Chapter Text
It started with a single message—innocuous, Cale thought. He had sent a polite request to Alberu for time off, explaining he needed a break because of “personal matters.”
The next morning, a massive bouquet of red roses appeared on his doorstep, followed by the arrival of a familiar face.
"Please marry me!" Alberu Crossman declared dramatically, holding out the bouquet like a trophy.
Cale blinked. "Excuse me?"
“I shall take responsibility for the child! Don’t worry, we’ll raise it together.”
Cale stared at the crown prince, completely dumbfounded. “Child? What child?”
Alberu’s eyes gleamed with determination. “Our child, of course.”
Cale slowly rubbed his temples. “Hyung… are you serious right now?”
Before the prince could respond, the door behind them creaked open. Choi Han stood there, clutching—*of course*—another bouquet of roses. His face was set with a grim expression.
“Cale-nim. Please marry me as well,” Choi Han declared, his tone completely sincere.
"What… why… who told you I was pregnant?" Cale blurted, staring at the two men as if they’d lost their minds.
“Well, you mentioned ‘personal matters,’” Alberu said, clearly believing his own reasoning. “And given how close we are… it’s only logical.”
Choi Han nodded in agreement, his dark eyes full of seriousness. “It’s the only explanation, Cale-nim.”
Cale opened his mouth, closed it, and then opened it again. "And did you two… think this through? Like, the fact that I’m… you know… an omega who has not slept with either of you?"
The silence that followed was painful. Cale could see the gears turning in their heads.
"Oh," Alberu finally said.
"Ah," Choi Han echoed.
"Yes, exactly. Now if you’ll excuse me," Cale said, stepping back into his house and slamming the door. He could hear Alberu groaning in embarrassment on the other side.
Cale thought the worst was over until the next day. He should’ve known better.
There was another knock at the door. Ron answered it this time, returning with his usual eerie calmness.
“Young master-nim, Prince Adin is here with… a lute.”
“A what?”
Cale didn’t even have time to process the sentence before the front door burst open, and Prince Adin strutted in, lute in hand.
“Caaaale!” Adin sang, strumming an out-of-tune chord. “I have come to claim our child! Let us—”
Cale didn’t even bother listening to the rest. “Raon.”
“Yes, human!” Raon’s voice rang out, and with a flick of his claw, Adin was blasted out the door, still crooning pathetically about love and babies.
"That’s better," Cale muttered, flopping onto the sofa just as Rosalyn strolled in, her face alight with amusement.
“You’ve been busy,” she remarked, eyeing the scattered petals from Adin’s ruined bouquet.
Cale sighed. “If one more idiot proposes, I’m leaving the continent.”
“Oh, it can’t be that bad,” she teased, sipping from a cup of tea. “I hear Toonka’s on his way.”
Cale paled.
And sure enough, within minutes, the door crashed open again, and Toonka—grinning like an overgrown puppy—marched in, carrying what appeared to be… a crib?
“I have come to build a nest for our child!” he boomed proudly. “Where do you want it, Cale?”
Cale could feel the migraine forming. “Ron,” he said weakly.
“Yes, young master-nim?”
“Please make sure Toonka builds his nest… somewhere far, far away from here.”
“With pleasure.”
Rosalyn laughed so hard she spilled her tea. Cale, meanwhile, leaned back and stared at the ceiling, wondering how on earth his life had spiraled into this absurdity.
“Maybe the next suitor will have better reasoning,” Rosalyn suggested.
Cale groaned. “I don’t want a next suitor. I just want to sleep.”
Cale hoped that after the disaster with Toonka, things would settle down. But peace, as usual, was not meant for him.
The very next morning, Cale awoke to a sight that made him wish he hadn’t. A massive golden chariot pulled by snow-white horses was parked outside his mansion, complete with a small entourage of trumpeters.
“Cale Henituse!” a loud voice boomed, making Cale wince.
