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After the war end, crown prince Alberu, who is just days away from his coronation not as a king of Roan Kingdom but as an emperor of the Roan Empire, accidentally slips the words he only dared to practice in the privacy of his mind.
“Marry me”
He does not know who is more surprised at the moment, himself with his widening eyes, or the gaping Cale Henituse who drops the cookie in his hand.
The tension in the room was palpable, ‘oh god’ Alberu groans internally; he has been keeping his affection for his ex-commander very well until now.
“Your highness?” there is a genuine timidness and uncertainty in that voice, and Alberu feels his heart squeezes at the unexpected fragility.
Alberu huffs and decides that he would not lie about this, he is not a man who would joke about feeling no matter how unexpected the situation is.
“I know that seems to come out of nowhere, but I meant it Cale” he gazes at the redhead, not a trace of mirth on his face, crown prince Alberu is a responsible person, especially to the person he likes.
“Marry me, then you don’t need to worry about your family bugging you to be the next Duke or being asked to be a prime minister” he offers the other man, feeling more at ease that their conversation flows closer to how it usually does.
But Cale only frowns deeper, he cannot see how being the empress would allow him to reach his slacker dream life. Surely even if Alberu would let him, the people would not let the empress laze around and just farm. However, before he can say anything the crown prince beats him to it.
“The hero of the Roan empire body had become really weak after the war, that he needs a long recovery period. The emperor who loves his partner dearly let his beloved enjoy his leisure time and declared that he will deal with all the administrative task himself.” Alberu easily makes up half a lie for the citizen and half a truth for himself; he really is worried for Cale’s body and hopes the man could rest.
Cale nods his head and hums appreciatively at the offer, his hyung really knows him best.
“Sure, let’s get married then,” he sounds nonchalant, but he has really think this through and there is nothing bad about Alberu's offer.
Kim Roksoo, a single beta who lived in an apocalyptic world would never have the thought of owning his own family, but he is Cale Henituse now; an omega capable of bearing a child, and the world is at peace, he should be allowed to have this. And it is his hidden little wish as Kim Roksoo who has no parents or any blood relatives to have someone blood related to him.
With this thought in mind he then bluntly asks the quarter dark elf,
“Do I need to give you an heir?”
Alberu almost chokes on air, as usual, Cale is so blunt.
*Ehem*
He clears his throat, “that is something that can be discussed later” he tries to sound casual and picks up a tea to try calming his suddenly racing heart.
That was a mistake.
“I want a child though,” Cale straightforwardly tells the crown prince, he then thinks about the children averaging 10 years old.
‘It would be nice to give On a little sister’ he nods satisfactorily at the idea.
This time Alberu actually chokes on his tea.
*Cough cough cough*
“You- wheeze- ”
Alberu could not finish his sentence as he is still gasping for air, Cale looks at him with concern.
Would he be charged with treason if he let the soon-to-be emperor dead from choking on a cup of tea? Cale decides that he does not want to find out, so he walks toward the crown prince and pats his back gently.
“Breath slowly through your nose,” he instructs the crown prince.
Alberu followed the direction, once the burning tea is no longer on his windpipe, he finally notices something. Cale has come close enough for him to be able to smell the omega, Alberu blinks his eyes when he noticed the foreign scent.
“Do you always smell like apples?” he asks the other, he really does not know as during the war the redhead mostly carried the smell of blood with him due to how often he coughed up the red liquid.
The reminder makes Alberu frowned, he would not let Cale do anything other than resting and enjoying his life once they get married.
Cale who does not know of Alberu thought answered, “ahh I might be close to my heat”.
Alberu feels an incoming headache at the casual answer, “Cale” he calls the redhead
“Yes, your highness?”
“Why the heck are you here”
The unusually gruff tone makes Cale nervous.
“Umm, we always talk around this time? I thought maybe you want to discuss something regarding your upcoming coronation” Cale answers honestly, only to be even more confused at Alberu’s frustrated expression.
“Let me rephrase that,” suddenly Cale feels nervous.
“Why the heck are you, an unmated omega nearing his heat, in the bedroom of an unmated alpha so late at night?” the smile on Alberu’s handsome face is warm but his eyes are cold.
“But I’m fine? And you’re also fine?” Cale does not understand why the alpha’s irritation.
