Chapter Text
After the stunt Cale pulled that nearly gave him a seizure, Callie proceeds to ignore him for the following days, actively ignoring his presence with every chance he gets just because he's petty and he's not ashamed to admit that. Like a certain someone.
Suffice to say, Cale is anything but happy at the unfortunate turn of events.
Every time he approaches him, Callie makes a mad dash for it as though he's being chased.
Every time he calls his name, Callie suddenly loses his ability to hear.
Every time he attempts to hold a conversation with him, Callie politely excuses himself and says he has urgent business to take care of that requires his immediate attention.
Cale's beginning to regret what he previously thought was a harmless prank.
Is Callie upset with him…?
"You're sulking." Alver notes, glancing up from the stack of paperwork towering on his desk, almost obscuring his face from view. The drastic increase of paperwork is evident.
Being the emperor sure is tough.
He almost regrets becoming the emperor but he tosses that ridiculous notion away.
Alver has dedicated his whole life for this, to create a glorious future for his people. How could he say he regrets this when all his efforts and hard work have paid off in the end?
Though it isn't merely through his own merit that he's achieved such a commendable feat. A huge part of his success can be attributed to his maternal family's undying support and the Ex-Commander's influence, who is currently and very noticeably sulking.
Who would believe that the most beloved hero is sulking like a little child whose candy got taken in front of the Emperor of Roan?
He observes Cale sprawled down on the couch across from him, languidly taking a bite of his cookie.
To an outsider's point of view, Cale looks stoic and relaxed as usual, unbothered with the world around him.
But his family, having long since memorized the slightest shifts and changes in his facial expressions, knows better.
"I'm not." Cale, as expected, denies.
"You are." Alver insists. It's fun to tease his cute dongsaeng.
"No." he adamantly denies once more.
See? Cute.
Alver chuckles fondly, putting down his fountain pen. He pushes his paperwork aside and leans forward, resting his arms atop his desk.
"What happened?" He's curious to know what caused his laid-back dongsaeng to sulk of all things. Is it about his precious slacker life again?
Cale's expression turns crestfallen.
Alver blinks at the sight. "Did…you do something?" he asks hesitantly.
"…My dongsaeng is ignoring me." Cale confesses, every syllable edged with immense sorrow.
Huh?
"Dongsaeng? Are you referring to young master Basen? Or perhaps young lady Lily?" Alver can't see why any of them would willingly ignore Cale. Don't they look up to him? They're quite protective of him, too.
Cale shakes his head.
"It's not them."
Alver looks confused. "Who else could it be, then?"
Aren't Basen and Lily his only dongsaengs? Unless…
"Callie."
…The original Cale Henituse who is now his twin brother? Formerly his soul-swap partner?
That…explains things.
It's not news to everyone in Cale's entourage that Cale has surprisingly grown attached to Callie in such a short amount of time. But they don't blame him. Likewise, they find themselves growing fond of Callie.
He's quite charming, lovely, and an endearing sweetheart to boot. It's unbelievable how he's the same infamous trash of the Henituse. Nonetheless, it's not anything new to them since they've already dealt with Cale.
It came out as a real shocker to them when Cale told them the truth about everything.
Everyone had varied reactions. It's a long story.
Ultimately in the end, they've accepted both Cale and Callie. That's what matters.
But most importantly…
"Come again? Callie? He's your dongsaeng?" Alver asks, incredulous.
"I just said that." Cale heaves a tired sigh, finishing the last of his cookie. His tone suggests 'obviously, are you dumb?' coupled with that typical disrespectful look of his.
Alver pointedly overlooks it. "Isn't he four years older than you?"
"I'm older than you by thirteen years yet you insist being the hyung, hyung-nim." Cale retorts sharply, emphasizing the honorific.
Which—okay, fair enough.
Alver feigns a cough into his fist, sheepish. "But aren't you still in your early twenties? Of course I'd be your hyung."
Cale shoots him an unimpressed glance.
Alver steers the conversation away back to their main topic. "Since when did he start ignoring you?"
The redhead visibly deflates. "…Since ten days ago."
No wonder. "And why is that?"
"I tried to get him to call me hyung several times. It backfired."
Alver senses that there's more to the story that Cale isn't telling on purpose, as he often does.
Although—
"Pfft—" Alver claps a hand over his mouth in a poor attempt to suppress his laughter, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
"Your Majesty, I kindly ask you to stay quiet."
"This must be your retribution—pfft—you now know how it feels."
Cale's lips twist into a scowl. He has half a mind to either leave Alver alone who is clearly poking fun at him or strangle him by the neck to shut him up.
Before he could decide further, a soft knock on the door unknowingly saves Alver from his impending doom.
"Your Majesty? This is Callie Henituse."
Cale abruptly straightens in his seat.
Alver ventures a sidelong glance at Cale, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"You may enter."
Click.
Callie strolls in, footsteps punctuated with impeccable grace and measured calmness. He stands before Alver, giving a curt bow of the head and handing out a carefully wrapped package which contains a magic seal.
"Miss Rosalyn has asked me to personally deliver this parcel to His Majesty. It's the latest model of the magic communication device she recently developed. She asks for your feedback once you finish evaluating it."
"Ah, yes. She did inform me beforehand," Alver smiles, taking the package from Callie's outstretched palms. "Thank you for bringing it to me. Do you need anything else?"
Callie blinks, sneaking a peek at Cale from the corner of his vision, finally acknowledging Cale's presence.
Cale stares at him, anticipation glowing in his eyes.
Callie looks back at Alver, a shy smile plastered on his face.
Wait, shy?
Callie Henituse—acting shy?
Alver would understand if it was Cale no matter how inconceivable the thought is to others, but Callie?
"Can I call you hyung, Your Majesty?"
Cale chokes on air. He struggles to regain his breathing.
Callie blatantly ignores his brother's plight.
"Is there any particular reason for that?" Alver momentarily recovers from his shock, repressing yet another bout of laughter at the disbelieving and betrayed look on Cale's face.
"Nothing much, I just feel like it." Callie says honestly. "Ah, does it offend Your Majesty?"
"Not at all. Feel free to call me hyung, dongsaeng."
Callie lights up. "Is that so? Then, thank you for your utmost kindness, hyung!"
A sharp knife stabs through Cale's bleeding heart while a broad grin stretches Alver's lips from ear to ear. This is sweet, delicious payback.
"I'm flattered, but there's no need to thank me. I'm just happy to have another doting dongsaeng."
"Wow, you're amazing hyung! I'll have to dismiss myself now. I hope to meet hyung again someday!"
"I look forward to meeting you too, dongsaeng!"
The constant exchange of terms between hyung and dongsaeng has Cale clutching his chest, his gaze quivering. Dongsaeng…
As Callie leaves the grand study, deathly silence falls over.
Unable to control it any longer, Alver bursts into loud laughter unbefitting of a ruler, tears forming in his eyes as he clutches his stomach.
Cale swiftly jumps at him and wraps his hands around Alver's neck, shaking him violently. "How could you steal my dongsaeng away from me—!?"
Alver laughs even harder.