Chapter 715 - 715: UNEXPECTED DINNER (II)

ASTRID paused after the first bite, eyebrows lifting slightly. The flavors were better than he’d expected—the scallop melted on his tongue, the sauce tangy but smooth. He hadn’t thought Wulfric could pull this off.

He was about to compliment Wulfric when he noticed the other watching him expectantly, clearly waiting for praise. The words caught in his throat, and instead, Astrid offered his usual polite, practiced smile.

Wasn’t the whole point of this to teach Wulfric a lesson? He couldn’t cave so easily. At the very least, he should make him sweat for a minute or two.

“Did you like it, sir?” Wulfric asked.

Astrid cleared his throat. “It’s… acceptable.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed Wulfric’s face. For a moment, Astrid almost caved—ready to shower him with praise. But then Wulfric’s expression shifted, hardening into quiet determination, like he was steeling himself to try harder. So Astrid held back. He’d tell him his honest opinion after dinner.

The creamy mushroom soup arrived next, steaming gently in wide-rimmed bowls. Astrid lifted a spoonful, watching the silky liquid cling to the utensil before tasting it. The flavor was deep—earthy mushrooms softened by cream, with just a whisper of thyme underneath. Across the table, Wulfric had gone unnaturally still, his spoon forgotten beside his untouched soup as he stared at Astrid’s mouth.

Astrid didn’t notice that, though. He was too busy savoring the soup.

By the time the salad arrived, Wulfric’s knee was bouncing under the table—a sure sign he was growing impatient. Astrid could practically feel the other’s nervous energy, but he kept his composure, refusing to give in just yet.

He speared a forkful of arugula, the peppery greens bright against the tangy lemon dressing. Pine nuts crunched between his teeth, the Parmesan adding a salty sharpness to it. He made a small, involuntary noise of approval—just a hum at the back of his throat. But even with only that, he saw how Wulfric’s fingers tightened around the wineglass he just picked.

The main course came next—a salmon fillet with perfectly crisp skin. When Astrid cut into it, the crust gave way with a quiet crunch. The inside was tender and moist, the herbs adding a nice flavor to the dish. Next to it sat a scoop of garlic mashed potatoes, creamy and smooth, with just the right amount of garlic taste. The roasted asparagus spears were firm but not tough, with a slight smoky flavor from being baked.

Wulfric had stopped pretending to eat entirely now, his own plate ignored as he tracked every shift in Astrid’s expression. Seeing him like this, Astrid decided to put him out of his misery. He didn’t want to be the only one eating this delicious meal while Wulfric just stared. Besides, the other had probably suffered enough by now.

He turned to Wulfric and smiled. “Please tell the prince that I’m enjoying this dinner immensely. Everything so far has been very delicious. It frankly exceeded my expectation.” He raised his wineglass. “So, kudos to the prince.”

Wulfric blinked at him, looking almost surprised. Then his face lit up with a bright smile. “Truly, Aster? You really like everything?”

Astrid chuckled. He must not be expecting the sudden compliment, seeing as how he broke character. “Yes. Isn’t it obvious by the way I’m devouring everything?”

Wulfric smiled sheepishly. “Well, you didn’t say anything, and my brain just kind of froze up from being too nervous.”

“Then I’ll say it clearly,” he said. “Everything you’ve made so far tastes amazing. I can tell—no, I can taste how much effort you put into this. You must’ve practiced hard since that time you cooked breakfast for me.”

Wulfric’s ears flushed red as he stared at his untouched plate, his fingers tracing the rim of his wineglass. After a moment, he spoke, voice uncharacteristically hesitant.

“I have been practicing every time I had a free moment,” he admitted, voice quieter than usual. “Instead of having someone cook for me, I… I started making meals for myself. Just to get better at it.” He grimaced slightly. “I’m still not very good, though. Those scallops you ate? I ruined three batches before getting them right. The first ones were completely black—I had to throw the whole pan away. And the soup…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “The first time I tried, it was so salty even the dogs wouldn’t drink it.”

When he finally looked up at Astrid, there was a hesitant hope in his eyes beneath all the embarrassment. “But… it was worth all the mistakes. If you really liked it.”

A small, genuine smile tugged at Astrid’s lips. Warmth spread through his chest—not the sharp, fleeting kind, but the steady glow of a candle flame. He could almost picture it: Wulfric in the kitchen, scowling at burnt scallops, refusing to give up. The thought made that warmth grow, settling comfortably in his heart.

“Then let’s not let all that effort go to waste,” he said. “Stop staring at me and eat your food, too. Sharing a meal makes it taste twice as good. Don’t you agree?”

“Well, if I’m being honest, I’d still rather stare at you,” Wulfric said, his voice low but steady, the way someone might confess a simple truth. “I already feel full just staring at you.”

A faint heat rose to Astrid’s cheeks. He ducked his head slightly, reaching for his wineglass with deliberate casualness. The cool rim pressed to his lips gave him an excuse to hide the flush he could feel warming his face.

After a quiet moment, Wulfric finally asked, “So… does this mean I’m forgiven?”

Astrid set down his wineglass and looked at Wulfric. The hopeful expression on the other’s face made him hold back any teasing. “The second you walked out in that waiter outfit, I was halfway to forgiving you. And after tasting everything you made? Consider the other half taken care of.”

A slow, bright smile spread across Wulfric’s face—the kind that crinkled the corners of his eyes. His shoulders relaxed, the tension draining from them as he exhaled sharply through his nose, like he’d been holding his breath this whole time.

“Thank you, Aster. I swear I won’t behave in the same way again.”

Astrid smiled and shook his head. “Let’s talk about that part later. For now, let’s enjoy this dinner.”

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