<h4>Chapter 189 - Chocte Galore</h4>


    ''Hot chocte!'' My eyes marveled. It was literally sparkling as I held my breath, seeing it being served to me.


    "I heard you like hot choctes." Stefan''s voice startled me back to my senses as I turned to him. "I hope it is to your liking."


    What was that smile he was sporting? It made me wonder if he poisoned it. ''Or maybe he is trying to make your blood sweet by feeding you sweet things!'' My subconscious mindmented, and I froze.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty." I expressed in horror, gazing at Sam, who was staring back at Stefan intensely. His expression told me he had killed Stefan a hundred times in his head.


    Was he mad that I''m the only one who had chocte?


    "Husband," I whispered, leaning close to him. He blinked before shifting his eyes on me.


    "Do you want hot choco? I can share."


    Sam furrowed his brows and tilted his head. "The only sweet thing I like is you. But, alright."


    What did that even mean? "Alright, then…" I trailed off when Stefan suddenly spoke.


    "Sweet? What a surprise to hear that since choctes are bitter for us."


    I gazed around and noticed I''m the only one who was served with hot chocte. I''m not even surprised to realize that we didn''t share the same taste buds.


    "Your Majesty, I was thinking of quarreling with you, but then it urred to me it''s a waste of time." Sam shrugged nonchntly as he sported a smile.


    For a moment, I couldn''t believe what I was seeing. Sam? My husband? Not giving out threats like usual? Or indulging in ''humoring'' his brother?


    "You''re right, it''s a waste of time to banter early in the morning since our sister hates it." The expression on Stefan didn''t change before shifting it back to me. "Right?"


    "Your sister, but she''s my wife," Sam added, stressing his words as if wanting them to remember it.


    The air in the dining hall thickened than it already was. Honestly, even though they didn''t quarrel for the entire meal, the pressure in their silence was more unsettling.


    I tried to ignore it, but just a few words from Sam and the King made me realize the silence didn''t mean peace. This silence… was just another way of fighting each other with their auras.


    ''I better just enjoy this hot choco. Who knows if it''s my first andst?'' I muttered internally before my brows furrowed. First andst? Right. I don''t remember having hot chocte in my life.


    However, it felt as though I had drunk one at least once in my life. Was it in the ducal residence? But I couldn''t recall a time I requested it since I didn''t want to be demanding. Also, Sam had helped me a lot, so I''m embarrassed to ask for more.


    ''So, why did the king say he heard it from someone?'' I wondered, and snuck a nce at Stefan. I jolted when I met his gaze, and he smiled brightly.


    What… what''s wrong with him?


    "No hot choco for you," Sam uttered and snatched my hot chocte before chugging it all down in one go. My mouth fell open, hearing his every gulp before he mmed the mug down with a bang.


    "It tastes like crap." He clicked his tongue while wiping the corner of his lips with the back of his hand.


    I stared at the empty mug, biting my lip before raising my betrayed gaze at my husband. That''s my hot choco… why did he have to drink it if he won''t even appreciate it?


    ''I told you to drink it as it may be your first andst.'' My subconscious mind remarked in pity.


    I turned my head towards Stefan when he said, "You don''t worry. There''s more,"


    "I''ll drink every single one of them," Sam asserted, breaking my heart as I frowned.


    Why was he so obsessed with taking away my chance of drinking one? I knew Sam was different, but wasn''t he being too greedy?


    Not hopeful anymore, something small and solidnded on my te. I furrowed my brows and raised my gaze just to see Yul''s usual stoic face.


    "It''s not hot, but that''s still chocte." There wasn''t much change in his tone, but I felt moved.


    "Thank —" I wasn''t even done expressing my gratitude when my eyes widened as a knifended near my te.


    Silvia''s voice then followed. "Don''t even think about it, Hell. Let Lilou enjoy what she can."


    What? I darted my eyes from Sam to Silvia, who was giving each other a death re. I see… so Sam nned to snatch this small chocte bar too?


    "If that''s the case, here sister." Dominique chimed in and tossed a hand size chocte bar on my te. My eyes grew wider as it nearly broke the te in half when itnded.


    "I also prepared some choctes just in case." Someone also announced, and I saw all of them taking out some small presents which I assumed were choctes.


    ''Are they so desperate to make my blood that sweet?'' I wondered in horror at the choctes galore! How did they know I liked it? Was this another tradition because I''m now a member of the family?


    Myriads of questions arose in my head as I''ve noticed their action changed. I ignored it earlier, thinking it was part of the tradition. But now that I thought about it, even Hanz avoided my gaze. Nor was he spewing snide remarks.


    Why? What were they plotting? I should think like them, so, from a lunatic''s perspective, it should be…


    "Whatever," I snapped back from my trance when Sam clicked his tongue. "I realized I don''t care."


    My eyes fell on Sam''s side profile. He seemed truly displeased.


    ''He said it tastes bitter…'' I thought as I picked up the chocte that Yul tossed on my te and raised it to my lips. My mind ignored the unwanted attention, as I only bit half of the chocte before offering the other half to Sam.


    Sam quirked a brow as he shifted his eyes on me. I said, "I took a bite, it should be sweet now." Shoving it inside his mouth before he could even argue.


    I appreciate their effort for whatever ulterior motives they had, but it makes me sad seeing Sam like this. Hence, even though I knew he didn''t like chocte, we should at least share.


    My action seemed to alleviate his mood as he nodded while chewing, his gaze then raised to Stefan.


    "Victory." A smug smile appeared on Sam''s lips.