being in some stressful and busy periods of my life, my constant reassurance has been repeating "i am kim roksoo" over and over again kim dokja style. When life hits you just gotta pretend you're a 36-year-old workaholic ahjussi with a leadership position at your terrible job but with people u wanna protect and operate at breakneck level of efficiency like your decade-long grief will devour you if you are idle for even a second. This is also helps because you're holding out hope for your eventual transmigration where you get to adopt every unfortunate blorbo you come across and have All The Money In The World to make them happy and safe and sheltered and well-fed and also maybe get forced into a healing arc.
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i will surely dedicate a fic to this but the heart wrenching concept of og!Cale having a daughter he never found out about because you were convinced it'd be a bad idea. Like something along the lines of those mistakes one does when they're young and stupid. Maybe he's 17 and starving for some semblance of warmth, which he finds within the arms of the daughter of a former maid in his late mother's employment.
You're just as young and naive and somehow, seeing the boy you used to chase across the estate gardens now all grown up again stirs memories in your heart.
You and og!Cale get along so well, not because there's attraction or anything hormonal going onāthough that also helpsābut because you've spent the first decade of your life watching the eldest son of the late countess and memorized his every tick. The way he leans into his left side when he's thinking too deeply, the furrow of his brows when he has some sort of sarcastic remark he's keeping under wraps or even the indents left behind by his nails in his palm when he's trying hard to restrain himself.
og!Cale has a hard time selling you that trash image and alas, he finds himself stripped bare in front of you. It helps that you don't question it or call his motifs stupid, but simply keep space for him in your life and make him forget about everything else even if it's just for an hour a day.
One thing's turns into another and before you know you've crossed the boundary of friendship and you've committed the horrible mistake of sleeping with a nobleman's son. The reality of it sobers both of you up quickly and distance overtakes what little intimate closeness you'd reserved for one another.
When you begin to feel ill in inexplicable ways, your mind conjures up the worst possibilities. Three discreet visits to apothecaries outside of Weston later, your nightmare is confirmed.
You, the daughter of some insignificant former maid, are pregnant with Cale Henituse's child.
There are no words that could describe the sheer terror of that reality.
Of course you try to broach the topic with him when you see him again, somehow in a roundabout way to figure out what your options might be. As any 17 year old boy would, he reacts horribly. Well, maybe not like any otherāhe laughs at the notion and tells you that having a child with trash like him is essentially a death sentence, to both you and the unborn child. He'd never want to subject someone to that kind of torture.
You read between the lines and make your decision to stay away from him, just like he's made up his mind to stay away from you lest he damages your reputation any more than he probably has.
The worst thing is? His daughter looks just like Jour. A carbon copy with the same flaming red hair, that wide carefree grin and intelligent reddish eyes that sparkle in the afternoon sun. She's the last piece of Cale you have and you treasure her more than anything.
But above all, you know that you can't have them meet. Not unless you want to ruin the life you've worked hard for.
Something something along the lines of you settling into some quiet small city on the outskirts of the kingdom, where you may have a reputation as a young single mother but you've lied through teeth to avoid suspicion. You tell people you married youngāthe only lie of your story.
You tell them you knew the father since you were a child and it had been love that brought you togetherātrue enough, you suppose.
You smile bitterly as you recount how your beloved husband had perished overnight, taken by something dark and sinister and resigned himself to a cruel fateāa little embellished and cryptic but certainly not untrue.
You're so confident that there's nothing that could ever hurt you or your little sunshine of a girl because how could it? You've take caution to avoid danger and heartbreak along the road.
So why on earth is the man himself standing in front of your door, dripping wet from the storm outside with a part of five awkwardly asking if they can seek shelter in your rather spacious house on the edge of the city?
ugh i need to write (and read) more kidnapped Cale fics more torture-focused fics where it's at a level that isn't completely tragic more suffering Cale fics where that white radish isn't the direct perpetrator.