He peeked out the window and saw none other than Bud Illis, standing on the chariot, wearing an extravagant outfit that looked suspiciously like a royal knight’s armor—complete with a cape that billowed dramatically in the wind. In his hands, he held an enormous banner that said, in bold letters: WILL YOU MARRY ME, CALE?
“No, no, no…” Cale muttered, banging his head softly against the wall. He could feel Raon’s confusion next to him.
“Human, is this normal? Do people always propose with such loud noises?”
“Raon, nothing about this is normal.”
Before Cale could retreat, the front door swung open, and Bud stormed in, cape swirling behind him.
“Cale! My dear friend! I have come to make you my queen!” Bud declared, dropping to one knee as if he were in some kind of historical drama.
“Do I look like a queen to you?” Cale deadpanned, staring down at the mercenary king.
Bud blinked, clearly unphased. “Well, I mean, you’re pregnant, aren’t you? It’s only natural that I—”
“For the last time, I am not pregnant!” Cale cut him off, glaring. “Where are people getting this from?”
Bud, in all his clueless glory, shrugged. “I don’t know, but I heard Choi Han and Alberu talking about it, so I assumed…”
Cale felt a vein throb in his forehead. “You assumed wrong. Now get out before I call Raon to blast you halfway across the continent.”
Bud blinked again, then slowly stood up. “Are you sure you don’t need help with the baby?”
“Out.”
Bud, wisely, made a hasty retreat, leaving Cale to collapse back onto his couch.
Rosalyn, as always, was watching the scene unfold with thinly veiled amusement. “You could always just play along, you know.”
Cale shot her a withering look. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Well, it’s not every day I get to see the mighty Cale Henituse be wooed by a parade of idiots.”
Cale groaned. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think there was some kind of conspiracy going on…”
It turned out, there was.
That evening, while Cale was nursing a headache and wondering whether it was socially acceptable to flee the country, Ron appeared with a rare look of slight concern.
“Young master-nim,” the butler said smoothly. “I’ve just been informed that a group of rather… devoted individuals have gathered outside. They’re all holding roses and chanting your name.”
Cale froze. “What?”
Ron nodded, entirely too calm. “It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. Someone spread a rumor that you are hosting a mass wedding ceremony tonight.”
“What.”
“It appears the suitors have formed a fan club. They’re calling themselves… the ‘Fathers of the Future,’” Ron said, barely holding back a smirk.
Cale felt faint. “Is this a joke?”
“I wish it were,” Ron said dryly. “But alas, they seem quite serious. Should I summon Choi Han to… deal with them?”
Cale buried his face in his hands. “Please. And make sure none of them come back.”
By the time Cale mustered the energy to check what was going on outside, Choi Han had already dealt with the crowd. The street was littered with roses, and the sound of groaning could be heard from a distance.
“Is it over?” Cale asked cautiously.
“For now,” Choi Han replied, giving a rare smile.
Cale sighed in relief, only to have his peace shattered once again by a familiar voice.
“*Caaale!*”
A cold chill ran down Cale’s spine. He turned, slowly, to see none other than Clopeh Sekka striding towards him, holding—of course—a massive bouquet of white roses.
“Oh no. No, no, no,” Cale muttered, backing away. “I’ve had enough of this!”
But Clopeh was already in front of him, kneeling dramatically on one knee. “Cale-nim, you are the one destined to change the world. Marry me, and together we shall rule over all!”
Cale couldn’t believe this was happening. Again.
Raon appeared at Cale’s side, glaring at Clopeh. “Human, do you want me to blast him?”
“Yes,” Cale said instantly.
Before Clopeh could even react, Raon sent him flying into the horizon with a perfectly aimed wind blast. Cale stared after him, hands on his hips.
“Good riddance.”
That night, Cale sat on the sofa, surrounded by his usual chaotic family—Rosalyn, Choi Han, and Raon—each of them laughing at the day’s ridiculousness.