Alberu feels the headache arrives, a common reaction when this ridiculous redhead is involved.
Mother gives me strength.
Before he could say anything else the omega has beaten him to it,
“By the way your highness, can I give a Korean name to our child?” Cale thinks Choi Han would like to have somebody else with the same name heritage.
Alberu takes a deep breath, “you’re driving me nuts!” before he laments wholeheartedly. But soon his eyes were filled with a playful twinkle again.
“So, do you want me to court you the traditional way first?” Cale does not like the mirth in Alberu’s blue eyes, so he quickly rejects the offer.
“No need it’s troublesome, oh but I wouldn’t mind some golden plaques,” Cale smile grows at the prospect of gaining more money.
‘Some not one’ Alberu notes automatically while shaking his head before giving his future partner a curious look, ‘this weirdo, what do he even needs the money for' the crown prince knew that Cale himself is not a materialistic person as even though he likes to collect money he rarely spends it on himself.
“Cale, when we get married my fund is your fund too,” Alberu speaks with a low voice.
Cale's eyes widen as if he just receives a great revelation.
“Your highness you are truly befitting the title of Raon’s empire benevolent sun, you always know how to treat your people well. I’m honoured that you choose me to stand by your side, I would definitely spend the rest of my life cherishing this opportunity. So, when will our wedding be?”
Alberu snorts at the sparkly eyes and the exaggerated praise that the redhead does not bother to hide, “why do I feel like I've just been scammed”
Cale brushes of the comment and continues to speak, “you’re definitely mistaken your highness, by the way, what about at the beginning of spring, I think the warmer weather and the blooming flowers are perfect for a wedding,” he excitedly suggests.
Alberu finally laughs out loud at the rare excitement in the younger voice, “puhahaha you really-”
He did not finish his sentence instead he cheekily commented “your words are my command, my future empress,” his blue eyes twinkle with genuine happiness and mischief as he offered his hand to the omega.
“Have a safe trip my future moon,” he lands a kiss on the back of the omega’s hand, before merrily waving his goodbye as a portal made by a certain black dragon opens. Cale has to resist the urge to squint his eyes at the bright smile that makes the crown prince seemed like a miniature sun in the middle of the night.
“Human, human, I know it, I know it!” Raon excitedly claims after Cale announced to the children about his engagement with the crown prince. He also tells the children that it is a secret for now.
Cale purses his lips, ‘what does he know?’ he thinks.
“I read in a book that when you’re around the person you like you will be happy; you and the crown prince smile a lot when you call!”
“Oh, our youngest is so smart, you’re right they laugh a lot too,” Hong agrees.
“And they are so comfortable with each other” On adds.
‘That’s because we were planning to either scam or smack someone in the back,’ Cale retorts in his mind but does not say it out loud, he feels like the children averaging 10 years old would not believe him anyway. However, it is true they do find each other presence comfortable.
“Human I approve this, the crown prince is a good person, he is a bit sly and shrewd, but he is good!” the dragon tells him, “And I’m- I’m not saying this because he brings good cookies” Raon quickly adds.
“That’s right nya~, the cakes from the crown prince are so good ~nya”
“He treats you and us so well ~nya”
The two kittens agree, neither of the trios realise Cale’s shaking pupil.
That sneaky man!
‘Since when did he plan this,’ Cale thinks in horror when he realised that Alberu had bribed his children to favour him. He shudders thinking about what the blond alpha did behind his back. The children, however, takes his silence as confirmation, they then look at each other.
‘We can get unlimited cookies now ~nya!’
‘The crown prince is rich I think we will get more allowance’
‘The palace will be our home too ~nya’
A green light enters their eyes, as they said apples do not fall far from the tree. Of course, Cale does not know his children's thoughts as he grumbles about how he got smacked from the back by a certain crown prince.
...
When Alberu announces their engagement on his coronation day, the news spread so fast it is almost ridiculous, as it only took a day before the whole western continent and Bud Illis to know.
“Cale you’re going to be an empress?!?” the alcoholic remembers how he was so shocked when he heard the news, he spilled his wine on his shirt.
Cale scrunches his nose at the wine stain on the mercenary clothes, “please clean yourself first before calling me next time”
Bud ignores him, “I knew there is something going on between you two” he points his index finger at Cale.
