President Baby's Bride

Chapter 12: Restaurant Drama

"Who does she think she is, sitting with the Crown Prince? So annoying!"

"Right? She doesn't even look like a maid—probably some auntie or something."

"Yeah, and not even remotely pretty!"

The whispered comments drifted across the restaurant. Leona saw an opportunity and smiled sweetly. "Lucy dear!"

Hehe! That would give them something to talk about!

But to her surprise, Lucian raised an eyebrow and turned directly to face the whispering women. "She is my woman."

The women froze in shock. Leona nearly choked on her food, frantically waving her hands. "No, no, he's joking! This is just a joke!"

Seriously, did he have to announce it like that?

The women looked skeptical but, noting the obvious age gap, seemed to accept it as a child's game.

However—

"Leona is my woman, forever—"

Lucian, apparently determined to create chaos, started to make an even grander declaration. Leona lunged forward and clapped her hand over his small mouth. "Please, Your Highness, I'm begging you to stop talking!"

She really didn't want to make tomorrow's headlines. The murderous looks from other diners were already bad enough! Someone might actually try to eliminate her with a dinner roll.

Suddenly, she felt something warm and wet against her palm. She yanked her hand back to find it slightly damp.

Lucian's perfect little face held a distinctly demonic smirk. Leona glared at him. Did he just... lick her? Like some kind of puppy? She quickly wiped her hand, forcing a smile. "Look, you can see what everyone thinks—they say I look like your aunt! We're really not compatible!"

"We'll become compatible," Lucian stated calmly, as if explaining that water is wet.

Leona gritted her teeth. "Some things can't be made compatible! The gap between us is too big, understand? Do you understand?" She gestured emphatically at their height difference.

Lucian's eyes narrowed dangerously, but before he could respond, a familiar voice rang out:

"Elina!" A figure suddenly tackled Leona in a hug. "I've missed you so much!"

Before Leona could react, Lucian stood abruptly. His small hand slammed on the table as he declared in his childish yet commanding voice: "Release that woman!"

The sheer drama of it! He sounded like an action movie hero: "Let her go!" Hehe!

Leona wanted to sink through the floor.

But when Leona turned to look at Lucian, her eyes lit up with instant recognition. A squeal of pure delight escaped her: "My precious prince! So kawaii!"

Why had Leona forgotten that her friend was Lucian's biggest fangirl?

This was a terrible mistake! o(╯□╰)o~

"Are you trying to suffocate me?" Lucian's voice dripped with arctic frost as his small frame trembled with barely contained rage.

Leona couldn't help noticing that due to their height differences, Lucian's head kept getting pressed against people's chests. She wondered if he found it as annoying as he looked—judging by his expression, yes!

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Leona jumped back, though her eyes still sparkled with adoration. "I'm just so excited—I'm your biggest fan! Team Lucian forever!"

Lucian's cherubic face darkened. "Sit. Down."

Even Leona was impressed by the power of a celebrity crush—Elina immediately obeyed, sliding into the seat beside her. Some friend she was! Whose side was she on anyway?

Just as Leona opened her mouth to protest, Lucian's lips curved into a smile that spelled trouble. "So, you're the one who threatened to protest with banners and cursed whoever ordered the arrest to be covered in boils, get poked daily, and have sons without bottoms?"

"Of course not! I would never say such things about you! I said—" Elina started to protest, then glanced between them as realization dawned.

None of the palace guards had mentioned who ordered the arrest! Oh no...

She laughed nervously, slinking down in her seat. "That... never happened?"

Lucian's eyes sparkled with demonic amusement. "In that case, I have a question for you."

"W-what is it, Your Highness?"

"Do you think Leona and I make a good match?"

Leona's eyes widened in horror. That little demon! She tried desperately to signal Elina to say no, making increasingly frantic gestures behind Lucian's back.

But her supposed best friend seemed paralyzed between loyalty and fangirl adoration. After several agonizing moments, she mumbled, "I... couldn't say..."

"Then we'll take that as agreement!"

"Oh... okay."

Leona's eye twitched violently. What kind of friend abandoned you for a pretty face? Even if it was an unfairly pretty royal face attached to a terrifyingly brilliant mind!

This was beyond embarrassing. This was betrayal of the highest order!

"Since you approve," Lucian continued smoothly, "perhaps you'd like to help plan our future together?"

Leona could only watch in horror as her best friend and tiny tyrant fiancé began enthusiastically discussing their shared vision for her future.

Lucian's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he watched Leona squirm in her seat. He turned to Elina with an innocent smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Since you agree we're compatible, perhaps you'd like to hear about our first meeting?"

"Oh yes, please!" Elina clasped her hands together, completely ignoring Leona's frantic head-shaking.

"She broke into the palace gardens—"

"I did not break in!" Leona protested. "The gate was open!"

"—and then she tried to climb a tree to escape the guards."

Elina gasped in delight. "How romantic! Just like a fairytale!"

"There was nothing romantic about it," Leona grumbled. "I nearly broke my neck! And someone," she glared pointedly at Lucian, "just stood there laughing instead of helping."

"I was merely admiring your athletic abilities," Lucian replied smoothly. "Besides, Father was quite impressed when he heard about it. He said anyone brave enough to scale the palace walls must be either incredibly foolish or remarkably determined."

"Magnus said that?" Leona felt her cheeks heat up. "Wait, why were you discussing me with your father?"

"Because I told him I'd found my future wife."

The restaurant fell silent. Even the waiters stopped mid-stride, their jaws dropping at the young prince's bold declaration.

"Your Highness," Leona hissed through clenched teeth, "please remember where we are!"

"Oh, I'm very aware." Lucian's cherubic face held an expression far too calculating for his years. "In fact, I believe several reporters are dining at the table near the window. Shall I make the announcement more official?"

"Don't you dare!" Leona grabbed a bread roll, fully prepared to stuff it in his mouth if necessary.

Elina watched the exchange with sparkling eyes. "You two are so cute together! The height difference is absolutely adorable!"

"There's nothing cute about it," Leona protested weakly, though she had to admit there was something endearing about the way Lucian had to crane his neck to glare at her properly. "And stop encouraging him! You're supposed to be on my side!"

"But Leona," Elina's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, "just think about it – in a few years, he'll be taller than you. Have you seen his father? Magnus is practically a giant!"

Lucian's smug expression suggested he'd already considered this fact. "Indeed. Father says I'll likely reach his height by sixteen."

"That's still years away!" Leona buried her face in her hands. "Can we please talk about something else? Anything else?"

"Of course," Lucian agreed with suspicious readiness. "Elina, would you like to see the engagement ring designs I've been considering?"

Leona's head snapped up. "The what?"

But Lucian was already pulling out his phone, showing Elina something that made her squeal with delight. "Oh, the princess cut is perfect! Though the emerald would match her eyes better..."

"I was thinking the same thing," Lucian nodded seriously. "And the band should be—"

"I'm leaving!" Leona announced, standing abruptly. But before she could escape, Lucian's small hand caught her wrist.

"Sit down, my dear. We haven't even ordered dessert yet."

The command in his childish voice made her sink back into her seat automatically. She shot a pleading look at Elina, who just grinned and continued discussing gemstones with the prince.