“Do you think they’ll ever stop?” Rosalyn asked, still wiping away tears of laughter.
Cale leaned back, eyes closed, and shook his head. “No. But at least I’ve got you guys to help deal with it.”
Raon puffed up proudly. “Of course, human! No one will disturb you as long as I’m here!”
Rosalyn smiled. “You know, Cale, with all these suitors coming after you, you could really start a business. Sell wedding invitations or something.”
Cale groaned. “Don’t give them any ideas.”
As the night wound down, Cale finally felt a bit of peace—at least until the next inevitable proposal. Because if there was one thing he’d learned in all this, it was that misunderstandings had a way of multiplying.
And in his life? Misunderstandings always seemed to involve marriage, flowers, and far too many bouquets.
Days passed, and Cale thought that maybe—just maybe—he had managed to fend off the madness surrounding him. The marriage proposals stopped, the fan club dispersed (thanks to Ron and Choi Han), and things finally started to return to some semblance of normal.
That is, until one fateful evening.
Cale was lounging in his study, flipping through reports, when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw a message from Lee Soo Hyuk, his old friend from his Kim Rok Soo days.
> Soo Hyuk: "Rok Soo-ya, I just got the weirdest letter in the mail. Something about… a wedding?"
Cale frowned. Wedding? That couldn’t be right. He hadn’t spoken to Soo Hyuk about anything even remotely related to—
His blood ran cold as another message came through.
> Soo Hyuk: "Wait, the invitation says it’s my wedding… to you?"
Cale nearly dropped his phone. *What.* He scrambled to unlock it and quickly typed out a response.
> Cale: "There’s no wedding. Throw that away."
> Soo Hyuk: "It has your name on it. What is going on? Are you getting married without telling me?"
Cale’s heart sank. Who in their right mind would send such a thing?
Before he could reply, there was a loud knock at the door. Cale looked up, dread pooling in his stomach. Ron entered, as calm as ever.
“Young master-nim, it seems Mr. Lee Soo Hyuk has arrived.”
“What? Already?”
“Yes, and he’s brought a tuxedo,” Ron said, clearly enjoying the situation.
Cale groaned. *Of course he did.*
Lee Soo Hyuk strode into the room, looking as sharp as ever, holding an elegant black tuxedo and the wedding invitation in his other hand. His expression was one of mild amusement mixed with confusion.
“Rok Soo-ya,” Soo Hyuk said with a grin, “I have to admit, this is the most elaborate prank you’ve pulled.”
Cale pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s not a prank. I didn’t send that.”
Soo Hyuk raised an eyebrow. “Then who did? The invitation has your name on it. And mine. And apparently, we’re supposed to get married in two days.”
Cale opened his mouth, but no sound came out. How did this even happen?
Before he could respond, Raon flew in, his eyes wide with excitement. “Human! I heard there’s going to be a wedding! Are you getting married to that person?”
Cale glared at the dragon. “No, Raon. I’m not getting married.”
Soo Hyuk smirked. “Too bad. It would have been a nice wedding.”
“Why are you even here?” Cale asked, exasperated.
Soo Hyuk shrugged. “Well, when I got the invitation, I figured I’d at least come to see what was going on. Plus, you’re my friend, Rok Soo-ya. If you were getting married, I’d want to be there.”
Cale couldn’t help but feel a wave of nostalgia. Soo Hyuk had always been the steady, reliable one back in their old world. He was one of the few people Cale still trusted completely.
“You’re not taking this seriously, are you?” Cale asked.
Soo Hyuk grinned. “Depends. How serious are *you*?”
The next morning, things went from bad to worse.
Ron approached Cale with an unreadable expression. “Young master-nim, I’ve just received confirmation. Your wedding has been scheduled.”
“What?!” Cale nearly choked on his tea. “Who did this?”
