 

Still, Cale’s options were limited. His father was already unsure what to think about his extended stay in the capital and made it clear that he was to return to the territory if he were to leave the capital.

 

It was a strange impulse but there was only one place that Cale could think of where no one would think to search for him within the territory.

 

“Ron.”

 

The elderly butler stopped preparing the carriage and gave his young master the full attention he deserved. Cale was staring off into space, the desire to run away filling him and chasing away all other thoughts.

 

“Take me to Harris Village. Only my father is to know about this.”

 

There was only a hint of hesitation on Ron’s face before he nodded. If a person adept at reading Ron had been present, they might have spotted the worry hidden behind his benign smile.

 

Cale wasn’t even looking to notice.

 

He wanted to hide.

 

He wanted to hurt.

 

He wanted a distraction.

 

He hated Harris Village. Irrationally and completely. He associated the entire place and every piece of shit that lived there with the death of his mother and he hated the very fact that the horrible place existed at all. He’d even admitted as much to Bob, in moments of intimacy and vulnerability.

 

That’s what made it the perfect place to hide.

 

He hadn’t been unclear about his feelings. Cale would happily walk through any of the deadliest forbidden regions before he ever stepped foot into that wretched place. He hadn’t been lying either. He hated it.

 

But Cale hurt and one thing he’d learned at a very young age was that a good way to deal with a lesser pain was to inflame a larger one. If he couldn’t tolerate the pain of a papercut then the pain of a broken arm would overshadow it. The key was to use pains that one was used to tolerating to bury pains that were new and fresh and intolerable.

 

Cale didn’t know how to cope with the heartbreak that Bob might have been toying with him this whole time.

 

But he had ten years of experience coping with the agony of losing his mother.

 

It was a truly maladaptive way of coping but Cale didn’t have any good coping mechanisms. He only had ones that allowed him to keep moving and breathing when the pain threatened to overtake him.

 

Harris Village was perfect. No one would anticipate his arrival there, especially not Bob, and he could suffer grief rather than heartbreak.

 

In Cale’s twisted mind, it was truly the perfect plan.

 

And for its intended purpose, it truly did throw that lousy bastard off of his trail.

 

Alberu hadn’t heard about Cale Henituse leaving the capital. Perhaps it had been reported to him but a lot of information had sunken away in the time he’d taken to realize and digest the true extent of his feelings for Cale.

 

So he truly was caught unaware when he arrived at the estate to learn that Cale had already left without a word. Without even leaving a letter.

 

It was the final stab to the heart necessary to truly dismantle Alberu’s foolish thoughts.

 

The choking emotion he felt when he realized that Cale left him first.

 

The horrifying pain at the thought that Cale might not care for him at all anymore.

 

The panic that this really was the end between them.

 

Alberu felt the world crash down and understood well and truly for the first time the weight of ending things meant.

 

It wasn’t like putting an end to a business relationship with an ally or saying goodbye to a friend.

 

It ripped away at his very soul and stole his breath.

 

He couldn’t breathe.

 

The narrow world that darkened in the gap made by Cale’s absence.

 

How stupid. How had he ever been stupid enough to think that something like this was for the best?

 

So what if there would be obstacles to their relationship. Alberu had been overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles his entire life.

 

It was the moment he realized he’d only ever been a coward.

 

A stupid coward who’d only managed to hurt the person he loved by thinking only in terms of what was best and logical without a single care for how those words could cause more harm than healing.

 

Cale Henituse left without saying goodbye and the implication was clear.

 

Cale had made his decision.

Chapter 21

When did it get complicated?

 

Cale could remember the first night he’d fallen. Giddy and excited feelings bubbling in his heart while he contemplated the impossibility of romance with a light heart.

 

Yet the realer it became, the deeper his fears grew. A fantasy couldn’t hurt him. A one-sided crush couldn’t scare him.

 

Alberu Crossman had been nothing more than a cute little fantasy for him that made him smile.

 

He hadn’t been prepared for the reality of a relationship, he’d just sort of fallen into one.

 

When did simple fun evolve into something deeper? And when had it twisted up inside of him?

 

Cale had spent three days thus far in Harris Village. It was an obnoxiously normal village, nowhere near as ominous or cruel as his imagination wanted it to be, and the young couple that had allowed him to stay with them were the likable sort who never seemed to have any drama in their lives at all.

 

It really begged the question.

 

When had it gotten complicated?

 

Could Cale have something as simple as this in his life? If he went back to the capital and talked with Bob, could it really be as simple and sweet as this?

 

The young couple ran an inn, quite a confusing location for one considering that not many people would visit the village at the edge of the Dark Forest but they didn’t seem to want for anything. They were more than happy to take Cale’s money at least.

 

Cale rested his chin on the palm of his hand, resenting Harris Village for being so normal. It wasn’t as traumatic or upsetting as he’d expected and therefore it didn’t offer an appropriate distraction from his thoughts.

 

Quite the contrary, the happy and oblivious couple only ever made him think of Bob more. Annoyed that they got to be happy while Cale was contemplating whether his relationship had been real at all. It sort of made him hate both of them.

 

If only they were more unpleasant, Cale could hate them properly.

 

“Another drink?”

 

Cale scowled up at Roksu, the owner of the inn, and accepted the offered beverage. The bastard had business sense, Cale would give him that. He knew exactly when and what to offer Cale in order to loosen his purse strings.

 

“You’re a devious bastard.” Cale complained, taking a drink of the fine wine and feeling the tension leave his shoulders.

 

Roksu presented him with the fakest smile he’d seen in his entire life and poured another expensive glass. “I don’t know what you mean, dear customer.”

 

Cale grumbled to himself. There was no point in arguing further. Cale didn’t really feel like arguing either. He was grumpy and depressed and jealous and he didn’t have the energy to kick up a fuss. “Where’s your dumber half?”

 

Roksu’s smile didn’t so much as twitch but Cale felt that it was probably best not to insult the man’s partner in the future. “Out hunting.”

 

Cale quirked an eyebrow, faintly wondering where any good hunting could be found in the area before shrugging it off entirely. He really didn’t care where the brawny one went. Besides, if he was gone than the stupid couple wouldn’t flirt quite so much in front of him.

 

It wouldn’t be so annoying if they were even aware that they were doing it.

 

It was a whole lot of thoughtless gestures. A hand on his hip or helping carry something, a sweet remark and a soft smile. They were just seamlessly happy together and Cale in his heartbreak absolutely hated it.

 

“Get me another drink…” Cale sagged into the table. “This is too weak.”

 

“Anything for our dear customer.” The man chirped in his obnoxiously fake way. Cale couldn’t even hate him for it. He very obviously wanted to make bank off of the extremely wealthy customer that he’d lucked into and his earnest dedication to that task was refreshingly greedy.

 

If that was possible.

 

The truth was that Roksu was a man that was hard to hate. In Cale’s brief time staying in the village he’d quickly been able to piece together that not a single person didn’t hold affection or respect for the man. He was capable, smart, and level-headed. Mostly stoic as well, when he wasn’t wearing a fake smile for customers.

 

He was in every way the opposite of all that Cale had become.

 

He’d focused all of his energy into becoming a nuisance that no one wanted around and he’d succeeded in doing just that. Even those who loved him were troubled by him.

 

He was sure that if a man as capable as Roksu had his life he wouldn’t have made such a mess of it. He’d probably be able to win the heart of any bastard he wanted and he’d be clever enough not to be toyed with or fooled.

 

That was the difference. That was why Roksu was happily living with a man who clearly adored him and Cale was stuck here, drinking his ass off and running away from his problems. He was just an inferior person, plain and simple.

 

Bob would probably like Roksu better too. Everyone would.

 

“Is there something bothering you, young master?”

 

Cale looked up at the successful redhead and scowled, much drunker than he would normally ever get with his constitution. Three days of nearly nonstop drinking and moping had done the trick though.

 

“I hate guys like you.” Cale said. “All glib and calculating and you know just the right thing to say at the right time, don’t you?”

 

Like Bob. Smart and sweet and able to string together words that so easily swayed Cale’s heart.

 

“I apologize, dear customer.” The bastard didn’t look at all apologetic and Cale sighed, wishing he could hate him in earnest. He planted his face into the table and grumbled miserably.

 

“...leave me alone. Leave the bottle.”

 

And although Roksu obeyed diligently, he also came back with a hearty meal that was perfect for nursing Cale’s near constant hangover and Cale really didn’t like what a good salesman he was.

 

When the dark-haired puppy returned from his hunting trip, carrying a boar much larger than him, the pair shared a brief kiss and whispered words. Happy in a world all their own.

 

Cale grabbed a bottle and stormed away to his room. He wouldn’t be able to stomach watching more flirtation and happiness when he just wanted to properly mope and despair.

 

He wasn’t really spending very much time actually thinking about a solution. He didn’t dare to. What was there to solve? He just didn’t know whether Bob had spoken the truth or not. No amount of running away was going to magically provide him with the answer.

 

He’d still chosen to run though.

 

Why had it gotten complicated? Cale’s heart pinched painfully as he collapsed onto his bed, hugging the bottle to his chest.

 

He hated the young couple the most because every time he saw them he couldn’t help but wonder is it that easy ?

 

He’d thought it was that easy while he was seeing Bob but then…

 

The truth was that he was scared.

 

He wanted to leave things in limbo because then he’d never have to learn the truth. He wanted to make Bob nothing more than a fantasy because a fantasy couldn’t hurt him.

 

He was being a coward and he didn’t fucking care.

 

Except everyday he saw the stupid happiness in front of him and couldn’t help but wonder if he’d made the right choice.

Chapter 22

Luck came to those who were willing to work for it. Although, it was more likely to abandon and ignore those who strove for it with a maniacal grin of a true sadist. That was why it was best to take luck by the neck and choke it into submission before effectively making it your bitch.

 

Roksu had plenty of bad luck in his life and he wasn’t superstitious enough to really consider good luck or bad luck into his calculations. He’d lived this far by never letting ‘luck’ slip through his fingers, bad or good. Bad luck could always be saved up to throw away strategically at a person who deserves a bit of bad luck.

 

Cale Henituse was the perfect example of good and bad luck all in one. On one hand, the windfall of money that came from the gullible nobleman was definitely worthwhile. On the other hand, the day that Roksu could wave goodbye to the drunkard and his terrifying butler couldn’t come sooner.

 

Roksu found a happy medium where he conned– sold as much as possible from the crazy punk while doing his best to avoid the creepy butler.

 

Roksu frowned as he organized the liquor shelves. As much as he liked being able to sell them for significantly marked up costs, it was starting to become legitimately concerning just how much of their stores were consumed by just one guy.