Like even if you see through canon that radish never stopped at anything right? There wasn't any wrong or right in his way, only a 'means'. And he didn't want to kill the redhead either, so what option do we have left? Even aside from his motive Cale is literally the mastermind behind every move against WS, capturing their Commander would be beyond devastating for Cale's allies, whether psychologically or politically, so why wouldn't he try to get the redhead through any means possible?
(long prompt ahead! CW torture!)
Picture this- Cale is 24/7 surrounded by someone from his fam, the few times he isn't either Raon or the kids are still with him. But the thing is, WS needs a dragon's heart too right? So why not get them both while we're at it?
Imagine it's been relatively peaceful, or maybe there had been a very major battle just a few days ago (as a smokescreen), and Cale's somewhat free of the usual stress as he's strolling around with the black dragon. Where? Potentially Roan itself, familiarity is always what leads to carelessness after all. The knights are around, Choi Han is on the other side of the marketplace with Ohn and Hong, there's practically no chance of attack when Cale himself is disguised in a commoner attire (with Raon invisible).
Imagine Raon chirping blissfully hovering over Cale's head, and Cale is suppressing a smile at the little dragon's antics. Maybe it's nearing afternoon, and Raon suddenly spots a new inn nearby, and it just happens to be after such a long time that he's alone with Cale that he can't help but whine a bit and get the redhead to have a different sort of meal with him, in an inn they have never been to before. And Cale agrees, because in his mind nothing Raon asks for is ever a tantrum.
Maybe when they step onto the weathered flooring Cale feels something, a sense so ominous that his breath is caught in his throat and beside him Raon is confused, 'Human?' and Cale glances around but nothing is out of the ordinary, even his APs didn't react but he can swear something isn't right. Maybe then he tries to persuade Raon into leaving but in the little dragon's mind nothing is unusual and he wants to act like a kid just for once, and actually even Cale understands that so he can only swallow the lingering dread and pat the little dragon's head, moving inside.
Who followed them there? In the first place, with even Cale's most striking featureāhis hairādyed, how could someone recognise him or an invisible entity? Unless someone followed him right from the start. The moment he was preparing to leave, an attendant handing him the coat, a substitute chef preparing snacks for his kidsāin essence, a spy in the Henituse household. But the point here is that someone, who had escaped the scrutiny of a trained assasin and a swordsman and a literal dragon, is following the oblivious duo around. Maybe entering into that inn was a complete coincidence, maybe there were impostors spread all around the territory with the inn being their centre. Maybe the plan wasn't quite this, but how could they let such an opportunity pass by?
Instead of a room Cale decides to eat in a half-open spaceānearest the exit, just to be sureāand when Raon reveals himself underneath the tablecloth, just to show him his content smile, Cale almost lets go of all the tension in his body.
Soon their meals arrive, and Cale discreetly slides one of the desserts under the table, to the dragon sitting on his lap. He's taking a bite of the steak while feeling the poison detoxifiers in his coat pockets, given by Ron a long time back, he's chewing the small bites while keeping an eye on who left the inn just then, and who entered. It's fine, it's fine as long as Raon is happy.
But it's also odd. Cale loosens his shirt collar and stops eating, 'Did Ron tie it too tight?' but his butler never made such clumsy mistakes, maybe it's the weather, or just his nerves.
A hesitant bite. The warmth of the dragon on his lap. Someone getting up to his right and paying their bill. Another bite-
Suddenly, he gets up, startling the dragon who had once again turned invisible when Cale tapped him quickly. His hands are shaking and he doesn't bother to count the coins and leaves the whole pouch on the table, heading for the exit immediately.
Maybe in his way someone stops him, and they're just confused but Cale doesn't even regard him as he's almost sprinting straight ahead.
The door?
It's locked.
His heart drops.
Before he can even think of breaking through he drops down immediately and there's a crash right where his head had been, and Cale's face drains of color as he regards the explosive shatter of the glass that had been directed at him instead. but there's no time, there's no time as he's ducking between tables and raising his shield and he can't tell if its because he can't focus or something else, but his powers are slow to materialize and his ears are ringing and the next open door he sees in sight is his target-
With any power he can muster he throws the tables and all the debris whatsoever in the air and the dust is stinging his eyes as he's running and he doesn't need to see Raon's face to tell that something was blocking the dragon's magic as well.