Ron’s lips twitched, betraying his amusement. “It appears the Mercenary King took matters into his own hands.”
“Bud,” Cale muttered darkly. “I’m going to kill him.”
But it was too late. Bud had apparently made all the arrangements, and there was no stopping the momentum now. Cale felt like his life was spiraling out of control—again.
The day of the "wedding" arrived faster than Cale expected. He found himself standing in front of a large mirror, dressed in an immaculate suit, looking at himself in disbelief.
"This isn't happening," he muttered. "This can't be real."
But it was very real. Outside the room, he could hear the bustling of preparations, and—more horrifyingly—the sound of *guests*. Apparently, Bud had invited nearly everyone. Choi Han, Alberu, Rosalyn, Raon, even Toonka had somehow found his way to the venue.
“Are you nervous?” Ron asked, watching as Cale tugged at his collar.
“I’m going to kill Bud. That’s all I’m thinking about.”
Ron smiled knowingly. “Very well, young master-nim. Just don’t let the groom run away.”
Cale glared. “Soo Hyuk isn’t the groom. There’s no wedding.”
Ron said nothing, merely gesturing for Cale to follow him. Reluctantly, Cale did.
Outside, a large crowd had gathered. Cale’s eyes scanned the area, locking onto a very familiar figure standing near the altar, looking entirely too amused by the situation.
Lee Soo Hyuk, in a tuxedo, waved as Cale approached. “I guess we’re doing this?”
Cale sighed, rubbing his temple. “I don’t know how this happened.”
Soo Hyuk chuckled, clearly enjoying Cale’s misery. “I think it’s funny. You, getting caught up in something like this? Classic Rok Soo.”
“Don’t call me that,” Cale grumbled, but there was no venom in his voice.
Before he could protest any further, Bud appeared, grinning like a fool. “Cale! You made it! I was worried you might back out.”
“I *was* going to back out,” Cale deadpanned, glaring at Bud.
Soo Hyuk, ever the calm one, stepped forward, placing a hand on Cale’s shoulder. “Well, since we’re both here… what do you say, Rok Soo-ya? Should we just go along with it?”
Cale looked up at him, feeling the weight of the moment. Soo Hyuk’s expression was gentle, and for once, Cale couldn’t find the strength to argue.
He sighed. “Fine. But don’t expect me to say any vows.”
Soo Hyuk laughed. “Deal.”
The ceremony was, to Cale’s surprise, not as terrible as he’d imagined. The guests—Alberu, Choi Han, Rosalyn, even Raon—looked on with expressions ranging from amusement to genuine happiness. Bud had somehow managed to put together a fairly respectable wedding, despite the absurd circumstances.
As the ceremony neared its end, the officiant looked between them expectantly. “Do you, Cale Henituse, take Lee Soo Hyuk to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
Cale paused, glancing at Soo Hyuk, who was smiling like this was the greatest joke in the world. “Yeah, sure. Whatever.”
The officiant blinked but continued. “And do you, Lee Soo Hyuk, take Cale Henituse to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
Soo Hyuk nodded, still grinning. “I do.”
Cale felt a strange sense of calm wash over him as the officiant declared them married. It was bizarre, surreal, and entirely ridiculous—but it was done.
Later that night, as the guests filtered out and the chaos of the day finally subsided, Cale sat on the balcony, staring out at the stars. He wasn’t sure what to make of everything that had happened. He wasn’t even sure how he had ended up married.
Soo Hyuk joined him, sitting down with a contented sigh. “Well, that was something.”
Cale shot him a sideways glance. “You’re taking this way too well.”
Soo Hyuk chuckled. “Hey, I’ve always been a go-with-the-flow kind of guy. Besides, I get to spend more time with you now. What’s there to complain about?”
Cale snorted, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”
But despite everything, he couldn’t help but smile just a little. Maybe—just maybe—this wasn’t so bad after all.
A few weeks after the wedding, Cale’s life had returned to its usual chaos, but now with one small (and growing) difference.
