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After entering the inn, the trio immediately went to their respective rooms after agreeing to meet up again downstairs when the sun sets down.
Alberu took his time before going down and was very amused at the scene he witnessed. Cale was holding a bottle of alcohol and was surrounded by his subordinates. Looking closely, he was already very red-faced with a few empty bottles at the table he’s sitting.
The knights immediately parted when they saw him approaching.
“Dongsaeng, are you still fine?”
Cale hiccupped then looked up. He gave this goofy smile before getting up and throwing his arms around Alberu.
“Hyuuung!”
Alberu just froze at the blatant and shameless display, and he can see that Cale’s entourage had turned their heads away to avoid looking at them.
Everyone is under an order that nobody could know that the crown prince of the kingdom is travelling with them so the damage control that he’ll do is less than he’ll expect.
He sighed before holding Cale at arm’s length.
“Hyung-nim, you should try this alcohol! It tastes pretty great.”
Alberu can feel the tick on his forehead.
This fucking bastard.
If they’re not as close to Cale as Alberu is right now, they would think that he is very intoxicated to the point of throwing himself to the crown prince. But Alberu knows better, because although it is true that Cale’s face is red, he can see that his eyes are still clear and there’s a small smirk painting his face.
Even though Cale knows that Alberu had already figured him out, he still kept offering the bottle he was drinking. He remembered the conversation they had before about never making Alberu drink straight from a bottle ever again, because it is very un-noble like. Cale felt like messing with his hyung for a bit, guessing what action he would take.
He scanned his surroundings, the knights, although they had turned their head away they still can’t help but steal some glances at the spectacle Cale was putting on. He can hear the murmurs of a few of them and can’t help the satisfied smirk appearing on his face.
“Hyuuung, try it please?”
The atmosphere turned even more chaotic after that. Frantic whispers and widening eyes were the expressions evident in most of them. But what made them almost scream in disbelief was Alberu.
Alberu’s mind was running a mile per second, weighing his options right now. But after he saw Cale look at him with those eyes and with those words, all of that flew out the window.
He let out a sarcastic huff before grabbing the bottle from Cale’s hand and chugged the bottle with elegance before slamming it on the table, physically stopping this ridiculous play.
“We’re done for tonight, but everyone can still continue your fun. Choi Han, please help me.”
“Yes, Alberu-nim.”
…
“Pfft.”
Alberu and Cale turned towards Choi Han.
“What made you laugh?”
They were currently walking a path leading them to the mountain.
“Cale-nim.”
“Yes?”
“Are you not going to ask me to carry you anymore?”
“Excuse me?”
Alberu heard Cale exclaim and he himself tripped over nothing, both were shocked at Choi Han right now.
“I remembered it just now, when we were climbing out of the window.”
“What did he say exactly?” Alberu can’t help but be curious. He can see Choi Han tilting his head slightly, trying to remember their conversation.
“Cale-nim just stood by the window before telling me to carry him down because he can’t jump so far down without getting hurt.”
Alberu can’t help the disgusting snort that came out of him. He looked at Cale and he couldn’t help bursting out in laughter seeing him look so embarrassed.
“Red really is a good color on you, Cale.”
“Ugh, please shut up.”
…
“This is the first time I’m seeing this.”
Choi Han looked at Alberu. They were both currently upstairs watching Cale through a communication device.
“You mean, Cale-nim having a hangover drink?”
“You call that a hangover drink?!”
“Well, Cale-nim said it was.”
“And you actually believed him? An alcohol for a hangover drink?”
Alberu was worried for the state of Cale’s organs and also amazed at his high tolerance for alcohol. They were watching as the knights of the Tolz territory interrogate Cale’s entourage, possibly asking about the disappearance of the black dragon without giving out any information.
“From now on, we need to limit his alcohol intake.” Alberu sighed while watching in horror as Cale almost emptied another bottle of his ‘hangover drink’. Choi Han nodding in agreement beside him.
…
“Did you have fun rolling on the ground?”
Alberu knew that Cale went out to retrieve his second ancient power but he could not expect the state Cale would be in after coming back.
“Can you please stop? I had no choice. The entrance was too short and was impossible for me to walk through.”
Cale complained at a laughing Alberu while he removed some branches and dirt that stuck to his clothes.
“I hope you die of laughter, hyung-nim.”
Alberu just wiped the tears of laughter coming out of his eyes. “That’s harsh.” He never laughed that hard as far as he could remember.
“But, Cale-nim?”
“Yes, Choi Han?”
“This is your second time right? Why did you still wore white clothes knowing that you’ll be crawling while entering the cave?”
At Choi Han’s question, Cale turned even redder than before.
“What was that, dongsaeng?”
“…actually…that...”
“Huh?”
“I actually forgot that I had to enter a narrow entrance, okay?!”
And now, not only Alberu but even Choi Han was silently laughing. The Cats were patting Cale’s thigh with their paws, but you could see that their arms were shaking with laughter.
“Stop that, it’s not comforting at all.” Cale grumbled while looking away pretending not to hear anything.
…
“What was that about Cage?”
“Oh, you mean about young master Cale?”
“Yes.”
Cage continued walking towards their carriage with Taylor Stan walking silently beside her.
“Oh, nothing. It’s just that I’ve found some good materials I can use against him.”
Taylor just sighed at his friend’s antics. He still can’t believe that many miracles happened to him in just one night. And because he feels elated, he just let his friend have her own fun.
“Okay, just don’t go overboard.”
“No promises!”