an unfortunate change in genre

Part 40

Alberu was just a bit out of sorts.

Things were going well, for the most part, over the course of the last few months. The Kingdom was mending from the damage the White Star had done, they were making appropriate preparations for the White Star's inevitable return, and he'd quite successfully strengthened his claim to the throne and the kingdom itself along with creating stronger bonds with neighboring kingdoms.

Of course none of that would have been possible without Roksu Henituse. The annoyingly dependable bastard who Alberu treasured like a younger brother.

Roksu really was dependable.

That was why when Roksu said he'd help Alberu get in contact with his elusive older brother, Alberu had rested with the certainty that Cale would at the very least stop dodging his calls. Roksu had said that he'd only help if Cale wanted to talk to Alberu but...

Well, it was just among a lot of separate concerns that pricked at Alberu's anxiety.

Everything had gone too fast for them to have a proper conversation about any of it. From that drunken night where Cale had broken down so thoroughly that it still stung Alberu's heart to think about right up until they were finally all able to leave the Endable Kingdom safe and sound, there just hadn't been the right time to talk.

There was the revelation that Cale was most certainly not his physical age that needed to be addressed and so many of the issues that had cropped up during that chaotic time, from Cale's self-sacrificial nature to his brothers to just everything and even beyond all of that, Alberu was unsettled for a few petty reasons as well.

Cale Henituse had been a close friend for the better part of a decade. Ever since that first night when he'd appeared in front of Alberu, bloody and demanding help, he was a person who Alberu could talk to. Roksu too, of course. But it was different.

Alberu found Roksu easy to talk to. They thought similarly and they both had their eyes on seemingly unachievable goals that rested in the future. Roksu was like a partner in crime, a close friend, a younger brother.

Cale was...

Alberu didn't know what Cale was.

He knew he missed him with aching pain that weighed down his heart. The calls that could last for hours, talking about nothing in particular or arguing about how much rest Alberu was getting or the way Cale would snort with derision when he disapproved of something. The way Cale spoke with rough words but always had an effortless grace to him. The way Cale would smile elegantly right before quite eloquently telling Alberu her was a fucking idiot.

They were different but there was a unique sort of peace he found in Cale's presence that he treasured.

He was entirely unprepared for when Cale cut contact completely.

He heard about Cale more through Rosalyn than the man himself which was an itchy feeling that he really didn't like to ruminate on him because it made him irrationally annoyed with his reliable ally and friend, Rosalyn.

Alberu was agitated and unsettled and now of all times, he needed to host a ball to appease his cabinet.

At least he'd be able to see Roksu and Cale. They had both RSVP'd their attendance and Alberu felt that he could endure just about any annoying political machinations trying to force his hands towards matrimony when he had his friends at his side. Of course, with Roksu attending Choi Han and Raon wouldn't be far behind which meant more allies at his side who could ease the unsettled emotions raging behind his sunny smile.