He was pregnant.
It hadn’t been intentional, of course. Cale had thought that marrying Lee Soo Hyuk—despite the absurd circumstances—would at least calm things down. But life had other plans. He found out about the pregnancy during a routine check-up with Pendrick, and since then, things had only spiraled further out of control.
The first person Cale told was Ron, mostly because the butler had an uncanny ability to know everything before Cale even had a chance to mention it.
“Young master-nim,” Ron said one morning, as he placed a tray of breakfast in front of him. “Congratulations on your pregnancy.”
Cale choked on his tea. “How… How did you know?”
Ron’s eyes gleamed. “I have my ways.”
Cale could only sigh. “Don’t tell anyone else yet. I need to figure out how to handle this.”
But, of course, things never went according to plan. Within hours, the entire mansion seemed to know, and that evening, Cale found himself facing a concerned and excited group of familiar faces.
Choi Han was the first to react, rushing over with wide eyes. “Cale-nim, you’re pregnant? Is it true?”
Cale blinked. “Yes, but—”
Before he could explain, Choi Han’s expression turned serious. “I will take responsibility. Don’t worry, Cale-nim. I’ll be there for you and the baby.”
Cale stared at him in disbelief. “What? You think you’re the father?”
Choi Han nodded earnestly. “Well, you and I have been through so much together… it makes sense, doesn’t it?”
“*No,* it doesn’t!” Cale shouted, his patience wearing thin. “You and I have never—*ugh*, never mind. Who told you this nonsense?”
Choi Han looked a bit sheepish. “I heard it from Alberu-hyung.”
Of course.
The misunderstanding spread like wildfire. By the next morning, not only was Choi Han convinced he was the father, but so were several others. Cale’s life descended into chaos as every dominant alpha he knew lined up to “take responsibility” for his nonexistent relationship with them.
The next to arrive at Cale’s doorstep was Alberu, of course.
“Cale,” Alberu said, looking unusually serious. “I want to apologize for the confusion. Choi Han isn’t the father.”
Cale crossed his arms, glaring. “You think *you* are?”
Alberu cleared his throat awkwardly. “Well… considering our bond and how much time we’ve spent together…”
“No!” Cale interrupted. “Just *no*. How could you—wait, do *you* also think we’re somehow… together?”
Alberu’s blue eyes widened in shock. “Wait, we’re not?”
“*We’re not!*” Cale felt like pulling his hair out. “I don’t even know how this misunderstanding started, but it needs to stop now!”
But Alberu, always the strategist, simply nodded sagely. “Ah, I see. You want to keep it private. I respect that.”
“*Hyung!*”
The worst, however, was yet to come.
A few days later, Bud Illis appeared, looking as smug as ever. “Cale! I heard the news. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure everything is taken care of. After all, as the father, I—”
“*You’re not the father!*” Cale snapped, throwing a pillow at Bud’s face.
Bud blinked, confused. “I’m not?”
“No! Where are you all getting this idea from?!”
“Well, I overheard Choi Han and Alberu talking about it…” Bud scratched his head, clearly baffled. “And I thought… well, since I’ve been around a lot recently, maybe…”
“No! Just *no*!” Cale collapsed onto the couch, feeling utterly defeated.
As if things couldn’t get worse, Toonka showed up the next day.
“Cale! I came to congratulate you!” Toonka boomed, his voice rattling the windows. “I heard you’re pregnant with *my* child!”
Cale froze, utterly dumbfounded. “What… what on earth makes you think it’s *your* child?”
“Well, you held my hand that one time, and I figured—”
“No! Absolutely not!” Cale buried his face in his hands. “I’m not pregnant because I held your hand, Toonka!”
Toonka tilted his head, confused. “Then how does it work?”
Cale stared at him, wondering how someone could be so strong yet so clueless. “I’m not even going to explain this.”