 

Roksu wanted to make bank, he didn’t want to be responsible for some nobleman literally drinking himself to death.

 

Arms wrapped smoothly around his waist and a family chin rested on his shoulder. “What’s worrying you?”

 

Roksu leaned into the hug with a sigh. “I don’t want to get involved.” He grumbled.

 

Choi Han chuckled. “But you’re going to?” His voice held just a hint of teasing and Roksu swatted him gently in complaint.

 

Roksu had been born and raised in Harris Village with quite a few unfortunate incidents of bad luck scaring his childhood and even his life beyond that. Choi Han would be the one real strike of good luck in his entire life. But that was a different story.

 

In the years they’d been together, Choi Han knew his partner well enough to know that Roksu couldn’t help being a busybody, despite his protests otherwise. He kissed Roksu’s temple. “Just let me know if you need support.”

 

Roksu smiled. Moments like this he really felt like a lucky bastard. Anyone who had a vicious punk like Han on their side was doing well indeed.

 

“I’ll be fine.” He said, disentangling himself as he grabbed down the most watered down wine on the shelf and made his way towards the lobby where Cale Henituse was slouched nearly unconscious on a chair and dangling from a table gracelessly.

 

Roksu placed the bottle between them, waking Cale up with the sound. “Let’s drink, dear customer.”

 

“...the fuck…?” Cale murmured, looking towards Roksu with confused and irritated eyes. “Just leave the fucking drink and fuck off.”

 

Roksu pointedly didn’t do so, uncorking the wine with practiced ease and pouring out two glasses. Purposefully and obviously pouring less in Cale’s glass.

 

“...I’m not paying for that bottle.” Cale said grouchily but Roksu was confident he would. It was good that the scary butler was off on errands because Roksu didn’t really fancy getting tangled up in this mess under his watch.

 

“What brings you to Harris Village?” Roksu asked, entirely ignoring Cale’s complaints.

 

Cale squinted at him. “To burn this shitty place to the fucking ground. Fuck you.”

 

Roksu hoped that Choi Han had made himself scarce. He tended to take threats to his hard-won home quite personally even if they were made by a pathetic drunkard. “Seems like you’re running from something.” Roksu pointed out and watched the man flinch and sink into the table miserably.

 

“...is not fair…” Cale hid his face in his arms. “I want simple shit too.”

 

“Simple shit?” Roksu didn’t particularly want to know or care what Cale was going on about but whatever would keep him from having to bury his alcohol drowned corpse out back.

 

“...love and shit… why’s it simple for you… asshole…”

 

Roksu raised an eyebrow at the assertion but he caught onto the source of the man’s misery easily enough. It honestly surprised him how stereotypical his concerns were. Was there an older cliche than a man drinking himself to death over lost love? Roksu was almost disappointed, he’d somehow expected something more interesting.

 

“Does it have to be simple?” He asked, figuring he’d just listen to his love woes until he exhausted himself.

 

“I just want to know if he lied…” Cale looked up at Roksu miserably. “...if he lied, it’s over… it was never anything to begin with.” He let out a wretched laugh. “He never fucking cared.”

 

Ah, good old catastrophizing. The best friend of all heartbroken drunks. Roksu knew better than to argue back. “He didn’t care then.”

 

Cale’s eyes flashed and he sat up sharply, glaring at Roksu. “Fuck you! What do you know?!”

 

“Only what you’ve told me.” Roksu replied flatly.

 

“Well you don’t know shit! He–”

 

Cale swallowed.

 

It really felt like Bob cared. It felt like the love was mutual. It felt like Bob wanted him as deeply as he wanted him.

 

The way that Bob always checked in about every little thing and looked at him like he was a treasure. Caressed his face and told him he was lovely, held him close and smiled against his lips. It felt so real . It was upsetting for anyone to say it was fake.

 

Illogical burned in his drunken heart and he glared ferociously at the opponent that had offered himself as a sacrifice to Cale’s rage.

 

Roksu didn’t give him anything to work off of though.

 

“So he did care.” He said.

 

Cale ground his teeth. “I–... I don’t know.”

 

Roksu let out a scoff and plucked the untouched wine glass from in front of Cale. “I’ll prepare some tea.”

 

“What the fuck was that?” Cale asked, standing up and feeling dizzy enough to sit back down. Still, he barked out his demands at the innkeeper. “You clearly want to say something.”

 

Roksu shrugged. “I just don’t think you’re going to get the answer here.”

 

How annoying. And stupid. Of course he wouldn’t get the truth. He didn’t want the truth. He didn’t want to wind up heartbroken and miserable and pathetic…

 

Cale sighed and slumped in his chair.

 

He’d already become all of those things.

 

One way or another, he’d have to hunt down Bob and force the truth out of him. If Bob was telling the truth, there would definitely be a way to prove it. For example, being in the same place as the crown prince at the same time would do the trick neatly. Cale would get his proof.

 

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair and stood up unsteadily. “Forget the tea.” He grumbled. “I’m going to my room.”

 

And when he woke up, he’d have a talk with Ron.

 

He’d had enough hiding like a coward. If he was really just a toy to Bob then fine , he’d make the bastard suffer for hurting him. Somehow. Maybe cut off his balls. Or burn off his hair. He’d brainstorm some ideas with Ron.

 

Cale stumbled and nearly fell on his face, surprised to have been caught by the stoic innkeeper. “I’ll help you to your room, dear customer.” Roksu said.

 

Cale sighed. He’d really overdone it with the drinking. Even his impressive tolerance was threatened by the sheer quantity and consistency of the alcohol. He’d have to sober up to be able to handle this bullshit.

 

Leaning his weight so heavily on Roksu that he was practically draped onto the innkeeper, Cale looked up towards the front when heard the bell. He thought it was Ron returning and so his mouth was already pursed with a command.

 

His eyes met with surprised brown ones that were painfully familiar.

 

His heart leapt into his throat.

Chapter 23

Cale’s face was unusually somber. Alberu didn’t comment initially, he didn’t want to lay any additional stress upon him.

 

It was really when Cale took up rest in his lap, wordless and melancholy, that Alberu couldn’t restrain his curiosity any longer.

 

“Is there something wrong?” He ran his hand up and down Cale’s back gently, hoping to offer him some comfort.

 

Cale shook his head and hid his face in the crook of Alberu’s neck. “Bad time of year.” He said vaguely but that was enough.

 

Alberu’s rather detailed research into Cale’s life wouldn’t neglect to note the date his mother passed away. Alberu knew better than most how much that meant. He held Cale securely in a hug and continued to pet him gently. “Sorry to hear that.” He said, feeling wretched that he couldn’t say more. On impulse he added. “...do you want to talk about it?”

 

Cale shook his head again, curling up miserably. As though he couldn’t make up his mind, Cale’s voice filled the quiet room containing only the pair. “...I hate that place.”

 

“What place?”

 

There was a long silence before Cale chose his words again. Alberu had nearly thought that Cale had fallen asleep in his arms.

 

“There’s this piece of shit village in a piece of shit area of the territory–if she’d never gone to that fucking place–”

 

His voice was truly full of spite and such vitriolic hatred that it caught Alberu momentarily off guard. He could understand though. Cale described, bit by bit, his feelings of resentment and regret.

 

How much he wished that he’d begged his mother to stay home that day.

 

How he wished that place would just disappear from the map.

 

How he missed her.

 

His body trembled in Alberu’s arms but he didn’t cry. He allowed Alberu to comfort him, to hold him, to caress his body and listen to the ugly words of his heart.

 

Alberu’s heart ached. He knew there was nothing he could really do to make it better. All he could do was stay and listen. Be there at his side and kiss Cale’s trembling lips when the words became too much.

 

He wanted to give him the world. Anything and everything he wanted. He settled for giving his time and affection.

 

But he couldn’t help but remember later on just how fixated Cale’s thoughts had been on that largely blameless village, as though he couldn’t help but think of it when he was at his worst.

 

And when Alberu couldn’t find Cale anywhere else, something akin to terror made its home in his heart.

 

It was probably a bad thing that he was so drunk.

 

Probably a very bad thing.

 

Cale didn’t have a whole lot of experience being legitimately drunk and so his impulse control under such stress was greatly limited by his experiences.

 

“ You son of a bitch –!”

 

With an iron will that didn’t dare let him trip, Cale closed the distance between himself and the bastard who dared to show his fucking face. It was quite a feat considering he’d been leaning entirely on Roksu or support only moments ago.

 

Bob didn’t have the time to react or say anything before he was pinned against the door caged between Cale’s arms. Cale’s glare was as sharp as ever, even when clouded with far too much liquor.

 

In a way, it was nostalgic. The last time Cale was this inebriated was his ‘first’ meeting with Bob.

 

He had half a mind to bite Bob again this time.

 

“What the fuck are you doing here?!”

 

Bob opened his mouth, possibly to answer his question but Cale slapped a palm over his mouth with a paradoxical cry of “Shut up!”

 

Bob’s brown eyes were wide and swimming with all sorts of emotions but Cale could trace worry among them and that pissed him off even more.

 

It didn’t help matters to see up close just how handsome Bob was, even while wearing a cloak and concealing half his face behind a veil. Beautiful and enchanting and all Cale wanted was to slap him silly and then kiss him senseless.

 

He wanted to demand answers right now. While his brain was still thronging with determination and his heart was still full of courage. It was just really distracting that Bob was so stupidly handsome.

 

Bob’s hand reached up and held the hand that Cale had used to muter him before he kissed the palm of Cale’s hand. Which of course caused Cale to pull away in shock, heart throbbing in his chest.

 

Bob opened his mouth to speak again but Cale didn’t want to hear it.

 

The bastard kissed his palm while maintaining eye contact the whole time. He had no understanding or respect for Cale’s fucking freyed nerves. The dirty bastard.

 

Fuck it.

 

He was biting the bastard.

 

He took hold of the hand Bob had dared to touch him with and brought it to his lips, biting down with enough force to make Bob wince. That was a bit satisfying.

 

…Cale didn’t like the pain on Bob’s face though… bleary minded from the alcohol and feeling guilty for his act, he licked the bite mark apologetically.

 

Then he remembered that he was supposed to be mad and growled up at Bob with another glare. “You shitty bastard.”

 

Bob’s free hand caressed his cheek gently and for a moment, Cale just wanted to give in. Forget all the reasons he was frustrated, confused, or angry. So what if he was being toyed with? Who even cared if he could feel this good.

 

The short-sighted and hedonistic desire filled him and he almost surrendered to it.

 

‘...I really need to sober up.’

