The Final Chance

Unlucky Bastard

"Cale" Talking
'Cale' Thinking
"CALE" Shouting
°°Cale: Ancient powers

The picture on the top doesn't belong to me, credits to the owner of the picture

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With that dangerous smirk still playing on his lips, Cale began heading in their direction, the sea of nobles momentarily forgotten. Archie and George exchanged a wary glance but followed after him, knowing full well that whatever Cale was up to, it was bound to cause chaos.

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As Cale approached Taylor, both Taylor and Cage noticed his presence, turning toward him with respectful bows. The crowd of nobles trailing behind Cale immediately fell silent, their eyes fixed on the unfolding scene, curious and tense.

Cale's gaze shifted between Taylor and the nobles, then back to Taylor, an amused glint in his eyes. His lips curled into a mischievous smirk as a thought crossed his mind: 'Let the show begin.'

"Hyung~" Cale called out in an overly affectionate tone as he strode toward Taylor, pulling him into a sudden embrace. "I missed you so much," he added, his voice deliberately soft and full of warmth, a tone that left the surrounding nobles in stunned silence. The emperor had another hyung? The shock rippled through the crowd, as they stared in disbelief at the unexpected display.

Taylor, quick to catch on to Cale's antics, decided to play along. He patted Cale's head fondly, wearing a calm, knowing smile.

"I missed you too, dongsaeng," Taylor responded smoothly, casting a brief glance at the wide-eyed nobles before returning his attention to Cale. "Is something troubling you, dongsaeng?" he asked, his voice gentle yet teasing, fully immersing himself in the game.

"No, hyung, nothing at all. I just wanted to give you something," Cale said, stepping back from the embrace, his smirk widening in satisfaction. His eyes sparkled with the thrill of what was about to unfold.

From the sidelines, Cage, George, and Archie all exchanged knowing looks. 'He's doing it,' they thought in unison. They could see it clearly-Cale was setting the stage for a grand spectacle, and it was about to begin.

"I've been meaning to gift you something important, hyung," Cale continued, his tone light and innocent, as if what he was about to say was no big deal. He leaned in slightly, giving Taylor a secret wink, signaling him to play along. Without missing a beat, Taylor discreetly gave a thumbs up in return, fully aware of the charade.

"Oh, dongsaeng! It would be an honor to receive such a gift from you," Taylor responded dramatically, his voice brimming with false emotion as he bowed deeply before Cale, feigning deep gratitude. The act was flawless.

The nobles and rulers standing behind Cale were now completely stunned, their minds reeling. How could a mere noble like Taylor Sten have secured such favor with the emperor? It seemed utterly impossible, a fact they couldn't quite comprehend.

"This is ridiculous," one of the nobles muttered under his breath, but before the rest could voice their disbelief, Cale's next words shattered any semblance of calm, sending shockwaves through the room.

"You'll be taking control of the (Random) sea route, hyung. It'll be incredibly beneficial for you," Cale announced with a wide, almost gleeful smile. The shock that followed was palpable, as gasps echoed through the ballroom.

The nobles were speechless. The route Cale had casually handed over to Taylor was no ordinary trade route-it was one of the most influential and lucrative sea passages in the region. Even Taylor, though quick to adapt to the unfolding drama, couldn't hide his genuine surprise. He coughed awkwardly before bowing again, this time with more sincerity. The act had dropped, and now his respect was real. He understood that Cale wasn't simply playing around-he had truly intended to gift him such a valuable route.

As the weight of Cale's decision settled in, the nobles erupted in an uproar, their carefully constructed facades crumbling under the weight of their frustration.

"Your Majesty!!" one of them shouted, desperation creeping into his voice.

"I... this is..." another tried to argue.

"Please, Your Highness, hear us out-!" someone else began.

But did Cale care about their pleas? Not in the slightest. He simply giggled joyfully to himself, the sound light and carefree, before turning on his heel and walking away. Archie and George followed closely behind, both of them shaking their heads in disbelief at the chaos Cale had so effortlessly caused.

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The grand ball had concluded two days ago, and at present, Cale had retreated to the Forest of Darkness, seeking solace from the exhausting world of politics and nobility. Tired of the constant attention and responsibilities, he had decided to return with his children and Eruhaben to the secluded underground villa, a place he had yet to reveal to the others.

They had been staying there for a day now, enjoying the peace and quiet away from prying eyes. Cale had already sent Whitra and Aries, along with Litana, on a mission to the cave near the shores of Ubar territory. Their task would take three days to complete. Meanwhile, the others had returned to the sea to oversee the tribes and manage the pressing maritime issues.

Currently, Cale found himself lounging in the garden, surrounded by the serene beauty of the forest. He sat with Eruhaben, both of them settled comfortably on the ground. Cale, in his usual lazy fashion, was reclining with his head resting on Eruhaben's lap, while the three children sat a little farther away, engrossed in their playful activity of making flower crowns. Their laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air, a stark contrast to the quiet, contemplative atmosphere around the two adults.

Eruhaben, sipping his tea leisurely, glanced down at Cale with mild annoyance. "Tsk, unlucky bastard, shouldn't you be back at the palace drowning in paperwork right about now?" he asked, his tone carrying the weight of mild disapproval, though it was softened by his sudden affection towards the young phoenix

Without bothering to sit up, Cale replied with a lazy drawl, his hand absentmindedly twirling a flower. "Nah, they'll take care of it. I've got people for that."

Eruhaben hummed in quiet approval, his lips curling slightly as if to say, That's how someone of our caliber should live. He had always believed that high beings such as himself and Cale shouldn't be bogged down by the mundane.

After a moment of silence, Cale spoke up again, his tone casual as if what he was about to say was of no real significance. "Oh, by the way, I'm thinking of contacting a few more dragons to help us deal with all the chaos. We could probably take care of the White Star even faster that way."

Eruhaben paused mid-sip, his gaze shifting toward Cale, a tired sigh escaping his lips. "Haaa, unlucky bastard. How do you even get to know these dragons in the first place?" He rubbed his temples, already bracing himself for whatever unexpected bombshell Cale was about to drop.

Cale, ever the master of surprise, nonchalantly delivered yet another piece of shocking information. "Well, turns out Raon's mother was actually the Dragon Lord."

Eruhaben, thankfully, had long since developed what he mentally referred to as his 'anti-Cale bomb mode.' His tolerance for Cale's unexpected revelations had been honed to such a degree that he no longer feared losing his sanity every time Cale casually mentioned something that would otherwise send anyone else into a spiral.

Instead, he merely shook his head in resignation, sighing once again, though this time there was a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Ahh, I don't know what to do with you anymore. Just do whatever you want, unlucky bastard," he said, his voice a blend of exasperation and amusement.