Cale Henituse woke up inside their house but he found himself placed in a different room. Youna might have missed my actual room when he brought me back, he thought and nodded his head.

The door suddenly opened and his father entered, followed by the old butler. Seeing his son was awake, he rushed towards his side. He checked his son left and right to see whether he was okay or not. Cale was baffled from his actions.

"Dad?" Cale called. Deruth faced him and Cale saw his father's worried face.

"Are you okay, Cale? Does your body hurt?" His father asked. Cale shook his head.

"I am alright, dad," Cale smiled. But the worries in his father's face didn't vanish.

"What happened yesterday must've been scary. Don't worry, Cale, we assigned some knights to you so something like that won't happen again," Deruth said which shocked Cale.

"But dad, I'm alright. Nothing happened and I came back," Cale said.

"No, Cale. You need some knights with you especially if Ron has some other duties," Deruth replied.

The father and son debated for quite some time in regards to Cale's safety. The redhead doesn't want to since it will restrict his actions more, but Deruth insisted as he doesn't want his son to be kidnapped again or harmed. In the end, Cale agreed with just one knight to accompany him, as he still has Ron by his side. He also learned that Basen had seen the golden-haired elf and a fiery red hair teen. Cale didn't reveal who they were since he doesn't want any trouble. Furthermore, Cale didn't fully mention all the things he and the dragons talked about. He just told his father that they were looking for someone and they mistook him for that person; which was actually a lie. He was the one they were searching for.

Later that afternoon, Cale was sitting inside his study and was reading some books that newly arrived in their manor. Since he couldn't go out and had a knight to guard him, he was bored already. A minute passed, Hans knocked and entered his study and handed him three letters with the stamp of Marquis' Stan family crest and two letters with the stamp of the Royal Family.

Cale opened the letter from Stan Family first and it was from Taylor.

Dear Cale Henituse,

I hope this letter finds you well, Young Master Cale. I have heard some news about what had happened with your younger brother. Seeing how good your relationship is, I am hoping that both of you are fine.

At the same time, I also had my unlucky encounter. It seems my hunch was correct, one of my brothers wanted to harm me. I must say, I am forever grateful to you, Young Master, for you have given me a valuable gift as a token of your friendship. The gemstone you've given me the other day protected me from grave danger, I only had a few scratches and bruises. I owe you a lot, Young Master Cale. I hope I can pay back my debt and if ever you are in dire need of help, I am willing to listen and do my best to assist you.

Let's meet soon, Cale. Have a good day.

Sincerely,

Taylor Stan

Ha! So that bastard Venion really did it again this time, Cale thought after reading the letter. He immediately took his stationary and pen and wrote a response.

Dear Taylor Stan,

I have read and received your letter, Young Master Taylor. I am glad that nothing severe happened to you.

Let's meet soon when time permits. Keep safe.

Sincerely,

Cale Henituse

After writing a short response to Taylor's letter, he took the letter from the Royal Family.

Who would write a letter to me in the Royal Family? He silently asked. He stared at the two letters for a while which made Hans tilts his head.

"Is something the matter about the letter, Young Master?" Hans asked.

"Hm, I am just wondering why would the Royal Family write me a letter?" Cale asked back.

Hans was actually thinking about it too. Their territory was far from the Capital and his Young Master shouldn't have any interaction among the people there, much less the people in the Royal Family. On the contrary, Cale had interacted with them. The redhead opened the letter one by one.

Dearest Cale,

It's been a while since you have visited me in my palace. This uncle of yours has been missing you since then. Conversing with you had been fruitful and I was looking forward to more tea time with you but you stopped coming.

Well, I understand why you stopped coming lately as I've heard a lot of deals happening around you these past few weeks.

Visit me from time to time like you've always done. Or you can make your visit official this time.

Yours truly,

Zed Crossman

Cale wanted to scream but he suppressed it.

If you want to have tea time with me, spend your time with your son instead! Cale thought.

He then opened the other letter from the Royal Family.

Dear Cale,

Greetings, it's been quite some time since we last met. I somehow missed our rendezvous in the Royal Library each night you visited.

I've heard a thing or two around you lately. Is everything alright? You can visit here again if you find it stifling.

I am waiting for you.

Truly,

Alver Crossman

What the heck is with "our rendezvous"? You were the one who kept disturbing me while reading in the library! And what's with "waiting for you"? I am not there to befriend you, tsk! Cale complained inside his head.

Hans got worried from the expressions his Young Master was showing. Cale hid the two letters and didn't write a response. The redhead dismissed the orange-haired butler after telling him to deliver the response to Taylor Stan and continued what he was doing earlier.

As usual, Hans reported his observation with Cale and he told the Count about the letter. After all, Cale didn't tell him to keep it a secret. A frown formed in Deruth's face and he wondered why would the Royal Family contact Cale. But he couldn't do so at the moment as he was busy with the aftermath of what happened the other day.

The next night, Deruth visited Cale in his room as he needed to inquire about the letters but he found his son asleep already. This was the only available time he could ask his son about it since he was too busy with a lot of things. They couldn't meet earlier during their mealtime as Cale tried to avoid the topic. But unfortunately, he still couldn't ask today. Unknowingly, Cale went somewhere and left his copy in his room.

.oOo.

Alver Crossman was taking a break from the papers he was working on and quietly watched the moon and the festivities he could see in the plaza on his balcony. It's been a while since the red-haired child visited the library and he somehow misses that child's company. At first, he thought it was a ghost but it turned out he was the firstborn of the Henituse.

That child must be hiding his abilities from his family, he thought and heaved a sigh.