 

That had been his original plan, hadn’t it? And then Bob showed up and destroyed his plans like the crazy and stupid bastard that he was and no –Cale wasn’t going to let him ruin his plans. Fuck that.

 

Cale let out another growl and grabbed Bob by the collar, turning around and dragging Bob further into the inn. He didn’t even notice that the innkeeper had apparently made himself scarce. He really didn’t give a fuck about anyone or anything else.

 

Dragging Bob all the way to his alcohol bottle strewn room, he shoved the confused man onto the mattress before flopping down on top of him and curling up sleepily.

 

Without a single explanation or allowing Bob a word in edgewise, Cale kidnapped him and fell asleep atop of him.

 

Alberu’s eyes traced the curves of Cale’s sleepy drunken face and the surrounding proof to Cale’s inebriation before he sighed, pulling a blanket over the pair of them and hugging Cale gently to his chest.

 

That hadn’t gone quite how he’d expected and he still hadn’t recovered from walking in to see Cale draped over another man.

 

It struck him for the first time that if he had ever succeeded in ending things, he would have had to endure sights like that.

 

He held Cale to him tightly and buried his face in his hair, breathing in his scent and finding solace in having him so close by.

 

He wouldn’t have been able to tolerate that.

 

He’d hardly tolerated his own misguided jealousy with himself , how the hell was he supposed to tolerate seeing Cale with other people? Finding happiness with someone else?

 

The thought alone was intolerable.

 

If the man from before had even the slightest intentions towards this beloved man, Alberu would pay any amount of gold to make him disappear.

 

‘...I’ve really gone crazy.’

 

Alberu closed his eyes, relieved at least that he found Cale. That he finally had his precious person in his arms.

 

He’d never let him go again.

Notes:

Alberu: *slams down money* Stay away from my man!
Roksu: But I don't--*sees the money* how insulting, only this much for me to give up on.... uh.... honey what was his name?
Choi Han: Caleb, I think
Roksu: Only this much to get to give up on my beloved Caleb! You should be ashamed! Double or nothing!

Chapter 24

There are few good ways to wake up after drinking enough alcohol to invite an early grave in for tea.

 

Cale was actually in pretty good condition considering. His head hurt and his body was sore but it was a faint sort of feeling, numbed behind exhaustion and the ponderous warmth of a breathing pillow beneath him.

 

A hand, familiar and warm and wonderful, caressed his cheek and Cale looked up into warm brown eyes so full of tender affection that Cale felt his breath literally being stolen away.

 

“My head hurts.”

 

He kissed Cale’s head gently, sweetly, lovingly.

 

Cale had so much to say and a lot of complaints to make. A lot of demands. Goals.

 

But his head hurt and there he was, holding Cale like he was a precious treasure. Hedonism won out.

 

“My face hurts too.”

 

He chuckled softly, kissing Cale’s forehead and lingering there as though he was the happiest man alive just to be allowed that much.

 

Cale’s heart throbbed and he was just too tired to care about any of it.

 

It really felt simple.

 

“My lips also hurt.”

 

He smiled and his warm eyes sparkled as he pulled Cale closer, his lips pressing against Cale’s in a lovingly chaste kiss that sent tingles from Cale’s spine all the way down to the tips of his toes. Cale leaned into it, closing his eyes and following the staccato of his heart.

 

His whole body ached and yet he never felt better. Moving his lips slowly, inviting his partner to deepen the kiss and humming with delight as his invitation was accepted.

 

Breathlessly, Cale found the strength to say in between urgent and languid kisses. “My whole body hurts.”

 

Alberu’s restraint finally snapped.

 

In one fluid movement he flipped their positions, pinning Cale to the bed and kissing his beautiful beloved as though his life depended upon it. Fingers lacing with Cale’s as he held his hands down against the bed. The muffled mewl from Cale was the sweetest of melodies.

 

Cale’s reddish brown eyes, half-lidded with desire and want and love and–Alberu trailed kisses down Cale’s chin, resting his lips against his neck and delighting in the shudder it elicited from Cale.

 

He should stop here.

 

He’d always stopped here and he couldn’t recklessly move forward on an insane impulse.

 

Cale’s hands squeezed his pleadingly. “It hurts.” He insisted, begging ever so sweetly.

 

‘Right. Forgot that I’m already insane.’

 

Alberu squeezed Cale’s hand in return, nipping Cale’s sensitive neck and sucking just enough to make him whimper.

 

What he would give to hear Cale compose a symphony of those sounds just for him.

 

He released one of Cale’s hands, unbuttoning Cale’s shirt as patiently as he could manage, massaging the exposed pale skin and listening to Cale’s every breathy gasp. Alberu moved from his spot, licking the possessive bruise in apology before he moved lower, nipping at Cale’s collar bone as he went.

 

“ Ah –” Cale’s voice was ever so slightly higher than normal. Alberu wanted to hear how high it could get. Wanted to hear every delicious sound. Wanted to feel and kiss every inch of his pale skin and cover him with his own marks.

 

Alberu kissed his way down to Cale’s chest, swirling his tongue around a pink nub and earning a breathy “Fuck–” for his trouble. Cale’s pliant and beautiful body squirmed just for him and Alberu left a biting hickey on Cale’s chest as a reward.

 

More–he wanted so much more–

 

“Shit–stop fucking around–”

 

Alberu smiled against Cale’s skin, Cale’s impatience matched his own perfectly. He trailed biting kisses back up to Cale’s lips, making sure to leave two yellowing bruises along the other side of Cale’s neck as he went. His hips rocking gently against Cale’s. Between too much cloth they could feel one another’s desire.

 

Alberu placed a delicate kiss on Cale’s lips and looked him in the eyes, making his last appeal to sanity. “Are you sure?”

 

Cale’s voice came out as a desperate whimper. “Please.”

 

Had he ever heard Cale even use that word? It was rather characteristic of Cale that he didn’t say words like please , he always demanded what he wanted with arrogance and pride.

 

For Alberu to touch him, he pleaded.

 

How did he express the emotions that absolutely consumed him with a single word? He couldn’t. Not even in the way he stripped Cale of his remaining clothes or the way they rocked against each other needily as Alberu groped his ass.

 

Cale’s needy moan for “More” against his ear. Cale’s legs wrapping around his waist. Cale’s nails running down his back.

 

Cale biting him teasingly, on the spot he’d first down so. The first night he professed to holding onto feelings for some stupid prince who he just wanted to bite his stupid face .

 

Alberu held Cale close, letting out a hiss of emotion.

 

“He wouldn’t be caught dead with trash like me.”

 

 “Just leave me anywhere to die. That’s where trash belongs~”

 

“The only person I wanna kiss is whats-his-face.”

 

Cale moaned beneath him, receptive to his every movement. Licking Alberu’s fingers obediently. Rolling his hips to press Alberu’s slick fingers against his ass, nipping and biting and expressing how much he wanted him with every inch of his body.

 

‘I love him.’

 

He slid one finger inside, listening to the beautiful way that Cale’s breath hitched.

 

‘I love him so much I can’t breathe.’

 

What would have happened if he hadn’t gone to rescue Cale that first night? What would have happened if Cale had sat there alone in the dark, believing for all the world that he was nothing but trash that no one could want?

 

Alberu stole Cale’s lips in a desperate kiss. Slipping in a second finger and swallowing Cale’s moan.

 

‘I love him.’

 

There weren’t words or actions that could truly give justice to the depth of the emotion and Alberu couldn’t think rationally anymore regardless. There was only Cale’s writhing body beneath him and his addictive taste and smell and sounds–everything.

 

Alberu wanted everything.

 

He removed his fingers impatiently, pressing his cock against Cale’s entrance and taking just the moment to admire the sight below him.

 

Covered in marks Alberu had made, cheeks pink, lips parted, lusty brown eyes framed by fiery red hair. Cale was really beautiful. So much so that he didn’t want to show him to anyone. He wanted to keep this gorgeous and precious person locked away where only he could touch him. Caress him. Kiss him.

 

He wanted everything Cale was and so much more.

 

Cale’s lips trembled with a needy mewl, no longer even a word, but it sounded so much like please to Alberu’s blessed ears.

 

With one smooth movement, he slid inside. Cale’s walls hugging his cock and causing him to groan low in his throat. Red hot lines from Cale’s nails ran down his back and he kissed Cale ever so gently as his hips reared back, unable to be patient or sane, unable to restrain how badly he wanted this.

 

How badly he wanted to hear Cale’s raw voice cursing and pleading and moaning–Alberu rocked his hips with relentless force. The precise moment that he found the perfect spot marked by a sharp cry of Cale’s perfect voice.

 

“ Cale –” Alberu said his name like a prayer, like he was all that he adored and worshiped.

 

Cale clung to him, body rocked by the force of Alberu’s thrusts and voice hoarse. His heart was pounding so loudly that Alberu could hear it.

 

Alberu’s thrusts hit that spot with unerring accuracy, harder and faster and all to elicit the beautiful sounds that Cale made. To feel the pleasure of making love to the man he wanted more than anything else in his whole life.

 

Alberu lost himself in desire, kissing and sucking Cale’s neck greedily to see just how many marks he could make. To taste Cale. To feel Cale’s walls squeeze against him as he teased Cale’s sensitive neck.

 

Alberu loved him. Every inch of him. His every reaction. Everything.

 

Cale squirmed and cried and screamed, cursing up a storm because in the heat of the mind-numbing lust and pleasure he still didn’t know who’s name to call out.

 

And behind all of the pleasure, that broke his heart.

Chapter 25

Perhaps it was due to the amount of time spent flush with desire for too much or perhaps it was due to the pent up emotions waiting to overflow between them but they certainly over-indulged.

 

Cale woke for the second time that day, significantly more sore than the first time and quite satisfied about that. One glance towards the window told him that they’d successfully fucked and napped most of the day away.

 

From the sound of it, Bob was still asleep. Breathing evenly with an arm loosely draped around Cale’s waist, his face buried into Cale’s shoulder, and his cock not quite pulled out from the last round before they’d decided to take a nap break.

 

Cale had half a mind to go for another round like this. He promised himself that he’d do just that when he had the time. Now wasn’t the time for that.

 

He’d been putting off seeking out answers because he was scared but somehow, covered head to toe in proof of how badly Bob desired him, that fear faded away as a mere background concern.

 

It was entirely possible that his worst fears were true and this was all just some sick joke for a crown prince with apparently too much time on his hands. And if that was true, Cale was going to ride his dick until he screamed for mercy before choking the bastard out and forcing him to take responsibility for his garbage sense of humor.