Meanwhile, Lee Soo Hyuk—who *was* the actual father—watched all of this unfold with a mix of confusion and mild amusement.
“I don’t know how you handle this, Rok Soo,” Soo Hyuk said one evening as they sat together, watching Raon play with his toys. “Everyone thinks they’re the father of our baby.”
“I don’t know either,” Cale muttered, rubbing his temples. “I just want them to stop showing up with flowers and making declarations.”
Soo Hyuk chuckled, leaning back. “Well, at least we know the truth.”
Cale sighed, resting his head against Soo Hyuk’s shoulder. “Yeah, but for how long? I swear, if one more person claims they’re the father…”
As if on cue, Ron entered the room, looking as calm as ever. “Young master-nim, Clopeh Sekka is outside with another bouquet of white roses.”
Cale groaned. “Tell him I’m not seeing visitors. And if he says he’s the father, Raon can blast him.”
Raon’s ears perked up at the mention of his favorite activity. “I’ll do it, human!”
Soo Hyuk chuckled again, pulling Cale closer. “I’ll deal with him. You rest.”
As Cale closed his eyes, feeling the comforting warmth of his husband beside him, he couldn’t help but wonder how his life had turned into this mess. But despite the chaos, the misunderstandings, and the ridiculous suitors, there was one thing he knew for sure:
At least he didn’t have to go through it alone.
Despite the madness swirling around them, Cale had managed to find some peace in the last few days. However, that peace was short-lived, as more rumors began circulating—not just about Cale’s pregnancy, but about the father. And unfortunately, people were starting to suspect… *everyone*.
Lee Soo Hyuk had mostly remained unbothered by the chaos, but that changed when the mob of gossipers took aim at him too.
It started with a trip to the market.
Soo Hyuk had taken a day off from his work in the capital to spend time with Cale, hoping they could get some fresh air and enjoy a quiet day together. But the moment they stepped outside, he noticed people whispering—glancing at Cale’s stomach, then back at him with puzzled expressions.
As they walked through the bustling market, a pair of women not far off were openly gossiping.
“Did you hear about Cale Henituse’s pregnancy?” one whispered.
“Of course! But I heard Lee Soo Hyuk *isn’t* the father,” the other replied.
Soo Hyuk’s eye twitched, but he stayed calm.
“Really? Then who is? I heard Choi Han was involved.”
“No, no, it’s definitely Alberu Crossman,” the first woman insisted.
Soo Hyuk clenched his fists as Cale patted his shoulder, stifling a laugh. “Let it go, Soo Hyuk.”
But it wasn’t over.
As they continued walking, another group of people gathered outside a café began to whisper loudly enough for Soo Hyuk to hear.
“I swear I saw Toonka and Cale together the other day,” one man said.
“Toonka?! That meathead? No way, it’s gotta be Bud Illis,” another chimed in.
Soo Hyuk stopped in his tracks, jaw clenched. “They think *Bud* is the father?”
Cale, fighting back his own laughter, patted Soo Hyuk again. “It’s fine. Let’s just get what we need and go home.”
But as they entered a small shop, the shopkeeper greeted them with a knowing smile. “Ah, congratulations on the baby, Cale-nim! I heard Prince Alberu has been quite busy lately—such a noble father for your child!”
Soo Hyuk nearly knocked over a shelf.
“Alberu? Again?!” he hissed under his breath. His hands gripped the counter so hard, Cale was worried it might snap.
The shopkeeper, completely unaware of Soo Hyuk’s growing frustration, continued happily. “Of course, there are so many rumors. Some say Choi Han or even that Mercenary King, Bud Illis. I wouldn’t be surprised if *they* were involved too!”
Soo Hyuk let out a strangled groan, turning to Cale, who had buried his face in his hands.
“Do you people just think Cale is running around with *everyone*?!” Soo Hyuk exclaimed, unable to hold back his annoyance any longer.
