The Crown's Entrapment

At Cordon Castle.

Checking on her overall look in the full-size mirror inside her chamber, a smile stretched itself over Freya’s face as she gave herself a nod of appreciation. Yesterday, Gideon told her that he would tell her all of his likes and dislikes one at a time starting today. And she didn’t know why but she was actually anticipating it happening. Maybe it was because she was sincere in wanting to know more about him?

The smile on her lips stretched out even further once she recalled last night’s dinner. Lord Gideon wasn’t a bad cook at all, and she was quite impressed with what he had made for them. She let out a soft chuckle upon recalling how her mother had been pushing things too hard, praising Lord Gideon every once in a while, all while making the latter turn beet red for the entirety of dinner.

“Milady, Lord Gideon said that he’ll be waiting for you by the castle gate in the north whenever you’re ready.”

Having been interrupted from her stupor, Freya nodded before promptly dismissing her chamberlain. She didn’t take long in getting ready, so she promptly walked towards her door to meet him by their designated meeting spot.

‘How come he didn’t wait outside my door like usual?’ Freya thought as she opened her door, only to frown when she saw Gideon by his usual spot with his back leaning against the wall.

“Milord?” Freya murmured as she approached him. He tilted his head, sporting that adorable smile he always had on his face as she asked him, “I thought I’d meet you by the north gate of the castle?”

“Yes, but I changed my mind,” Gideon commented with a half-shrug. “I thought it would be nice to just walk inside the castle together like this.”

“Alright then,” Freya smiled with a shrug. “Shall we?”

Gideon nodded. And with that, they started walking.

“How was your sleep?” Gideon asked her.

“Hmm, quite well,” Freya answered with a content smile on her face. “The weather’s a bit cold though, Still, the feeling of another season brought warmth inside of me, knowing that I’m back home to experience it.”

She could recall how homesick she was back in her first year at Mount Sorel, but she endured it knowing that she couldn’t always stay behind her mother’s shadow. She must learn to be independent and fend for herself if she wanted to actually be her own person.

“How about you, milord?” Freya curiously asked.

“Hmm, cold and sleepless?” Gideon hesitantly murmured out.

“Why?” Freya pondered.

It was quite unnatural. Lord Gideon was always someone who seemed to not be disturbed by anything because of his carefree aura. To think that he’d be like this now…

“How do I say this… You were always in my mind these days,” Gideon confessed, making her heart flutter.

*Thump *Thump *Thump

Freya tried her best to calm her frantic heart. She bit her inner cheek for comfort, and she was sure that she was already blushing hard at that point. Not to mention the way that their skin brushed against one another since they were walking so close together.

She chuckled, trying hard to ease the tension in the atmosphere. “Hmm, why are you having trouble sleeping? I hope it’s not a nightmare…” she murmured, still chuckling in a way that sounded awkward in her ears.

“It’s absolutely not a nightmare,” Gideon replied with a reassuring smile.

“An erotic dream then?”

Before she could stop herself, she had already unknowingly voiced out her thoughts. Freya felt so feverish thinking about something perverted, and even worse was the fact that she even said it out loud. It was too late for her to even take it back. She opened her mouth to somehow change the topic, but….

“Yes.” Gideon casually answered her.

Freya gulped at what she just heard. She was at a loss for words.

She heard Gideon chuckle as he added, “I guess you can easily read me, milady. I hope my honesty won’t make you feel too awkward.”

It didn’t make her feel awkward, but it felt…

Freya let out a sigh to relax herself as she said, “It’s alright. I prefer honesty, so don’t worry.”

Indeed, she preferred that Gideon be honest to her at all times, even if it gave her a few mixed emotions deep inside her chest.

There was another bout of silence as they walked, but all throughout, Freya gradually found herself relaxing again. She would even smile to herself every once and a while, greeting those who passed them by along the way. Her being with Gideon also didn’t escape the curious looks from some of the passers-by. Somehow, they made her conscious enough to try and avert her gaze from them.

“Are you uncomfortable being seen with me like this?” Gideon suddenly asked, breaking the silence between them.

Instead of answering, Freya suddenly grabbed Gideon’s hand, interlocking their fingers together. It was sudden, but she had the urge to do so seeing that they would soon pass by Elder Nasser, who was currently talking with the other Elders nearby the castle gate.

The Elder soon noticed their arrival, and he quickly greeted her.

“Lady Freya…” Elder Nasser greeted. And as she expected, the Elder’s eyes darted particularly to her hand being interlocked with Gideon’s.

“Good day, Elder Nasser… Elder Karim,” Freya politely greeted the two elders with a neutral smile.

Beside her, Gideon also greeted the two Elders.

“Are you two heading somewhere?” Elder Nasser asked with raised eyebrows.

She acted coyly, all while she gently squeezed Gideon’s hand, hoping that the latter would get her signal since she was too embarrassed to talk to him telepathically.

“My mate and I are about to go out for a date,” Gideon promptly answered.

“Hah, this is a surprise… I’ve heard of the rumors, but I guess that they do hold some merit to them,” Elder Karim snorted. “Princess Freya is indeed taken.”

“Did you already accept the Mate Pull then, Princess?” Elder Nasser pondered.

Freya tried her best to keep her calm, knowing that Nasser would stop at nothing to try and needle out answers from her. She gave the two Elders her brightest smile as she replied, “I don’t see any reason to reject the Mate pull. It’s a blessing from the Almighty, so I’m accepting Lord Gideon as my mate wholeheartedly.”

“Now if you’ll excuse us… Elder Nasser and Elder Karim…”

And with that, she quickly pulled Gideon out to walk beside her and proceed to the gate where their carriage was waiting. She wouldn’t want to waste time gracing those two Elders with her mere presence, knowing that she would get nothing out of it.

Boarding the carriage, she was about to release Gideon’s hand as soon as they were inside, but the latter firmly held onto her. She turned to him with a creased forehead, but he only smiled mischievously as he said, “You said you’re already accepting me as your mate, so let me act accordingly..”