Work Text:
‘Something is off.’
That single thought echoed within the Crown Prince’s head as he walked in the Black Castle. The entrance hall was almost empty. Almost.
Choi Han and Ron - what a pairing, he absently noted - were standing nearby the stairs.
“Your Highness, welcome. You made it just in time.” The old butler greeted him, his regular benign smile curling up his lips. As usual.
“My student-nim is very punctual.” Choi Han added in a tone that didn’t sound like a praise nor a mere observation. The swordmaster seemed troubled by something. His mind was somewhere else.
“Well, yes…?” Alberu just replied, a bit dumbly. Something was most definitely off, and most definitely not only with those two.
‘Cookie Crown Prince !’
‘How had been your day ?’
‘Goldie Gramps, Goldie Gramps ! We need to tell the human Cookie Crown Prince arrived !’
‘Sigh…’
The entrance hall had been too quiet.
Usually, Alberu would not even have the time to make it to the double-panels of the tremendous door before three menaces come his way and hop in his arms.
On the contrary, Choi Han and Ron were some of the last ones to join them back inside: Ron could always sense when teleporting in the villa, and as soon as Alberu would reach the doors of the Black Castle, he would already be inside the kitchen with his sons to make overly sweet lemon tea.
Choi Han could sense the arrival of his Student-nim just fine as well. And was always making sure to exit the training ground and join them after changing in clean clothes.
Alberu was always making a point on reminding him they were sparring together often enough not to get scarred away by some sweaty clothes. Choi Han had never yielded.
And yet, those two latecomers were both standing in front of him right now. Behaving strangely normal.
Neither of them were normal people. Routine did not exist in any of Cale Henituse’s housings.
Alberu cleared his throat, trying to brush aside this feeling. He was probably overthinking this. ‘Overworking tends to do this to people, yeah’, Aunt Tasha had made a point of repeating this over and over again during the last couple of weeks.
“Where are the others ?” He tried and failed to sound casual.
“Ah, probably upstairs.”
‘Yes, they must be still upstairs.”
“Must?”
“Yeah? Is His Highness having hearing problems after spending so much time in his noisy study ? I don’t think the Young Master will be pleased to hear this.”
“Yeah, Cale-nim will probably be upset.”
Why was he even getting scolded ?
“My hearing is just fine.” He assured, before throwing suspicious glances their ways. “Is there something wrong ?”
“Nothing is wrong, your Highness.”
“Yes, my Student-nim shouldn’t worry so much.”
‘Something is definitely wrong.’ Alberu felt like sighing, but refrain from doing so. His brows still furrowed a little.
“I see. Shall we go, then ?”
“Ah, yes. The Young Master is in the small lounge with the children.” Hearing this, Alberu perked up at the mention of the kids. Since Ron was the one who mentioned them, Alberu seized the opportunity and inquired about them.
“Are the children sick?”
“No.” Ron quickly replied, before adding “They are alright. Just a little upset.”
“mmh ?” the old man did not say anything else. And taking in Choi Han’s calm, Alberu guessed it was the truth. He would see for himself anyway.
They climbed up the stairs of the northern tower, and eventually arrived at the aforementioned lounge. The calmness of the floor was suspicious. But Alberu didn’t have enough time to linger on this consideration too much - a voice called out for him.
“Ah, Your Highness.” Cale walked out the room, a serious expression on his face.
‘Now, what’s up with you too ?’ The Crown Prince almost blurted out. He kept his thoughts to himself, and just nodded.
“What is up ?” How liberating it felt to finally be able to ask this. Alberu had felt like he had been about to explode.
“The storm.” Cale simply replied - as if forming sentences longer than his usual two-word ones would pierce another hole in his heart.
“The storm ?” Alberu would parrot him as long as needed.
“Yes, the storm.” Scratch this, the Crown Prince was actively deadpanning him now. The retired Commander understood quickly, and proceeded with a longer explanation. As in more than two words explanation. “We had planned a picnic this afternoon, but the storm spoiled it. So they are pouting now.”
‘Pouting ?’ Cale’s words had managed to calm Alberu’s mind. It wasn’t anything too bad. At least they weren’t hurt.
“I see.”
It was still strange to hear that the children were… pouting. But the thought amused him.
The children had never been calm per se. Always cheerfully chatting about stabbing someone in the back or looting them. But Alberu had never heard Cale, Choi Han or anyone else of the mansion mention them ever throwing a fit. Nor sulking.
