Chapter Text
Cale wasn’t in love with Alberu.
He wasn’t.
Well… at least, that is what he kept telling himself.
Why would he ever fall for such a sly and mischievous man?
The crown prince and Cale were startlingly alike. However, their personalities, though they were indeed similar, clashed in more ways than one and they could never be more than simple business partners. Transactional companionship. That’s all they are.
And yet… things had changed between them.
It was so subtle that they don’t know exactly when it started. They talk from time to time through the magic video call, updating each other on certain events regarding the kingdom or any threats to Cale’s very important life of laziness and leisure, and it was just that. Their calls are meant exclusively for such related purposes.
But sometimes. Sometimes their conversations would meander, would trail off onto more… personal subject matters.
Since when had they gotten so comfortable with each other to the point that they would even joke around? That territory seemed so far away, in a completely different realm when they first started talking, but now they laugh together as if they are actually friends.
Friends.
Friends with the crown prince.
For him, the notorious noble trash, to be friends with such an esteemed individual? The beloved star of the Roan kingdom?
Hah, it was simply ludicrous.
When they both realised the fact that they had grown closer than they initially assumed, the air between them was noticeably tense, though surprisingly it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was hesitant in a way, as if anticipating something more, whatever that may be.
So what if Cale realised that the prince was actually quite pleasant to talk to, and their conversations were the highlight of his day?
So what if he realised how his highness had these quirks, tap his pen against his desk when he was annoyed and show that tiny smile when he was surprisingly pleased?
So what if Cale suddenly couldn’t stop thinking about Alberu’s lips, the way they moved when he talked and he wanted to know what they would feel like against his?
Ah.
Now of course, that’s an issue.
An issue that Cale kept telling himself was for another day. He kept holding off these… feelings, unwilling to confront them just yet.
But something unexpected happened. During one call, the crown prince had told Cale that he wouldn’t be able to contact him for a few months. He didn’t go into details, so all Cale knew was that whatever his Highness was doing was dangerous, and that made the redhead worried.
What was he up to? Was he okay? Was he hurt? That idiot, why must he do things like this? He didn’t know anything about what Alberu was doing at all.
Every night since their last call, when, no- if Cale managed to fall asleep, he dreamed about him. Dreamed of him being safe, of him being real and solid and vivid and alive.
...He also dreamed of Alberu standing in front of him, wanting him, of Alberu holding him close but of course, these are only dreams. And dreams aren’t reality, no matter how much one wishes they were.
After the call, a few days passed. Those days turned to weeks. And then months. And then half a year.
It had been too long.
And Cale’s worry only grew stronger.
There was no recent news or any scandalous rumors spreading amongst the citizens in regards to the prince nor his siblings, and things seemed to be completely normal at the royal palace. Too normal.
The only thing that wasn’t normal was the crown prince’s obvious absence. Clever excuses were made whenever he was needed, and many didn’t think much of it, but Cale knew better.
‘That bastard didn’t go and get himself killed, did he?’
Cale’s anxiety was like a thick blanket suffocating him and it left him jittery, so much so that others around him had started to take notice. Choi Han had expressed his concerns, but Cale just waved him off, as he also did to the others who tried to figure out the source of his agitated behaviour.
And then the fateful night came.
Raon and the kittens were seated on his lap and shoulders when Hans escorted the young mage into his office at the villa, bearing news he’d been wanting to hear for the longest time.
“You have an incoming call from the royal palace, Cale-nim,”
Cale dropped everything he was doing, forgetting about the kids who were using his body as a hot water bottle and pillow who tumbled onto the floor when he stood up abruptly.
He couldn’t think about anything else as he made a beeline to the room with the mage, sitting down in front of the magic orb, palms sweating as he finally saw that familiar face appear in front of him-
Alberu.
With the same facade of blond hair and blue eyes, yet somehow they appear brighter than he had last seen them.
‘Oh. Oh thank god. This fucker, he’s alive! And he doesn’t seem to be hurt. Hah... he’s alive…’ Cale gripped the armrest of his chair, wanting to cry, but right now he needed to reign in these emotions.
Fuck, ever since he’d caught feelings for this bastard, he’s been so temperamental… his emotions are so easily fluctuated when it comes to Alberu. Just how far does the prince truly affect him… this man held a power over Cale that he doesn’t even know about. Just thinking about it was annoying and made Cale almost burst a blood vessel.
The crown prince’s lips were moving, obviously speaking, but Cale didn’t hear a single word. He just stared at Alberu as if he was seeing him again for the first time, stuck in his own head, in his thoughts.
‘You stupid idiot… made me worry so damn much, I think I’m balding because of the stress. Do you know how much anxiety you’ve caused me these past few months?! How many sleepless nights I’ve had? How much I’ve-’
“-missed you,” Cale breathed out quietly.
“—and after we captured the informant I- what?” The crown prince's eyes were wide.
“Huh?”
“What did you just say?”
Oh god. Had he said that out loud?
“N-nothing,” Cale turned his head away, warmth flooding his face. Shit, why the hell did he say that? He cursed himself at his response that was so obviously a lie, and he even stuttered!
“Liar,”
Cale gritted his teeth.
“Repeat what you just said,” Alberu demanded, in the tone that held domineering authority. Cale hated it yet it made him shiver at the same time, and he won’t elaborate on why that was the case.
“How can I repeat something I never said, your Highness?” the redhead replied innocently.
“Do you take me for a fool, Cale?”
“Tch,” Cale straightened up in his seat. He could feel his heart pounding uncomfortably fast in his chest. Fuck, is this man trying to give him a miniature heart attack? Damn these feelings.
“Fine, you asshole. I said I missed you, okay? I was concerned that you had gotten yourself killed, because god knows what this kingdom would do without you. Was that what you wanted to hear, your Highness?”
He still wasn’t looking at the screen, but turned his head when he heard Alberu take in a sharp breath.
“...Cale,”
“Yes, your Highness?” he answered in fake sweetness, batting his eyelashes. For some reason, even though he mainly felt relief, he also felt kind of bitter.
I hate how all of my energy, all of my time and thoughts go towards you, and you’ll never know the half of it.
“You’re still in your villa, right?”
Cale furrowed his eyebrows. What kind of question was that? “Yeah, why?”
“Don’t move.” Alberu’s voice sounded noticeably different. It was low, almost strained. Was he okay? This guy… he wasn’t hiding any injuries, was he?
Just as he was about to ask, the call suddenly disconnected. Cale was confused at what just happened. Also, what did he mean by ‘don’t move’? Ugh, he was frustrating.
“Bastard, I can’t believe he hung up on me like that…”
‘Even after admitting that I was worried about you… tch. Why do I ever expect anything.’