this is hilarious because YOU KNOW they would.
They so, so would they'd push the thought that this is simply the best plan they have to quell unrest in the Roan Empire or something, even though it's very clearly because Alberu accidentally asked for Cale's hand in marriage and then tried to cover it up with political bs, only for Cale to agree.
They both know the other likes them back.
They both know Alberu meant every word of his accidental proposal, eyes filled with hope despite the obvious panic.
They both know Alberu trying to cover his slip up is because of their responsibilities and priorities being everything but their personal lives.
Alberu knows Cale accepted the, frankly illogical, reasoning because he wants to stay with him, despite trying to reason otherwise.
Both know the other knows.
It's always been like that, and it probably always will be. That, because of the weights of their goals, of the country and family they protect, because of the dangers they encounter daily trying to keep everything from falling apart, they will never dare speak of their private, selfish desires out loud.
But they know themselves, they know eachother. They are similar in this way, and that's why they work.
Alberu is a King, an Emperor, with a duty to his country and servitude to the lands. He is a ruler first and foremost, his life has always been as such and always will be. Organising, giving orders, seeing the results of his hard work, seeing his kingdom and empire come into itself and flourish.
Cale, a transmigrator and a man torn by circumstances out of his control, given his own life and grasping it tight, treasuring both his new people and this new world. His family, extensive as it is, and this world, as exhausting it is, is his own priority and his lifelong hope. A peaceful life with them, even more so.
They have their own lives, their own goals, they are individuals that have been solitary for so long it feels impossible for anyone to try and become as close as a lover. But Cale happened to Alberu, and Alberu to Cale.
Quiet nights writing documents, watching each other though communication orbs, talking in hushed voices before a meeting and sharing sharp glances during them. Watching the kids from afar, watching Roan from a distance, watching each other from up close as they stand next to one another.
Perhaps, it had been inevitable.
Similar, but different. The same, but opposite. Day and night, sun and moon, gold and silver, the willing prince and unwilling hero. Completing each other.
There is nothing more attracted to each other than two sides of the same coin or opposite poles in magnets.
So, when Alberu's tongue slipped in a rare moment of weakness, gazing fondly upon Cale's fluttering red hair on the balcony of his room, bathed in a golden light, it was more inevitable than unexpected. Not for the oblivious hero though.
Softly shocked reddish-brown eyes turned to nearly black ones of Alberu's true appearance, wide and unblinking for all of two seconds, making Alberu realise what he'd said.
They stand in silence, the young master still taking Alberu's breath away so he couldn't speak, couldn't get the words from his throat, silenced by awe at his partner tucking hair behind his ear. Not just his appearance, though the reddening cheeks and avoidant eyes only add to the beauty of Henituse's eldest son.
"Alberu." Shaky, somewhat unsure. A rare tone, all in itself, to hear from Cale. His face is back to the same calmness, poker face doing it's learned part, but perhaps because of their closeness, Alberu can tell the man is out of his element despite the fast laced thoughts behind his eyes.
So he back tracks. Barely stabilized shaky hands move as Alberu covers his slip up with the worst performance of his life.
Saying that, this is a good move, politically speaking, that Cale would be able to completely slack off (even though the ruler's wife should most definitely not be doing that), that Alberu needs someone trusted in the castle and doesn't want anyone else other than trusted friends in that position (even though he could have anyone else fill the position), a million other things he can come up with in the spot with his brain scrambled by unprecedented amounts of stress.
Cale is catching all of these lies, because his eyes blink habitually everytime he's unsure and processing, and Alberu stutters like an idiot everytime those eyelashes flutter.
Soft hands press up against Alberu's clothed chest, just resting against the fabric. Not pushing away, just grounding Alberu's somewhat erratic mini breakdown, because he's never had a worse fuck up then this in his entire life.
"I mean, the position would be vacant anyway and giving it to you would-"
"Okay." Cale replies, having calmed down and finished his calculations.
For what, the Emperor isn't sure.
Alberu stares at the man in his arms. The one that's looking uo at him innocently.
"...okay?" He asks. "Okay, what?"
And now he gets stared at like he's the idiot. Which he probably is, considering he accidentaly overstepped their very complicated and yet very simple relationship with about a thousand unspoken rules they never bothered saying outloud.