The shopkeeper blinked, clearly startled. “Oh, well… you know, with someone as popular as Cale-nim, it’s hard to tell…”
Cale tugged at Soo Hyuk’s sleeve, urging him to leave before things escalated. “Soo Hyuk, just ignore it. It’ll blow over.”
But it didn’t blow over.
The next few days were a nightmare for Soo Hyuk. Everywhere they went, more and more people seemed to suspect other men as the father of Cale’s baby. Worse, even those closest to Cale—people who should’ve known better—weren’t helping the situation.
At a small gathering back at the Henituse estate, Soo Hyuk found himself cornered by Choi Han, Alberu, Bud, and Toonka, who had all shown up uninvited.
“So… are we going to talk about it?” Bud asked casually, sipping his drink.
“Talk about what?” Soo Hyuk replied, his tone strained.
“Well,” Bud began, grinning. “Since it’s still unclear who the father is—”
“It’s *me,*” Soo Hyuk snapped. “I’m the father.”
Choi Han, ever the serious one, shook his head. “Cale-nim hasn’t confirmed it. We still don’t know for sure.”
Soo Hyuk blinked in disbelief. “Of course I’m the father! We’re married!”
Toonka, standing nearby, nodded as if he understood. “I can see why it’s confusing. Cale held my hand once, so I assumed—”
“You assumed *wrong,*” Soo Hyuk cut him off, barely holding onto his patience.
Alberu, looking far too amused for Soo Hyuk’s liking, leaned in with a smirk. “Now, now, let’s not jump to conclusions. Cale does spend a lot of time with *all* of us…”
Soo Hyuk pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to remain calm. “I *am* the father. I don’t care what any of you think.”
But before he could continue, Ron entered the room with his usual eerie calm. “Ah, young master-nim,” he said to Cale, “I’ve just received a letter from the palace. It seems Prince Adin has sent congratulations on your pregnancy… and a marriage proposal.”
Cale’s eye twitched as Soo Hyuk’s jaw dropped.
That evening, Soo Hyuk sat on the edge of their bed, rubbing his temples. “Rok Soo-ya, I don’t know how you deal with this every day.”
Cale, who had been reading in bed, glanced up and smirked. “It’s not so bad once you get used to it.”
Soo Hyuk groaned. “They’re *still* not convinced I’m the father. How many times do I have to say it?”
Cale patted his arm. “Don’t worry, they’ll come around.”
Soo Hyuk gave him a look of pure exasperation. “At this rate, I’m going to have to fight off half the continent. Maybe I should wear a sign that says, ‘*I am the father*.’”
Cale chuckled, leaning against him. “At least you don’t have to deal with the suitors. I can’t tell you how many people have shown up with flowers.”
Soo Hyuk sighed, resting his head against Cale’s. “If one more person suggests that Choi Han, Alberu, or *Toonka* is the father, I might lose it.”
Cale smiled softly. “You’ll be fine. Just remember, *we* know the truth.”
Soo Hyuk groaned again, but there was a hint of a smile on his face. “Yeah, I guess that’s what matters.”
And despite the continued gossip, despite the misunderstandings and rumors, Soo Hyuk had to admit—at least he and Cale were in it together.
Even if half the world was convinced otherwise.
The day of the birth had come, and despite the chaos leading up to it, the actual delivery was relatively smooth—thanks in no small part to the constant support of Raon, Choi Han, and, of course, Lee Soo Hyuk, who had stuck by Cale’s side the entire time.
Their son was born with Cale’s striking red hair but had all of Lee Soo Hyuk’s facial features—the same sharp jawline, the same intense gaze. He was, without a doubt, the perfect mix of both his parents.
Lee Soo Hyuk had never been more proud—or more relieved. Finally, the baby was here, and surely now everyone would stop the nonsense about who the father was.
But Lee Soo Hyuk’s hopes were dashed almost immediately.