 

Cale was in a very specific mood. A post coital high intermixed with indignant egotism. It definitely helped to smooth his ruffled self esteem.

 

Sometimes what a person really needed was a good fuck.

 

Exhausted, sore, and still sporting a bit of a hangover, Cale rolled over and looked into the stupid sleeping face of Bob.

 

It looked biteable.

 

He smiled to himself, choosing instead to place a chase kiss on his lips.

 

This stupid bastard didn’t have the slightest clue what hell was waiting for him when he woke up. Cale had decided that his love life could be quite simple if he wanted to be.

 

And he simply chose that Bob wasn’t going to get a say in things. Cale wanted him and he was going to keep him. Screw all of the things that filled him with doubt and insecurity. He wanted this stupid bastard.

 

He’d already done all the moping he was physically capable of.

 

Alberu stirred awake, he was faintly aware that someone was touching him but he was a bit too exhausted to make sense of it. Recent memories poured into his thoughts for his perusal and he knew that the person had to be Cale.

 

He ought to have been more concerned about that realization than he was, but he’d just smiled faintly and thought about waking up to kiss Cale again.

 

A weight on his stomach woke him up completely. He opened his eyes to see Cale straddling his waist and smirking down at him with the confidence of a devil.

 

Alberu also realized that his hands had been studiously tied over his head with what felt like his own shirt.

 

Alberu smiled up weakly at his captor. A part of him, a rather significant part at that, was excited to see where Cale would take this and he had some faint thoughts about tying Cale up as well someday. Seemed only fair to give it a try.

 

Of course, there was still enough sanity left in him to recognize the very distinct danger in Cale’s expression.

 

“ Bob .” Cale enunciated the word pointedly, his fingers gently caressing Alberu’s chest as though thoughtfully considering whether to take him to heaven or hell. “I think it’s about time we had a talk .”

 

‘How much does he know?’ morphed into ‘He can’t know, right?’ and eventually skipped away into ‘What the hell do I say?!’

 

“About what?” Alberu asked weakly.

 

He loved Cale. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with him and his heart was committed to doing just that. He never wanted to lose him and he definitely didn’t want to lie to him.

 

But this and that were different matters.

 

All of the love in the world didn’t change that he could lose everything if he told the truth. Not just him, his aunt and all of his maternal family who had helped him over the years would also be in danger. It really begged the question why he’d so foolishly revealed himself to Cale at all but even now he couldn’t regret that impulsive and foolish decision.

 

He couldn’t regret falling in love with Cale or any of the time they spent together.

 

He’d waffled on what to say if Cale pressed the issue and somewhere in his blind panic to find Cale he hadn’t found an answer.

 

He could admit to being the crown prince but claim to be wearing a disguise. It would be an effective lie but he would also need to explain to Cale why he lied about being a ‘relative’ to begin with.

 

His mind was a mess and he wasn’t ready.

 

Whether he chose to tell Cale or not, he couldn’t decide as of yet. He needed more time to figure that out. He only knew that he loved Cale and he couldn’t bear being apart from him.

 

So Alberu had decided in his great wisdom to avoid the question until he’d come up with his answer.

 

Cale’s nails ran dangerously along Alberu’s chest and his ass pressed against his crotch, seeming to say that he could either ride Alberu’s half hard cock or snap it in half.

 

Cale really was a talented man when it came to expressing himself with gestures alone.

 

“There’s nothing you’d like to tell me?” Cale’s voice was angelically soft and a shiver ran up Alberu’s spine.

 

He looked into Cale’s eyes and saw an unshakable determination. He frowned and felt the compulsion to come clean.

 

To tell Cale everything, from beginning to end. To confess his entire life for Cale’s judgment and lay himself bare for whatever punishment Cale decided upon. To grovel for forgiveness over every lie he told and plead with Cale to stay with him. To declare just how deeply he loved Cale, everything he wanted and everything he could dream of.

 

He wanted to tell him.

 

He parted his lips, unsure what he was about to say but unable to restrain himself from saying it.

 

A polite knock at the door disrupted the moment, two sets of eyes turning to the door in time to hear Ron’s voice on the other side. “Young master Cale, there’s an urgent matter to discuss.”

 

Cale cringed in on himself, whatever lusty determination that was driving him shrank away quickly in the face of his surrogate father knocking at the door. With a growl, he left Bob tied to the bed and wrapped a robe around himself. “The fuck is so fucking important?!” He cursed as he went, cracking open the door to give Ron a piece of his mind.

 

Ron smiled at him benignly and held out a letter. “It’s from the count. He requests your immediate return to the estate immediately.”

 

Cale snatched the letter from him and bustled out of the room so that Ron couldn’t see what was inside, snarling at the contents of the letter. “Tell him to fuck off.” Cale snapped, more irate than necessary due to the nature of the interruption.

 

Ron’s expression was unreadable as per usual. “If you would listen to this Ron’s humble advice, I would advise leaving this place at least, young master Cale. I fear that the time spent here has reached its limit.”

 

There was truly nothing more irritating than someone advising you to do what you’d already decided to do. Cale grit his teeth and crumpled the letter. Quite tempted to snap at Ron again, Cale quelled his anger.

 

He was planning to leave and Ron was right.

 

This place hadn’t done him any good.

 

“Oh and young master Cale?”

 

“What?!”

 

“I believe your guest has also departed.”

 

“ What ?!”

 

Cale slammed open the bedroom door, mindless of what Ron might see beyond and spotted an empty bed beyond.

 

Oh, he was going to kill him.

 

“Ron. We’re leaving.” Cale ground out, a very specific brand of homicidal intent filling him. “Immediately. For the capital.”

 

Ron bowed. “As you wish, young master Cale.”

 

If that stupid piece of shit thought that he could get away easily he had a whole other thing coming.

Chapter 26

Alberu was really just trying to buy a tiny bit of time to get his head on straight. To find an answer to this quagmire before he impulsively gave everything away.

 

He just wanted to get his head right.

 

He had every intention of sending word to Cale immediately and meeting him again at the soonest possible interval. He really did. He just needed a tiny bit of time.

 

He wasn’t avoiding Cale, it was just a momentary tactical evasion. And it wasn’t his fault that all the piled up work he’d neglected during his impromptu and unplanned vacation required his immediate and complete attention.

 

He really was not avoiding the issue. He was definitely not avoiding the issue. He was absolutely going to face Cale as soon as he figured out what the fuck he was going to say.

 

What Alberu in all his infinite wisdom had not grasped was that no amount of thinking was going to provide him with the perfect answer that he sought. There simply didn’t exist the words that would perfectly solve the problem, preserve his secret, and treat Cale with the dignity and respect he deserved. He would have to give up one of these points and there wasn’t any working around that.

 

But Alberu was a perfectionist in his heart of hearts and he really struggled to accept anything less. Also there might be the tiniest part of him that feared Cale’s eventual wrath.

 

He doubted he could give a single answer that would spare him that.

 

Perhaps he’d let the days bleed into one another as he caught up on his work and perhaps he’d let the issue hang too long.

 

He suspected his aunt may have betrayed him as well but he as of yet had no evidence.

 

All he knew was once he’d returned to his office after a meeting with the nobility in the north regarding a rather tiresome trade agreement, he looked up from his paperwork to see no one other than Cale Henituse standing outside of his office.

 

Alberu didn’t have the time to say a word before Cale closed the distance between them, dragged him down by the collar, and kissed him. Shamelessly mindless of the gasping attendant at his side.

 

He felt Cale smirk against his lips, his reddish brown eyes flashing victoriously and locked with Alberu’s wide blue ones.

 

“Got you.” He hissed, low and victorious.

 

Despite the panic running manic inside of Alberu, he couldn’t help but find Cale unbearably attractive at that moment.

 

Before Alberu could gather his composure, Cale dragged him into the office and slammed the door on the gobsmacked attendants outside.

 

Cale very easily could have avoided such a public display but he’d chosen to create chaos in Alberu’s life. Despite the annoyances that would surely be created by the display, Alberu really couldn’t bring himself to be annoyed.

 

Cale pinned him to the door and it was the second time Cale had done such a thing. Alberu felt fear rightfully run down his spine.

 

“Have anything to tell me now, Bob ?” Cale asked, his voice full of mocking spite.

 

Alberu really didn’t.

 

What the hell could he say? Sorry ? I can explain ? I didn’t mean it to go this far ? I wanted to tell you but I couldn’t find the words ? See, me and Bob are actually cousins and so our lips are identical, also I totally know about you and Bob so can we go back to being strangers now ?

 

Yeah. None of that really addressed Cale’s reasonable rage appropriately. Especially that last one. That one might actually get him murdered. Just very murdered.

 

Alberu unconsciously brushed his hand against Cale’s cheek and he was startled by the lack of contrast. He’d never touched Cale like this while looking like this.

 

Somehow that really hammered home how wrong it had been to lie to Cale.

 

Cale frowned at his touch but didn’t pull away. His eyes were as clear and expressive as they’d always been.

 

He was so much more than Alberu deserved. Especially after everything.

 

“I shouldn’t have left.” Alberu said, voice weighed down with the guilt of his crime.

 

“Damn fucking right.” Cale growled and how was he so irresistible even while teeming with rage?

 

Alberu knew that he probably shouldn’t kiss Cale until they’d talked properly but the desire to do so was quite enticing. In a marvelous show of restraint, Alberu chose words instead. “I’m sorry.”

 

“ And ?” Cale pressed his knee between Alberu’s legs. A gesture that could be both very sexy and very threatening. Alberu took it both ways, swallowing thickly as he searched for what Cale wanted to hear.

 

No. That was wrong.

 

What he should say.

 

“I never should have lied to you.” He said. “You deserved–you… I was wrong. You deserve the truth.”

 

He did. How much had Cale exposed himself to Alberu? Trusted Alberu with the parts of himself that no one else was privy to?

 

Alberu knew it was wrong. Knew that it wasn’t fair to accept all of Cale without ever exposing himself to the same risk. Knew he’d been selfish and cowardly. Looking at Cale now, knowing nearly everything and still glaring him directly at him with the same brash confidence that made it so impossible to look away.

 

Cale was striking. Gorgeous and amazing and so much braver than Alberu had ever been.

 

“...I’m sorry.” He caressed Cale’s cheek gently and relief flooded his heart when Cale leaned into his touch.

 

“You’re a stupid bastard. You’re the fucking worst –I shouldn’t…” Cale pressed his body against Alberu’s, vestiges of anger dwindling. Replaced by something far more concerning. “...why?”

 

In all of Alberu’s ruminations on this conversation, he’d never once imagined Cale would look so raw and hurt.

