#alberu

I gen do not think Cale and Alberu would ever voluntarily hang out, because they're so similar and so busy.

So all of their encounters, likely always semi-public and official in some capacity, just end up romantic as they fall for each other through Cale's shenanigans and Alberu's (mis)fortune of being in the recieving end of it all.

And everyone is just.. there. Like with the scene in the Mercenary Records Room. Cale starts unbuttoning his shirt, totaly scandalous in that era of fashion, in front of the CROWN PRINCE, which is even more mind-boggling to everyone present.

And Eruhaben is there, wondering if Cale was ever taught human courtesy, Ron wondering if he should stop Cale first or kill Alberu for watching, Bud wondering if this guy is an alien and Glenn wanting to go home (he wasn't even there I think, but he'd feel it).

Cale doesn't care at all, closing his eyes and tipping his head back against the cool wall, sorting through the information in his head as Alberu is wondering why he even tries with this guy, rapidly switching from thoughts so unholy the Sun Goddess would curse him again to being so tired he wants to fall through the floor and fake his death to rest.

And that's just one instance.

At balls, for the very first dance, Alberu always takes the unwilling Commander tucked in the edges of the room, trying to avoid attention, only to accept the Crown Prince's hand with no hesitation once he's found, their secret smiles shidden behind elaborate steps and clever angles.

At quick, private meetings with their closes allies, they discuss plans and share brilliant strategies with sly smirks, matching in ways that only ones eerily similar could. They always nearly forget about the other leaders in the room, so caught up being 2 steps ahead, always, and yet somehow still beside each other.

When at war, the Crown Prince disguised as one of the dark elf warriors, quickly brushing his Commanders hair behind his ear, respectully backing off when he gets a flustered glare from the other with an easygoing giggle.

During outings with the red-head, and the family the Crown Prince is also part of now, where he actually takes part of the shenanigans that would give him many headaches later, predicting all of his Commander's messes and still letting them happen with a secret smile and an exasperated shake of the head.

And in each occasion, they get space, space for the secret glee and the scheming, the scammers smirks and devious plans. Never meant to be, but always so intimate, one has to look away.

Perhaps one day they'll get it together. But until then, everyone gives them these little moments. Knowing them and their... obliviousness, at least towards the feelings of others, it'll take a while.

("Thankfully, that means lots of blackmail." Rosalyn comments. Multiple people agree, while others, not so much.

Cale Henituse in a nutshell.

Favorite moments from this chapter:

Cale once again trying to pawn off his problems by thinking he's acting evil (don't trust me) only for said problems to misunderstand and think he's the best (OMG, he doesn't want to use us, we love you!).

Cale being happy at the thought of getting to annoy Alberu.

Alberu, in fact, being annoyed.

Alberu calling Cale a damn menace.

Cale being super happy he knows Alberu because it means he can pawn work off on him.

Alberu knowing this full well and just being resigned to it.

The fact that I’ve been unironically confused about this for like…3 months…

"Oh no, his highness schedule has grown busier than ever! He has so many things left to do.

Thankfully, he is not alone. His closest servants have made sure to remind him of approaching long week event being held in his name.

"In a week from now on, your people will celebrate you!" They joyfully reminded his highness who could only stare in shock with a long to-do list.

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