Chapter Text
— Sorry it took so long. The kids just wouldn’t go to sleep, — Cale said as he sat down on the couch.
— Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. Want some cookies? — Alberu asked. Recently, he had started keeping cookies in every place where the children usually played.
— Sure, — after taking them, Cale continued, — Alberu, does this mean I’m on vacation now?
— Yes, — Alberu said, sitting down across from him.
— Then I’d like to take the kids to the sea, — Cale said tiredly. He wanted to get away from the noise and chaos of the capital for a while.
— When? — Alberu asked, unable to hide his excitement.
— Whenever you can find time to come with us. I’m afraid they’ll spend the entire trip talking only about you and how poor you are for working so much.
Alberu didn’t know what to say. He had been happy enough just traveling together in the same carriage, but now there was going to be an actual trip where they were waiting for him to join them.
— I understand this is quite a lot to ask from us. You only recently came back and you’ve already done so much… — Cale wanted to continue, but when he saw Alberu’s shining eyes, he stopped.
— I can only manage a week, maybe a little longer. If you don’t mind, I’ll organize everything as soon as possible, — Alberu said happily.
— The kids will be thrilled. In return, I can help you with the paperwork.
— And how exactly? — he asked playfully.
— Thanks to my many years of experience, I’ve developed a good memory. Besides, I used to work with documents like these before.
— And what other experience do you have from your previous life? — Alberu asked casually, though his gaze dropped slightly lower, toward Cale’s waist.
He wanted to tease him about how someone with such a serious and youthful face was offering to help, but Cale did not appreciate the joke.
Deciding to play along, Cale began unbuttoning the top buttons of his shirt. However, the moment Alberu saw him revealing his collarbones, he immediately closed his eyes, turned his head away, and started apologizing.
Cale, not missing the opportunity, threw a pillow at him, then grabbed the second one nearby and threw that too. While Alberu was still keeping his eyes closed, now protecting himself with his arms, Cale moved closer and began hitting him with the pillow that had fallen beside him.
Deciding to switch from defense to offense, Alberu opened his eyes, grabbed his own “weapon,” and aimed it at Cale.
A pillow fight began.
For the entire following month, Cale helped Alberu with paperwork. At first, Alberu only gave him simple documents, but after seeing Cale’s abilities, he began taking him seriously and granted him access to all the necessary information.
Of course, thanks to working together, they finished all the upcoming tasks quickly and left his aunt in charge. They could have finished a week earlier if Cale hadn’t slept until noon and spent so much time playing with the children—but who else was going to do Cale’s work if not Cale himself?
After packing everything and informing everyone, they set off for a proper vacation together with Ron and Bikros.
Thanks to the mages, they quickly arrived at Alberu’s house by the sea.
It was a large two-story building. The upper floor contained three bedrooms, while downstairs there was a spacious common area connected to the kitchen.
The moment the children saw the huge house, they dropped their bags and ran around both floors, exploring everything.
Bikros put on gloves and started cleaning the dust from the kitchen. Ron picked up the children’s bags, and together with Cale and Alberu, headed upstairs to choose rooms.
The children liked the room farthest away the most because it had a beautiful view of the sea from the window.
Ron and Bikros took the room closest to the stairs and next to Cale’s room, while Alberu got the room opposite Cale and the children.
After putting their things away, the children immediately ran to play in the sea, and Cale followed them for safety.
Alberu, wanting to see how they played, followed as well.
The children, who had promised they would only look, immediately jumped straight into the water without hesitation.
The sea was calm, but Cale still worried about them. Besides, he himself didn’t mind cooling off.
Taking off his shoes and rolling up his pants, he walked toward the children.
The children exchanged glances and started splashing water at Cale.
In response, he tried to defend himself and splash them back, but he was at a disadvantage—until Alberu arrived.
After calling him over, Alberu also stepped into the water.
The children and Cale immediately teamed up against the completely unsuspecting Alberu and began splashing him.
The battle ended when Ron called everyone for dinner.
Since the children were completely soaked, Raon used magic to teleport On and Hong back home so they wouldn’t get sand everywhere. Though Ron still made them take a bath.
Seeing the children leave with Ron, Alberu decided to get revenge.
He grabbed Cale around the waist, lifted him up, and quickly teleported them back into the water, falling into the waves together.
Cale was about to retaliate and drown him, but Alberu hugged him tightly, making him forget all about his anger.
The next morning, early in the morning, the children went to the beach with Ron to collect seashells.