 

He never realized how deeply his lies hurt him.

 

Cale placed a hand over his mouth before Alberu could answer, looking to the ground and breathing in shakily. “Give me a second.”

 

As though he was preparing himself for the worst.

 

Alberu’s heart ached terribly.

 

Cale finally looked back up at him, attempting to cover his broken expression with pure guts.

 

Alberu never wanted Cale to look at him like that.

 

“...was any of it real…?” Cale tried to sound angry. Tried to sound just as intimidating as he’d managed before. Tried to sound like he was unaffected by Alberu’s actions.

 

He failed miserably.

 

Alberu never regretted his actions more than this moment. How could he let Cale think that it wasn’t…?

 

But what else was he supposed to think?

 

‘I’m an idiot.’ Alberu wished he could turn back the clock. Change everything. Come clean to Cale that very first night.

 

What horrible thoughts had driven Cale all the way to Harris Village?

 

He reached out to touch Cale but he flinched away from Alberu’s touch. Too raw. Too scared.

 

Words couldn’t convey how real it was. How his feelings for Cale were probably the only thing that was truly real about him.

 

Alberu unclasped his necklace, revealing his true appearance and watched as Cale visibly relaxed at the sight.

 

A confirmation of what he already knew. Willingly exposed by Alberu.

 

It would take time to earn back Cale’s trust.

 

“I never meant to… I wasn’t intending for this...” Alberu said, knowing that all that was right was to offer Cale honesty. He still hated the way Cale stiffened though. “...but I couldn’t stop coming back to you.”

 

Cale frowned at him, making a sincere effort to hate him.

 

He sighed and rested his forehead on Alberu’s shoulder, hiding his face and clinging to Alberu’s shirt. Alberu wrapped his arms gently around Cale.

 

“...promise me. Promise me this is real or I swear to god, I’m tearing off your dick and feeding it to you.”

 

Only Cale could be so crass and so vulnerable and Alberu was nuts but he loved even that. He held Cale close, burying his face in his hair. “I swear. All I lied about was my identity. Nothing else. I promise.”

 

Maybe it was his imagination but he could swear that a tension lifted from Cale’s shoulders. They still had a lot to discuss and he had a lot of apologies to make.

 

But for just a moment he was able to hold the man he loved and believe that just maybe they could make it work.

Chapter 27

Unfortunately once the adrenaline of vengeance fueled indignation faded away, reality set in.

 

There was a reason that from the very beginning, from that ridiculous day he’d first been taken by Alberu’s charms, Cale had held a significant amount of disparagement for his ill-advised crush.

 

It was just that. Ill-advised. Foolhardy. Doomed.

 

It couldn’t work out.

 

Alberu Crossman was the crown prince of the Roan Kingdom, the next in line to be the king and a man who couldn’t afford to fuck around with the lout of the Henituse territory.

 

Cale knew this. Alberu had to know this too.

 

It was one of the many reasons Cale had hoped that ‘Bob’ hadn’t been a damn liar.

 

It was also the reason that Cale had chosen to publicly humiliate Alberu in his foolhardy gamble. He hadn’t actually been completely sure when he dared to kiss the crown prince. He was just angry enough to gamble it all on one single kiss.

 

He didn’t regret doing that either. Whatever mess Alberu had to clean up because of it was karma for being a lying sack of shit.

 

Cale sat sedately in Alberu’s office awaiting his return. Alberu had left briefly to cancel some meetings and probably to explain himself to his gaping attendants as well. Cale was happy to let him do that. He needed time to collect himself.

 

Bob was Alberu. Alberu was Bob. Everything up until now, every mortifying moment and confession, everything had been Alberu. It was always Alberu.

 

Alberu had been the man he’d bitten in the darkness. The one he’d confessed to. The one he’d dragged into his room again and again and again.

 

The one who he couldn’t forget about even when he drank himself half to death.

 

‘...I’m fucked.’

 

Cale sat patiently and let his gaze dip towards the floor as he ran a hand through his hair.

 

This couldn’t work out.

 

That was why it made a lot more sense to assume that Alberu had been playing with him this whole time. The prince wasn’t dumb enough to think this could work.

 

If it was Bob there wasn’t a single problem that Cale couldn’t smooth over with money. Even if they had to remain together in secrecy, that was still an option because Bob’s existence was one of secrecy.

 

Alberu couldn’t take a shit without a whole slew of people counting how long it took him.

 

This couldn’t work.

 

Alberu returned, looking haggard enough to gratify some of Cale’s remaining agitation. Cale jutted his chin for Alberu to sit across from him and the prince quirked an eyebrow at the sight.

 

There weren’t many men with the confidence to steal the crown prince’s chair and prop their feet up on his desk. Although he supposed that comparing Cale to others would always cause them to fall short.

 

Alberu sat across from him and Cale clicked his tongue.

 

“So. Bob .” Oh, he was never going to let that go. Never in his whole life. Even if they became great friends in the future and buried the hatchet, Cale was going to hold onto the grudge until his deathbed and then haunt Alberu from beyond it. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

 

If nothing else, he needed to hear it. Even if it was a lie. He wanted to understand why this stupid shitty bastard chose to… well, everything. Why he did everything.

 

Alberu sighed and removed the necklace from before, revealing a very different appearance and lowering Cale’s hackles. Alberu had correctly assessed that Cale preferred talking to the face he was more familiar with.

 

But mostly, this was about honesty. Alberu rolled the necklace around in his hand. He’d already made up his mind to tell Cale everything. He’d earned that much at least.

 

It was just easier said than done.

 

“...this is my true appearance.” He said finally, looking up when he heard Cale snort.

 

“No shit, I gathered that much.” Cale said. “So the disguise is for succession, yeah? Only blonds on the throne but you took after your mum?”

 

Alberu’s lip twitched. Sometimes it was a relief to be met with Cale’s crass attitude. Cale just had a way of calming his nerves. “I’m a quarter dark elf.”

 

“Ah.”

 

There was a brief silence before Cale let out a sigh, running his hand through his hair and looking Alberu up and down. “Hm. Guess the rumors were overblown.”

 

“...excuse me?”

 

“I mean, I heard that dark elves were supposed to be like soul sucking demons from the abyss or someshit, not stupid pretty boys.” Cale said flippantly, waving his hand dismissively. “You’re really failing to intimidate or strike fear. For shame.”

 

Alberu laughed despite himself. He couldn’t help it. Perhaps this was why he couldn’t help but love Cale. He didn’t care. He really didn’t. He was making light of Alberu’s heritage like it was all just a big joke. Not a hint of fear or disgust, just the usual blunt and crass man who had quite elegantly stolen Alberu’s heart.

 

He was perfect and lovable and ridiculous and so self-centered. He was still so much more annoyed at Alberu for lying than he was over the truth behind the lies.

 

Alberu really loved him. Just the way he was. If the timing was appropriate, he would have loved to kiss him. Pin Cale against his desk and resume what he’d left behind in Harris Village.

 

Cale was giving him a judgmental look when he gathered himself but Alberu smiled in return. A sincere and honest smile. “I’ll do my best to embody more of your nightmares then.” He replied jokingly.

 

Cale sniggered. “You already do, asshole.” There wasn’t any sincerity to the insult though so Alberu didn’t comment.

 

Cale was the first to realign the conversation. “So you revealed your true self to me because…?”

 

Alberu sighed. “...I felt responsible. You were kidnapped after I sent you away with them. I initially went out as myself but my movements were limited and they eventually sent me back to the palace–”

 

Cale let out a gafah. “ Ha ! You were grounded so you snuck out! That’s so stupid!”

 

Alberu pouted. “I snuck out to rescue you .” He pointed out.

 

Cale smirked. “I was doing just fine on my own, thank you.”

 

“...you threatened to slit your own neck and held yourself hostage before getting blackout drunk and wandering through the forest.”

 

“It worked, didn’t it?”

 

Alberu shook his head, a smile twitching at the corners of his lips despite himself.

 

“And?” Cale pressed, bringing his legs down from the desk and instead leaning over it to observe Alberu’s expression. “Why’d you come back to check up on me. Twice .”

 

It hadn’t escaped Cale’s notice that Alberu had visited him as two separate identities. What sort of stupid scheme required all that effort?

 

Alberu blushed faintly but he was otherwise able to suppress his fluster. “...I was worried.”

 

Cale leaned over the desk. He quite liked the way Alberu’s cheeks darkened just for him. He liked just everything about this bastard. “Wouldn’t it have been enough to see me once?”

 

Alberu smiled at him helplessly. “I fear you’ve stumbled upon my problem.” Alberu caressed Cale’s cheek gently and Cale leaned into his touch, his smirk softening into a smile. “I can never get enough of you.”

 

“Sappy bastard.”

 

Cale could understand. Alberu’s secret didn’t just risk his legitimacy to the throne but it could put his life in danger as well. He might not have forgiven it all but he could understand the necessity for secrecy.

 

That didn’t mean he liked it.

 

“Was it fun pretending to be jealous of yourself?” Cale asked, a touch bitterly. “Knowing full well how I…”

 

Alberu kissed him.

 

“I was jealous.” Alberu confessed. “And no, I don’t have a good explanation as to why. I just didn’t like sharing you. In any way.”

 

“With yourself .” Cale stressed, the ridiculousness of it making him nearly laugh. He could feel Alberu’s sincerity though. “Shouldn’t it have bolstered your ego? Tricking me into liking you not once but twice?”

 

Perhaps Cale was still a little bit bitter.

 

Alberu let out a sigh. He stood up and in a fluid display of strength, he picked Cale up and pulled him across the desk so that he could sit back down with Cale in his lap. While Cale was still registering damn, I really do like it when he manhandles me , Alberu had his forehead resting against Cale’s.

 

“I never meant for you to like me.” He said softly. “But I’m loath to give up those feelings. I never wanted to trick you. I just wanted to be with you.”

 

Cale’s breath caught and he averted his gaze as he tried to remember what a regular heartbeat felt like. “You know this can’t work out, right?”

 

Alberu’s arm around his waist tightened possessively. “I’m aware.”

 

“It’s probably better if we went our separate ways.”

 

Alberu pulled him into a kiss, painful and frustrated and demanding. “I know.” He said through gritted teeth.

 

“So when I leave this office, we should put this behind us.” Cale said and he didn’t know where he found the strength to say any of that. He didn’t know why he was choosing to say all the things he dreaded most. Perhaps it was his own self-destructive impulses taking over and forcing the words.

 

It was less painful to say it himself than to wait for Alberu to say it.

