Chapter Text
There was a loud crack and it made everyone flinch. Well, everyone except a certain seething quarter dark elf.
The armrest that he was clenching so hard, broke. The one of the many lords in the central faction whom Alberu met up with just because the said Lord asked for audience to complain, merely gulped.
Some of his executive officers were visibly shaking in fear because of the heavy tension.
The Emperor rarely gets mad, well, rarely shows that he's mad and they got a great feeling that this is one of those days that he'll definitely show his wrath.
The lord had come to complain of the sudden price hike of sugar but he sure knew damn well that it was just corruption and basic useless excuses they could make to dirty the Emperor's name.
He knew the faction has smuggled the sugar to themselves and faked about the sugar crisis going about in the kingdom, telling the whole continent that the Emperor has neglected the agriculture department.
Sure, it could be crucial because everyone, commoners and nobles alike, will complain. Sugar is an important factor in the food department especially when making pastries and bread.
But fuck that matter now.
Everyone is sure that even the lord is aware of what is happening today.
The Roan empire's chief of their agriculture department wondered if the lord wanted to dig his own grave or was even questioning if said Lord was aware of his grievous mistake. While the empire's head of finance could only rub his face.
Alberu's personal archivist, Chester, intently studied his liege. Occasionally, he sent glares towards the cowering lord.
While they could dismiss this, it was only appropriate not to. After all, it was the duchy Orsena who requested the audience and sent this Lord as representative in their stead and possibly the whole Central faction.
But before he could witness the Emperor losing his cool and maybe beating the lord to a pulp, everyone seemed to forget an important factor inside the tense room.
The emperor's instructor, Choi Han, has appeared stealthily behind the surprised blond, tightly clutching the lord's shoulder with one hand, the other on his scabbard.
Though, he sent one firm nod towards his student. Alberu who seemingly knew of what it meant, had a complicated look on his face filled with gratitude and relief before nodding back and sprinting out of the room.
"Raon's waiting." Was all Choi Han muttered but due to Alberu's enhanced hearing—perks of having the genes of a dark elf—heard it loud and clear.
The moment the door opened, Alberu called out, "Raon!"
Magic fluctuated around the Emperor. He could see the silhouette of the young dragon that keep hovering over his 'human'.
-Got it uncle cookie!
When Choi Han deemed that his student was gone, his attention shifted back towards the cowering lord.
"You know about today right?" He asked after a beat of silence.
He could see the lord's Adam apple bobbing up and down. Choi Han's eyes became sharper that it seemed like it was glowing and in a low, warning voice he spoke,
"Then don't hold him back."
•••
Usually upon arriving at the black castle in the dark forest, they'd teleport just outside the castle doors. However today, Alberu and Raon has teleported immediately inside the castle and just outside the door where Alberu's counter part was in.
Now that he is here, he can't help but feel utterly nervous. He noticed that as he clenched the door knob, his hands were shaking.
"You can go in uncle emperor, my m-mo- uhm, she will know you're here."
Although the young dragon seemed encouraging, Alberu could tell the anxiety and fear laced in the dragon's voice.
"You.. eherm, you aren't coming inside?" Alberu cleared his voice when he noticed he had gone hoarse.
Raon opened and closed his mouth and was about to say something when Alberu caught his dark blue eyes staring at something, someone behind him.
"No, but you must." Raon sounded down casted and worried but firm. That was enough and Alberu entered the room without any hesitation, not even bothering to look at the worried group of friends and allies seating few feet away from the room on a long bench.
•••
The door opened with a soft squeak and the busy helpers—dark elves—briefly stopped for a moment before resuming on their respective jobs. The room was silent with occasional mutters but it was very, very tense.
Alberu saw a large group huddling on one corner and could see Sherrit's signature almost faint look in the group. He could only conclude that that's where his pup is. His heart raced at the thought, hands reaching out before he flinched, eyes turning to look at the sole being on the large bed at the center.
There were helpers gathering around the bed and buckets of water and towels. The white blankets were painted red and crimson and Alberu could finally register the familiar stench of blood. However, it's his empress's blood and not just anyone's.