The room's empty and Cale doesn't know how or when he had managed to bolt it, he's panting raising his hands to shield the door, when he just, drops it. because there's no light, nothing is forming in front of his hands.
And he knows. He understood it vaguely when he coughed up blood before he even pulled the wind, he knew it when the shield wasn't enough to block the shards flying at his body. He knew, he knew...
'Human-'
Quickly his gaze wandered around the room, towards a closed window. He had rushed to the first floor in the mayhem and he could escape very well if he simply shattered that one glass blocking his route-
'Human!'
He looks at the little dragon, he slides down by the reverberating wall and pulls Raon in front of him.
'Come here.'
He could get out, yes. But there were people outside. His powers were blocked, and so was Raon's magic. Since no one had yet responded to the commotion, it was obvious there was a mage outside maintaining a soundproofing barrier. Maybe this wasn't supposed to be an inn in the first place.
'Kid.'
And this was his territory, his family's territory. What guarantee was there that this wasn't the sole place that was attacked? Could he simply rely on the hope that Choi Han or Eruhaben would save him in time when he wasn't sure if they themselves were safe?
And if, in the process, Raon was caught? What could a five year old do, defenseless?
'Listen.'
'Human- it's my fault-'
'Shh, quiet.'
Raon's vision was blurred but he could see, he could see that Cale was looking at him with his usual smile, the carefree one, the one he always showed when the little dragon acted like a kid.
'It's not your fault, it'll never be.'
But Cale's hands were shaking.
Blood was dripping down his face, there were glass shards completely sticking into his coat.
'Listen to me now, okay?'
Raon wanted to tell him.
'You have enough mana to fly, right?'
He wanted to tell Cale that the latter's eyes were glistening too.
'There's a window over there, look.'
Raon didn't look away. Cale simply smiled.
'As soon as i break the window, you go right down the street, okay?'
He didn't want to. He didn't want to leave the weak human behind.
'I'll get out soon as well, so just go and inform someone till then, yeah?'
But Cale was hugging him, his hands now trembling with an intensity that Raon felt his body shake as well. He was hugging him as if that was his resolve, as if deprived of it he would crumble all alone on his own.
'Raon.'
So he couldn't say anything.
'Answer me.'
He couldn't.
He nodded his head, and the warmth left his body. Soon, Cale was standing in front of him with his usual composed expression, removing the shards over his clothes indifferently.
The clamor beyond the door had grown deafening, but it was as if the two were in a completely different world of their own. Why was that? Was it because Cale, who alone had to fight with his powers blocked, was looking around so calmly, as if the matter wasn't even related to him?
Dazed, he moved to the window, familiar steps echoing behind him.
Cale looked at Raon, quietly taking in his features.
He knew what awaited him. He knew that the little dragon knew itāmore than he'd liked toāas well. If the goal was their deaths, the method wouldn't have been so subtle.
But at least, at least Raon would get out. He wasn't one to be optimistic, but maybe Choi Han or Ron would get to him before anything could happen. Yes, there was no need for some useless fear.
He picked up a stray rod, his grip weakening as sweat coated his hands.
'Ready?'
He spoke, emphasising his speech, so it wouldn't show his terror.
He didn't know if the dragon nodded or not, there was no time.
CRASH-!
'Alright-'
Cale turned on his feet, suppressing the blood rushing to his tongue as he mustered a final shield in front of his eyes.
Behind his back, a chill breeze sent shivers down his spine, but he could finally sigh in relief.
Raon had escaped. He could now make the sudden chatter of the outside world at the broken window, but even that relieved himāhe had made the right choice. He had to stay behind.
Clank-
Instant, he wondered if he should use it. What if he didn't make it out in time? In the first place, where was he even supposed to go? Everywhere there were people, innocents who would be sacrificed in the midst of this useless brawl.
Shwaaa-
Finally, the shield broke.
Even in that instant, Cale stood quiet at the mesmerising light, the curtain of gleam that shattered through the room as if purifying it.
