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There was something Cale had noticed recently, and that very problem was making itself painfully obvious right now.
The problem’s name was Alberu Crossman.
Cale had begun to notice that Alberu was becoming increasingly touchy. Every time they met, there seemed to be some new excuse for the crown prince to put his hands on him, and somehow, it kept getting worse. Cale had only realized the extent of it because he had his record ability to compare their interactions with those from before.
At first, Cale had simply dismissed it. Alberu had always been somewhat comfortable with physical contact, after all. That was nothing new.
But the more Cale thought about it, the harder that excuse became to believe.
Alberu didn't behave this way with other people. Not nearly as much, anyway. Even back then, when they had first met, the crown prince had been far more reserved with everyone else.
Cale had simply never realized how much of an exception he was.
And now, here they were in the Mogoru Empire, with Cale having just prevented a collapsing tower from crushing dozens of people beneath it.
Alberu was holding him.
More specifically, one of the crown prince's hands was firmly wrapped around Cale's waist.
Shit.
Cale was almost certain Adin had noticed it, too. The imperial prince's gaze kept drifting toward Alberu's hand. Then the bastard smirked.
Cale's expression twitched.
“Are you sure you’re alright? You’re trembling.”
Adin's voice carried all the concern of a man who couldn't care less.
Cale knew the concern was fake, yet he hadn't expected the imperial prince to actually reach out and place a hand on his shoulder, closing the distance between them in the process.
The redhead immediately felt Alberu's grip tighten around his waist.
Just what was wrong with this guy?
“Yes. There is no need to waste your worry on a mere noble like myself.”
Cale answered while Alberu pulled him closer, drawing Cale firmly against his side. At first glance, it seemed like nothing more than an effort to keep Cale from losing his balance.
It was complete bullshit.
Still, Cale allowed it. They were here to deceive the imperial prince about the true state of his condition, and Alberu's sudden clinginess was actually making the act more convincing.
“What are you saying, Young Master Cale? Your trembling is even worse than before.”
“I am fine, Your Highness.”
Cale expected Alberu to continue with their little performance.
Instead, Adin moved.
The imperial prince reached for Cale's bloodied hand and, without hesitation, began wiping the blood away with a handkerchief.
What the hell was he doing?
Cale stared at him for a moment, genuinely baffled.
“You shouldn't push yourself any further. It would be better for you to rest.”
Adin offered him a gentle smile.
At almost the exact same moment, Cale felt an unmistakable murderous aura radiating from the person beside him.
His eyes slowly shifted toward Alberu.
The crown prince's face was perfectly composed, his expression nothing but concern.
Cale narrowed his eyes.
“I agree.”
There was another tug at his waist.
Cale was pulled even closer until practically no space remained between them. At this point, anyone looking at them might have assumed Alberu was planning to merge their bodies into one.
What the hell was going on today?
“You did a great deed today, Young Master Cale. Thanks to you, no one was injured.”
Adin wasn't finished.
The imperial prince took Cale's hand into his own and, with deliberate ease, raised it to his lips. He pressed a kiss against the back of Cale's hand, all while keeping his eyes fixed on the redhead.
Cale froze.
The arm around his waist tightened.
For one brief moment, Alberu's grip became painfully firm, enough to make Cale wince. Yet just as quickly as it had tightened, the pressure disappeared, leaving behind nothing but the crown prince's perfectly composed expression.
“We will take care of the rest. You should return and get some rest.”
It seemed Adin had finally grown bored of his little game.
Except he still hadn't released Cale's hand.
Cale glanced down at their joined hands before looking back at the imperial prince.
What was this bastard playing at?
“Does this include me?”
Alberu's voice cut through the moment.
In one smooth motion, the crown prince reached over, removed Cale's hand from Adin's grasp, and took it for himself. His fingers closed around Cale's hand with an ease that suggested there was nothing unusual about what he had just done.
Cale stared at their hands.
Is there even a reason for him to be holding my hand?
“Of course.”
Adin answered easily, though it was obvious he had no intention of letting the Roan delegation discover anything more than they already knew. To maintain their little act, neither Cale nor Alberu had any reason to refuse, so the two of them eventually left.
Cale expected Alberu to return to his own quarters once they were out of sight.
Instead, the crown prince followed him.
“Your Highness, you can let go now. I am perfectly capable of walking on my own.”
Rather than answering, Alberu let out a long, irritated groan.
“You really never take a hint.”
“Huh?”
Any question Cale might have asked was cut short when Alberu pushed him through the door of his room and forced him down onto the sofa.
“You attract too many people.”
Excuse me?
Cale stared at him, genuinely bewildered.
The corner of Alberu's lips twitched when he saw the confusion on Cale's face. For some reason, the crown prince looked almost like he was pouting.
Which...
Really didn't suit him.
Not even a little.
Cale decided that expression needed to disappear immediately.
So, without giving it much thought, he reached out and pinched Alberu's cheek.
It wasn't something Cale would normally do, especially not to the crown prince, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
“I am merely a shadow standing beside a bright sun like you, Your Highness.”
Alberu narrowed his eyes.
Then, without warning, he pinned Cale against the sofa, one hand braced beside him as the prince leaned over him.
“You are driving me nuts.”
“Is that why you have been acting so strange? Are you slowly losing your mind?”
Alberu huffed.
Perhaps he really had lost his mind. At the very least, he knew exactly who was to blame, and that person was the redhead beneath him, who still hadn't so much as blushed despite finding himself in such a compromising position.
If he was already losing his sanity, he might as well ask one more insane question.
“Have you ever kissed someone before?”
“Come again?”
A smirk appeared on the prince's lips as he leaned closer.
“I asked if you have ever kissed someone before.”
Cale frowned. He couldn't understand why Alberu would ask such an absurd question out of nowhere.
“No.”
“Then can I?”
The blond smiled as his thumb brushed slowly across Cale's lower lip.
Finally, Cale reacted.
A flush spread across his face, his eyes twitching as his mouth opened, trying find his voice.
“Did a piece of debris hit your head?”
“Considering you entered my life like flying debris, I would say yes.”
“This—”
For once, Cale was completely speechless.
His eyes darted to the side, then the other, before eventually returning to those infuriating blue eyes.
“Do whatever you want.”
“Mmh. Your attempt to act indifferent is cute.”
Whatever curse Cale had been about to utter was forgotten when their lips met.
—
“Strong human, what is kissing?”
Raon's sudden question nearly made Choi Han choke on his water.
The black dragon had appeared in his quarters without warning. Choi Han had assumed Cale might need something, but instead Raon asked a question.
“Why are you asking?”
“Because Human and that prince are doing it. Since I couldn't ask, I came here for an answer.”
So that was why.
He probably should have known something was going on between those two.
After a moment of silence, Choi Han quietly set down his cup.
“Let's not tell the others.”
The crown prince's life might be in danger.
“The imperial prince also did the kissing thing, but on the human's hand.”
Well, Choi Han couldn't prevent every act of violence in the world, could he?
“You can tell everyone about this part.”