His heart sank and he immediately rushed towards the bed, holding the man's pale, weak hand.
"Cale."
The man, Cale, slowly opened his eyes. His tense shoulders slightly relaxed at the sight of the blond.
Taking in the look of his partner, Alberu couldn't help but frown. "You're bleeding."
"It's only natural." Cale replied smoothly. Alberu scowled. "Sure it is considering what you have gone through but I'm talking about blood spilling out of your lips."
A helper provided him a chair as he asked for a bucket. He held it in front of Cale and immediately the man with red hair spat out a glob of blood. He rinsed his mouth when provided with water from his husband and spoke,
"Yes. It's natural, you know this. I'm healing."
Alberu did know of his partner's ancient power and the ability to heal. But it is still heart wrenching watching him heal with the process of spitting out dark blood. However, Alberu trusts him so he sighed.
In silence, all Alberu could do was softly clench his hand around Cale's own to ground the red head.
"You haven't called when you were in labour."
"...I wanted to wait but he seemed insistent on meeting the world."
"He?"
Alberu's voice quivered. Cale looked at him, caressing Alberu's cheek.
However, the blond knew of the inner turmoil Cale must be currently suffering and held the hand on his cheek with his free hand.
"Cale, how long has it been?"
It was silent and both of them could hear the rushing paces around the room, could hear the silent but urgent whispers, could feel the heavy tension.
The fear and anxiety began growing in both Cale and Alberu's hearts.
Especially his darling Cale. Now that he studied his love's appearance, he could see that despite the indifferent and calm look on his face, Cale's brown reddish orbs were shaking with vigour.
Soon his whole body trembled and Alberu saw that the strong exterior Cale made, broke. Cale's eyebrows creased in worry as he clutched Alberu's shoulders like it's his life line.
He has not seen this expression since the time Cale has trespassed the Endable territory years ago when he used his everything to stop the summoning of the unranked monsters.
"Hyung... Alberu, oh..."
Cale pathetically whimpered as he placed his forehead on Alberu's chest when the blond sat with him on the bed, wrapping his arms around his quivering form.
"7 minutes... It's been quiet for 7 minutes."
Kim Rok Soo did lose a lot but never would he accept losing something that is part of him. And well, part of Alberu. No, he can't accept it.
Alberu bit his lip. His stomach flipped and he wanted to just cry but he needed to be strong. All these past years, it was Cale who gave him a leaning shoulder. Now, in his time of being the most vulnerable, Alberu needed to be the standing pillar.
"Hey... Hey, Cale look at me.." He softly spoke and with gentle hands, held both of Cale's cheeks to tilt his face upwards to meet with his own shaking sapphire orbs.
"It's going to be okay, alright? Believe in our pup." He spoke in a firm voice, planting a soft kiss on Cale's forehead as the red head could only nod in small gestures.
"Huuuu.."
Cale sighed as he steadied himself on the bed. Still, Alberu held his ice cold hands.
"What about Choi Han?"
"He volunteered to stay behind and deal with the complaints from the eastern faction."
"Hah, such scumbags." Cale casually commented as to lighten the mood but failed miserably and continued,
"I heard my father has come though-"
It was at that moment
WAHHHHHHHH
A loud baby's cry resonated within the room.
Both Alberu and Cale froze and sat up. Alberu noticed that Cale's grip on his hands tightened at the sound and his bloodshot eyes were back to shaking as he attentively looked towards the direction of the sound.
Alberu paid mind to all the movements the empress did.
"Towel! Get me a towel!"
"Give me a dipper of lukewarm water!"
"Careful! Make way for Sherrit-nim!"
Shouts overlapping with others, everyone scrambled around the room searching for objects and both parents could only wait in fear, anxiety, and slight but building hope.
The child's wails was the one that really seeped into their minds despite all the noise.
"Alberu..."
The blonde man went back to looking at Cale's shaking form. Against the bed and the room and with the complicated emotions that was rarely displayed on his face, he looked so small and vulnerable.