From his room, Alberu watched them through the window. Of course, Ron noticed his gaze, but he preferred it this way—at least he could be sure that the cheeky prince wasn’t planning anything behind his back.
By lunchtime, Cale woke up. After putting on the shorts and sleeveless shirt Ron had prepared for him, he went downstairs.
Raon and Hong were showing Alberu the stones and seashells they had collected that day, while On helped Ron set the table and arrange the dishes.
When Raon and Hong noticed Cale coming downstairs, they ran toward him to tell him everything they had seen.
At the same time, Cale headed toward the kitchen, wanting to help as well, but he was immediately kicked out, leaving only the children as assistants.
That was On’s decision—she had asked the younger ones for help instead.
Not knowing what else to do, Cale decided to sit beside Alberu and look through the seashells and stones with him.
Alberu, in turn, retold everything the children had told him earlier, and whenever Hong or Raon came out of the kitchen after arranging dishes, they added more details to Alberu’s story.
They all sat down together at a large round table for lunch.
Bikros sat beside Ron, Ron sat beside Alberu, and Hong sat next to him. Cale was surrounded by On and Raon.
However, after everyone had taken their seats and started talking, On noticed how uncomfortable Alberu was sitting beside Ron.
Every time Alberu tried to start a conversation with Cale, he somehow accidentally bumped into Ron’s legs or unintentionally brushed against him with his hand.
On asked to switch places with Alberu, saying that the sunlight was bothering her.
Alberu, completely unaware of the reason, immediately reacted and helped her change seats.
The conversation continued as usual. Meanwhile, On skillfully distracted Ron’s attention.
Of course, Cale noticed everything and smiled softly.
The beach belonged to Alberu, so when the children played, they could safely leave their things nearby.
Cale set up chairs and an umbrella so no one would get sunburned, although he himself probably had the highest chance of burning from the heat.
They spent the entire day on the beach.
The children built sandcastles. Sometimes Cale and Alberu helped them, but the children preferred doing things their own way and eventually kicked them out.
Later, Cale jokingly suggested burying Alberu in the sand and turning him into a mermaid.
The children immediately agreed, and the innocent Alberu could only blink and lie there helplessly while they buried him.
When they finished and called Cale over, he laughed for a very long time.
If Alberu had been embarrassed at first, after that he simply admired Cale’s smile.
They also organized a competition to see who could swim the fastest.
Alberu was the judge, while Cale was the finish line they had to reach.
They swam along the shore to keep things safe, despite how much the children and Alberu begged to swim against the waves because it would be much more exciting.
Unable to convince Cale otherwise, they decided to follow the rules.
Alberu gave the signal at the starting line, and the children began swimming.
On and Hong were in their human forms, while Ron tried to swim using his short legs.
On reached Cale first and won the competition. Hong came second, and Raon was last. By the time he reached them, he was so tired that Cale had to pick him up and carry him back to shore.
Cale turned toward Alberu and made a “keep quiet” gesture.
After all, On had cheated during the competition—while everyone else was trying their hardest to swim, she pushed herself off the ground with her feet at the end and used her height advantage to win.
Alberu simply smiled and swam over to them.
Seeing how he swam, Cale told the children to learn from him how to swim properly.
When Alberu reached them, Cale lightly smacked him on the back of the head and began scolding him, saying that no matter how much he loved the children, he needed to think more about their safety.
Alberu had to apologize several times and look properly guilty.
For the rest of the day, Alberu tried to spend as much time as possible with Cale, talking about various topics.
In the evening, they decided to take a walk along the beach barefoot.
The idea came from On, and everyone supported it.
After dinner, they went for a walk along the coast.
However, while walking, Cale stepped on a broken seashell with a sharp edge.
Everyone panicked as if they had stepped on it themselves.
After saying he was fine, they continued walking, but Alberu noticed that Cale had slowed down slightly.
Deciding to let the children continue exploring ahead, Alberu and Cale sat down, and he carefully examined Cale’s foot.
Sure enough, a small piece of shell had gotten stuck inside.
He carefully removed it but worried that dirt might get into the wound and cause an infection.
Taking out a handkerchief, he wrapped Cale’s foot with it.
When the children returned and they were ready to head back, Alberu insisted on carrying Cale on his back.
When they returned, Ron examined Cale’s foot and treated it.
However, no matter how many times Cale said he was fine, Alberu supported him and helped him walk upstairs to his room.