Cale did not seem bothered by it either. Quite the opposite, in fact.
“What ?” Alberu bluntly asked. It was crazy how this guy was able to strip him of all his regal dignity and manner. Ten minutes with him, and the Crown Prince caught himself swearing and shamelessly sighing. Even less was required for him to abandon his frozen, flawless smile and show whatever emotion he was feeling at the moment.
“It’s good.” Cale casually replied. Back to the two-word answers. Wonderful.
“What ? That the children are pouting ?”
“Yes. That’s a good sign.” Alberu raised a brow at this, but didn’t before he could ask anything, Ohn opened the door. And peeked in the hallways, looking for someone. Her nosy air lightened when she saw Alberu standing next to Cale.
“Cookie Crown Prince.” Turning back into her kitten form, she hopped in Alberu’s arms. He couldn't help but note she had grown as shameless as her guardian - the kids had as much consideration for his royal status as Cale had. This amount was close to nothingness.
Surprisingly, Alberu did not mind. Not anymore.
He had always thought he would keep on preferring people addressing him formally as a form of acknowledgement of his status. But each rule knew exceptions. And this one wasn’t exempt from its share either.
Cale's people were just as casual as the man himself when it came to dealing with Alberu. The most respectful one was Lock, but it was how he was behaving around any other adult aside from Rosalyn and Choi Han.
Anytime the royal walked in any of the redhead’s properties, he knew his title became nothing more than a mere decoration. A way to address him, at best.
And as Alberu was patting Ohn's back absently, he was slowly realizing that he didn’t mind the slightest anymore.
What an odd thought.
“Where are Hong and Raon ?” Cale calmly inquired. And Ohn's golden eyes lifted up to look at him.
“They are still pouring, nya. I can’t resonate with them.” The girl said, tilting her muzzle up - acting all mature as if she hadn't been pouting with them both since they had seen the storm rising outside. It earned a subtle smile from her father. Ron and Choi Han did not say anything either, watching with an endeared look in their eyes. They were not about to break it to her. Of course not.
“I see. Well, I guess Beacrox’s apple pies will soothe them.” Cale observed, glancing at his old butler. Ron’s benign smile widened.
“It’s coming, Young Master. I’ve heard him mention cookies when he learnt that His Highness was coming along as well.”
“Really ? That’s a good idea.” He nodded absently, giving Alberu one of his mischievous looks. Before blankly speaking again, “You don’t mind concurrence right, Hyung-nim ?”
The mock-seriousness in Cale’s voice surprised him. But Alberu let out another low chuckle.
“Since my beloved Dongsaeng already compared my cookies to the White Star’s, I think I can take any critique.”
“You’re still mad.” Cale stated. Damn him and his sharp eyes. And Alberu waved off his observation, his relaxed smile turning sharper as he answered.
“Don’t be ridiculous now. You did admit mine were better, eventually. So why would I be mad, mmh ?”
“Childish.” Cale mumbled under his breath, and Alberu pretended not to hear. It was something the noble was doing often, so why couldn’t he do so too ?
When they walked in the room, Alberu spotted Mary, Rosalyn and Lock near the couch. The red kitten and the baby dragon were curled up to the pillow there.
Cale and Alberu shared a glance, before sauntering to the sofa.
“His Highness arrived.” Cale stated, making the kids’ head perk up a little. Hong hesitantly climbed down the couch to paw at Cale's feet. The redhead sighed, but still obliged the quiet request and picked him up.
“Hello, Cookie Prince.” Once in Cale’s embrace, the boy gently pawed Alberu’s face as a greeting. The Crown Prince just chuckled, shaking the soft paw.
“Ah, your Highness. Good afternoon.” The GPS-like voice rose from the corner where Mary was sitting. Rosalyn waved casually, a bright smile on her face.
“It’s been a while.”
“Your Highness, welcome !” Lock enthusiastically said. He was the only one who actually stood up to properly greet him.
Again, Alberu didn’t mind. It was strange, but after days of tedious meetings with complacent nobles, it felt way more comfortable that way.
“Thank you for inviting me this afternoon.” Inviting was a rather funny choice of words. To be fairer, Cale and the kids nagging at him for a whole week was a more accurate description. Cale, backed by Choi Han, because he was ‘working too much lately.’ ‘It's worse than usual.’, Cale had once complained, still shamelessly eating away all his cookies on Alberu’s very couch. And his Aunt had agreed. Treason.
