Chapter Text
Cale shifted through the thousands upon thousands of marriage proposals.
Cale Henituse, the esteemed hero of the eastern and western continent as well as the son of a dukes family, was naturally, the most competent bachelor of this era.
Although he was rumored to have a cold personality, everyone knew that under the cold facade was a kind and warm person that truly treasured those around him. Many people, men and women alike found this trait to be very charismatic.
Not only that, but speaking politically, Cale Henituse was no doubt the most powerful man in the continent. After all, it was clear that he had connections with leaders all over the world as well as possessing wealth unimaginable to the simple human mind. Some even call him the “kingmaker” or the “creator of all hero’s.”
A cold yet warm man, like a rose, delicate but strong as it’s thorns, powerful, with a handsome face on top of all that, Cale was indeed the perfect bachelor.
As a young noble, who has yet to be engaged due to his previous scandals, everyone, from nobles to princesses and kings of neighboring kingdoms, sent proposals for the red headed mans hand in marriage. Whether they were simple admirers or those vying for a sliver of his power, they all wanted to become acquainted with the red headed man.
And what better way is there than getting engaged?
Of course, the Duke as well of the Duchess believed that Cale should do whatever he wanted to. That’s why up until now, they blocked all the proposals coming for him. However, this time, Cale requested to look at the countless proposals. And that was because…
‘I wonder if there is anyone who would fit my criteria for a contractual relationship.’
Cale Henituse, in order to stop these proposals, devised a plan. He was going to find someone to create a contractual relationship with.
At first, he was going to pretend to be dating an imaginary person so that people would stop sending such proposals. If he simply stated they he was already meeting with another individual, people would naturally stop sending proposals to him
However, if they started to question who that person was and if he continuously failed to answer, they would start to get suspicious. Furthermore, as a public figure, Cale had to (unwillingly) attend banquets at the request (getting golden plagues) of his hyung-nim.
Although Cale didn’t frequent these banquets often, it was enough for people to come up and question him on his relationship status. If Cale’s so called ‘partner’ failed to show every time, it would become very troublesome.
After knowing that the first option would fail, Cale thought about asking the people around him. However, that posed a couple problems as well.Cale knew that everyone in his group respected and admired him. If he were to go up and ask such a thing from them, they wouldn’t be able to refuse.
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason he couldn’t use his people for his plan. After all, a lot of the them didn’t meet Cale’s criteria in the first place. The criteria that Cale had set up had three major rules. This was to ensure his peace and slacker life above all else.
First if all, the person in question cannot be a public figure as this would just make everything more troublesome since he would have to attend more meetings and banquets. In addition, if it was someone in a high political position, getting engaged to someone powerful as Cale would put the others in a difficult position.
Second, the person had to be intelligent enough to understand the situation and act according to plan. They shouldn’t expect love from him nor should they fumble around while trying to act out their schemes. This was to ensure that the plan would go smoothly.
And finally, most importantly, the person should have no plans of having children or getting married in the future.
If Cale and the person in question had a fake relationship, the opportunities to marry would be cut off. Of course, Cale would allow the person to secretly date, but getting married would be difficult since that person and Cale would already be officially together in the eyes of the public.
This was the main reason why everyone in Cale’s group was cut up from his listings. After all, even if one were to say they don’t want to get married or have children, no one knows what will happen in the future. Even if Cale was trash, he wouldn’t do such a thing, especially for those he cares for.
That was why he was looking through the proposals. Someone who just wanted money and nothing else. Perhaps a noble from a failing family, or something along those lines. They had to have no greed for power or influence, just money. That was what Cale was thinking as he wiped the sweat dripping from his forehead, looking at the proposals.
‘Hot’ Cale thought.
In order to quickly go through the proposal letters as well as the background for each of the families involved, Cale had to use his record ability.
He slowly started to unbutton his shirt.
As he did, he heard a light knocking on the door. Strange. He was certain that the children were out playing. Choi Han and the others would be training during this time. Just who could it be?