The next day, Ron confirmed that everything was fine and removed the ridiculous bandage he had tied the previous evening.
The day passed quietly and without any problems.
In the morning, the children decided to go jogging with Alberu. Later, during lunch, they told Cale that they had really enjoyed it and wanted to run with him more often in the mornings.
Alberu agreed, but Cale privately wondered how long their enthusiasm would actually last.
After lunch, they decided to read books together because Ron said that the sun was too intense today and that they could go swimming later.
Taking their books, the children went to their room, while Cale and Alberu decided to read together on the veranda.
The children lasted only an hour and a half before they started begging Cale to go swimming.
And how could he refuse them?
After gathering their things and changing clothes, they went to the sea.
They spent the entire day there and returned in time for dinner, but Cale noticed something strange.
Throughout the whole day, Alberu hadn’t joked even once and barely participated in conversations.
Even the children noticed and asked him whether they had gotten into another argument.
After putting the children to bed, Cale decided to visit Alberu’s room and talk to him.
The moment Alberu opened the door, he stood in the doorway and blocked the entrance.
— I want to talk to you. Why won’t you let me in? — Cale asked, looking up since Alberu was taller than him.
— Let’s talk here. If it’s not urgent, it would be better to leave it until tomorrow morning, — Alberu said, avoiding his gaze.
— Why? Did something happen? — Cale asked worriedly.
— I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself, — Alberu replied, covering his face with one hand.
Cale tilted his head to the side in silent confusion.
While Alberu was distracted, Cale crouched down and slipped into the room, apologizing in advance.
Sitting down in the armchair like he owned the place, Cale asked:
— Did something happen? You’ve been acting strange all day. Even the children noticed something was wrong by the end of the day.
Alberu walked closer, sat down on the floor right in front of Cale’s chair, and rested his head on Cale’s knees.
— I was so happy to go on this trip with you. I was happy that, to you, I had become a good person. I was happy seeing all of you laughing, smiling, and enjoying yourselves, — Alberu began speaking like a small child confessing his feelings, while Cale soothingly ran his fingers through his hair.
— And during those moments, I realized that I was falling in love with you more and more. Every day, the feelings I had been trying to hide all this time started becoming stronger, and I wanted to be closer to you more and more.
— And I feel terrible because I’m ruining your family moments by being there. I feel like I don’t belong.
He continued muttering something to himself, and no matter what Cale said, Alberu ignored it, hiding his face against Cale’s knees.
Unable to hold back, Cale kissed the top of his head.
Startled, Alberu lifted his head and moved back.
Before he could recover, Cale grabbed his face with both hands and pulled him closer.
— You idiot! — Cale shouted.
— The children noticed you first! All this time, they’ve been trying to leave us alone together as often as possible or arrange situations where we’d spend time together.
— Even Ron noticed, and he hasn’t even been with us for that long.
— So the only one who didn’t realize anything was you.
— Haaa… — Alberu sighed heavily.
— Is that why you avoided me the entire day? — Cale asked.
The only answer he received was a nod.
— Dummy. So, how are we spending tomorrow together? Do you have any plans?
After Cale asked that, Alberu immediately brightened up and forgot all his worries.
He sincerely began discussing ideas, thinking about how to entertain the children.
While Alberu continued talking, Cale couldn’t take his eyes off him.
After reaching some conclusion and asking Cale for his opinion, Alberu moved closer.
Without hesitation, Cale removed the necklace that concealed Alberu’s race.
— We’re alone here. I hope you don’t mind.
Before Alberu could answer, Cale wrapped his hands around his face and kissed him on the lips.
Surprised, Alberu pulled away and stood up, towering over Cale, who was still sitting in the chair.
— What was that? — he asked.
Although he looked intimidating while standing over him, Cale could see the excitement in his brown eyes.
— What do you think? You managed to seduce me, — Cale said playfully, reaching out and gently caressing his face.
— Don’t joke like that, — Alberu said awkwardly.
But Cale wrapped his arms around his neck and pulled him closer.
— I love you, Alberu.
The moment he heard those words, Alberu kissed Cale like someone who had finally broken free.
Seeing that Cale was running out of air, he pulled away and began kissing his entire face, not leaving a single inch untouched.
— Will you stay the night in my room? — Alberu asked.
— Just remember that Ron can hear everything, — Cale replied, playing with Alberu’s hair.
— That didn’t even cross my mind, — Alberu answered.
He picked Cale up like a princess and carried him to the bed.
They spent the entire night lying in each other’s arms.