He didn't know how to fight well with swords, if there were any swords near him in the first place. He couldn't use most weapons in this world, and the only support he had was stripped away as well.
His knees buckled under a foreign blow. He could make the screams and some vague orders as he moved his hand, having only the wind left to use.
There wasn't much time now. Everywhere in sight were strangers, strangers eager to have him fall. He couldn't tell if all the 'customers' he had seen were involved as well. He briefly hoped no innocent one had got caught up in between.
Cale looked down blankly. Beneath him was a familiar crimson, but one that didn't offer any comfort this time.
He couldn't tell if his hands were bound or if he had fallen himself.
Someone yanked his hair up, but even that felt so distant that he couldn't care much.
Briefly, as his head was slammed against the floor, as his hands were crushed under someone's boots, he thought of the meal he had before. It didn't matter if that was what started it all. It only mattered that the taste was as good as it could have been, maybe because of his kid's smile.
He wished that Raon wouldn't blame himself, as he swallowed down the panic in his throat and firmly replaced it with relief.
---
What happens afterwards? Not on Raon's side, but with Cale? Supposing that a search had begun, they couldn't have teleported far, but wouldn't have remained within the Henituse Duchy either.
My point is, Cale couldn't have come in contact with the White Star, or even his direct subordinates, not immediately. Supposing that the plan wasn't even a plan in the first place, it wouldn't be too much to say that the communication on either side wouldn't be in sync.
But surely they wouldn't just let the redhead be? How would they suppress his powers? Would they force-feed him with what they had drugged his food with before?
And, to be realistic, they don't need a reason to torture him, do they? At best, he's simply the Commander of the enemy force that they need to break. At worst, he's the source of all their troubles and now he's at their feet, helpless.
They only need to exercise some 'restraint', just enough to not upset their own leader but enough that he doesn't have any means to escape, in the worst case scenario.
How exactly? Do they just resort to brute strength? Do they notice that his body heals on its own, and do worse? Or are they more cautious of the fact that one of his APs is still working? (Im focusing on the latter for my mental health)
But foremost, what about Cale? What does he try to distract himself with as his fingers are crushed for the nth time? Are Records a better relief than the faint gasp of breath he manages to get after minutes? Is his focus on gathering the information in between his own screams, or is he simply waiting?
And how long has it been? Maybe his eyes aren't blindfolded, the space being too dark to gather anything significant. Just another method to get him to witness his own ruin, just another stupidly twisted scheme.
How does he endure those seconds? Considering his powers are suppressed and his usually chatty friends silent, what accompanies him beside the smell of blood and tears?
Does he still wait? Or does his mind conjure up a plan involving Instant, based on the brief openings he had seen whenever someone entered the desolate chamber?
Im thinking, how long does he try to suppress any sound, any shrieks? How long before he gives up, before he gives in to the disgusting echo of his own ache that does nothing but satisfy his torturer?
And when his hair is yanked up and he's asked some incomprehensible words, does he smile and think of Beacrox doing the same to his victims? When he's fed that same potion again and again, does he think of the time he gently held up the black dragon's head, and does he wonder if his eyes now hold the same fear as Raon's did then?
What if all of this just happens in a day? Or two, three at most?
In the end, how does he manage to escape? His allies, comprising of some of the strongest on the continent, must've found some clue, some mana left in the traces that they could track. But Cale himself, when he's alone and blood is trickling down his hair, what does he decide onāhope or fear?
Maybe he spends his time gathering every trivial informationāthe person who force-feeds feeds him, the person who checks in in between, the one who asks him useless questions and the one who only pursues bloodāhe observes and tries to analyse the way their bodies move, tries to guess how they would fight and if he could confront them.
And when he can feel his strength at bestājust as a silhouette appears in his vision with the glass vialāmaybe he executes his plan then, which is nothing but forcing everything out of his will to use his powers and get out of the chains, even if his plate breaks in the process.
The thing is, there's something about Cale freeing himself on his own, even if his fam is right at the doorstep closing in on him.
