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'Hmm.'
"Commander-nim."
'It's quiet.'
Cale briefly nodded to the knight greeting him, careful not to make eye contact with anyone else. It was one thing to greet them out in the streets. He couldn't do that during a mass funeral.
Fwish
His raven cost hung heavily over his shoulders. Because he was the Commander, his position was particularly in front, a few steps beside the Crown Prince.
Tap, tap
'Is it fine now?'
His expression, that was.
Cale looked around discreetly, observing out of the corner of his eyes Alberu's expression.
'Hmm…'
It was truly a sombre expression, as expected of a person who bore the weight of the crown. Cale blankly observed the same, only coming to his senses when Alberu noticed his gaze.
Fwish
"…?"
He wasn't peeping, he was only curious.
'It's probably fine…'
Because the kids weren't there, and because Choi Han stood a bit farther back, he couldn't ask anyone.
Tap
Cale blankly watched the blur of white sheets and flowers and a fog, one that seemed to cover his gaze alone.
"…Rok Soo…that bastard…"
"…Believe…not a tear…Team Leader-"
"…Work?…cold bastard…"
"Team Leader."
"Team Leader Kim Rok Soo."
Fwish
Cale shifted on his feet slightly. It was hard to stand still for such a long time, though it had been only a few minutes at best.
But he couldn't complain at a funeral, so he glanced around, trying to avoid looking like he was spacing out.
Shuffle
'Not chrysanthemums?'
It wasn't Korea, but it was still a surprise to see different flowers being offered here.
Tap, tap
Cale quietly watched the sight.
A few wept, a few lay with half-lidded eyes, the gestures not much different. Many gazes stuck to the side of his head.
Curiosity? It wasn't unheard of.
Blame? Cale could understand that as well.
Anger? Pity? He didn't know, because he didn't look back.
The redhead etched the pattern of white deep in his mind. There wasn't any reason. It simply felt like a waste if he couldn't even remember the sight, let alone change what had led to this outcome.
'I should get the children something.'
He'd promised them to return quickly, but given by how slow the entire process was, tedious in contrast to the funerals he'd seen before, it was obvious he wouldn't be able to go back as soon.
Tap
Cale's thoughts drifted further, away from the trace of something sticky clinging to his arms. In his mind an image flickered. It was the time he had first raised his shield over the Henituse territory. The vivid cheers that had followed then, and the clashes that resounded three days later.
Tap
The redhead quietly went through the records, tracing, observing, not quite analysing but searching for something he couldn't pinpoint.
Was it a mistake?
'Should I ask his highness?'
Or was it many days afterwards, a brief moment of complacency?
"Kim Rok Soo."
"It's not your fault."
'It might seem odd…'
But Cale wasn't one to care about that, so he moved in the end.
Tap
"Your highness."
Maybe it was something in his expression, or because Alberu was simply being cautious, but the latter immediately walked closer to him, glancing around briefly.
"I wanted to ask something."
"…Go ahead."
'Why does he look so alarmed…?'
Cale wondered if it was the nerves of the recent battle, or simply because he was in the middle of this. He spoke quietly, so the others wouldn't hear.
"What do I look like currently?"
A blank stare was directed at him. Alberu blinked, then asked again.
"…Pardon?"
"What do I look like right now, your highness? Am I looking sad?"
The blond's gaze turned even more incredulous. From a distance it appeared as if the two were discussing something serious, perhaps related to the funeral, but it was only because Alberu was trying hard to control the disbelief from spreading across his features.
"Or do I look bored? Emotionless?"
"…"
'What is he…'
Alberu wouldn't have bothered. If it wasn't for the redhead's gaze, or the brief quiver in his voice as he said the word emotionless, he wouldn't have answered.
"…You look normal. Not bored, but serious."
Cale blinked slowly, then nodded.
"I see."
Fwish
He turned his gaze back to the bodies in front, unmoving.
"Thank you, your highness."
"…"
For a moment the politeness in the tone didn't seem fake, like a facade.
The same expression stayed on Cale's face throughout his speech and until the burial ended and everyone dispersed.
It was as if he had trained the same look in his mind, maintaining the same over his face almost like a mask.
Tap
Until the moment he left for his home, Cale didn't say a word more, the mask never once taken off.