“You are too casual when calling his highness,” he accuses again.
Cale is about to defend himself because ‘excuse you he is always polite’, but then he realises that he IS a bit too relax around Alberu, so he closes his mouth again. Unfortunately, Bud takes this as a sign to further lay out his accusation.
“You even stripped when you were video-calling him!”
“It was two buttons-”
Bud lets out a scandalised gasped, “were you flirting with his highness in front of us!”
Cale realises that the alcohol maniac would not hear his defense, so instead, he retorts with, “it’s his majesty now”.
Bud’s pupil shakes as if he has just suddenly realise something, “does that mean I have to call you your grace from now on?”
Cale cuts off the call after he sees the teasing grin on the mercenary’s face, he is not going to deal with that today.
Not giving up the blue-haired sword master leaves a message in a sing-song voice, ‘congratulation to his majesty and your grace’. Cale could also hear Glenn softer ‘congratulations’ in the background.
“This bastard,” Cale grumbles but the slight smile on his lips betrayed him. He does not delete the message and later the mercenary king and the highest-grade mage receives the invitation for the wedding of the Roan’s empire’s sun and moon.
…
Choi Han oddly fiery eyes scare Cale a bit when he sees his fellow Koreans approached him.
“I knew it Cale-nim”
Cale feels an odd sense of de-javu at this, “umm what?” he is genuinely lost.
“You and his majesty!” Choi Han exclaims, his eyes are still full of excitment, “I know there is something going on between you two”
“…” Cale really does not know how to reply, Choi Han is the third person who says this to him.
“You did not even call Lee Soohyuk, hyung, but you have no problem calling his majesty that”
Uhh twenty-something Kim Roksoo was quite bratty and found it embarrassing to do so at the time, but he grew up and realised that sometimes it’s easier to just follow people’s words.
He was about to clear the swordmaster misunderstanding, but then Choi Han beat him to it.
“And when we are on Earth you mostly spend your time being alone with his highness”
“…” Choi Han leaves him in silence for the second time today.
He was right but that’s because he wants to let Choi Han gets along with his nephew who was his friend and he is not close with anybody else, at least not in that timeline.
“And Cale-nim” this time Choi Han lowers his voice and moves closer so that he can whisper his next sentence. Cale got curious as the alpha usually never bothered to watch his words.
“I don’t think you realised but umm… you often smell like his majesty,” the swordmaster tells him sheepishly.
Cale freezes at that and feels a flush creeping up his neck, ‘did he?' It must be from how often he went to the ex-crown prince’s bedroom for discussion.
Choi Han feels bad when he sees the troubled look on Cale’s face, so he tries to reassure the other, “don’t worry Cale-nim I don’t think the others noticed it, my nose is just especially sharp”
Unfortunately, Cale knows that he cannot believe the Korean, as his record pulls up the knowing looks Eruhaben and Rosalyn threw his way whenever he comes back home from the palace. Oh god, now that he thinks about it even Tasha and Mary give him that look.
‘Ahh how embarrassing,’ he silently screams in his mind.
…
“Young master-nim, neither of you are very subtle, I mean his majesty let you sleep on his bed,” Rosalyn tells Cale smugly when she sees him inside the villa.
“Dang you’ve slept on the emperor’s bed before?!” Hannah who is lounging in the room chimes in, a Cheshire cat grin spreads on her face.
Cale frowns at the innuendo behind the two ladies’ words, “I was sleeping alone on the bed” he objects, ignoring the female swordmaster comments of “no fun”.
His words however do not deter the mage, “nobody else would have the privilege to sleep on the crown prince’s bed while his highness himself slept on the sofa” she reminds him.
“He strokes your hair to sleep too, it was so cute,” she then adds.
“Aww” Hannah's wide grin looks like it could split her face as she teasingly coos at him.
Cale blinks, that is news to him.
“So that was him” he quietly mumbles, thinking of the touch he felt on his head when he was half-conscious that day.
“I remembered that when I first meet you, you were retrieving his majesty important item right,” Mary’s gentle voice reminds Cale that the necromancer is also present in the room, “he must really trust you” she then smiles kindly at him.
“Huh isn’t that a long time ago?” Hannah sounds surprised at the information.
