Chapter Text
Cale is not easy to love.
He is loud, insufferable, a useless noble who does nothing but drink day and night. At least, that is what everyone in the kingdom believes.
The Kingdom of Roan has its brilliant heroes, its gifted mages, its honourable knights… and then there is Cale Henituse, the disgrace and trash of the Henituse County—a territory steeped in remarkable history and blessed with immeasurable wealth.
And at this very moment, that so-called “trash” of an eighteen-year-old young master is frustrated.
More than frustrated, he is suffering from abstinence.
Abstinence from his beloved boyfriend, who happens to be none other than the kingdom’s most recent hero.
Kim Rok Soo is a mysterious man. He appeared from nowhere, helped during the terrorist attack at the King’s birthday celebration, and earned the respect of all. He does not speak much about his past—not even to Cale. And yet he is attentive, considerate, and absurdly patient with him.
The number of people who know that the great hero is dating the “trash” of Henituse County can be counted on one hand.
Perhaps because it would sound ridiculous.
The kingdom’s hero in a relationship with the greatest disgrace among the nobility.
Cale clenches his teeth every time the thought crosses his mind.
They do not spend as much time together as they once did. Rok Soo is busy—doing things Cale does not always know about. Sometimes he only learns of them much later, when the news finally reaches the county. Even so, Rok Soo writes letters, calls whenever he can at night, and they speak for hours that feel like mere minutes.
But it is not the same.
Cale would like to stand at his side. Even if it were only to watch him work. Even if it were in silence.
And yet… would he not simply be a burden?
Rok Soo’s companions must think so.
Especially that bastard who shares similar features with his boyfriend. The one who always looks at him with suspicion. Cale is convinced he would be the first to say that he does not deserve to stand near the hero.
Perhaps that is why Rok Soo has not introduced him.
Out of pity.
Out of embarrassment.
After all, who would not think that the hero and the trash dating it's just a joke or a stupid rumour far from being reality.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
The device vibrates late into the evening, almost night.
Cale picks it up at once, though he waits two seconds before answering so as not to appear desperate—what an embarrassment that would be.
He refuses to acknowledge that a mere two seconds would hardly conceal his desperation to see and hear his boyfriend.
The image appears.
Rok Soo looks exhausted.
His hair is slightly dishevelled, faint shadows beneath his eyes, and he is eating as he speaks.
“Have you only just arrived?” Cale asks.
“Yes.”
“What did you do this time?”
“I went to fetch a dragon.”
Cale falls silent for a few seconds.
“Of course you did,” he mutters. “A perfectly ordinary day for you.”
Rok Soo ignores the tone.
Cale has already learned that when Rok Soo does something absurd, it is best not to ask too many questions. If he explains, it will be long and occasionally incomprehensible to the young noble. If he does not, it is because he does not wish to worry him—or does not seem the explanation necessary.
“So… will he teach Raon?” Cale finally asks.
Raon Miru is their little child. Intelligent, proud, noisy, and far too spoilt. Though Rok Soo insists he is not his son—merely a baby dragon he rescued and is raising, acting as his guardian rather than his father—it is difficult to see it any other way.
“Yes,” Rok Soo replies. “It will be better if he learns from another dragon for a while.”
“I thought lady Rosalyn was going to teach him magic.”
“That was the plan. But a dragon can teach him things a human cannot.”
Cale nods slowly. He begins wondering what he could send Raon. Something comfortable, perhaps. Money would likely be useless—the dragon caring for him would see to everything, and Rok Soo already gives him more than enough for his expenses.
Rok Soo continues speaking.
He shares small details of the journey, light explanations of his plan, and hints of where he intends to go next.
Cale notices he does it on purpose.
He knows that when silence stretches too long, Cale’s mind fills with unnecessary thoughts.
Suddenly Rok Soo stops and studies him more closely.
“Have you been eating properly?”
Cale blinks. “What sort of question is that?”
“A normal one.”
“I’ve been eating.”
“How many times a day?”
“…Three.”
Rok Soo sighs.
“You need at least five.”
“That is excessive.”
“It is not.”
“Breakfast, lunch and dinner are enough.”
“Add tea and something light before bed.”
“Since when have you been so insistent?”
“Since I know that when you are alone, you eat less.”
Cale frowns. “I am not depressed.”
“I did not say that.”
Silence.
“…It is simply irritating,” Cale mutters.
“What is?”
“That you are always busy.”
Rok Soo does not answer at once, but he looks at him as though he understands.
“I cannot stop being busy,” he says at last. “Though I would dearly love to.”
“I know.”
“I could call for longer, if you like. Perhaps in the morning?”
Cale presses his lips together. That would likely disrupt Rok Soo’s sleep.
“It is not that.”
“Then what is it?”
Cale hesitates. He hates putting it into words.
“It is just…” He exhales. “I feel as though the things you do grow bigger every time.”
Rok Soo watches him, confused.
“Ancient dragons. Kingdoms. Alliances. All of that.” Cale lowers his voice. “And I am here, pretending to be useless.”
Rok Soo remains silent.
“I am not saying I want to be the hero,” Cale adds quickly. “I simply… do not wish to fall too far behind.”
'And have you feel you no longer need me' The thought remains unspoken, ignored despite the ache it brings.
Rok Soo’s expression changes.
He is not angry—Cale doubts he has ever seen him truly angry.
“Cale.”
“What?”
“Do you think I do all of that to impress someone?”
“No.” Cale knows him well enough to understand that Rok Soo is not that sort of man.
“I do it because it is necessary.”
“I know.”
“And you do what you do because you believe it is necessary.”
Cale looks up.
“I know your act is necessary for you. It is not easy to maintain—or to abandon. You are doing important things as well.”
“I am not doing anything heroic.”
“You do not have to. What you are doing is already enough.”
The silence no longer feels comfortable. Cale hates having conversations like this when he cannot pull Rok Soo into an embrace or kiss him simply to end the topic.
“I do not need you at the forefront of a war,” Rok Soo continues. “I need you well. I need you safe.”
Cale nods, meeting his gaze.
“And you are not falling behind,” Rok Soo adds. “You are holding your part.”
Cale lowers his eyes once more.
“Eat at least four times,” Rok Soo insists.
“Only if you eat five.”
“Do not push your luck.”
“Five meals, or I won't eat until dinner.”
Rok Soo stares at him for several seconds. “…Very well. Five meals.”
A faint smile tugs at Cale’s lips.
“Go to bed early,” Rok Soo says.
“You too.”
“I will call you tomorrow.”
“You better do."
The call ends a few minutes later.
The room falls silent.
Cale sets the device upon the table and leans back in his chair.
He is not entirely convinced.
But his chest no longer feels quite so tight.
“…I shall have to ask Hans to speak with the chef about improving my meals,” he murmurs. “What a nuisance.”