"Grrr~~"
Anteros and everyone heard it loud and clear the grumbling sound coming from Elion's stomach.
He was already embarrassed but after this, his face was painted crimson red.
"You must be hungry, Elie. I cooked the meal, why don't you and his highness have a light meal before you leave?" Nymeria suggested.
"No, Mrs. Grimalkin. I planned to take him to eat first so I booked a table in the 'Greenriver' restaurant," Anteros refused politely.
"Ah, the 'Greenriver' restaurant on the outskirts? But isn't it too far?" Cassian Grimalkin queried.
"It is far but as you all know the food is delicious there. You don't have to worry, Mr. Grimalkin I will take care of Elion," Anteros assured.
"If you say so, Your Highness," Cassian relaxed after hearing it.
"Then shall we go, Elion," Anteros extended his hand but the little Mainecoon refused to take his hand and walked out waving at his friend and family ignoring the Ice-dragon who wasn't offended at all but found him cute.
"I will take my leave, Mr. & Mrs. Grimalkin. I will make sure to bring Elion back by evening," Anteros gave a prince's bow.
"You both can come later after having dinner, Your Highness," Nymeria smiled.
"No, mother. What are you saying? Bring my brother back before the sun sets, got it Prince Anteros?" Evius spoke giving him a warning glare.
"Yes, Mr. Rhincodark," Anteros just smiled and followed Elion to the outside.
Anteros and Elion were sitting opposite to each other in the private magicarrige driven by Zephyr in the front.
There was a long awkward silence between them. Elion was looking out of the window while Anteros was browsing through some files.
Though he was on paid vacation he still did some work from home whenever he was free and instructed his employees about the important projects and meetings.
Well, his workaholic nature won't disappear in a day or two. Moreover, he loved his work.
After waiting and waiting, "If you are this busy with work you don't have to take me on a date," Elion commented taking a side glance at the Ice-dragon.
Anteros suppressed his smile hearing the small grumpy voice of the little Mainecoon.
"Little kitten, are you bored?" Anteros questioned closing the files and giving his full attention to his soon-to-be husband.
Elion puffed his cheeks keeping his arms on his waist, "Why am I little kitten? You even called me that in front of everyone just before. Do you know how embarrassed I was?"
Anteros chuckled lightly, "What should I call you then? Grumpy little Kitten?"
"You!" Elion growled his fluffy silver-golden ears twitched as he took out his nails from his paws and threatened to scratch him with them.
Yes, Elion has a crush on Anteros and yes he liked how the Ice-dragon called him with that nickname and another yes, he wasn't going to show his feelings so soon and lose his face.
The Ice-dragon himself said he wasn't into men but the last night's actions were contradictory.
So, the little Mainecoon decided to see how long Anteros was going to act like he wasn't affected by his charm and he was determined to make him admit in front of him that the Ice-dragon lied to him about his sexual preference.
"Oh, now I get it. Grumpy little wild kitten, right?" Anteros grinned heartily finding Elion adorable.
"Hmph! I am not wild, you are wild!" Elion turned his face away pouting.
Zephyr who was driving the magicarriage was stunned to hear his stone-faced boss laughing and talking in more than one sentence.
The secretary worked with him for almost five years and the Ice-dragon was so cold to everyone in the company not to mention his clients.
He did see his boss being casual and goofing around with his close friends but that was an occasional thing.
However, since he accompanied his boss to the Grimalkin's mansion he was seeing a new version of his boss as if he had been upgraded by the little Mainecoon.
He was talking more and smiling more which was a miracle to him. Just before too, he greeted the Grimalkins with a big smile and pleasantries he never liked.
>>>Maybe spring has finally arrived in my Cold-hearted boss's forever winter heart.
Zephyr smiled to himself as he landed the magicarriage in front of the restaurant that was on the outskirts of the capital city Cerulean almost at the border between the Ice-dragon province and fire-dragon province of the south.
Unlike their Ice-dragon province which has been always covered by snow, the border was a grassland due to the temperature difference between both provinces.
"Wah, it's so green!" Elion exclaimed like a child as it was his first time seeing greenery.
Cassian Grimalkin never took his son out of their province for some reason. The clan elders too were so protective of him from the start that they never permitted him to go to other provinces even when his school asked them to take him for an excursion in the lightning-dragon province of the center.
It was all new for him. He became cheerful forgetting that he was sulking at the Ice-dragon just now for calling him wild.
Anteros was amused by his excitement and the change of his mood in seconds. Zephyr came to the back and opened the door after knocking politely.
The Ice-dragon got out first then extended his hand to help Elion get down the carriage.
The little Mainecoon was about to not give him the hand but Anteros grabbed his hand with a calm smile playing on his lips and helped him down not wanting to lose the second time after Elion didn't give his hand back at Grimalkins mansion.