Rosalyn strokes her chin with one hand before asking, “Young master Cale, how long have you two been together behind our back?” while squinting her eyes in suspicion.
“We were not hiding anything from you guys” Cale defends himself, why does everyone think that they had a secret relationship?!
“Ah” an understanding look crosses her face; yes she really understands him best after Alberu-
“It must be difficult to be in a relationship during those times, I’m sorry for being insensitive young master Cale” she then gives him a sympathetic look.
No!
Cale wants to correct their misunderstanding, but both Mary and Hannah also give him a sheepish or guilty look.
‘There really was nothing between us’ Cale internally protests, but he knows that none of the ladies in the room would believe him.
…
“I knew it” king Fredo exclaims.
At this point, Cale is almost sure he was missing something.
“You two went on a date around the Endable capital, you even asked Solena where the best restaurant is. Hohoho I approve your boldness my son,” the vampire rants as he excitedly claps his hands together.
‘It was not a date though’ he argues in his mind but does not say it out loud.
As if his faux father could read his mind the vampire then haughtily said, “don’t bother denying it, you can never lie to your dad”
Hearing the words Cale gives up trying to change the vampire’s mind and instead chooses to point out the truest fact.
“You’re not my father”
“Ahh children grow up so fast, it seems like only a year ago when you were this tall and called me papa,” Fredo turned a deaf ear at Cale’s word and instead placed his hand about Naru’s height.
‘That is actually last year’ Cale mentally facepalms at the dramatic action.
“Huhuhu my only son does not even want his father to walk him down the aisle,” the vampire begins to fake-cry.
“Father, Roan’s custom required the future queen- empress to walk on their own,” Cale reminds the older man.
*Gasp*
Cale eyes also widen when he realises his slip of the tongue, “no!” he tries to defend himself immediately.
“My son you finally acknowledge me”
Cale feels like shielding his eyes when he sees the obnoxious beaming smile on Duke Fredo’s face. He thought creatures with dark attributes should not be able to look that bright, but then Alberu crosses his mind.
‘How does he look dazzlingly bright even in his dark elf form’ Cale absentmindedly muses in his head, recalling Alberu’s smile on his undisguised face… in fact, the Emperor looks more charming like that.
‘He looks freer’
Cale does not realise that a fond smile now blooms on his lips, neither does he realise the knowing look on Duke Fredo’s eyes as he gazes at the young man he truly thinks as his own son.
“Ahh, young love” the vampire mouthed as he fondly watches the redhead who is smiling while lost in thought.
…
“Cale why do you think I say all those words about Alberu to you” the world tree asks him good-naturedly.
‘Alberu Crossman existence was fated to exist in the Roan Kingdom,” he recalls the words that seem to be spoken eons ago.
“That child heart used to be very guarded, but he always listens to your words, so I know it must be you,” her tone sounds like a mother who is telling a huge secret to her child, making Cale feels like he just learned something private.
“His face also pops first when you’re thinking about someone to rely on, right? Though you don’t seem to realise this hmm,” she continues with a teasing tone.
She is right he does not notice this until she said it.
“I’m giving you two my blessing, may you always be happy Cale, and tell Alberu the same thing” the World Tree then says as a goodbye.
After the visit, he finally takes his time to sit down and organise his thought regarding the recent events.
Almost everyone around him has told him about how they know that he and Alberu have been in a relationship for some time. Even Clopeh and Toonka have commented on it, surely Cale must be overlooking something here.
“Oh Cale-nim this Clopeh is sad that he cannot accompany you to reach your happy ending” Cale had shuddered at this, ‘that is such a scary thought.,
“But I can see how you and his highness suit each other, I have never seen a pair that can communicate war strategies without words” Clopeh continued his words before adding, “how wonderful!”
“Friend, congratulations! Now I understand why you and the prince can talk with your eyes!”
“Does Alberu likes me? Do I like Alberu?” he asks out loud in the empty room, or at least what he thinks is an empty room.
“Of course, that’s why you’re getting married right?” answers Raon passionately.
Cale glances at the young dragon with a complicated expression, “Raon can you transport me to the palace” he then requests.
“That’s so easy human just give me a sec,” Raon excitedly answers, most likely happy at the prospects of eating some desserts.
“Ahh but the conversation will be just between the two of us,” he informs the dragon first.
