Chapter Text
Alberu was at his desk in his office when someone teleported into his office. That wasn’t unsual, it wasn't rare for Cale and the kids to randomly show up.
Byt what was unusual was Raon to show up alone without Cale.
That was the first sign.
The 2nd was his expression.
Raon was smiling just like Cale.
Alberu smiled at him.
“Raon nim, what brings you here?“
Raon flew over to him, still smiling.
“Kidnapping you.“
Alberu didn't have time to find a way out of this before he was already in Cale's bedroom at the super rock villa.
He immediately smelled a apple pie. And now Raon had his usual smile. He also looked proud of himself.
“Come Cookie prince, we're eating apple pie!“
Alberu could see Cale and the kids on the couches. Alberu sighed.
“Haa, Raon why did you take me here? I have work I need to finish.“
Raon puffed out his chest.
“Tasha said you've been working to much. So we're forcing you to rest.“
Alberu looked over at Cale.
'Of course.'
Cale was looking at him with his usual calm expression.
'You aren't even going to pretend to try to help me.'
There was no winning once Raon was like this. Cale didn’t look like he would help either. So he just walked to the couch to join in eating the apple pie.
But although he was irritated, this place was always warm and safe.
Alberu sighed. Maybe the kingdom wouldn't be set on fire if he took a short break.
He was handed a slice of apple pie as he sat down.
“...This one is good.“
“Human! Where did you get this apple pie? It's the best apple pie!“
Meow.
Meow.
On and Hong agreed.
Cale slightly smiled at Raon.
“Beacrox made it.“
Raon’s eyes sparkled.
“Beacrox needs to make more apple pies! I need to replace all of my apple pies with his!“
Hong looked very happy at the idea and nodded.
“That's a great idea youngest.“
Cale raised a eyebrow.
“All of them? You have over a hundred.“
Cale shivered remembering that Raon said he needs to keep at least a hundred apple pies specifically for Cale. Which meant...Raon definitely had more than a hundred. Cale didn’t want to know how many apple pies Raon actually had.
Raon suddenly looked like he got another idea after a few more bites. Cale got the chills.
'Oh no.'
“Human, apple pies are made of apples! Apple trees can be grown! Growing our own apple tree sounds fun! Oh we could grow a bunch of apple trees.“
Cale's iffy feeling was getting worse with every sentence that came out of Raon.
Hong liked the idea to.
“Yes, our youngest is the smartest.“
On quietly shook her head. She knew Cale wasn't liking the idea.
Then Alberu mumbled something just loud enough for the 4 of them to hear.
“...A orchard.“
Cale shot a look to Alberu.
“You're not helping.“
Alberu smiled innocently.
“I haven't said anything.“
Raon and Hong tilted their heads in confusion. Hong asked the question.
“Cookie prince, what's a orchard.“
Alberu responded.
“It's a group of trees grown to make food.“
Raon smiled at that.
“That sounds fun, I want a apple tree orchard!“
Cale glared at Alberu.
“Traitor.“
Alberu just looked at the kids ignoring Cale.
He watched Raon practically vibrating in excitement. Hong excited and proud of his little brother's idea. And On knowing something her brothers didn't.
Then he looked back to Cale.
'He hates this.'
“It does sound fun.“
Cale sighs.
“We can plant 1 tree. We can get plenty of apples from 1 tree.“
Alberu quietly chuckles to himself.
'When do you ever do something on a small scale?'
Raon quickly shakes his head.
“Lots of trees would be more fun!“
Hong speak up next.
“Youngest is right. Having our own orchard sounds fun. We can't have a orchard with only 1 tree.“
On silently watches.
Then Raon asked a question.
“Oh what do we need for a orchard?“
Alberu answers.
“land with sunlight, seeds to plant, and water.“
Then hong starts talking excited.
“Oh we can get those things and start planting tomorrow!“
Raon adds on.
“And cookie prince you have to help us!“
Alberu grimaced.
“Ok, though I have to show up to a event for Valentine's day in the capital the next day. I don’t want to, but it would look better if I did.“
After that all 3 kids tilted their heads. On is the one who asked.
“What's Valentine's day?“
Alberu easily answered.
“It's a day where you spend time alone with someone important.“
— Noona, hyung, human and cookie prince are important to each other. Cookie prince needs to relax more. The human needs to get out of the house more.
The children all silently look at each other.
For some reason Cale and Alberu get a bad feeling watching them.
Alberu breaks the silence, slightly scared of what the kids are silently planning.