Maybe the moment he finally decides to use Instant, the moment nothing but despair clouds his vision, he hears a familiar shout.
'Human!'
And vaguely, as he's falling, he can only wonder why they'd let that small child witness such a sight, when there were adults around to do the same.
---
Now, what's now? Nothing is, and everything is, in Cale's vision.
I won't focus on his fam here, there's enough pain as it is.
What I'm thinking is, how subtle are the signs of his exhaustion?
The first night he saw Raon again, he kept repeating faint reassurances to the dragon till sleep crept in, and he wasn't sure if he was comforting Raon or comforting himself in the end.
The first time he's served a proper meal afterward, he retches up, his eyes tearing away from the sight of a piece of steak that looked no different than the one he had eaten before.
It got to the extent that Ron had started sitting by his side, taking a few bites of the meal before serving the same to the redheadāall in front of his eyes. Cale had wondered what it would do when Ron didn't even have any Ancient Powers to show the 'supposed' effect, but when it did help him, when he noticed that he didn't feel as queasy after watching Ron eat the same, he felt so repulsed that he refused to eat anything for two days afterwards simply because of the shame.
So they started having a meal together, Ron and him, and not even the kids were around on Cale's request, and the dining table was quiet except for the sound of cutlery, the silence as if accomodating his pain.
When Ron wasn't available, Choi Han ate with him, and when he wasn't, someone else from his fam did. The kids never didāCale couldn't bear the sight of Raon eating with him together for a while.
Im thinking, does he ever reveal what happened in detail? The kidnapping part is a given, he wouldn't hide anything that could be 'useful'. But the aftermath, the torture?
Does his hands shake now every time he tries to raise up a shield? Does he have to always find a corner, a place to hide in, and calm his heart every time he uses the Sound of the Wind?
Maybe outside of work, he stopped going out of the mansion ever again. Maybe his kids never asked him to, not after the whole terror that took place.
What about the nightmares? The Records? Screams echoing in his ears that sound eerily familiar? His fingers, intact, yet all of them twisted in his mind? His legs, stiff, yet there's a weight on it that he can't get himself to push off?
When he ties his hair there's an ache, like someone just pulled him up. Maybe he shortens it a bit, maybe touching his own hair feels so revolting now that he only tells Ron and the butler doesn't ask anything, only cuts it as Cale wants him to. What happens when he doesn't feel different afterwards? What happens when the ache remains, when the hollowness remains?
---
Im thinking of Cale drowning himself in work, disregarding it all. Im thinking that it probably did work to some extent, except the times he couldn't hold a cup still in his hand, or the times he had to sit down gasping because he suddenly couldn't breathe, or the times someone asked if he was okay and he couldn't answer.
What about the brief respites in between, the ones who tortured him getting tortured in turn? White Star being unaware of all this, a fact that somehow brought him relief? Or just his kids' smiles, or his family's help, or the fact that none of them ever asked him anything, but always let him feel comfortable enough to talk about it?
Im wondering if Cale ever thought 'it could've been worse' but not in a sense that it wasn't so bad, but in the sense that at least, at least he's not alone and afraid and curled up in a dark room, and at least he can breathe freely again.