“Don’t worry human I would not eavesdrop, I know that lovers often have a private conversation,” Cale flattens his lips at the comment, what kind of book do Eruhaben and Rosalyn been giving to the 7 years old dragon.
“It’s ready! Let’s go human!” Raon announces eagerly.
...
To the emperor’s credit, the alpha does not even flinch when they teleported unannounced to his bedroom.
“Hello my future moon, hello Raon-nim” in fact he seems to be expecting them as he slides a jar of cookies towards their direction.
“Thank you, emperor,” the dragon takes the jar before going invisible and disappears, followed by the sound of a door being opened then closed again.
Alberu raises an eyebrow at that, “I need to talk to you” Cale explains, and the older nods in understanding.
“What happens?” a worried frown then crosses his handsome face.
“Do you like me, your majesty?” Cale decides to just straightforwardly asks.
Hearing the unexpected question, Alberu puts down his documents and walks towards the omega seated on his couch, before holding Cale’s hand gently.
“Cale, I want to marry you because I love you, if I just need a connection with the Henituse duchy, I can just keep you as my sworn brother you know,” Alberu then clarifies, his fingers trace Cale’s knuckles.
“Oh” the omega replies before going silent, Alberu too stays silent and lets his future partner sorts his thought.
“I think I like you, your majesty,” Cale finally says after some time, “I never fall in love with anyone, so I don’t know how it feels” he then elaborates.
“Hmm” Alberu hums, still tracing patterns on Cale’s hand, “how do you know that you like me then?” he asks calmly, but his heart is actually beating wildly inside his ribs.
Cale purses his lips, “lately no matter what’s the topic I will think about you, I also realised that I feel really comfortable with you and I miss you when you’re not there” he explains then pauses before adding, “according to books and movies, that means I like you”.
Alberu could not suppress his happy grin by the end of Cale’s explanation, “Cale can I kiss you?” he asks the younger.
“Huh? Sure,” answers the omega before closing his eyes. He then hears a chuckling sound and felt something soft landing on his lips.
The kiss is chaste and short, the alpha cradles Cale’s face after.
“Cale opens your eyes,” Cale does as he was told and finds himself gazing into deep brown eyes. Somewhere in the middle of the kiss Alberu has removed his disguise.
“You know I used to not want to get married because I cannot bear living a lie with my significant other,” the quarter dark elf admits.
“But then someone barged into my life, unannounced and unapologetically tells my secret to my face” and accept me regardless of my race he does not get to say this part.
Cale cringes when he hears Alberu words, he really was rude back then huh.
“I’m so-”
“Don’t you dare!" Alberu immediately interjects, “you are the best thing that happens in my life” he then confesses, his eyes full of love and adoration only for the other.
Cale feels his breath hitch, it is his first time seeing a display of raw affection... and it’s for him?
“Alberu,” he calls the other name before connecting their lips again. He does not know how to kiss so he too lands a chaste one, however, Alberu has another plan as he deepens their kiss. The alpha then lightly bites the omega’s lower lip, causing Cale to open his mouth in surprise, but before the older could continue they hear the door opens.
“Human, are you don- !!!” Raon squeaks when he spots the pair, before covering his eyes and quickly shuts the door again, but not before shouting out “I won’t tell anyone”.
Cale feels the laughter against his lips before he hears the sound, the alpha then pulls his face away.
“I bet the whole empire would know about this by tomorrow,” a playful smile tugs on Alberu's attractive face.
Cale feels a smile blooms on his own lips, “you underestimated his connection, your majesty, I think storytellers in the eastern continent would begin writing about that scene by tomorrow”
“Ahh right I forgot how powerful my dongsaeng is,” Alberu jokingly laments.
A teasing glint enters Cale’s eyes, “your majesty, are you still going to call me brother even when we’re in bed,” he asks.
Alberu takes Cale’s question as a challenge, “oh what do you want me to call you then? Darling? Honey? Sweetheart?” he then lists a bunch of pet names, purposefully ignoring the bed comment.
‘That was bad for my sanity and self-control’ Alberu mentally forms a meditation pose in his mind.
“It’s up to you dear,” Cale answers with the most angelic smile he could muster and Alberu's jaw actually drops.
Cale silently laughs at the rather cute reaction, he makes the right choice to spend his life with this man.