A sudden spike of protectiveness bubbled within Alberu especially when Sherrit appeared before the bed and in her arms cradled something, someone in soft blanket.
"Congratulations Your Majesties. A boy with the fighting spirit of both his parents."
The dragon clearly was exhausted so as with the dark elves serving as helpers but they had the genuine look of happiness and pride.
"He truly is the star of the empire then, a true fighter."
Alberu shifted his eyes to Cale who calmly commented but he had the most fondest look on his face as he kept staring at the bundle. It seemed as if the red head has spoken those words on his mind unconsciously.
As if expecting, Cale held his arms out and immediately, Sherrit came to the dam's side, gently handing him his baby.
Cale had the look of wonder and love, eyes creasing into crescents. It was a rare look but it looked perfect on his face. Alberu was so busy staring at his face as his heart pounded heavily against his chest.
Sherrit smiled. "Take your time today. The visitors can come in tomorrow. As of now, relax and enjoy time with the newest member of your family."
She continued, "I'll be changing you to a new room. Worry not, you'll barely be able to feel the changes."
The room did a slight shift and true to the dragon's words, they were in a new room with new bed sheets. It was empty, quiet and,
"Tranquil..." Alberu muttered, hearing the soft and rare coos of Cale.
He remained frozen though, watching his husband interacting with their child. Heart clenching and fingers shaking, he clenched the sheets tightly to ground himself but Cale noticed the subtle movement.
"Alberu." He softly called out and could see the emperor's dissociating eyes.
"Sherrit-nim has told me that it's necessary for babies to come skin-to-skin contact with their sires..."
The expecting look on Cale's face made it hard for Alberu to utter a word. So instead, he moved to take his expensive coat and then his fancy shirt off leaving his torso bare.
Cale stared at him for a moment and Alberu felt himself flush. "What?"
"Take it off."
"...Excuse me?"
Cale pointed at the magic necklace on Alberu's neck with his chin. Alberu gaped at him for a moment before doing as told. With small movements, he took the necklace off.
Blonde hair slowly turned dark brown. The once sapphire orbs turned deep brown and his pale skin transited to a dark shade.
Alberu no matter what color palette, will always look beautiful, ethereal, and-
"Ah, hyung you really are handsome." Cale suddenly blurted out and it made his lover splutter in disbelief, cheeks turning red. It wasn't really noticable but Cale could see it because, duh, husband?
Nevertheless, Cale didn't even give his husband the room to breathe when he suddenly passed the bare baby into his arms.
Alberu gently received the blessing, eyes widening because he wasn't prepared for such a sight.
"Hah..."
A breathless chuckle escaped his lips as he shook his head slowly because he was beyond amazed and proud and happy, and overwhelmed, and it's just-
"Wow."
The baby had dark skin but it wasn't as dark as his, probably somewhere near the color of Cale's younger sister, Lily.
His hair and almost everything else that's noticeable at first glance was clearly just Alberu and screamed Alberu.
"He's beautiful isn't he?" Cale asked, snapping Alberu out of his stupor.
He felt Cale's slender hand on his face, caressing it when he felt that his cheeks were wet.
Ah, he was crying.
He laughed as more tears came streaming down his face. Cale wiped it off with a look of such fondness he wasn't sure where they originated.
Cale, no, Kim Rok Soo grew up without parents, most noticeably, a mother figure. So Cale will do his best to provide for his kid because he doesn't want to let his own kid go to what he went through.
So seeing Alberu crying as he gently held the son he birthed, their son, he was happy he ended up with such a man because he knows that he'll do good 101 times better.
Alberu rubbed his nose with the baby that made the innocent bean curl his lips upwards. "You... You almost gave your sire a heart attack you know...? Just like your dam...yeah, just like him."
Alberu clicked his tongue in a playful manner, parting the gap between them. Fortunately the curtains were closed and only the lamp by the bedside illuminated the place and gave a soft glow.
The baby's eyes opened just a little but Alberu and Cale clearly saw the dark orbs their son honed and it made Alberu's laughter grow.
"Oh Cale... He's beautiful alright."