Gideon choked on his own words the moment he heard those words. First things first, did he look that feminine? Second, there was no way in hell are they were a couple let alone be gay.
"I think you're confused but we're not… He's not.." He stuttered trying to explain their situation.
To be honest, in the eyes of the public they did look like a couple. Kaiden was paying for everything Gideon liked. And they spoke with each other as if they were close. Anyone would confuse them for a couple indeed and the cherry on top is the fact Kaiden just bought flowers and handed them to Gideon.
"O-oh!" The girl exclaims but Gideon couldn't even let out a sigh of relief when she spoke the next set of words.
"Don't worry! Everyone here in the southern capital are fine with same-sex couples! I did not expect you two to be one cuz you're so pretty"
Gideon's face was just terrible and he could not even respond anymore.
'What does Kaiden think of the situation? Surely he would be offended because he was confused for a homo'
Gideon glanced at Kaiden. He smiled at the girl and accepted the flier saying they'll look into it. The girl nodded happily and ran off to pester other people who looked like they were tourists.
"I think we should go home" Gideon suggested and Kaiden turned around with a confused expression.
"Why?"
"Well people are now confusing us"
"Who cares?"
"I care, I'm used to those kinds of comments but"
'but I have no idea about you'
Kaiden smiled, he knew Gideon was worried about him but his worry was not needed. He folded the flier and tucked it into his pockets. Weird enough it didn't feel offensive to him. Usually he'd get angry when Amias joked about this sort of stuff to him.
"You don't have to worry about it too much, I don't mind it"
"Really?"
He and Gideon continued to walk around the area as they spoke with one another. Gideon still can't help but overthink because he was a little worried knowing Kaiden's personality in the novel.
'Damn I should have those magic hoodies as well to make myself look manlier'
"It's amusing to experience that"
"Pardon?" Gideon pondered on what that sentence meant.
"People wouldn't dare assume those kinds of things if I wasn't in disguise"
"Believe me it's much better that way"
"Well, it's a nice change of pace. No one is pretending to be nice to you just because of your status and power"
When Kaiden said that, Gideon was surprised. Who knew that Kaiden was feeling this sort of thing? He always assumed that Kaiden would strike those who dared to oppose him. The more he thought about it, the more Kaiden's words made sense.
People pretended to be nice to him even in the novel because they feared him.
Even though he was putting up a nice act even though deep inside he was scared.
Indeed nothing changed from the novel.
Gideon felt pity for him. Maybe it's because he's also reminded of his past where their uncles pretended to be nice to them up until they met their downfall by those very people. The feeling of being alone, unsure if the people around you are truly on your side. It's sickening to the core.
When Gideon read the novel, although you could justify most of Kaiden's actions due to his past, you were never given a detailed explanation on his emotions. You'd see the words "He felt troubled by the amount of rumors circulating and thus he ordered those who spoke against him to be thrown out". But you never actually understood how he felt troubled. On what was actually going through his head.
"What if I was pretending as well?"
Kaiden stopped walking and Gideon accidentally bumps into him. He backed away and looked up at the tall guy in front of him.
"What if I was pretending to be nice to you?" He repeated his question
"I highly doubt that you'd need to pretend that you're nice when it is the truth"
"Why would you assume that?"
"Because you're the only person brave enough to ask that"
Kaiden considered this fact. That Gideon is only with him today because he was terrified of being disliked by the prince. Who wouldn't? Servants would see that he had an awkward relationship with the king who was trying to be a father to the point of spoiling him rotten. Not only that but the mere fact that he disrespects the Demon Nobles out in public just proves his powers were more powerful than theirs. There's one thing that Demons respect above everything else, and that is power.
But Gideon was different. Even as a kid, he didn't care about who you are and where you're from. He was respectful to everyone and would scold those who went out of line. Kaiden felt like he and Gideon were similar to some degree.
That's the reason why he wouldn't doubt Gideon's kindness to him right now. Even if it was indeed due to fear. Gideon can still say no and run away, Kaiden would not chase him anymore since he already spoke out his side. Yeah maybe he'd be pissed but not to the same extent of wanting to kill him like in the past.
"And even if you were pretending, I wouldn't mind because it means I just need to change whatever impression you have on me"
The entire thing was already going smoothly if Kaiden didn't add that comment. Gideon raised an eyebrow.
"If I was then how would you even change it?" He indulged Kaiden since he didn't have any topic to talk about.
"I don't know, maybe take you out to eat at the restaurant from earlier"
Kaiden waved around the flier and once again Gideon felt like he got punched in the stomach.
"That's for couples only!" Gideon angrily states but his face was red.
"Eh? Well you're pretending to be nice to me so you might as well go all the way and pretend to be my partner for today"
Gideon's lips trembled in anger like a feral cat. To think he was empathizing with this shameless fellow just a little while ago.
Kaiden seems to be satisfied with Gideon's reaction and takes a hold of his shoulders to walk to the restaurant.
"L-let's walk like normal people!" Gideon snapped because they looked absolutely ridiculous with this setup.
"Hmm? But we gotta look like the part going in there"
"DO YOU THINK COUPLES WALK AROUND LIKE THIS?!"
Gideon's sudden outburst made people look at them and they started to gossip between themselves. The action just made Gideon even more embarrassed as he mentally cursed himself for being an idiot. He had his head down but his ears were visible. You can clearly see that he was blushing red from embarrassment.
Kaiden bursts out laughing and Gideon had to suck it up because it was indeed his fault now.
"Just take my hand so we can get this over with," he whispered angrily to Kaiden.
Kaiden was still smiling and he gently took Gideon's hand and walked into the Restaurant.
To the middle-aged lady who was managing the front, the two looked like a loving couple that had just gotten into an argument. She saw the commotion earlier and couldn't help but silently laugh as it happened.
'What a lively young couple ah…. How great must it be to be young and in love again' the lady couldn't help but reminisce of her younger self.
"Hello, someone out front gave this flier out… we would like to avail it"
"Oh that's for couples only" the lady teased.
Kaiden raised the hand that was holding Gideon's.
"We are a couple"
Gideon turned even more red at the action and statement.
'It's not true so you shouldn't be embarrassed. You started this by asking that dumb question just calm down'
The lady couldn't help but giggle a little saying that she was only teasing the two and called out to someone. The teenager from earlier showed up again and smiled brightly.
"I knew it! Mama these were the guys I was talking about earlier"
"Oh my this small fellow is a guy?"
"Yes?!" Gideon finally responded. He knew that he was short but he wasn't THAT short.
"I'm sorry but you're just really pretty, oh Sofia lead them to a table and give them the menu"
The teen girl named Sofia led them to a table and handed them a menu.
"As stated in our flier, if you avail this set you'll get a free side dish. Everything here is homemade by the best cook" She confidently points to her mother who was about to go into the back before taking out a notepad to jot down their order.
"Mn, we'll avail that set, and do you want anything else darling?" Kaiden was milking the situation and Gideon still can't get used to it.
"Maybe some water" he was feeling unwell now.
Sofia wrote everything down on her notes before smiling and disappearing to go to the back which Gideon assumed to be the Kitchen area.
"Do you know how much I want to punch you right now?" He smiles fakely at Kaiden as he whispered that threat
"I could tell because of the death grip you have on my hand"