Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Mate
Chapter 179: Pancakes for Dinner...

Chapter 179: Pancakes for Dinner...

"Pancakes," she replied, her smile growing.

"Pan... cakes?" Damian repeated slowly, his brow furrowing. "That doesn’t sound like dinner."

"It’s not," Evelina said with a grin. "It’s breakfast. But trust me, you’ll love it."

Relia practically purred. "Breakfast for dinner? Bold move. I like it."

Damian crossed his arms, leaning against the counter as he watched her crack eggs into a bowl. "You’re full of surprises, you know that?"

Evelina glanced at him, her smile softening. "Good surprises, I hope."

"Always," Damian murmured.

Evelina felt her cheeks heat but quickly focused on whisking the ingredients together. "Alright, Mr. Alpha, if you’re just going to stand there looking pretty, you can at least help."

Damian smirked, pushing off the counter. "Tell me what to do."

She handed him a whisk and gestured to the bowl. "Mix this while I heat the pan."

His movements were surprisingly careful as he took the whisk and started stirring the batter.

"Not bad," Evelina teased as she set a pan on the stove. "Maybe there’s hope for you yet."

Damian chuckled. "Careful, Eve. I might start thinking I’m a natural."

They worked side by side, Damian helping her pour the batter into the pan and flipping the pancakes under her guidance.

The kitchen was filled with the warm, sweet scent of cooking, and Evelina couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace despite everything looming over them.

Soon, Evelina was setting the final plate on the table.

She turned, wiping her hands on a nearby cloth, only to find Damian standing there, leaning casually against the counter, watching her with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.

"What?" she asked, arching an eyebrow as she placed her hands on her hips.

Damian shrugged, his lips curving into a small smile. "Just admiring you. It’s rare to see you so relaxed."

Evelina rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the faint blush that crept into her cheeks. "Don’t start with the sweet talk, Damian. Sit down and eat before the pancakes get cold."

Damian chuckled, pushing off the counter to join her at the small table they’d set up. Evelina had dimmed the overhead lights, letting the warm glow of the lanterns they’d lit create an intimate atmosphere.

A bottle of wine rested between the plates, a last-minute addition suggested by Damian.

As they settled into their chairs, Damian reached for the wine and began pouring into their goblets. "So... pancakes," he said, raising an eyebrow as he watched the golden syrup Evelina poured over her plate. "Are you sure this is how it’s supposed to look?"

"Yes, I’m sure," Evelina said, laughing softly as she slid the bottle of syrup toward him. "It’s supposed to be sweet. Try it."

Damian eyed the stack of fluffy pancakes suspiciously, then took a tentative bite. His eyes widened as the flavours burst on his tongue. "This is... amazing."

Evelina grinned. "See? Told you."

Damian shook his head as he took another bite, looking genuinely surprised and satisfied. "You’re full of surprises, Evelina."

Relia’s voice chimed in Evelina’s mind. "You hear that? Mate thinks we’re amazing. Go ahead and bask in it."

Evelina bit back a laugh, focusing on her food. "I told you it’d be good. You should trust me more often."

"I already trust you more than I trust anyone," Damian’s voice was low and sincere.

The words caught Evelina off guard, and her gaze flicked to him. His expression was not teasing, it was sincere, sending warmth spreading through her chest.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Damian smiled and raised his goblet. "To pancakes," he said with a playful grin, breaking the moment’s intensity.

Evelina laughed, clinking her goblet against his. "To pancakes."

They drank, the wine’s rich flavor warming them both. As the meal progressed, their conversation turned lighter, filled with laughter and teasing.

"So," Damian said, setting his goblet down. "Where did you learn to make something like this? I’ve never seen anything like it in Arcadia."

Evelina hesitated, her fork pausing mid-air. "Oh, you know... here and there. I like to experiment with recipes."

Relia snorted. "Smooth, Eve. Real smooth."

Damian tilted his head, studying her with a curious glint in his eyes. "You’re not telling me everything."

Evelina took a sip of her wine, hoping to deflect his attention. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Damian said, leaning forward slightly, "you have secrets, Evelina. And one day, I’m going to uncover all of them."

Evelina laughed nervously, her heart skipping a beat. "Good luck with that."

They fell into a comfortable rhythm again, their laughter filling the kitchen as they shared stories and anecdotes.

Damian told her about a time Jasper had accidentally tripped over his own sword during training, leaving them both in stitches.

Evelina countered with a story about a mishap involving her first attempt at riding a horse, which had Relia howling in her head.

"You fell off before you even got on!" Relia cackled. "Admit it—our mate would’ve laughed too."

As the wine bottle emptied, their laughter grew louder, their cheeks flushed from the warmth of the drink and the closeness they shared.

"I don’t think I’ve laughed this much in weeks," Evelina admitted, her head resting in her hand as she gazed across the table at Damian.

"Neither have I," Damian said, his voice softer now. His silver eyes held hers, the intensity in his gaze making her pulse quicken. "You make everything brighter, Evelina. Even when the world feels like it’s falling apart."

Evelina’s chest tightened, her heart aching at the sincerity in his words. "Damian..."

He reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "We’ll get through tomorrow, Eve. No matter what happens. I won’t let anything happen to you."

She nodded, her fingers tightening around his. "I believe you."

After a moment, Damian glanced at the table and then back at her with a playful smirk. "Well, as much as I hate to end this perfect meal, I think we should clean up."

Evelina laughed, pushing back her chair. "Good idea. You help, though. No sneaking off while I do all the work."

"Yes, ma’am," Damian said with a mock salute, earning an eye roll from Evelina.

They worked side by side, washing the dishes and wiping down the counters. Their movements were slower now, the wine leaving them both pleasantly relaxed.

When they finally made their way back to Damian’s chambers, the weight of the day seemed to settle over them again. Evelina glanced at Damian, her lips curving into a small smile. "Well, that was... nice."

"Nice?" Damian repeated, arching an eyebrow. "That was perfect, Evelina. Admit it."

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Alright. It was perfect."

Damian’s smirk softened into something more tender as he reached for her, pulling her close. "And so are you."

Evelina’s cheeks flushed as she rested her hands on his chest. "You’re impossible."

"You love it," Damian teased, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her lips.

Evelina sighed into the kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck as she melted against him. The world outside the room felt distant, unimportant. For tonight, there was only this—only them.

They broke apart slowly, their foreheads resting together. Damian’s hands trailed down to her waist, his touch warm and steady.

"Let’s get some rest," he murmured. "Tomorrow will come too soon."

Evelina nodded, her fingers brushing against his jaw. "Agreed."

They undressed to their undergarments, the room quiet save for the soft rustle of fabric. Damian pulled back the covers, and Evelina slid into bed, her body already sinking into the comfort of the mattress.

Damian climbed in beside her, pulling her close. Their limbs tangled as he pressed a kiss to her temple, his voice low and filled with affection. "Goodnight, Eve."

She smiled, her eyes fluttering shut. "Goodnight, Damian."