a Lout and a Prince

Part 30

Cale really and truly did have expensive tastes. Whether it was his clothes, his food, his wine, or his partner. He could have gone with someone else, someone less luxurious, but that really wouldn't have matched well with his tastes.

He needed the finest the kingdom had to offer after all.

And if that meant that the beloved crown prince of the Roan Kingdom had to spend some time explaining to others precisely why he'd chosen the trashiest lout of the kingdom to adorn his arm, well that was all the more fun for Cale.

And maybe that was enough for Cale to play nice during an official event, dressed head to toe in expensive clothes that befit his role as the prince consort, smiling elegantly at flinching nobles, and holding an expensive wine glass with a certain level of malevolence.

Cale had actually been quite well behaved for a while now but that was hardly something that the average nobleman would be privy to. The royal couple had been far more preoccupied with more intimate situations and arrangements to really care about cleaning up Cale's reputation.

For example, the month that Alberu had spent persuading the Henituse family to allow the pairing to begin with was a source of infinite amusement to Cale. It was also a source for some rather complicated emotions for Cale but he was taking his time to dissect those emotions. There was no need to rush. He could take all the time he needed to disentangle how he felt when his father hugged him for the first time in years after he'd finished 'running away from home', how his siblings had been so unexpectedly protective of him, how his step-mother had supported him without a single question or criticism.

Cale had been able to feel and see their love for him and for the boy who'd always just accepted enough, it was perhaps a bit too much all at once.

It was so much easier to focus on teasing his royal highness. And gratifying as well. And it was a relief to be able to take his time with his family. Having the freedom and space and security to act rationally instead of pigeon holing himself self destruction.

There was someone they'd overlooked though.

Within the chaotic mess of the last couple months though, Cale had somewhat forgotten to inform a specific person about any of this and he'd been forced to hear just about everything through third party rumors.

"Your highness." Eric's big polite smile did nothing to hide how he pinned Cale down with a what the hell happened look and Cale looked away innocently as the two exchanged greetings. "It's so good to meet with you again."

Alberu smiled back, clueless of Eric's true nature and Cale thought that maybe he ought to warn Alberu in some way. On the other hand, he could just allow Alberu to take the heat while he indulged in the fluttery feeling he felt when Alberu held him at his side so publicly. That second option was really appealing.

"It's good to see you as well!" Alberu with his glib tongue and his perfect mastery of steering conversations parted his lips for what was sure to be a sensible way forward. He'd been working all night to guide conversations comfortably along an appropriate line of questioning. Most especially to disrupt some of those who wished to insult the prince consort.

Eric cut in. Alberu might be masterful at steering conversations, but Eric was the sort of man who hijacked them. "You must tell me." His eyes flickered to Cale with the disapproving older brother look of you left me in the dark and now I'm going to be exceptionally public about this, Cale ignored this. "How exactly did you and his highness Cale come into acquaintance? I admit that I was taken aback to learn about your relationship! We've been close for years and his highness never said a word to me."