"I really don't want to trouble you, My Lady." The Prince said for the 5th time.
"Oh... No... My Prince, it is quite alright. Draq, the Pack's cook teached me how to cook in my free time." I reassured him and gave him a sweet smile.
Yibo didn't know how to cook so he suggested to call the pack's cook which unfortunately was on a leave.
They were gonna call him even though he was on his leave to see his wife, so I stopped Yibo.
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FLASHBACK
"Your highness, I'll just call the pack's cook and order him to come here." Yibo said and was gonna excuse himself when I stopped him.
"Draq is with his wife now. I don't think you should interrupt him this late at night." I suggested. "It's already 9:30 p.m. and it's a 2 hr. drive for him."
Yibo glared at me. "So are you suggesting to starve his highness?" He asked, half accusing me. I sealed my mouth shut because he seemed mad at me. "Next time, don't suggest stupid things. It's not like you can cook." He said in a sarcastic tone.
"Well, of course I can" I said, defending myself calmly. The Prince and Yibo looked at me in surprise.
Yibo scoffed. "You sure it's gonna be edible?" He asked in a challenging tone.
"Excuse me, My Prince" I said at the Prince and sternly looked at Yibo.
"Try me" I replied , accepting his challenge.
END OF FLASHBACK
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"It is okay, My Prince. I don't mind." I reassured him and proceeded to cook.
Chop! Chop!
Chizzle! Chizzle!
Stir.....
"Ta- da!" I softly exclaimed.
I looked at my finished product and served it in a glass bowl. I could see the Prince's surprise. Although he keeps his posture as a Prince, I can see that he was very hungry indeed.
The table was already prepared and my dish was the only thing that was missing.
I gently put in on the table and looked at them. "I hope you'll like it."
The Prince smiled and looked at me. " It smells lovely, My Lady." He complimented.
I smiled and sat next to him. I glanced at Yibo, and he was also smelling the delicious smell of my dish.
The Prince was the first one to taste it. His eyes immediately lit up in amazement. "Hmmm! My lady, you're very good at this!" He calmly said hiding his excitement.
He started elegantly filling his mouth with rice. "It's quite heavenly, My Lady." He softly said before eating.
'Why does everything he do look so ELEGANT?!'
I chuckled at his reaction. Yibo confusedly looked at the Prince and hesitantly looked dish. "You sure this would taste edible?" He asked again.
"Only one way to find out, sirè" I replied and raised an eyebrow at him.
He scoffed before putting it in his mouth. His eye lit up and looked at my dish in amazement.
"You like it?" I asked Yibo. He straightened his posture and cleared his throat.
"It is edible." He said trying to hide his amazement.
I scoffed at him and also ate. "Anyway, The dish is called beef straugonoff, My Prince." I told him in which he nodded.
I was gonna partner the dish with mashed potatoes but what he wanted was rice to fill his stomach.
He was so busy eating that he didn't have the time to stop and breath.
Watching him while he eat, he would take a moment and look at me with a smile before continuing.
'Is this man... really my mate?'
After eating, a servant came and washed the plates. Even though I insisted that I can do it myself. The Prince strongly disagreed.
"My Prince, I can wash the plates you know." I calmly said before looking at the servant washing plates.
"My Lady..." The Prince called. I looked at him with confusion. "You have done enough, for now, all I want to do is get to know you." He said before reaching for my hand. "Let us go to the Balcony, My Lady."
I sighed before letting him pull me upstairs. He pulled me to the balcony and smiled. "I am going to get something." He said before leaving me.
I chuckled and looked at the view. The scenery up there was breathtaking. I can see everyone in the pack minding their own businesses.
Looking up the moon, I couldn't help but ask. "Luna, is he the one?" As if answering, the moon brightly lit up for a moment. "What in the..." I stood there stunned after what happened.
"My Lady? Are you feeling unwell?" I snapped back to reality as I realized that The Prince was already by my side.
"Did you see it, My Prince?" I asked him as he wrapped a thick cardigan around my body.
"See what, My Lady?" He asked innocently before hugging me.
"N-Nevermind..."
'Sturdy chest...'
Inhaling his perfume really makes me feel that I'm floating. It was too mesmerizing.
I remembered our purpose her outside so I took the initiative to start the conversation.
"My Prince..." I called him.
He subtly let go of the hug to look at me. "Yes, My Lady?"
"About me... Well, I'm just an average 12th Grade Student at the Moon University. I belong at the book club in our school. I am never really that sporty but for the past 2 months, I have been training martial arts that Lycsn Warriors learn about. And..." I looked at him and bitterly smiled.
"...well, the reason that I came here and voluntarily undergone vigorous training was to attempt forgetting the pain of being rejected by my mate..." I smiled at him trying to hide the lingering pain in my heart.
He looked at me surprised. It took him a good 3 seconds before giving me a sweet smile. "My Lady, it may be inappropriate for me to say this because you've been through a lot but, I kinda thank the shallowness your first mate has... Because of it, now... You're with me and mine only..." he said in a possessive way.
I couldn't read what was in his mind but I could see the sincerity in it. I could feel the pain in my heart lifting, making me feel relieved.
"My Lady... Pardon me for being too fast but..." he chuckled. "...if you choose to be with me, after your studies, I will cherish you and love you every second of everyday..." he smiled. "I will do everything In my capacity to give you everything you want and need... But of course, under one condition... Stay with me..."
At that moment, all I could see was him. The feelings that rushed in me cannot be explained. My heart was beating as loud as it can.
"Do you meant it?" That was was all I could say. My head was in doubt to trust again but my heart says otherwise.
Giving me a sweet smile as he hugged me tighter. "My Lady, May I ask for your whole name?" He asked softly while embracing me.
"It is Zara Alessiandra Okwaho, My Prince." I replied.
He raised my chin and looked at my eyes. "Well then, My Lady Zara Alessiandra Okwaho... Will you be my mate for life?" He asked in a warm tone.
I was taken aback. I slightly distanced myself from him and lowered my head.
"I... " A pile of words got my tongue tied. I couldn't respond for a while.
'Am I being too selfish? I need to answer right?'
After all those tears and all those days I yearned for love like this. Do I still have the guts to say no to someone who can obviously fill this hole in my heart? Just because of a painful experience?
Raising my head to look at his red glimmering eyes. I can see the anticipation and yearning in it.
"My Prince... I d--" Before I could say anything else. The Prince cupped my cheeks and smiled.
"I-it's okay, My Lady..." He said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "You don't have to answer right now." He said in a low voice.
I stared at him clueless. "But..."
'Wait... is he giving me time for formality?'
Well... he is the Prince... Maybe its custom. I blinked at him a few times before nodding and giving him a smile.
A cold wind blew at us, making me shiver. Although the Prince is hugging me, the wins outside is still too cold for me.
"My Lady, we should head inside... It's getting chilly... " he said with a smile before letting go of the hug. He offered me his hand in which I accepted before he pulled me back inside.
'What's this? I kinda wanted that hug to last longer...'