Elion tried to free his hand but Anteros intertwined their fingers and dragged him inside the restaurant.
Zephyr shook his head smiling and went to park the magicarriage.
It was the restaurant of the Capybara clan who has been friendly with all the Animan clans since ancient times and so they live on the borders of provinces, kingdoms, and empires preventing unnecessary wars.
The waitress welcomed them and showed them their reserved table. What was shocking to Elion was not the Capybara clan's people but the restaurant being empty without any customers.
"Didn't you say the food here is tasty, then why are there no customers? Are you perhaps fooled by online rankings, Your Highness?
Elion pulled Anteros down with his intertwined hand, stood on his toes to match the Ice-dragon's height, and whisper-asked.
Anteros raised his left eyebrow wondering what the little Mainecoon was doing but as soon as he heard him, he smiled.
"The food here is good but there are no other customers because I booked the entire restaurant for today," Anteros also took the chance, leaning in, he whisper-answered in the little Mainecoon's ear.
Elion's irises expanded sensing the warm air hitting his ear. He pushed the Ice-dragon a little and looked away with cherry-red cheeks.
Anteros lips curved getting the desired reaction from Elion, he gently pulled the chair, made him sit, and took a seat opposite to him.
"Why did you book the whole restaurant when we are going to eat at only one table? Just because you're a prince you shouldn't use your authority like this," Elion reprimanded a little.
"Hm, I will listen to my little Kitten from now on," Anteros replied skimming through the menu.
"Who is your little kitten? Stop calling me that," Elion pouted.
"Oh, I am sorry. It grumpy little wild kitten, right?" Anteros teased further.
"Mmmh!" Elion whined not knowing how to stop the Ice-dragon from pulling his leg.
He was already trying hard not to blush and control his feelings but Anteros being like this was making it hard for him.
"Anyway, I booked the restaurant to have some privacy while we talk and I paid them twice of their daily income, so I didn't use my authority unfairly, I suppose?"
"Your money must be growing to the trees in your lawn," Elion muttered looking at the menu and pretending to be reading the names of the food.
But the Ice-dragon who had exceptionally well hearing sense heard the little Mainecoon, "If money grows like that then I will be sleeping lazily on my bed instead of being with you here, little kitten."
"So is being with me here increasing your money?" Elion had a question mark on his face.
"No, it's increasing my entertainment. Making money and feeling entertained is the same to me," Anteros remarked drinking a glass of water.
"Am I just an entertainment to you?" Elion felt offended.
"No, you are my soon-to-be husband too," Anteros replied without a second of hesitation.
Elion narrowed his eyes giving him a little glower.
"Alright, stop getting grumpy and before taking out your claws to scare me, order some food, little kitten," Anteros raised his hand calling the waiter.
Elion couldn't talk back seeing the waiter and ordered the food, "One grilled mackerel, spicy fish stew, and grilled yellow corvina that's all."
Anteros noticed that all the choices of the little Mainecoon's food were fish, and he grinned.
>>>Such a fish-loving little kitten.
"Is that all? Aren't you hungry? Eat more, is your stomach a little too just like you little kitten?" The Ice-dragon joshed wanting to see Elion's reaction.
"You!" Elion narrowed his eyes grasping that the Ice-dragon was enjoying teasing him.
Anteros ordered some more meat dishes and a spicy pork backbone hangover soup for Elion.
"Would you like to have some wine, sir?" The waiter asked.
"No, my little kitten can't handle alcohol. He will start acting cute and kiss-"
Before Anteros could finish his sentence Elion got up and closed his mouth with popped eyes, "What the hell are you spouting?" And then looked at the waiter, "You can go, that's all for the order."
"I never lie, you did kiss-"
"Shut up! Elion didn't let him finish again, "And what? You don't lie, huh? You said..." The little Mainecoon made the expression Anteros did when they were discussing the prenuptial conditions and spoke, "I am not fucking gay and I will never lay my hands on you like ever."
Anteros kept silent, his lips straightened into a thin line and he let Elion finish.
"...Like ever, my foot!" Elion leaned down and whispered, "Didn't you try to kiss me yesterday night?" Then stood up straight, "You are a big fat liar!"
"Yes, I am," Anteros pulled Elion by his waist making him sit on his lap.
The little Mainecoon was startled by the sudden action, "What're you doing?"
"So what you gonna do? Didn't you look forward to the kiss too, hm, little Kitten?" Anteros questioned and at the last sentence, he whispered and bitten Elion's ear.
Elion gasped loudly with wide eyes, "You, what-" he was cut off when Anteros grabbed his nape and pulled him into a kiss.
*****