Cursed and Fated: Offered To The Wicked Alpha Prince
Chapter 36: Gideon is truly romantic

Chapter 36: Gideon is truly romantic

Gideon stepped back into the kitchen, his jaw tightening as he found Micah already deep in conversation with Adeline. His Beta was surprisingly useful, helping her arrange the heavy ceramic plates and bowls across the dining table.

’I told you to give us some space. What exactly are you doing here?’ Gideon’s voice snapped through the mindlink.

Micah froze mid-motion, a soup bowl still in his hands. He turned slowly, his eyes meeting Gideon’s.

’Sorry, but Adeline called me. She insisted I come and eat. I can leave if you want me to play the "busy beta" card.’

’No. Just stay and have dinner,’ Gideon answered through the link, though his gaze remained fixed on how comfortable Adeline looked talking to Micah.

"Your Highness, come and have a seat," Adeline’s voice broke through the silent mental tension. She pulled out a chair for him, looking at him expectantly. "Everything is ready, and it’s best eaten while it’s still hot."

Gideon bypassed the seat she had offered and pulled out the chair for her instead. "You sit," he stated.

She blinked at him, her gaze wide with shock as he placed his hands on her shoulders and gently but decisively pushed her down into the chair. "Are you a servant here?" he asked, his golden eyes searching hers. "Is this why I brought you here, to toil in a kitchen?"

Adeline could tell he was genuinely upset. Across the table, Micah moved as silently as a shadow, sliding into a chair and keeping his head down to avoid the Alpha’s simmering frustration.

"Cooking for you isn’t a servant’s work," Adeline replied, trying to keep her voice steady despite the tension. She reached for the serving spoon, already filling a bowl for him with a fragrant, steaming fish curry. "I didn’t know your specific preferences, so I prepared what I felt was right. It’s a gesture of thanks, Gideon, nothing more."

Gideon’s frustration dissipated the moment those words left her lips. The sharp edge of his gaze softened, replaced by a flicker of something much warmer.

"But I don’t want you to tire yourself out," he said, his voice losing its sternness. "Regardless, I am grateful for your thoughtfulness."

He picked up his spoon and took a cautious bite of the fish curry. Instantly, the complex blend of spices and perfectly cooked fish hit him; it was an explosion of flavor far superior to the rigid, formal meals his chefs usually prepared.

Even Micah looked up from his bowl, his eyes wide with genuine surprise. "Adeline, did you learn to cook at a culinary school? This is... different. The depth of the taste is incredible."

"No," Adeline replied with a modest smile, watching them eat. "I just used to do all the cooking at my home."

"That’s wonderful. It’s truly delicious," Micah said, already reaching for a second helping.

Gideon remained silent for a moment, focused on the meal, but the way he continued to eat without his usual pace spoke volumes.

He found himself strangely moved by the fact that she had spent her evening working over a hot stove just for him. He glanced at Adeline, who had her eyes on him.

"Give me your hand," Gideon said suddenly.

"Huh?" Adeline froze, her lashes fluttering in confusion as Gideon reached over and took her hand from her lap.

Without taking his eyes off hers, he brought her knuckles to his lips and pressed a lingering kiss against them, completely indifferent to Micah’s presence at the table.

His gaze was intense, burning with a golden light that seemed to see straight through her.

"Thank you for being so thoughtful," Gideon asserted, his voice a low rumble. "I will remember this gesture for the rest of my life."

Adeline felt a strange, airy sensation in her chest, her heart beginning to flutter slowly. It was a feeling she couldn’t quite name, but it made the room feel smaller and far warmer than before.

Across the table, Micah watched the exchange with a quiet smile, seeing the Alpha Prince finally letting his formidable defenses crumble.

Gideon eventually released her hand, though he lingered for a second before gesturing to her plate. "Now, eat."

~~~~~

After finishing their supper, Adeline retreated to the quiet of her bedroom. Her eyes immediately landed on the massive bouquet resting on the table, its deep red petals glowing under the soft lamplight. She moved to pick it up, straining slightly against its surprising weight.

She buried her face in the velvet blooms, inhaling their rich, sweet scent. A genuine smile bloomed on her lips.

"I’ve never received a bouquet before," she whispered to the empty room. "But this... I never even imagined something like this. Gideon is truly romantic."

The words had barely left her mouth when her eyes widened in realization. She pulled back, shaking her head vigorously as if to physically toss the thought away.

"What am I even saying?" she gasped, her cheeks flushing a deep beetroot red.

But the smile on her lips only widened when the doors suddenly opened, admitting Gideon.

"Adeline, I wanted to ask—" He paused mid-sentence, his eyes fixating on her as she stood there, clutching the bouquet with her cheeks glowing a vibrant red. A slow smirk played on his lips. "You’re blushing."

She scrambled to lower the bouquet onto the table, her heart racing as she pressed the backs of her palms to her face. "I think it’s just hot in the room, that’s why," she stammered, looking anywhere but at him.

Gideon didn’t buy the excuse for a second. He closed the distance until he was towering over her, then leaned down, his face inches from hers.

Before she could protest, his lips landed on her cheek, specifically on the small smudge of chocolate she had forgotten to wash off.

"Gideon..." she breathed, her voice trembling as she felt the warm, fleeting touch of his tongue against her skin.

She promptly pulled away, her eyes wide and her breath hitching. "You—you can’t do that!" she remarked with shock and indignation.

"You had chocolate there," Gideon replied simply, his golden eyes shimmering with a playful light. "I was merely helping you clean up."