 

“ I know .” Alberu said and had Cale ever heard his voice so pained? Cale leaned in, kissing Alberu gently in apology.

 

They’d properly put an end to it after this. They weren’t children. They understood that feelings of affection didn’t change reality or responsibilities or the weight of society. The world didn’t revolve around who you wanted to kiss at any given moment.

 

Cale made a poor partner for Alberu under any metric. Just keeping Cale by his side, even as a friend, would deal a significant blow to Alberu politically. Besides, it didn’t align with Cale’s plans for his life either. If he were to stay at Alberu’s side he might have to give up the whole lout thing and he still had his own reasons for the persona. Even if some days those reasons felt foolish at best and pointless at worst.

 

They couldn’t stay together just because they liked each other.

 

Perhaps that knowledge was why Alberu was kissing him with such urgency, his arms secured around Cale’s waist as though scared he’d run away the moment he let go.

 

What a laugh. Alberu was the one who ran away.

 

Okay, maybe they both ran away.

 

Cale arched his neck as Alberu trailed biting kisses down his throat, his fingers getting lost in Alberu’s brown hair and his thoughts fading away into nothing as the raw desire took hold.

 

“ Alberu .”

 

How satisfying it was to be able to call his name like this? To know who he was calling to and to hear Alberu’s hitched voice in response, growling out Cale’s name as he so easily stripped Cale's shirt.

 

He really came here to talk. They ought to discuss matters further before things got out of hand.

 

Cale rolled his hips, grinding against the growing bulge in Alberu’s pants. Alberu retaliated by sucking at Cale’s neck, finding the sensitive spot that had a tendency to drive him wild. Cale pulled his hair, a strangled moan escaping his lips.

 

Alberu was holding him so close, so preciously, as though he couldn’t bear to let him go.

 

He’d have to. They would both have to.

 

Cale tipped Alberu’s lips upwards and kissed him possessively. Demanding everything that he had to offer. Everything and so much more. Cale’s body molded tightly against Alberu’s as he moved, slowly and sensually.

 

Alberu responded enthusiastically. Pain and desire intermixing into passion.

 

Later they would have to be responsible and cease this nonsense.

 

There was no way that it could work and they were lying to themselves if they thought it could.

 

“ More –” Cale demanded breathlessly.

 

“ Yes –” Alberu responded, voice thick with emotion.

 

For the time being though, they were about to desecrate every piece of furniture in Alberu’s office with alacrity.

Chapter 28

Cale rolled over leisurely in bed and plopped his head on Alberu’s chest. “I thought we were supposed to end it in the office.” He teased. He was feeling rather thoroughly satisfied and he had an exceptional view of Alberu’s blissed out expression.

 

Alberu caressed his face with a chuckle. “I told you. I can’t get enough.”

 

Cale rolled his eyes, running his eyes delightedly over the smooth expanse of Alberu’s bare chest with the pure enjoyment of knowing that every little scratch and hickey marked Alberu as his . “There are good reasons for us to end this.” Cale pointed out.

 

Alberu growled, pulling him up so that he could nip Cale’s lips. “There are bad reasons too.” He said truthfully and butterflies danced around Cale’s heart, tickling and teasing his sensibilities.

 

Cale kissed Alberu, practically pinning the crown prince to the bed as he took his time enjoying the moment.

 

“What do you propose we do then?” Cale asked, genuinely curious as to what Alberu was thinking about. Not so long ago Alberu had no intention to tell Cale who he actually was. That was not the behavior of a man who was planning a future together.

 

Alberu wrapped his arms loosely around Cale’s waist. “I don’t know.” He kissed Cale softly. “But I don’t want to stop.”

 

Damn this adorable bastard. Cale ran his fingers through dark brown locks that fanned out around Alberu invitingly. He could get used to more of this. In fact, he wanted to wake up every morning to see something like this. He’d even make a few concessions to make it happen.

 

“I don’t want to either.” He admitted and he loved the way Alberu’s face lit up at his words.

 

No promises for a future that might not happen, but who the fuck cared about that? Cale really couldn’t give a flying fuck about that at the moment. What the fuck had ruminating on the future gotten him before? Drunk and jealous of some damn peasants.

 

Whereas if he decided to give in to his hedonism, all that awaited him was more of Alberu and he quite liked the sound of that.

 

Alberu pulled him in for another sugar sweet kiss and Cale smiled into the kiss.

 

They’d gone a few rounds in the office before moving into the bedroom for some more deliberate attention. Alberu was apparently quite insatiable when it came to Cale and Cale felt his insecurities just about melt away as the pleasure chased everything else away.

 

He loved being able to touch Alberu like this too. The thrill of knowing that the prince he’d fantasized about for so long was right here. His and his alone. Cale nipped Alberu’s chin with that possessive thought. He really wouldn’t be satisfied until Alberu was just covered in evidence that he belonged to Cale.

 

“...still doesn’t feel real.” Cale commented mindlessly as he ran his thumb along Alver’s swollen lips.

 

“What’s that?” Alver asked and Cale really couldn’t get enough of the way Alver looked at him. Like he was everything that anyone could ever want in the world. A treasure like none other.

 

“A few years ago…” Cale began, interrupting his own words to slowly trail kisses down Alberu’s chin and down his neck, mischief on his mind. “I met this shitty prince on the terrace who tried to stop me from causing a ruckus.”

 

“I remember.” Alberu chuckled, the sound hitching as Cale licked a nipple on his way down. Cale’s hand found and gently caressed Alberu’s cock. “You’re a bit hard to forget. We talked about the faces people wear publicly. It was an illuminating conversation.”

 

Cale paused momentarily, his heart pounding oh so sweetly in his chest. He’d never considered the idea that Alberu would even remember meeting him, much less the contents of their conversation. The idea that he’d been on Alberu’s mind, even just a little bit, in the years that Cale had spent in a one sided puppy love…

 

“Oh yeah? Illuminating how?” Cale asked, hiding how interested he was by leaving another bite mark on Alberu’s rather appetizing muscles. Cale quite enjoyed how good it felt to trace them, kiss them, and most especially bite.

 

It was a part of his little revenge for Alberu being a lying son of a bitch. Cale was allowed to leave as many marks on Alberu as he wanted. It helped to quell his annoyance.

 

And it was really fun.

 

Alberu ran a hand through Cale’s hair, a shiver running up his spine as Cale entertained himself with Alberu’s body. Fuck , there was nothing in this world more enjoyable than submitting himself to Cale’s whims. Most especially because it meant he could see that cute little smile on his face. “I thought you were interesting. Known as a lout and yet… you didn’t quite seem like just a thoughtless drunk. I liked talking to you. I was curious to get to know you.”

 

Cale’s fingers danced anxiously along Alberu’s length as his heart hammered in his chest, looking up to Alberu’s face from his spot at the prince’s naval. “Sounds like you had a crush.” He teased, trying to regain his balance.

 

Alberu smiled at him and Cale thought he’d lose the ability to breathe altogether. “I really didn’t realize at the time but I think I might have.” He admitted sweetly.

 

Fuck .

 

Cale flushed dark, mischievous intentions running away with him as he just wanted to crawl back up to Alberu’s face and kiss the man into oblivion. How could he be so lovable? How dare he say something so–so fucking– fuck –

 

Cale licked his lips and turned his attention towards Alberu’s half hard cock, feeling a bit more balanced by the sight of it. Enjoying the way Alberu stiffened as he finally seemed to catch onto the game Cale was up to.

 

“See, this is why it doesn’t feel real.” Cale commented mildly, running his hand up and down before kissing the tip gently. “I went home that night and all I could think about…” He ran his tongue up Alberu’s length, delighting in the way Alberu’s breath hitched and his fingers unconsciously gripped Cale’s hair. “...was this stupid fucking prince.”

 

“Cale–”

 

“How handsome he was.” Cale kissed along Alberu’s length, smiling with teeth just to remind Alberu that he was never above biting. “How charming he was.”

 

Cale chanced a peek at Alberu’s expression and what he saw there momentarily stole his ability to breathe.

 

It was crazy but he could swear that he could see love in Alberu’s eyes. Ridiculous. You couldn’t see such things. They hadn’t made any promises. This was all about living in the moment.

 

But the tender expression was addictive. Cale wanted to see more. Wanted Alberu to never take his eyes off of him.

 

He wanted this to last forever.

 

Fuck, he really couldn’t help but love Alberu, could he?

 

“And maybe I thought about him. A lot.” Cale said, hollowing his cheeks and taking in Alberu’s tip slowly. Swirling his tongue around the throbbing cock without ever taking his eyes off of Alberu.

 

Alberu was breathing heavily and Cale could tell he was restraining himself from bucking into the warmth. Maybe next time he’d ask him to, just to see how it felt.

 

He wanted to try everything with Alberu.

 

“...I’m losing my mind.” Alberu said, his voice thick with emotion and pleasure and all of the things Cale wanted from him.

 

Cale hummed happily, bobbing his head to see how deep he could comfortably take Alberu in. Thrilled to feel and taste how much Alberu desired him.

 

“Cale…” Alberu’s voice was low and thick. “Cale–I can’t–”

 

Cale pulled off, pleased to see Alberu leaking with precum. He grinned up at Alberu deviously. “Oh no, my jaw is tired.” He said theatrically, petting Alberu’s throbbing cock absently. “What should we do?”

 

Alberu rolled his eyes, pulling Cale up against his chest and kissing him soundly on the lips. “If we keep going like this, you might not be able to walk later.” He warned.

 

“Good.” Cale grinned. “Fuck me until I can’t walk.” He nuzzled his face into Alberu’s neck, kissing a bite mark he’d left softly. “Fuck me until all I can remember is the shape of your cock.”

 

“You’re–” Alberu couldn’t seem to find the right word to describe him so instead he rolled over so that he was pinning Cale to the bed. Cale obediently wrapped his legs around Alberu’s waist, grinning up at him impishly.

 

“I’m what?” He said with a mercilessly teasing tone.

 

Alberu kissed him, moving his lips alongside Cale’s in a slow dance as he aligned himself with Cale’s abused hole and ever so slowly pressed inside. “...beautiful.” Alberu said between kisses. “Amazing.” He was only halfway inside but the feel of Cale’s tight walls already had him half mad with lust. “Stunning.” He kissed Cale deeply, running his tongue along his teeth to tease him. “Adorable.” He smiled at Cale’s beautifully embarrassed face, the red flush across his cheeks perfectly matching the desirous look in his eyes. “Kind-hearted.”

 

“Isn’t that pushing it?” Cale said, looking away with embarrassment.