“I’m entering”
A clear and majestic voice echoed through the room as bright platinum light filled his study. It was Eruhaben.
The golden dragon, upon entering Cale’s room, looked towards the red headed man as he clicked his tongue. Murmuring something along the lines of ‘unlucky bastard’ he started to cast a cooling spell. Cale lightly bowed his head in thanks.
“You unlucky bastard. I thought you were going to be a slacker but it seems that is not the case.” Eruhaben looked down at the mess that is Cale’s desk, clicking his tongue once more.
Cale frowned. Just why was this ancient dragon in his study? In addition, why did the golden dragon knock in front of his room if he was just going to teleport inside anyways?
He couldn’t help but think that there was something troubling occurring outside. After all, what other reason was there for the ancient dragon visit him out of nowhere?
“Good afternoon Eruhaben-nim. Also, It’s not work.”
“Hmm?”
Eruhaben looked towards Cale with a stoic yet gentle gaze which shifted towards the letter on Cale’s desk. A light crease appeared on his beautiful face.
“Marriage proposals. Im looking at my marriage proposals.”
“……What?”
Just then, for a split second, the pupils of the ancient dragon shifted into chilling slits, the air around the study becoming colder. An odd pressure seemed to fill the air, sending shivers down Cale’s spine. Of course, this only lasted for less than a second, before Eruhaben returned back to normal.
‘…did I just imagine that.’ Cale’s frown deepened as he looked towards Eruhaben, who let out an awkward cough as he avoided Cale’s gaze.
“Ahem.. I suppose you are of age… I never knew you would be interested in such things however…”
“But I’m not though.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m not interested in such things.”
Cale quickly interjected the golden dragon. It was true. He really wasn’t interested in such things. If he was, then why else would he be looking at ways to stop all these proposals coming towards him?
However, upon hearing Cale’s words, Eruhaben looked back towards the letters on Cale’s desk. He then looked up towards Cale with and expression that seemed to ask just what the hell he was talking about.
“It’s… well… hah..I’m looking for people to sign a contractual relationship with…”
Cale sighed as he started to explain everything to Eruhaben. From the problems he had due to being single to all the criteria’s he had set up, he started to tell the golden dragon everything. Each time Cale began telling a bit of information, Eruhaben simply nodded his head as if to tell Cale to continue on. He had an odd expression in his face that Cale’s couldn’t exactly put a finger on.
I’d be nice if it was someone like Choi Han who wore his emotions on his face, but the ancient dragon who had lived for over a thousand years was nearly impossible to read. Cale felt cold sweat dripping down his neck. And this time, it wasn’t due to overusing his record ability.
However, after Cale had finished, Eruhaben, who had a odd expression on his face opened his mouth to speak.
“Have you told anyone about this yet?”
Cale cocked his head in confusion. Well, he was planning on telling Alberu about it later on in order to ask for help in finding a partner, but as of now, he hadn’t told anyone of his plans. He slowly shook his head.
As he did, the golden dragon, who had a complicated face became to smile. It was the smile that would make Raon ask if he was going to scam somebody. Unconsciously, Cale gulped.
“Use me. You should use me.”
Hearing the ancient dragons words, Cale started to frown.
‘Just what the kind of nonsense is this dragon spewing.’
“Haven’t I already used you enough?” Cale began.
He started to think about all the times Eruhaben has helped him in his battles with the white star. Indeed, he had used the ancient dragon up quite a bit. However, upon hearing Cale’s world, Eruhabnen’s simply let out a chuckle.
“You’ve used me, yes, but never for anything of your own benefit. And besides, that wasn’t what I was taking about. You are quite smart yet surprisingly dense.”
At that, Eruhaben looked at Cale right in the eye. He had a sly smile on his face.
“Don’t I fit all the criteria you mentioned?”