a mostly complete list of my favorite og cale-centric fics in no particular order
multichapter (completed/ongoing)
issue found in translation by fanfiction_artist_prototype ā my favorite og cale/tcf fic of all time
in an instant by messy_haired_bum ā the reaction fic. technically not og cale centric but the angst surrounding him has caused emotional scars within me even after all these years
the first son of the count's family by sudenishindeiru ā very sad that this was deleted because ancient power krs is everything to me
one bad end is enough by asterefflores ā when will my husband (this fic) return from war (editing). very oc-heavy but it's tristan so who cares
dear fallen petals by thefalloficarus ā cjs-og cale friendship but at what cost. de-aged og cale in earth 1 shenanigans but it hurts more than you think
among the lost time by unlucky_cactus ā the absolute best ogchoicale dynamic. i love them and their banter here so much. also choi family lore and childhood friends krs and cjs
acquaint fate by unlucky_cactus ā tcf cast on their way to kidnap reunite with their favorite alcoholic brat. team 1 is not amused
our treasured trash by delusional_daydreamer ā og cale attempts to get expelled from roan academy only for everyone to realize that he's not trash but actually a great guy after many misunderstandings
the looking glass boy by alligatoreyes ā 40yr!og cale and krs body share with an 11 year old cale who really should not be dealing with this shit while something more sinister goes down in the henituse household
live as you will by verzy ā jour thames decides consensual kidnapping is the answer and tells ron and beacrox to surprise adopt cale
i've been making something out of nothing by corvidaes ā transmasc og cale gets gender affirming surgery by one gold dragon grandpa
end my suffering dear duke! by aceresa ā 40yr! og cale gets yeeted to an otome game au of tboah. unfortunately for him, everyone has decided that he's on the krs route
pay me in hugs by thisisvee ā and they were roommates rokcale au
catching angels in the rain by thisisveeā "did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" kim rok soo says, knowing damn fucking well og cale fell on him causing several broken ribs
his brother's keeper by thursday ā angsty tboah what if with og cale who just wants revenge for his brother
one shots
in accordance by pheenick ā i recommended this fic to a friend who has no knowledge of tcf years ago after they made fun of me for crying to this fic and they still reread this fic to cry to this day
a study in scarlet by thefalloficarus ā amazing og cale character study and low-key canon in my heart
younger brother by to_sleep_all_the_angst_away ā beastman au but it features an unhealthy sibling relationship between og cale and beacrox in the tboah timeline
rulers and lemon tea by zell_hatoule ā protective molans supremacy
i don't know if i should miss you, but i know i never cared by corvidaes ā screaming and crying about og cale and beacrox here
how to protect by zell_hatoule ā beacrox is og cale's hyung and he will fight someone for him
little cale's curiosity by delusional_daydreamer ā very cute, very precious
pudding by thisisvee ā krs and og cale actually act like siblings for once. by that i mean they beat the shit out of each other for supposedly "stealing and eating" their snack
boot - leather soup for the soul by thisisvee ā god of death save beacrox and his kitchen from the monstrosity og cale and the kids cooked up
we love too much (we'll pay any price) by empress_nyx0802 ā jour, when i catch you jour, when i catch you. has my favorite interpretation of jour and also the first fic i read of jour
jo ho-shik's very good, especially productive journey in aiding the beloved of a heavenly savior to revive lost love (NOT CLICKBAIT!!!) by squidballsinc ā the fic that spawned my arsonist og cale agenda. also ogchoicale reunion (ā ā§ā ā½ā ā¦ā )
"if you think i'm quitting, you're wrong." says cale as he try to kiss choi han by zhouxie_hao ā the only way ogchoicale can get together
ashes by sunset by zell_hatoule ā og choi han is unhealthily attached to his bird (og cale) but who can blame him
"cale-nim, ow." by maya_di_angelo ā choi han teases og cale and everybody lives happily ever after
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hellooo^^!! i really like the totcf fanfic that you made and i thank you for it. Can i request something? i found a lot of fanfics about cale x f reader who are a married couple, but i never found a fanfic about their wedding. so can you make one? like from cale proposing to her, the preparation for their wedding day, or the reaction of cale's family and when he was on their wedding day. i really appreciate it if you are willing to make it, and sorry if i ask too much. stay healthy^^
Eternity Has Started Before We Even Knew - Cale/Fem!Reader
a/n: i don't know much about weddings but i tried my best huhu
English isnāt my first language so there will be grammatical errors
Pls don't repost my work anywhere without my permission
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It's been roughly a month since Cale proposed to you. Now, it has also been roughly a month since the stressful wedding preparation started. Despite the stress, you still managed to find some fun in doing it.
Especially when the people around you ask how your now fiance proposed to you.