 

Alberu pushed deeper inside to get Cale’s attention back on him, utterly pleased with the success of the tactic as Cale let out a helpless moan and wrapped his arms around Alberu’s shoulders. “No, it isn’t.” Alberu kissed him softly, leisurely. “I thought so since the first time I met you. What a surprisingly kind person you are.”

 

“I think you’re delusional.” Cale said, his harsh words losing all strength as he gasped out Alberu’s name softly when the prince began to move inside of him, slowly and intently to make sure he could properly savor the feeling.

 

“You do make me a little crazy.” Alberu said with a laugh, kissing the corner of Cale’s frown as he rolled his hips to get deeper inside of him this time. “So maybe I am delusional. But that won’t change what I think about you.”

 

Cale clung to him, his breath hitching every time Alberu found the right spot. He hadn’t really intended to accept Cale’s request to ‘fuck him until he can’t walk’ but as he saw the wanton lust and embarrassed affection dancing inside of Cale’s perfectly brown eyes–he really wanted to see if that was possible.

 

“Was this what you thought about?” Alberu teased, grinning as Cale looked at him with a panicked expression and bucking his hips to hit Cale just so with enough strength to make him moan. “When you thought about that stupid prince ?”

 

Cale shook his head, pulling Alberu down to bury his face in the crook of Alberu’s neck and moaning as Alberu’s pace sped up impatiently.

 

Alberu didn’t think he’d get an answer but then he heard Cale’s voice, raw with pleasure and hitched with every thrust.

 

“I tho– ah– ught–I thought about… dancing with you.” Cale confessed, sweetly and shamefully and oh so painfully cute. “I wanted to talk–and ahh–Alberu–fuck–there please, more– I wanted–I wanted to hold hands with you and go to a festival–”

 

Fuck.

 

Fuck.

 

Alberu didn’t know how Cale could possibly be more lovable. More precious. He regretted teasing him even though Cale had definitely started it and had certainly meant to leave Alberu with certain implications and fuck –

 

He loved him so much it burned him up inside and all he could think, all he could breathe, all he could want was more of this impossibly perfect man. Alberu held him close, carefully timing his thrusts to please Cale and kissing Cale’s sensitive neck.

 

A part of him wanted to let go of any semblance of control and fuck Cale so hard that he really couldn’t run away ever again. Keep him here forever and never let go.

 

It was crazy of him to think that he could ever limit how much he loved Cale. Crazy of him to think, even for a moment, that he’d ever have the strength to let Cale go.

 

He wanted to spend his life with the crazy guy he’d met who pretended to get drunk to destroy his own reputation.

 

He wanted Cale. Wanted to please him and wanted to taste him and wanted to tell him just how much he loved him.

Chapter 29

It was a bit strange. Looking out of the balcony from the crown prince’s bedroom.

 

Cale had spent plenty of time looking over the capital from his own bedroom window, thoughts on Alberu or Bob on his mind as he took in the gentle glow of the nightlife of the sprawling city around him.

 

Alberu had a better view but that was to be expected from the crown prince’s palace. Cale sort of preferred his view though, solely because he’d been able to see the palace from there and he quite liked looking at it and thinking about just what the object of his affections was up to.

 

Then again, from here Cale knew exactly what he was up to.

 

Alberu wrapped his arms around Cale gently and hugged him close. Cale closed his eyes and leaned into the embrace with a blissful smile overtaking his face.

 

Much of his relationship with this complicated and stupid asshole had happened within the confines of Cale’s bedroom. It felt fitting that they moved to Alberu’s bedroom for once.

 

“What’s on your mind?” Alberu’s voice was affectionate. Cale liked it a lot. It held a different depth than the affection he’d experienced from Bob. Less hesitant.

 

“Ron’s going to flip.” Cale chuckled. “I told him I’d be back in about an hour.”

 

“...not terribly optimistic.” Alberu commented, kissing his cheek gently.

 

“Well, I figured I’d bite off your dick for toying with me and then make a break for it.”

 

“...I’m seriously concerned over whether that was actually your plan.” Alberu sighed, shaking his head but Cale could spot how he was smiling out of the corner of his eye.

 

Masochistic weirdo. Cale snorted and rested his back against Alberu’s chest.

 

“Cale.”

 

“Hm?”

 

“How would you feel about becoming the prince consort?”

 

Cale’s eyes widened. “What?!” He turned around in Alberu’s arms and looked at him like he was a madman. “What the fuck do you mean by that?”

 

His heart raced in his chest as Alberu leaned in, kissing Cale’s lips chastely. “I love you.”

 

Three sweet words that shouldn’t hold any weight at all within any conversation. Anyone could fake those words, pretend to mean them and secretly hide a different agenda. Three words meant to convey an emotion that couldn’t be conveyed with mere words. Strong and uncontrollable and overtaking and so addictive. Words that poured from the crown prince’s lips with absolute sincerity.

 

Sweet and loving. Alberu’s thumb gently brushed against Cale’s cheek and his forehead rested against Cale’s as he repeated himself. “I love you.”

 

Words that didn’t expect or need anything in return. No matter what Cale did or said, that love remained. Ardent and absolute.

 

Words that burst straight from Alberu’s chest like the very beating of his heart. He kissed Cale’s surprised lips and smiled against them.

 

“Love you so much.” He murmured and Cale remembered that he was supposed to breathe. Blink. Think.

 

How much time had he spent thinking this is enough . When he first laid back on his bed, fluttery thoughts locked on the prince he’d met for the very first time and thought this is enough, this is all I need and sated himself with mere fantasies? When he kissed Bob in the moonlight and knew that there was no future to it but thought this is enough, if I can just kiss him ? When he laid beneath Alberu, writhing and screaming his name and knew that they couldn’t last and thought this is enough, so long as I can have him in the present the future doesn’t matter ?

 

How many times had Cale lied to himself about his own insatiable desires to be with Alberu? To have his whole heart? To hear him say those sugary sweet words and hold him so gently?

 

To look at him with eyes that burned with that very same love?

 

Cale still hadn’t remembered to breathe. It was hard when an automatic function required actual thought and effort.

 

Alberu pulled away from the kiss, his smile hopeful and loving. “Will you be mine?”

 

What a stupid fucking question. What a ridiculous and stupid and soppy question. What an unbelievably dumb question by a dumb bastard who has no idea how impactful his words were. How stupid it was to even ask.

 

How the hell didn’t this lousy bastard not already know?

 

Cale kissed him. Raw emotion being so much easier to express with his body than words. His entire being centering on just this one stupid piece of shit.

 

How many stupid nights had Cale spent agonizing over him and longing in his heart just for this? Just for him? Just to hear those ridiculous words? To look into Alberu’s eyes and see that he mattered and to know that it was all real.

 

“ Fuck you –” Cale hissed into the kiss, his words coming out with suppressed raw emotion. “You– fuck you –” Alberu kissed his nose and Cale had half a mind to return the favor by punching him in his.

 

I love you didn’t cover everything. It just didn’t. It didn’t express all of the time that he’d spent utterly and completely drowning in these feelings with his only solace being the company of the man who pushed him under the surface.

 

Cale had spent his whole life learning to be satisfied with enough . It was enough if his father was happy. It was enough if his step family was safe. It was enough if he’d fooled the world into hating him.

 

It was enough if he could just hold these overflowing feelings in his heart.

 

It had never been enough. Not even once. But he’d taught himself to be satisfied with just that.

 

“You fucking–! Fuck you !” Cale kissed him again and he really wasn’t coping well with getting what he wanted because he couldn’t even get his lips to form the words he wanted.

 

Those stupid words that Alberu wanted.

 

It didn’t seem to matter that his lips formed harsh and crass words instead because Alberu was smiling still and holding him close and still looking at him like he was everything.

 

He wanted to tell Alberu that he was everything.

 

That the irreplaceable time spent together meant everything to Cale. That Alberu was everything . What made his heart beat happily, what made him smile, what gave him courage, what stole his breath away–

 

He wanted to say it all but the words got choked up on the way out.

 

“You piece of shit– no fucking shit –of course you’re making me prince consort.” Cale glared ferociously into Alberu’s eyes with every bit of determination he had. Which was a significant amount. “You stupid– fuck you !”

 

Alberu chuckled and kissed his forehead. It did something to soften Cale’s raised hackles and made him all the more offensive all in one.

 

“I really love you.” Alberu said with an amused chuckle.

 

“Fuck you.” Cale snapped back automatically and earned himself another laugh from Alberu.

 

“If you keep saying that instead, I’m going to get jealous if you say it to anyone else.” Alberu promised, looking as delighted as though Cale had said something sweet and soppy instead.

 

“You’re seriously delusional.” Cale clung to him. “And a fucking masochist. And–”

 

And he was wonderful.

 

To list all the multifold reasons that being around Alberu just made him happy wouldn’t be possible. It was just his mere existence. The stupid bastard that Cale couldn’t help but fall for, not once but twice.

 

A sweet and irresistibly addictive lovable idiot.

 

“I love you.”

 

Cale choked out the words and glared up at Alberu in defiance, as though daring him to laugh and take his words back. Daring him to mock Cale for his sincerity.

 

“I really fucking love you.”

 

Alberu kissed him and his fears melted away like sea foam.

 

“Good.” Alberu teased but his eyes were lit with so much happiness, arms tightening around Cale’s waist and it was only now that he realized they’d had the slightest tremble to them before.

 

They were both such idiots.

 

How did he spend so much of his time worrying and scared when it really was just this simple.

 

Cale wrapped his arms around Alberu’s neck and kissed him playfully on the nose for revenge. “Stupid jerk, I love you.”

 

It felt good to say it. He could understand why Alberu had repeated it so many times. When the emotion overflowed so powerfully the simple words were like a spell that turned the ache in his heart into joy.

 

Fuck, as if he needed another thing to be addicted to around Alberu.

 

Alberu ran his fingers along Cale’s spine and nuzzled his nose against Cale’s.

 

“What are you going to do if I’m a trash consort?” Cale asked, wanting to see Alberu’s brows pinch up with concern.

 

To his disappointment and joy, Alberu laughed instead. “I wouldn’t want you to change a thing. So long as you’re happy and mine, I couldn’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks.”

 

There really was something gratifying about getting Alberu to curse. Especially when it was in the name of proclaiming his own possessive intent. Cale was more than happy to abide by those conditions.

 

“What if I do change?” Cale asked, curious to explore the extent of Alberu’s thoughts. “What if I create a brand new persona just for this?”

 

“Happy and mine. That’s all I want.” Alberu persisted, nipping at Cale’s cheek as punishment for teasing him.