“If you plant the trees to close to the villa, the roots will come into the cave. And they wouldn’t be able to get water.“
Cale lightly glares at him.
“You say that like it's decided.“
Raon spoke up.
“It is decided.“
Cale sighs.
“Raon where are we going to get enough water. The trees will need to be protected from monsters with a magic barrier, so we can't rely on rain water.“
Alberu helpfully answers.
“There's a river near by.“
Hong perks up.
“That's right we found that river near by while exploring.“
Cale looked at Alberu raising a eyebrow.
“Why do you know that?“
Alberu opened his mouth, then closed it.
He realized he knows more about the forest of darkness than a regular should.
Raon broke the silence.
“Cookie prince, your still helping.“
“Oh, I do have to return to the capital tomorrow.“
“Your highness–”
Alberu turned to Cale.
“Call me hyung.“
“Hyung nim stay till after lunch.“
Cale usually woke up around lunch.
Alberu smiled.
“...Alright, after lunch.“
The next morning the kids decided to wake Cale up early.
Cale could feel 3 sets of paws pressing down on his stomach. His eyes snapped open, and he groaned.
“Ugh, take your paws off.“
The kids got off of him.
Cale sighed looking up at the ceiling.
“...why did you wake me up so early?“
Raon hovered above his face.
“Human it's orchard day!“
Cale rolled over in bed.
“...Alright, just let me sleep a few more hours.“
That did not happen.
The paws started pushing on his back instead.
Cale groaned again.
***
The kids ended up dragging him out of bed to actually eat breakfast today. After breakfast they immediately dragged him out to the field they cleared of trees, weeds, poisonous plants, bushes, and other things that would get in the way.
Now Cale, the kids, Alberu, Sui Khan, and Choi Jung Soo are standing on that field, with gloves, shovels, and packets of seeds.
Cale starts talking to Raon.
“Raon you know we can buy plenty of apples for beacrox to make you plenty of apple pies.“
“But Human this is more fun.“
Cale sighs.
Choi Jung Soo walks up to Cale and puts a shovel in his hand.
Cale looks down at the shovel.
Cale sighs.
Sui Khan puts his hand on his shoulder.
“You're planting, no ancient powers. Your doing it with your own hands.“
Cale was planning if he got dragged into helping he'd just use his ancient powers. Unfortunately for him Sui Khan and Choi Jung Soo already predicted that.
They all start planting seeds, Sui Khan is close to where the kids are. And he sees them all with that same smile Cale has when scamming someone. And the fact that he didn't already know, meant Cale was involved in someway.
That made him smile amused.
“So it's one of those plans.“
Raon and Hong froze, On didn't look surprised.
Then Raon looked very proud.
“It's the best plan!“
Hong also proud nodded.
“Youngest is right.“
On nodded agreeing with her brothers.
“Nya.“
Sui Khan asked a question curious.
“What kind of plan?“
Raon immediately started explaining.
“We're kidnapping the cookie prince again, on valentine's day!“
Sui Khan was very amused by this.
“I see.“
Hong added on.
“But you can't tell cookie prince or cale nya.“
Sui Khan’s lips curved slightly.
“Of course.”
While Sui khan continues to hear about the children's plan, Cale starts walking away.
Choi Jung Soo grabbed Cale's wrist.
“Exercise is good for you.“
Cale doesn't turn around, avoiding Choi Jung Soo’s gaze.
“I walk.“
“You walk into trouble.“
Alberu who overheard a few steps away conversation added on.
“Frequently.“
Cale sighs and goes back to digging.
Sui Khan listened to the children's plan, briefly glancing at Cale returning to planting.
“You learned well from him.“
Raon and Hong giggled, clearly pleased. On smiled, satisfied.
It was at that moment.
“Why is the unlucky bastard digging holes?“
Raon and Hong’s heads snapped toward the voice.
“Goldie gramps!“
On's head soon followed.
Eruhaben walked toward Cale.
“Ho, your actually digging.“
Cale frowned.
“I don't want to.“
Eruhaben patted Cale’s head. And at that moment, Raon perched on Eruhaben’s shoulder.
Around lunchtime Eruhaben who was just watching, noticed Cale was tired.
He used magic to make sure everyone could hear him.
“That's enough for today. It's time for lunch.“
That got Raon’s attention. He flew over to Cale.
“Human gentle Beacrox said he'd make his apple pie for lunch again.“
Raon used magic to water all the seeds, and they all went in the black castle nearby for apple pie.
After lunch Alberu sighed.
“Haa, I should return to the palace.“
Cale looked to Alberu.
“Don't overwork yourself, hyung nim.“