Ever since that child visited, he always found himself in the library in the middle of the night. Their interaction might be short but he somehow found the redhead's presence relaxing. He should be on guard around him but that child presence and his guts were telling him it was okay to trust him. They didn't talk much about serious matters, sometimes they would just talk about trivial things. One couldn't actually call them friends as Alver was the only one talking; the redhead only nodded his head or laughed with him.

Ah, when will he visit again? He asked and went back to his room.

As soon as he entered, he was met by the redhead he was thinking about. In front of him stood Cale Henituse. He was no longer wearing his nightgown. He was wearing a long-sleeved blouse with a gray and blue vest with intricate embroidery. Paired with dark blue shorts with gray hems and black boots. On top of it he was wearing a cloak, which the prince could guess to hide his face. Alver stared at him for a while.

"Um, hi?" Cale spoke as he felt weird since the Prince wasn't talking. Alver snapped out of his trance.

"The redhead ghost isn't wearing his usual nightgown!" Alver said.

"Well, I don't always wear nightgowns," Cale said as he sat on the couch.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, I was supposed to visit Uncle Zed but it seems he is currently busy."

"Oh, I see," Alver was a bit saddened as he was only a second choice.

Cale reached out to the cookie jar he saw and started eating it without permission. Alver just shook his head and sat across from him.

"So, would you like to go out with me?" Cale asked after a long silence.

"Ha, are you asking me out?" Alver asked back, quite taken aback by the sudden question. Does he like me? And isn't it too early to date?

"Well, yes. There's a festival down the plaza, we should look around!" Cale answered.

"It's been a while since we last hung out and you told me I could come here if everything is stifling," he added and took Alver's hand and gave him a spare cloak.

"Y-Yes, I said that," Alver replied a little embarrassed as he felt he misunderstood the redhead's intention.

After Alver wore the matching cloak, Cale once again held his hand and they teleported near the plaza; where there were not many people. The prince was dumbfounded from the experience. He knew Cale teleports from their house to the library but he thought he was using a teleportation scroll.

Cale pulled Alver and they started walking around the streets.

"Are you a mage, Cale?" He asked.

"Nope, I am not," Cale answered.

Then how come you can teleport on your own? Alver thought. But he stopped asking as it seems the redhead doesn't want to answer.

Cale didn't let go of Alver's hand as he thought that losing the prince here would get him in trouble. They walked and observed around the streets and plaza hand in hand. There were a lot of people, talking, laughing, singing and dancing. They ate a lot of food and tried a lot of candies. They also watched street performances and bought some trinkets as souvenirs. Who paid? Of course, it was Alver. Cale forgot to bring his money so the prince paid for everything.

Both of them got tired and sat on one of the benches in the plaza.

"It seems you're having fun," Alver said.

"Of course, why? Didn't you have fun too?" Cale asked.

Alver contemplated for a while since no one had asked him whether he was having fun on what he was doing or not. His life in the palace has been difficult for him, especially when his mother died. His father didn't pay him any attention as his favor was given to one of his brothers. There were also people who were after his life.

Did I have fun? Alver questioned his mind and the memories of what they did earlier appeared. He was laughing, he forgot the pressure of his status, he didn't think about anything aside from going around the festival.

"Yes, I had fun," Alver smiled. Cale stared at his face for a while.

This prince during this time is completely different from the prince in my past life, Cale thought. The redhead leaned on the backrest and hugged his knees while looking up at the sky.

Cale knew that Alver's life was very crucial at the moment. Now that he was no longer favored by the King, he needed to do a lot of things in order for him not to lose his position. He doesn't receive any support from the nobles, he will just pave his way on his own. He wasn't the "crown prince" yet, but it will happen soon. Cale knew that this Prince was intelligent and strong. He also had a great compassion for others, though he may be manipulative and calculative sometimes. But all of this was for the sake of creating a better kingdom for his people.

No one spoke at that moment, both just stared in the starry night sky. When the time struck past midnight, they both teleported back to the Prince's chamber.

"I'll be going now. Also, don't write me a letter," Cale said and went back.

"Thank you, Cale," Alver said.

.oOo.

Cale teleported back to his room and slowly went back to his bed after dismissing the copy he left. No one had noticed his disappearance, even Ron didn't notice. He smiled at his achievement and he thought of something for a while.

I guess I'll just befriend him, Cale thought and finally fell asleep.

The next day, he was having tea time together with his father in his greenhouse.

"Cale, is there something you're hiding from me?" asked Deruth. The redhead looked at him.

"Nothing, dad," of course, he lied.

"Is that so? Then why did the Royal Family write you a letter? I've been meaning to ask you that but this was the only time I could."

"They were just asking about my well-being, dad. Nothing more and nothing less."

Deruth didn't press any more information. He knew his son was secretive since he took after his mother. Deruth just sighed in resignation and when he looked at Cale, he was met by an apologetic gaze.

"Alright, if you cannot disclose any more than that it's okay. But I hope you would rely on me and tell me what are your thoughts, what bothers you or anything," Deruth smiled weakly. Cale stood and climbed on his father's lap, the latter just placed his hand on the redhead's back.

"Dad, I will always rely on you. I will tell you what bothers me if it is something I cannot solve," Cale tried to reassure his father.

"Okay," Deruth smiled and gently pats his son's head.

Soon after, Basen joined them and Cale spent the rest of the day with his father and his sibling.

Later that day, he finally wrote a response to the King and the Prince. Both have the same content, it just says: "I'll come visit once I turn twelve."

//TBC ...

Notes: ¹ Building bridges means creating relationships.

Thank you for reading! 

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