"I'll marry you." The Henituse replies, voice turning as sure as when he's decided on one of his self-sacrifice plans that are actually just near-self-sacrifice plans are worth it. "But you're planning it."
"Huh? I'm planning the what?"
Noticing Alberu's subpar processing speed, Cale's face turns into a small pout. The one he doesn't even notice he's doing.
Alberu loves him so much it hurts.
"I said, you're planning the wedding." He folds his arms in front of his chest, leaning into Alberu's arms as they subconsciously circle his waist, bringing their fronts together.
"Uh-huh." Alberu nods, stupidly. Idiotically. The cogs turning in his head feel so visible one would assume he's trying to solve famine and world ending events, not his (apparently, since twenty seconds ago) fiancé suggesting they actually get married.
"I can't do any work in the future either. Or at least the bare minimum."
"And we need to invite our entire family."
"And the wedding can't be too long, there needs to be enough delicious food to sustain all the guests. The parade around the city can only last an hour, maximum."
"And the kids need to attend too. We have to get everyone's outfits tailored, but I'll ask Ron to handle that. Everything else is your task."
"..." Cale's eyes sharpen, looking into Alberu's own. "Are you listening?"
The Emperor gazes at Cale with glassy eyes and a flabberghasted expression. A mix of surprised, flustered, in disbelief and utter shock that he gets only when seeing Cale pull off shenanigans halfway across the continent.
It turns into a soft smile once he affirms to himself that Cale isn't accepting this for no reason, eyes crinkling from how wide it gets, and he presses their foreheads together. Rubs their noses for a second too, to indulge himself.
"I am." He says, squeezing Cale. Feeling he's real, that this is real. "I hear you loud and clear."
"That I, an Emperor with a full schedule, should plan the wedding between me and you, the slacker with a bunch of time. Unless you and the family get your cookie-crumb dirtied fingers on it and start yelling at me to rest."
He gets a surprised stare, like Cale can't believe Alberu is insinuating that he would take on any extra work, especially within his slacking time.
Alberu snorts, unprincely and undignified. Cale hasn't changed in this regard, in the years they've known each other. Perhaps because of how there's no barricades preventing him from expressing it, or perhaps because he really can't slip up anynore than he already did...
"I love you, Cale Henituse."
Not that they haven't thought it and expressed it before, actually saying it is a step in a new and unexplored direction.
Cale's eyes widen for a second time, thin face turning crimson once more from the directness. The man turns away, covering the lower half of his face with his hand and muttering so quietly that Alberu picks up on it only because of being quarter dark-elf.
A breath he didn't even notice he was holding gets released with a breathy laugh, and Alberu can't help himself when he lifts a hand to Cale's cheek to angle him for a kiss he dives in for not even a second later.
Soft and unhurried, they spend their first minutes engaged languidly kissing in the morning sun, bathed in it's light.
("You know, seeing the morning paper, I didn't really expect to see an announcement of my best friend being engaged." Rosalyn speaks up into the filled room full of their family, sans Cale and Alberu. She's very clearly unbothered by this news. "Though I would have appreciated knowing..."
"I don't think they themselves knew it would happen." Choi Han replies, looking both happy and a bit exasperated.
"The human is getting married? When? How?" Raon questions, asking his noona and hyung next to him. Hong clearly has no idea, so On starts explaining the various things she's learned from Alberu and Cale, as well as what she was taught by the Henituse family teachers, about royal weddings.
"Ho, ho." Ron quietly laughs behind a cup of tea, standing next to his son. He sounds surprisingly soft for a man Alberu thought would kill him for even attempting to court Cale.
Deruth Henituse is tearing up right next to Ron, while Viola hands him a hankerchief while counting the size of the dowry and how she'll get Cale to actually try on wedding suits with his lazy nature. Lily and Basen are already talking about the many ideas they have for their brothers wedding clothing, as well as the decorations.
The entire room is unhurried, soft, in a way one wouldn't exoect after the announcment of the most desired and highly-established men of the Roan kingdom.
But everyone has seen them and their relationship develop over the years. The past few months have been especially grueling, if only because they've started being more obvious than longing glances and too-close dances.
But of course, their happiness is first.
Agressive shovel talks second.)
