The Crown's Entrapment

Freya’s lips parted as her eyes rapidly blinked towards Gideon in disbelief.

All the while, Lord Gideon simply scratched his head as their eyes met. “I… I’m flustered. I mean, it’s been a while since I last saw you, Lady Freya. I’m just too mesmerized that I couldn’t help myself but ask you of this.”

He then meekly added, “I’m being serious about my intentions to marry you, of course, but it’s a question you don’t need to answer right now.”

Gideon explained further, his eyes staring straight into hers with all seriousness. “I do apologize for being straightforward to you like this when we’ve just met again after four long years. Make no mistake, I intend to formally court you, and if you deem me not good enough for you, then I’ll accept your answer to my earlier question once you’re ready…”

Freya was caught off-guard. She was aware of how much of a blabbermouth Lord Gideon was. But this…

“Gideon, stop scaring my sister and just sit down will you?!”

At her brother’s sudden interruption, Freya let out a sigh of relief as she found herself partly relaxing. It came at a good time too, or else she didn’t know what to do with Lord Gideon’s advancements.

Looking around, she hoped that no one noticed how red her face was from embarrassment. Her eyes squinted as she then looked at Lord Gideon, but she ended up looking away just as quickly, seeing as his eyes were also on her.

‘What’s with that intense stare of his?’ Freya inwardly retorted._.

It was weird… She had never felt this tense in her whole life. Her heart was beating erratically, not to mention how her stomach felt like it was doing backflips with how off she was feeling.

But on top of all that, she just couldn’t hide the feral instinct coming up in her body because of the Mate Pull. Lord Gideon smelled so nice that she was having this strong urge to just pounce at him and get on with it.

She didn’t believe all the exaggeration in regards to the description of the Mate Pull before, but experiencing it like this now… Only now did she realize how justified those so-called exaggerated stories were.

Freya inwardly grimaced. She couldn’t focus on her plate at all during dinner. Her eyes kept sneaking glances at Lord Gideon, but whenever she would, he would always manage to catch her. What’s worse, he would then strike her with those beautiful and cheerful smiles of his, making her gulp in retreat before giving him her awkward smile.

“Mother,” her brother Darius spoke, and Freya was once again relieved at seeing how Lord Gideon had his eyes on her brother instead of her.

“I’ll be leaving with Xenia to visit her sister at Valcrez,” Darius informed their mother. “Expect us to be gone for around a week.”

“I understand,” her mother nodded. “And what excuse do you want me to give to the court in regards to your absence?”

“Just tell them the same thing I always say, that I want to maintain our good standing relationship with the Valcrez,” Darius plainly uttered. “I’ll be paying them a visit and reaffirm this relationship of ours, especially with how I snatched Princess Xenia from Nikolai using the Beholden Law.”

“Well, I’m sure they already know the real reason you’re going away, but I suppose that will be a good excuse for now,” her mother commented.

After which, they held more talks regarding the training and the upcoming wedding as well.

“Freya and I will handle everything from our end, dear. We’ll make sure that all will be in accordance with Ebodia’s traditions and customs,” the Queen Mother informed Xenia. “I am already in coordination with your parents through messengers, and they will be the ones to provide everything we might need that won’t be available in our kingdom.”

‘A wedding…’

Freya inwardly repeated the thought in her head. She was also one of those women who wanted to experience a wedding. She was a royal, so it was mandatory for her to also hold a wedding ceremony unlike the common denizens in their kingdom, where completing the Mate Bond would be more than enough to secure a marriage.

‘I wonder…’

She once again looked at Gideon, and she suddenly flinched when he telepathically talked to her. [Can we talk privately later after this?]

[Uh… Sure,] Freya replied.

Sure enough, the dinner went well, and everyone left for their respective bedchamber except for Freya and Gideon, who simply walked towards a particular direction through the hallways.

“Where are we going, Lord Gideon?” Freya inquired.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m kind of lost, actually,” Lord Gideon answered, his tone indicating that he was halfway from zoning out. “This often happens to me whenever I get lost in thought…”

He then suddenly looked down and whispered, “I’m sorry, Lady Freya. It’s just that I… I don’t feel like myself whenever I’m facing you like this for the first time. I’m not quite sure how to approach you, or even say things because I have too much to say inside my head.”

He sighed, “I’ve been waiting for this for a long time… Waiting for you since you were still young, and…”

Freya didn’t say a word as she simply listened to what he had to say. She honestly appreciated how he was being vocal about his feelings like this.

“I don’t want to be rude or anything, it’s just that I can’t help myself from uttering those words,” Gideon sighed. “I really meant it when I said I wanted to marry you. I know it’s so sudden, but hearing how Nasser talked about that arranged marriage with Gilas… I simply couldn’t hold myself back anymore…”

Freya didn’t know how to react to his words at all. He just… constantly kept going…

She shook her head and murmured, “You’re so weird…”

‘But you smell nice, at least…’ her instincts wanted to add, but she was glad she managed to hold it in.

“Hmm… How about we take a walk in the garden outside the castle?” Gideon asked after a moment of silence.

“Alright, that would be fine…” Freya agreed.

With a nod, they walked beside each other. Once more, silence reigned as they made their way to the garden.

“It’s nice that you’re finally back,” Gideon suddenly spoke up.

“Yes, indeed… It’s nice to be back home,” Freya smiled. “I missed everyone… My family, Speedy, and- Oh…”

She suddenly found herself stopping midstep. She wanted to look at Gideon to thank him for taking care of Speedy. But she had done so while they were going down the stairs, causing her to lose balance. Thankfully, Gideon was quick to catch her by her waist, pulling her close to him.

“Careful, milady,” Gideon whispered to her.

Time stopped still. Their faces were too close to one another, and Freya hadn’t been this close to any man before.

ɴ[0)ᴠᴇʟ “Am I the only one feeling it?” Gideon whispered, his pupils open wide as he stared at her.

Freya could hear her heart beating rapidly. It was too deafening not to notice it anymore.

“I…”

Freya was unable to finish her words.

Lord Gideon suddenly smiled at her and said, “Take your time to sort out your feelings, Lady Freya. Still, expect me to always show myself around you from now on because my main goal now that you’re back is to win you over.”