Dad

+1

Cale paused mid-bite before taking another. It was one of those rare days when he found himself inside Alberu's office, relishing a quiet moment. While Alberu was engrossed in his paperwork, Cale was enjoying a book.

The tranquility was abruptly shattered when the room was filled with the sounds of three young kids teleporting in, their laughter and excited shouts filling the space. Two cats landed on Alberu's lap, and a tiny dragon fluttered overhead.

The three children glanced at him, and in a chorus of familiarity, they said, "Hello, Cookie Crown Prince Alberu!" before merrily dashing away. The cats leaped off Alberu's lap, and the tiny dragon flew over to Cale, seeking cuddles.

Cale welcomed them by adjusting his posture, allowing the kids to arrange themselves around him. Hong wasted no time, immediately hopping into Cale's lap, while On sat properly beside him. Raon flopped onto his other side, resting his head on Cale's leg. The children chimed in with a chorus of "Hello human!" and "Hello Cale-nim!" which brought a slight smile to Cale's face as he began to distribute equal pets to each of the kids.

Observing this heartwarming scene, Alberu smiled softly. Setting his pen aside, he stood up and walked toward a small cabinet where he kept a jar of cookies for the kids, as the one he'd placed on the table for Cale was nearly empty.

"Hello, Raon, On, Hong, would you like some cookies?" Alberu asked.

"Yes!"

"Yes, please!"

"Yes! Cookie crown prince!" came the enthusiastic replies from the children.

Cale couldn't help but snort at Alberu's immediate action, shaking his head slightly. He felt a sense of pride in how effectively "his" kids had managed to win over Alberu's favor, to the extent that the Crown Prince would set aside his work to attend to them.

Feeling entirely at ease in this comfortable environment, Cale voiced his unfiltered thoughts. "You're such a dad."

Alberu froze in the middle of his actions, his heart pounding wildly at the unexpected comment. On one hand, he was surprised that the actual father of the kids had made such a statement. On the other hand, there was a blossoming sense of delight in his chest. Over the years, as he'd grown closer to the kids, he had developed a profound fondness for them. However, he hadn't anticipated that his role would be perceived to the extent of being seen as a father figure. But there it was, Cale, the kids' actual father, making that comment. Was there something behind those words?

Alberu's thoughts wandered back to a significant event that had unfolded a few months ago when Cale was pursued by numerous socialite women attempting to court him. He reflected on Cale's declaration that he couldn't be with someone who didn't have his kids' approval. Additionally, Alberu recalled moments during noble meetings in the capital where Cale had emphasized that he wasn't raising the children alone.

On the contrary, Cale was completely unaware of the implications behind his own words. In his mind, he was preoccupied with a mental battle against the Super Rock, which for some inexplicable reason, had chosen to meddle with Cale's thoughts concerning Alberu.

Meanwhile, the three kids, averaging nine years old—On, Hong, and Raon—observed the two adults, fully aware of the underlying feelings between Alberu and Cale, yet acknowledging the adults' reluctance to act on them. The kids found the situation silly; to them, the Crown Prince was amiable, offering cookies and keeping their human, Cale, content. They appreciated that Alberu didn't attempt to separate them from Cale, and the ongoing provision of food was an added bonus.

Cale, on the other hand, seemed noticeably more at ease around Alberu. He often projected a façade when interacting with most individuals, layering masks upon masks to conceal his true self. Only with a select few did he let his guard down and reveal his genuine persona—a book-loving, desert enthusiast. Crown Prince Alberu was one of those rare individuals.

Observing the interaction, On, the oldest and most mature of the three, shook her head before offering a bright smile to her siblings. They all nodded in mutual understanding. In their childlike perspective, it was their responsibility to nudge things in favor of making their dad happy. It was their duty, their responsibility to orchestrate a scenario where Cale and the Crown Prince would kiss—just like in the novels.

But they couldnt call Alberu "dad", that was Cale title.

"Papa Alberu!" Hong chimed in, playing the role of the oblivious child, "Can I also get a cup of milk?" A strangled sound escaped from Cale.

Alberu's breath hitched, and he turned to Hong and then to Cale, his eyes widening in surprise.

Seizing the moment, On leaped from her seat, darted to Alberu's desk, and hopped onto it. Transforming back into her human form, she swung her legs childishly while pretending to peruse the paperwork the Crown Prince was immersed in. "Papa Alberu, I want to help with the papers! I know I can do it; Dad has been teaching me a lot for when I take control of the Molan Household!"

Another choked sound emerged from Cale, who was feeling slightly overwhelmed by this unexpected barrage aimed at his heart.

"Dad," Raon spoke up. Disregard the double attack; this was turning into a full-on siege, a triple threat kind of situation. "Shouldn't Papa Cookie Crown Prince come sit with us? That way he can also eat cookies!"

Never mind that Alberu wasn't particularly fond of sweets.

But perhaps if you can't beat them or escape from them, joining them might be the only option—especially if they were pulling one over on Alberu.

"I don't know, Raon" Cale said, his eyes glancing at Alberu with a small smirk "You should ask Papa about it"

And there lay Alberu, metaphorically dead because of Cale. Although, if Alberu were to be honest, there was nothing particularly new about that.

"Papa!" Nevermind Cale, Raon was going to metaphorically kill him "Come sit with us! there is space here on the big couch!"

Alberu released a heavy sigh, briefly covering his eyes. When he looked up, he noticed On had collected all the paperwork, neatly arranging it on the table. Cale had shifted to the side, making room for Alberu to sit comfortably. Meanwhile, Hong was engrossed in reading the papers alongside his sister, and Raon was gazing at Alberu with wide, expectant blue eyes, fixed directly on him.

What stirred his heart was the reluctantly tender expression Cale wore. Unbeknownst to the scammer, Cale's subtle blush and the reddening of his ears, coupled with the sparkling intensity in his eyes, took Alberu's breath away once more. The moment Cale flashed him a smirk, Alberu nearly fumbled the tray of tea, milk, and cookies he was holding.

Despite the composure of someone who had expertly navigated numerous noble gatherings, Alberu's legs felt weak as he settled beside Cale. The kids immediately seized the cookies, while Cale helped himself to another one.

"Alright, On, let's dive into this paperwork," Alberu said, addressing the enthusiastic girl, before they delved into discussing the documents.

Cale observed them, raised his book, and lightly tapped his cookie against his lips, engrossed in his reading at a steady pace. Raon nestled against him and closed his eyes, being the one among the children who tired more quickly at the age of six. Meanwhile, Hong glanced at his sister, occasionally interjecting with childishly clever remarks.

In the quiet, the two scammers found themselves caught up in each other's silent company. Eventually, a sense of camaraderie settled in, allowing them to unwind in each other's presence. Cale's posture gradually shifted, almost as if he were drawn closer to Alberu. The Crown Prince, intermittently, passed a fresh cookie to Cale whenever he finished the one he was eating.

The children were somewhat annoyed that their Dad and their Papa weren't kissing, but they decided to regard this as a good first step.

And then peace reigned among them once again.