Wife of The Demon Prince
Chapter 330: The guest

Chapter 330: The guest

"What if I say I’m serious this time, would you accept my offer to take you out?"

Anne couldn’t hide her embarrassment, if Alex had told her that he’d made this offer to any other woman, she’d have almost danced in joy for him, and even helped him in wooing her. But it turned out he was saying this to her, she had never thought of him in a romantic way, but as a good friend. There was someone else in her heart she couldn’t forget despite all the years that had passed.

Anne smoothed her expression and spoke in a level voice, "You are now the grand general of Findara, so you must constantly be getting marriage proposals from a lot of higher ranked nobles. Why are you settling for me?"

Alex smiled, "Yes, you’re right. You must have not noticed, but I’ve liked you for awhile now, I haven’t told you this before, but I’ve turned down a lot of marriage proposals, because it’s you I want as my wife. And why won’t I settle for someone like you, you’re the sister of the great queen of Findara."

"Hush Alex, someone might hear you." Anne’s eyes looked around the area to see if anyone was listening. She’d hidden her identify in Zari and worked under the pseudonym of a business woman. If she didn’t, a large number of Zari nobles would have wanted to get close to her just to use her to make a connection with the queen.

Since childhood, Anne hadn’t liked socializing much with people, but her sister. And very few people knew that she was related to the queen of Findara in Zari. Nevertheless, she still ended up with countless marriage proposals.

Alex resumed to speak, "I won’t deny that your background is incredibly appealing, however that’s not the reason I want you to be my wife, I like everything about you."

Anne was already an attractive and charming young woman herself, she had a pure aura about her, and she had matured enough to start catching other people’s eyes. In addition, she had outstanding talent as a chef. Ever since Alex himself first ate her cooking, he couldn’t seem to get enough and would come to eat at her restaurant almost everyday. He’d grown to like everything about her, personality, appearance, talent.

Back then he had nurtured a small infatuation for her older sister Ara, but for a woman like her who had continuously astonished him, it wasn’t unexpected he had grown a silly little crush on her, but four years had passed and within that time, he had gotten to know Anne better, he realized she was not only incredibly lovely but everything he wanted in a woman, they said a man would develope affections for different women multiple times in his life, but when he’d truly found the one, then all the other women in the world would fade like a phantom that had never existed, and that was how he felt ever since he’d grown to develop affections for Anne, it was as if she was the only thing he could see.

However, Anne’s expression remained unmoved in the face of Alex’s sincere confession.

"...I am sorry Alex, but I’m not ready for marriage yet, I want to work more." She said.

"I know, I won’t stop you from working, besides that another thing I like about you, you’re independent. But you know you can’t remain single forever running your business as a woman."

He was right, because she was a noble, she could not escape her duty of marriage. It was a fact that she knew without having to say it.

Realistically, the two were a perfect match for each other, but Anne was unable to accept his offer for a date, she still wanted to wait for the man her heart longed for.

"Alex...I am truly sorry, but I can’t return your feeling. I’d prefer us to stay as friends like we’ve always been all these years." She uttered softly but seriously.

"Is it because of him? The man who couldn’t take your hands years ago, do you still love him?" He asked calmly. Anne had once told him about her first love, and he’d sensed how much she loved the man even by how she fondly spoke about him that day. But he’d thought she’d forgotten about him since she no longer mentioned anything about him again after that day.

Anne clenched her fist around her dress, "it doesn’t matter, but I’m sorry I can’t see you more than a friend."

In the face of Anne’s unmoving refusal, Alex was forced to retreat. It would only be more difficult if he persisted any further, hence he simply smiled, "All right, but remember. I’ll always be here if you have a change of mind in the future." He said, then added, "Well, I must go now. There’s some place I have to be right now."

Anne gave a nod of her head, it would only become more awkward if they continued their conversation anyway.

Alex stood up first, and Anne rose up to see him off, "Thank you for stopping by." She smiled.

"Not at all, take care."

After a final farewell, Alex strode out of the restaurant. Anne stared at his increasing distant figure, then turned away. She went to the restaurant kitchen and decided to cook today to help keep her mind occupied from wandering back to Alex or Merek.

Her heart tightened as she recalled Alex’s words. Alex was definitely a perfect man, if she married him, she would be guaranteed a stable future. She would not only have double wealth as the grand general’s wife, but respect throughout her entire life.

However, Alex was not the man who made her heart beat. She knew that he was a suitable choice for her, but there was a hole in her heart that couldn’t be filled by him despite all the years they’d been friends.

"I guess I like bad boys with an indifferent expression." She grinned at her sudden thought. Then as always went back to cooking to help forget her longing for Merek.

--

Anne’s days went by as always, a week passed in the blink of an eye. And a day came when she decided not to go to her restaurant. And decided to make all her favorite meals at home, but as she was in her kitchen cooking, a maid approached her.

The latter who was deeply focused on designing her dishes was suddenly interrupted by the maid, "My lady, there’s a man here from Findara."

"Is he here to deliver the supplies sent for me from home?" Anne didn’t think much about it, as her father or brother never seemed to get tired of sending her supplies once every month. Hence, she was sure it must be the messager from them again.

"I don’t know, but the man brought some luggages with him." The maid said.

Anne continued to design her dishes while she said, "All right. Take the luggages from him and set them in the room, and also come and serve him some of these dishes, the messager must have endured a difficult journey to get to Zari. I’ll go and see him once am done here."

"Yes, my lady." The maid simply obeyed as she had also become familiar with this monthly custom. Anne returned her focus to her cooking, only the aroma of food filled the kitchen.

Not long, there was a small tap on the kitchen door. Anne thought it was the maid with further news, or perhaps the messager that brought the supplies for her, thus she simply called out without looking towards the door, "Come in."

The door opened and someone stepped in. Anne was about to put down the pan, but before she could even lift her head to see the person, she heard a voice that she had been longing to hear for four years,

"It’s been a long time, Lady Annette."

Thud.

Anne’s heart dropped to the ground, her heart immediately recognized the person without him having to introduce himself. She slowly lifted her wide-eyed gaze to the person in front of her.

There stood a man, who looked out of place in the messy kitchen, watching her. His neatly smoothed black neck length hair, stood in contrast to his pure white skin. He looked nothing like the last time she’d seen him. He was dressed like any of the noble men in the high society.

Anne’s heart started beating even faster than ever. The spoon in her hand unknowingly slipped from her hand as she gazed at him unblinkingly. She struggled to force a word to leave her mouth.

"M- Merek?"

He smiled,"How have you been?"

At Merek’s casual greeting, Anne still doubted whether she was still in real life or dreaming. Merek coming to see her...was everything she had dreamt of.

When she didn’t speak, he began to walk towards her kitchen island.

Thud Thud Thud

Anne’s heart drummed mad at the sight of him. Having gone four years without seeing him, she’d thought she might have forgotten a little bit about him or her heart might stop beating for him, but as soon as she looked at his black orbs, she knew despite the distance and time, her feelings for him would never change.