 

…maybe there was something to Alberu’s assessment that Cale did what he wanted done to him… that felt pretty good…

 

Stowing those thoughts away for later, Cale couldn’t leave the challenge alone and leaned in closer to see just how many more bite marks he could leave on the crown prince.

 

After all, now that they were going to make it official, he really needed to let the world see just how possessive Cale could be.

 

Sometimes love really could be simple. Just needed some basic fucking communication skills. Cale filed that valuable nugget of information away for future use because now that he had Alberu there was absolutely fucking nothing he would accept getting in his way. Especially not something as dumb as that.

 

And maybe he’d experiment with seeing just how many ways he could tell Alberu how much he loved him and maybe Alberu would reply with just as much adoration and maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing that he fell so hard for the crown prince of all people.

Chapter 30

Cale really and truly did have expensive tastes. Whether it was his clothes, his food, his wine, or his partner. He could have gone with someone else, someone less luxurious, but that really wouldn’t have matched well with his tastes.

 

He needed the finest the kingdom had to offer after all.

 

And if that meant that the beloved crown prince of the Roan Kingdom had to spend some time explaining to others precisely why he’d chosen the trashiest lout of the kingdom to adorn his arm, well that was all the more fun for Cale.

 

And maybe that was enough for Cale to play nice during an official event, dressed head to toe in expensive clothes that befit his role as the prince consort, smiling elegantly at flinching nobles, and holding an expensive wine glass with a certain level of malevolence.

 

Cale had actually been quite well behaved for a while now but that was hardly something that the average nobleman would be privy to. The royal couple had been far more preoccupied with more intimate situations and arrangements to really care about cleaning up Cale’s reputation.

 

For example, the month that Alberu had spent persuading the Henituse family to allow the pairing to begin with was a source of infinite amusement to Cale. It was also a source for some rather complicated emotions for Cale but he was taking his time to dissect those emotions. There was no need to rush. He could take all the time he needed to disentangle how he felt when his father hugged him for the first time in years after he’d finished ‘running away from home’, how his siblings had been so unexpectedly protective of him, how his step-mother had supported him without a single question or criticism.

 

Cale had been able to feel and see their love for him and for the boy who’d always just accepted enough , it was perhaps a bit too much all at once.

 

It was so much easier to focus on teasing his royal highness. And gratifying as well. And it was a relief to be able to take his time with his family. Having the freedom and space and security to act rationally instead of pigeon holing himself self destruction.

 

There was someone they’d overlooked though.

 

Within the chaotic mess of the last couple months though, Cale had somewhat forgotten to inform a specific person about any of this and he’d been forced to hear just about everything through third party rumors.

 

“Your highness.” Eric’s big polite smile did nothing to hide how he pinned Cale down with a what the hell happened look and Cale looked away innocently as the two exchanged greetings. “It’s so good to meet with you again.”

 

Alberu smiled back, clueless of Eric’s true nature and Cale thought that maybe he ought to warn Alberu in some way. On the other hand, he could just allow Alberu to take the heat while he indulged in the fluttery feeling he felt when Alberu held him at his side so publicly. That second option was really appealing.

 

“It’s good to see you as well!” Alberu with his glib tongue and his perfect mastery of steering conversations parted his lips for what was sure to be a sensible way forward. He’d been working all night to guide conversations comfortably along an appropriate line of questioning. Most especially to disrupt some of those who wished to insult the prince consort.

 

Eric cut in. Alberu might be masterful at steering conversations, but Eric was the sort of man who hijacked them. “You must tell me.” His eyes flickered to Cale with the disapproving older brother look of you left me in the dark and now I’m going to be exceptionally public about this , Cale ignored this. “How exactly did you and his highness Cale come into acquaintance? I admit that I was taken aback to learn about your relationship! We’ve been close for years and his highness never said a word to me.”

 

Ah shit. Eric had possibly accidentally used the right words to draw out a too honest answer from Alberu. Or at least a competitive answer. It was quite fun to learn how amusingly jealous and possessive Alberu actually was. He really was the sort of idiot who could get jealous of himself.

 

That was fine by Cale. Alberu never used it as an excuse to deride or express anger at Cale, he’d just fluff out his feathers like a peacock in an attempt to appeal to his beloved. A really ridiculous and adorable man.

 

“We met years ago, actually.” Alberu said, predictably competitively. “It was at an event just like this one. I happened to have the opportunity to escort Cale to a balcony and keep him company while he was recovering his composure. I’d never before met someone so soft, kind, and wise as my Cale.”

 

Eric and Cale shared a look . It was a meaningful look. The type of look that the pair hadn’t exchanged in many years. It was a testament to their friendship that they could still have a brief conversation without exchanging a word.

 

What the fuck is he talking about? I remember that night, weren’t you drunk and swearing your ass off?!

 

Don’t look at me! I don’t understand how this crazy bastard thinks either!

 

Did you do something to his highness the crown prince? Is this black magic?

 

Fuck you and fuck off, I didn’t cast any fucking spells on him.

 

A hand snaking around Cale’s waist disrupted the nonverbal argument and Cale looked up into Alberu’s pouting face. Clearly he didn’t appreciate being left out of the conversation.

 

Cale grinned, pecking him on the lips softly. Not giving a flying fuck about the public nature of the display.

 

Eric coughed awkwardly, just in case the couple forgot he was there. “I see.” He said, quite obviously not seeing or understanding. “And then you two met in secret?”

 

There was a thick disapproval in Eric's tone and Alberu looked back at him with an awkward smile that didn’t match up to his normal luster. “Ah, no. We didn’t meet again until later.”

 

Cale caught the ever so slight hint that Alberu wasn’t saying something and curiosity overtook him. He was more than willing to use Eric to satiate his curiosity. “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Cale asked and Eric immediately took the bait.

 

He was a good friend, Cale reflected. Hard headed and stubborn and thoroughly moved at his own pace but he was reliable and it was unquestioned that he still cared about Cale even when he treated Cale more like an embarrassing younger sibling than a friend.

 

Cale was really having the time to learn just how many of the people in his life really did care about him. It was an experience.

 

Currently the ever confident Eric Wheelsman who believed staunchly in the power of politically presenting oneself in the appropriate way was ready to go toe-to-toe with the crown prince of the kingdom because he was worried about the nature of their relationship. Cale had been young when they first met and Eric wasn’t the sort of person to miss that sort of detail.

 

Cale liked to think that this was Alberu’s personal karma for pulling all that Bob shit.

 

“Yes, your highness.” Eric said, happily backing Cale’s pla with the dogged nature of a man who wouldn’t accept anything less than the truth. “You said you were amazed by his highness Cale’s kindness and wisdom–” It was a testament to Eric’s determination that he said those words with a straight face. Cale was impressed. “–and then you did nothing? I feel as though I’m missing a part of the story, your highness.”

 

Alberu sent Cale a quick help me look and Cale replied with haha, fuck you in return.

 

Alberu let out a sigh and looked at Eric Wheelsman once more. Yet another person who would quite happily offend royalty if it was for Cale. Alberu knew that Cale was charming, so much so that he hadn’t been able to resist him even once, but sometimes he couldn’t help but be a bit glad that he wasn’t the only person who held Cale dearly.

 

Even if he did feel a bit jealous over it.

 

Besides, Eric Wheelsman was nothing in comparison to the very long and very terrifying conversation Alberu had with a specific butler.

 

Someone so close to Cale was worthy of some trust so Alberu admitted the embarrassing truth in a voice that he hoped was low enough that only the three of them heard. “I… may have kept tabs on Cale.” Heat rushed to his cheeks and Alberu just knew that Cale was giving him a large shitty grin at the admission. “I was curious about what sort of person he was.”

 

“So you stalked him.” Eric said, apparently fearlessly. Giving Alberu a look of complete disappointment and disapproval.

 

Cale laughed, letting out a snort as he did. Oh, he really wouldn’t grow tired of giving Alberu shit. He was going to keep this foolish and lovable bastard no matter what.

 

Throwing Alberu some mercy. Cale cut into the conversation with a flippant. “Oh, then I climbed on him the next time we met.” He grinned at Eric’s scandalized face and tugged at Alberu’s arm. “Scuse us, we got shit to do.” Despite the crass words, Cale’s poise and elegance was unquestionable. Looking at him now one really could believe in Alberu’s apparent first impression of him.

 

Cale exuded grace like the drunken lout had never existed at all.

 

Eric accepted defeat, for now, no matter what criticisms he might have it was undeniable that Cale had never looked happier in the entire time Eric had known him. And he was happy for his good friend as well. It felt like he finally had something of the sweet little brother Cale had been back.

 

He missed seeing Cale smile. Eric allowed the happy couple to retreat with a full heart. And later he’d come back to talk to Cale about proper language at an official event such as this and the dangers of ‘climbing onto’ your stalker.

 

Cale let Alberu to the balcony so that the prince could get some much needed air and a break from the nonstop interrogative conversations. Eric’s was certainly the most memorable and direct but most of the nobles had spent some time this evening trying to comprehend how the hell did the prince and the lout fall in love ?

 

Cale pecked him on the lips. “Feeling better?” He asked, the cool night air reminding him of many other nights on balconies with the prince. Especially that first one. Where the hell did he get kind and wise from? Crazy bastard.

 

Alberu rested his forehead against Cale’s and smiled down at him. “It’d be a lot easier for me if I was the only one who loved you.” He kissed his lips softly, mindless that curious spectators could probably watch the whole display. “But it’s also gratifying to know that you’re loved.”

 

It was a lot less agitating than all the sneering nobles who thought that Alberu had chosen a poor partner. Alberu would not soon forget that insolence. He filed it away for later vengeance, as he did with most indignities.

 

It was unthinkable that anyone could look at Cale and see anything but perfection.

 

“So you kept tabs on me?” Cale teased, grinning at the slight flush. “You never told me that part.”

 

“It’s embarrassing to admit.” Alberu kissed him again and Cale thought just how perfect things wound up.

 

“What’s embarrassing is calling me kind when we both know I was belligerent.”

 

Alberu’s hand cupped his cheek gently, caressing his lips with his thumb. “You can be belligerent and kind, you wouldn’t be quite yourself if you weren’t a bit of a contradiction.”

 

“Fuck you.”

 

“I love you too.”

 

A literal prince.

 

Cale wrapped his arms around Alberu’s neck and murmured affirmations of love for no one’s ears but his.

 

A literal fucking prince.

 

Cale Henituse had truly expensive tastes and a romantic heart.

 

The feelings never faded, only growing with time together and intertwining together irresistibly.

 

Cale had fallen in love with a literal prince and that love was returned to him.

 

He really couldn’t be happier.