The kids had just mentioned how long it had been since Alberu's last visit once or twice - and just like this, Alberu had found time. He hadn’t realized they missed him.
To know that people aside from his Aunt actually knew him enough and still wanted him around; were ready to welcome him anytime and even chided him for not coming to visit more often… it was strange, and unfamiliar. But not unpleasant. Quite the opposite.
With the coronation approaching, Alberu had grown busier everyday. They were all often welcomed in his office, but it didn’t feel as warm as whenever he was staying at the villa for dinner or overnight.
After seeing Hong curling up in Cale's arms, Alberu cautiously sat down on the couch. Ohn ran to Eruhaben-nim - who was sitting in an archmair nearby - and Raon immediately flew to Alberu’s lap. It made the royal chuckle.
“Raon-nim.”
“I’m not sulking. I’m a great and mighty dragon, I don’t sulk.”
“Great and mighty beings can still be a bit disappointed sometimes.” Alberu assured, and seeing that it got no reaction from the child, he added “I’m sure Eruhaben-nim too.”
Raon’s scaly head perked up. And all the gazes shifted from the sofa to the armchair where the ancient dragon was sitting with Ohn. The silver kitten was also intently watching him. Eruhaben didn’t fight it long.
“Ahh… Yes, even I am sometimes disappointed.”
“.... Really ?” And seeing Eruhaben nod, Raon’s little head flipped back to Alberu’s call gaze. Then to Cale standing on the royal's side.
“Me too. It happened a lot.” He easily confessed, taking a step closer to pat the dragon’s scaly head. “I’m still there, see ? It’s okay.”
“Young Master-nim is right. We can still postpone the picnic, right ?” Rosalyn offered in a soft tone.
“But the afternoon is spoiled…” Raon mumbled, his chubby face still in Alberu’s stomach.
“Not at all. We can still have the food prepared for the picnic in the dining room, right ?” The prince proposed. And Raon’s head immediately tilted back up. The quickness of the child's movement made Alberu’s lips curl up. Cute.
“We can ?”
“We can do anything. There’s no rule.” Cale chimed in, his hand carding through Hong’s red fur. The kitten purred, and he excitedly nodded at his Father’s words.
Familiar sparks returned in Raon’s big blue eyes.
“That’s true, nya ! Let’s do this then, and tea party ! Cookie Crown Prince promised me he would teach me tea etiquette.” Ohn threw from Cale’s arms, not managing to contain the glee in her voice to keep her mature air this time. At the end of the day, she was still a ten year old.
“Ohn, His Highness is having his day off today…” Choi Han apologetically started, but Alberu shook his head.
“Actually, I don't mind.” The last time they had come over to the palace, Ohn had shown a special interest in the customs of the court. She would soon turn eleven, and her debuts as a young Lady would not be that far away from there. Alberu had promised to help her with this - he happened to be versed in etiquette and traditions. He had meant by heart half of the books of the Royal Library on the matter when he was twelve, and was trying hard to learn everything regarding the topic by himself.
Cale had mentioned Ron would help her with this if it was too much work for Alberu. But the Prince had declined the generous offer. He genuinely didn’t mind.
“Really ?” Cale inquired, throwing a suspectful look in Alberu’s direction. A ‘You’re not trying to work during your day off, are you, Hyung-nim ?’ look.
Alberu dodged, and felt a bit satisfied hearing Cale's huff. The bastard was annoyed. Good.
“Yes. I will just need a tea pot and a set of cups.” He turned to the old butler while saying this. And Ron promptly nodded, his smile still in place on his lips.
“Of course.”
“Will His Highness stay for dinner ?” A new voice raised from the doorframe. And Beacrox walked in with a tray of fresh pastries.
“Ah… well-”
“I’ll call Miss Tasha and say you’re staying for the night, Hyung-nim.”
“You can return to the palace tomorrow with me for our weekly sparring, your Highness.”
“... Of course.”
And just like this, it had been decided. The kids rejoiced, and the other adults nodded approvingly. Even Eruhaben’s lips tilted up when he heard the news.
‘Shameless punks…’ Those people were behaving so casually after basically kidnapping royalty for a night.
As Ohn and Hong we're heading to the table, striding to the seats in their human
forms, Raon hovered over Alberu’s lap and floated to his shoulder. He then asked in a timid voice.
“We can still have an actual picnic next time, right ?”
Alberu’s gaze softened, and he patted Raon’s head once more.
“Yes. Let’s have it next time.”