CHAPTER 221: EMBARRASSED ZAQUE

Coco descended the staircase, her hand gliding along the wooden railing as she made her way down.

"I’m still sleepy." Lala whined, her words slurred slightly as she rubbed her eyelids to get rid of the remaining sleep in her system.

"You can sleep more." Coco hummed out, stopping in the middle of the stairs as she opened her pocket, "I can just bring you with me out to the mountain like usual."

"I can’t.. I need to help you.." The garden fairy mumbled, continuing to fly down the stairs.

Coco sighed and resumed descending the stairs, her hand back on the railings making her feel the smooth wood under her fingertips, the touch familiar and comforting as she balanced herself on the steps.

The staircase was slightly creaky, the wood groaning softly under her weight as she made her way downward.

She could smell something sweet in the air from the kitchen, the rich scent drifting up the staircase and making her throat itch for some.

Coco inhaled deeply as she stepped down from the stairs, her nose filled with the scent of fresh bread— the smell was intoxicating, the yeasty scent filling her nostrils and making her mouth water.

Coco’s stomach growled quietly, a low rumble that she couldn’t ignore because the smell of freshly-baked bread was too tempting to resist.

Coco caught sight of a particular red haired mediator taking a bread out of the oven, his hair disheveled, a sheen of sweat on his biceps.

Zaque’s broad back was turned to her, his muscles flexing beneath the fabric of his shirt, that looked a little too fitter to his body, as he bent over to pull out the bread, mittens on his hands.

She watched him for a moment, her gaze trained on his movements, her attention completely captivated by bread as Zaque carefully placed the hot tray on the counter, the bread a golden brown and steaming.

The mediator’s attention was fully engrossed in his task, his hands moving with practiced ease as he worked.

He hadn’t noticed her yet, his focus solely on the bread and Coco didn’t want to bother him so she stood still quietly for a moment, taking in the sight of the mediator and his work.

However, Zaque turned around and his gaze landed on her, his eyes widening in surprise.

He didn’t hear her coming down the stairs, his attention fully focused on the bread he had been baking, but now, his gaze was fixed on her, his expression a mix of surprise and something unreadable.

"Co.. Coco." Zaque stammered out as he placed the tray on the dining table, his cheeks were flushed from the heat of the oven, his hair messy and damp with sweat, but he still looked handsome, his strong features and muscular build making him look incredibly attractive.

"Good morning, Zaque." Coco smiled softly and approached the table, "How are you feeling? Do you have a hangover?"

Zaque was suddenly reminded of what had happened last night, his mind flooded with memories of the night before as a wave of embarrassment washed over him.

His cheeks were flushed red from the heat earlier, but now it was because of what he was feeling, his heart starting to race as memories of what had happened came flooding back to him.

He felt like hiding, his whole body tense with shame as he remembered the scene that had unfolded.

He couldn’t help the surge of desire that came along with the memory, his body reacting on its own to the thought of her, despite his embarrassment.

Zaque cleared his throat as he averted his gaze from Coco’s face, his heart pounding in his chest, his body tense with embarrassment, guilt, and shame— despite all this, he couldn’t help, but steal glances at her, his eyes drawn to her like a magnet.

"I acted out of line last night." Zaque said and lowered his head as he let go of the tray, "For that, I’m so sorry."

"What?" Coco’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion and walked over to the other side of the table, "Look, I don’t care how much drink you had last night, you were just loosening up from all the stress. Give yourself a break, will you?"

"But.." Zaque felt a sense of relief wash over him at her words, his shoulders relaxing slightly, but he was still embarrassed by his behaviour the night before.

He wanted to act like a gentleman and ask her to bring him to the main city so he could take care of her, but he just ruined his image by drinking too much alcohol and ended up doing embarrassing things!

How can he convince Coco that he’s a reliable husband now? How can he change his image in Coco’s eyes?

Zaque swallowed the lump in his throat as he fidgeted with the hem of the apron he was wearing, his gaze darting around the room, his mind still replaying the events of the night before.

He had called her wife several times before, but last night, he called her wife because he saw her as his wife— not Coco the stranger from another world, but the Coco that took care of him that came from another world.

He saw Coco Coison as his wife and called her that last night, but thankfully, Coco thought he was using the term ’wife’ to address her because technically, they are still married.

If she knew that he was calling her his wife and not Coco Hughes, but her, Coco Coison, what would her reaction be?

Would she hate it? Would she get mad at me? Zaque thought and could only wonder.

Coco could still sense Zaque’s embarrassment, his discomfort radiating from him like heat from a fire.

She wanted to reassure him, to let him know that everything was okay between them so she stepped closer to him, her expression softening as she spoke.

"It’s okay," Coco mmbled , "Don’t be embarrassed, okay? It happens to the best of us."