When they introduced the baby to the others, the reactions were far from what he expected.
Choi Han, holding the baby gently in his arms, frowned in confusion. “Hmm… I’m still not sure. He looks like you, Cale-nim.”
Cale raised an eyebrow. “Well, he has my hair, sure, but his face—”
Before he could finish, Bud Illis leaned over, squinting at the baby. “I don’t know. There’s something about his expression that screams *Alberu.*”
Lee Soo Hyuk, standing nearby, nearly choked. “Alberu?! Are you kidding me?”
Bud shrugged, handing the baby to Lock. “Hey, I’m just saying. There’s a resemblance.”
Lock, ever the innocent one, smiled down at the baby. “He’s really cute. But I heard Toonka was visiting yesterday. Is it possible that—”
“No, it’s *not,*” Lee Soo Hyuk interrupted, clearly exasperated.
Cale sighed, shaking his head as Ron appeared with a tray of tea. “The baby’s only been alive for a day, and already we’re back to this.”
Ron, ever the picture of calm, gave a polite smile. “Well, young master-nim, people do love a good rumor. Especially when it comes to such an interesting family.”
As the years passed, the rumors never quite died down. Cale and Soo Hyuk’s son, whom they named Rin, grew up to be a lively and intelligent boy. By the time he was five, it was clear to anyone with eyes that he looked exactly like Lee Soo Hyuk, with the exception of Cale’s red hair. But, of course, this wasn’t enough to stop the gossip.
Rin was used to the odd looks people gave him. He had grown up hearing people question his parentage, but it wasn’t until he turned seven that he finally started asking questions himself.
One evening, after dinner, Rin wandered over to where his parents were sitting, staring at them with his big, curious eyes.
“Dad?” he asked, looking at Lee Soo Hyuk.
Soo Hyuk, who had been enjoying a rare moment of peace, smiled at his son. “What’s up, Rin?”
“People keep saying you’re not my dad.”
Soo Hyuk froze, the smile slipping off his face. Cale, sitting next to him, raised an eyebrow but said nothing, letting Soo Hyuk handle it.
“Well…” Soo Hyuk cleared his throat, trying to keep his frustration in check. “People say a lot of things, Rin. But don’t listen to them. I’m your dad.”
Rin frowned, looking between his parents. “But Miss Rosalyn said I look like Prince Alberu.”
Cale snorted. “She was joking. You look like your dad.”
Rin tilted his head, still clearly confused. “Then why does everyone say Choi Han or Uncle Bud is my dad?”
Soo Hyuk’s eye twitched. “They don’t know what they’re talking about. You look exactly like me!”
Rin blinked, still processing, then pointed to his own red hair. “But I have mom’s hair.”
“Yes,” Soo Hyuk said, trying to remain calm. “You have your mom’s hair and my face. That’s how genes work.”
Rin nodded, though he still seemed a little skeptical. “Okay… but Uncle Toonka said—”
“*I don’t care what Toonka said,*” Soo Hyuk finally snapped, throwing his hands in the air. “I’m your father, Rin! It’s me!”
Cale, watching this unfold with a smirk, patted Soo Hyuk on the back. “You might as well get used to it. Even when Rin grows up, people will still think someone else is the father.”
Soo Hyuk let out a strangled groan, burying his face in his hands. “I’m going to lose my mind.”
Rin, now thoroughly entertained by his dad’s outburst, giggled and hugged him. “It’s okay, Dad. I know you’re my dad.”
Soo Hyuk, on the verge of tears, hugged his son back, muttering, “Thank you, Rin. At least *you* believe me.”
But the peace didn’t last.
As the family sat together, enjoying the quiet moment, Ron appeared at the door with his usual serene smile. “Young master-nim,” he said smoothly. “Prince Adin is here with yet another gift and, of course, his… congratulations.”
Lee Soo Hyuk’s head hit the table with a loud *thunk*.
The End.