āDid the young master really turn the Henituse garden into a fairy-esc wonderland and set up a dream-like dinner by the pond Miss [Name]? I never pegged him to be such a romantic!ā
āRight? I was surprised too, especially since they said he planned it for months and I never noticed a thing. Cale, while he was never outwardly sweet, has always taken into consideration what my likes and tastes are. I think that consideration and love he has for me shined through his proposal.ā
As you and the boutique owner chatted about the proposal and wedding preparations, you found yourself reminiscing about your belovedās sweet preparation a month ago.
You could still feel the light breeze in your hair as the kids dragged you towards the garden. Still see the light, warm lights that made it seem as though fairies were emitting them. Could still savour how Cale stood in the middle of it all, holding a bouquet of your favourite flowers while wearing an extravagant outfit he usually would throw a tantrum about.
You could still hear how everyone congratulated you once you got back inside the manor. Could still feel the hug from Deruth and Violan as they welcomed you to the family. Could still see Basen and Lilyās shining eyes as they rejoiced once Cale told them that you said yes.
Of course, while wedding preparations can bring joy and excitement, they can also cause distress. Your betrothed being such an important figure did not help in the slightest.
āSweetheart, my dear you know you have to go. His Highness cannot ward them off alone.ā
āHe's a grown man, he can handle himself. Plus you told me that youāve been having problems with one of the vendorsā¦ā
You cupped Caleās cheeks and looked into his eyes. While you understand that he wants to help you prepare for the wedding, you also know that the kingdom needs him right now.
āRon and I can handle the wedding matters for now. Youāve been trying to juggle our wedding and the kingdom for a week now and itās time for you to solely on one of them.ā
āYouāre right, thatās why Iām foregoing the kingdom so I can focus on you instead.ā
āBabyā¦ā
Cale Henituse grumbled in annoyance before kissing you and muttering that his going to cause havoc so no one would call him for a while. As if on cue, Raon enters the room telling him that Alberu is calling him and it seems to be urgent.
āIf he doesnāt give me at least 5 golden plaques and a new villa as our wedding gift Iām going to blackmail him for at least 3 months and tell everyone to not give him dead mana.ā
The new upgraded status of going from Caleās girlfriend to fiance has its own perksā¦ much to Caleās dismay.
āMiss [Name] itās good to see you again. Are you and your boyfriend still going strong?ā
Cage greets from beside Marquis Stan. They were in your home to visit Cale after so long and it just so happened that you were near the entrance so you greeted them.
āCale? Oh! His my ex now!ā
ā[Name], for the last time, saying that Iām your ex is not a good way to say that weāre engagedā
You heard your loverās dismayed sigh before you could feel his arms warp themselves around your waist, exactly where they belonged. In front of you Cage and Taylor can be seen laughing with the former pulling out alcohol from her sleeves to celebrate the occasion.
Wedding planning has its own ups and downs. Sometimes, some things are really just bound to go wrong while planning. There are times when you would feel frustrated because nothing seems to be going your way. Still, whenever you remember that the end of this is you and Cale getting marriedā¦ everything doesnāt seem as frustrating anymore.
And oh was it worth the excessive planning and stress.
Because now you are walking down the aisle, surrounded by people you love. Walking towards the man you would spend eternity with, the man who is both your best friend and the love of your life.
The ceremony was elegant and emotional. You and Cale spared no effort in making everything to be the way you envisioned it. It was like the wedding of the century, it could rival royal weddings. Still, despite the extravagance, it was still intimate as the only people invited were the people the both of you love and trust.
Every single soul witnessing this union are people who has seen how everything developed between you two. People who witnessed how you and Cale slowly fell for the other. People who lost sleep because of frustration because both of you were so dense. People who may or may not have cried tears of joy when you got together. People who supported one of you when the other one was injured or unconscious. People who fought tooth and nail with other people because they kept accusing Cale of cheating simply because he used to have a trash reputation.
They were there for everything, and now they could see how Cale ever-so-slightly stumble on his words when reciting his vows. While his face looks composed, his eyes look so emotional. Looking at you as if you had hung the moon and stars.Ā
You were his world, and everyone could see that in his eyes.
Everyone could also see how their commanderās hands trembled when he was slipping your wedding ring. Itās such a sight to see their Cale, famous for being calm, composed and unwavering, act like a newborn deer.