“…Ah”
Cale started to think. Eruhaben did fit all the criteria that Cale had listed out before. However, the Cale couldn’t help but be bugged slightly. Would a dragon do something so trivial as forming a fake relationship with a human?
“Won’t you regret it?”
Hearing Cale, Eruhaben started to sigh. However, he remained eye contract with Cale as he slowly made his way towards him. His golden gaze glinted in the sunlight that peaked through Cale’s window, glowing unnaturally in the evening hue. It was slightly unsettling.
When the golden dragon finally walked up close enough for Cale to hear the faint sound of his breath, Eruhaben, upon noticing that the red haired man had cooled down, reached out his hands. He started to button up Cale’s shirt, making Cale flinch slightly upon his touch. However, Eruhaben ignored this as he opened his mouth to reply to Cale’s question.
“Cale. If it wasn’t for you, I would have already been dead by now. I had no prior plans for the future nor do I really plan to,”
One by one, the buttons on Cale’s shirt closed up.
“Think of it as a favor,” Eruhaben smiled as he said these words.
As he started to finished up the last button, Eruhaben looked up right at Cale in the eye. He had a suspicious looking smile on his face that reminded him of the time when Eruhaben asked him for money as they were moving Sheritt’s castle. Cale began to frown.
“Besides, I am a drgaon. I would not do something that I did not like.”
As Eruhaben began saying these words, Cale’s frowned significantly deepened. He began to get a grasp of what this dragon wanted from him.
“Eruhaben-nim. You can’t possibly want money for this do you,”
Cale started to think that the golden dragon was after his money. After all, he was planning on giving money to the person he signed a contract with.
‘If he wanted money he could have just asked…’
Eruhabens lair was looted after all. Although he was staying at the super rocks villa as of now, Cale knew that Eruhaben would wish for a new lair of his own now that his life had been extended. No matter how benevolent he was, Eruhaben was still a dragon, an incredibly prideful and selfish creature who prided themselves in their individuality.
However, unlike what Cale expected, Eruhaben just shook his head with a sigh as Cale’s words reached his ear.
“Tsk. You truly are unbelievably idiotic. I suppose that’s one thing that little kid took from you,”
‘….Why is he insulting me? It’s not like I’m against giving him money or anything’ Cale began to think.
“Are you sure your not going to ask for money,”
“Sigh. Do you think I would do something so trivial like this for money?”
“But then—“
“It’s a favor. Accept it.”
As Eruhaben said these words, Cale, who still had an iffy expression on his face started to think.
Truthfully, it wasn’t that bad of an idea. After all, Cale felt much comfortable doing something like this with someone he knew rather than a complete stranger.
He started to think of all the factors he mentioned above.
Eruhaben, despite entering the fight in the end, had not yet revealed his humanioid form in front of the public. The only “identity” the mass would know him as would be when he acted as Cale’s guard that one time on his visit to the empire.
In addition, he was incredibly intelligent, naturally from living so long as well as being a dragon. He also had to plans to get married or have children in the future. Was there such a great option like the brig in front of him?
After thinking things out, Cale began to smile. It was a refreshing smile compared to his usual scamming one. He was relieved at finding someone so perfect.
“Great, I’ll think of what to write for the contract.”
“Do you need to write a contract?”
“Well, not really, but it’s better than anything.”
“Hmp. Do as you please.”
Cale’s smile deepened as he took out a piece of paper from underneath his desk. In order to fool the public, there would be some procedures to take.
Eruhaben sat down on top of a small chair that was originally meant for Raon the the children from the Cat tribe. It was an oddly funny image seeing such a great and mighty dragon on a little blue chair.
And so, for the next couple hours, the golden dragon and the former commander discussed on what they should do.
Although Cale knew he was the only one benefitting from this, he still couldn’t shake up the odd feeling that he was the one getting scammed.
‘Well, he did say it was an favor, what could go wrong?’
And at that, on this very day, Cale began officially dating a dragon. Yes, nothing would go wrong, how could it?
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Heres some Eruhaben fan art 💕