And of course, everyone could see that lone tear of happiness that slid down the redheadās cheeks as he kissed you. No one will ever mention it though, for the sake of their emotionally constipated young master.
The reception had a more humorous vibe compared to the ceremony. Everyone let loose and embarrassing stories were thrown during the speeches.
āCale, my lovely sworn brother, I love you, I really do, but I didnāt enjoy the times you barged into my room in the middle of the night to share your fears of having a chronic heart condition when it was just you being in love with [Name].ā
Alberu shared during his speech and it made everyone laugh.Ā
āYou think thatās bad? Try living with him nya!ā
Someone heckled from the crowd and it insinuated another round of laughter.
The rest of the night was fun. Everyone forgot their duties for a while and was solely focused on having a good time. Some people danced, others took this time to catch up with friends they hadnāt talked to much, and there were even people who started an eating contest.Ā
It was the wedding night of your dreams.
But that doesnāt seem to be the case for Cale.
āCale Henituse! We havenāt even said goodbye to our guests yet!ā
You scolded your now-husband as he kissed you while trying to pull you away from the party.
āDonāt care, I havenāt had you to myself for a whole week. Plus itās our wedding night and honeymoon, theyād understand.ā
Cale argued as he brought you to the teleportation circle that was prepared beforehand to take you to your honeymoon destination. Being the starved man he is, Cale Henituse kept kissing you in between talks. His impatience shows as he tries to hastily unzip your dress while activating the circle at the same time.
āBut- hmn- Cale-!ā
You tried to pull away, but itās been a week since you properly kissed your beloved so you eventually melted into the kiss. Cale took this as a chance to tear the magic scroll that would activate the teleportation circle.
āNow how about spending a wonderful first night as Mrs. Henituse? Hmm?ā
I am literally losing my mind here. Iāve been stalking TCF on ao3 for good Alberu fics years now and oof this was a sucker punch. This aināt even Alberu centric though? Itās a Cale x OC fic?? What is this??? This is insanely good writing Iām losing my mind it has EVERYTHING HELP
Literally choking down tears, why is this so character accurate OGCale my poor baby SOMEONE KICK ADINāS ASS DAMNITā
If anyone wants to check them out (and i highly reccommend if you like tcf character whump), its called to your eternity by lizmidford645 on ao3
Would whisper, "I love you" into your ears while secretly planning to lock you up in his bedroom- blindfolded, with black silken ribbons around your wrists and tied to his bed, helpless and waiting for him.
"I only need you and you alone. You are my everything." He would murmur softly into the quiet room, faint puffs of air the only real noise as you struggled to breathe.
"Don't you love me too?" And you nod, regardless of what your thoughts had been in the beginning- because the hours blended into days and days into weeks, and weeks into months.
You forget how long you had been there, sometimes let into gardens to feel the sunshine on your skin, but he was always next to you in case you tried to run away. How could you, when your legs always felt like liquid every time he brushed his fingers across your lower back?
His hand caresses your waist as he leans down to kiss your forehead, lips faintly pressing against your fluttering eyelids. He notices your knees slowly starting to buckle against his touch and he chuckles quietly before lifting you up into his arms. "Let's go home."
And home was with him. It was your home now too.
So it was good that you couldn't remember how you had come into his embrace all those months ago. Where your family was. How they had screamed your name as you were taken by his guards, tossed into his carriage like a sack.
How you banged on the windows, wailing for anyone to rescue you. How you had fallen to your knees in despair at the sight of blood splattering onto the glass, and how Cale had brushed your hair back from your forehead. How he tilted your chin up to peer into your deadened eyes and tears still streaming down your face.
"It's okay, I'll make sure you can always see them." And he kept that promise to you. A little too well perhaps. That garden you loved to make flower crowns in, had made little rings for the two of you as you hummed a silly tune aimlessly. The smell of roses was always overpowering, the blooms so gorgeous as they swayed under the sun's bright rays.
Little white bones poking out from underneath the soil never ruined the garden's picturesque beauty. As long as you could keep ignoring it.
