Married to The Ice King: Pampered Princess' Survival Guide-Chapter 182: First Official Date

"Aish..." Theo groaned, glaring at the group of security who had been following them from the house. "You..." he pointed at the one who looked like their leader, "Come here."

Daisy, who had just noticed the security team, gasped and covered her mouth. "Alex..." Her eyes turned teary. "I never heard anything about you after..." She pouted, unable to finish her sentence.

Alex smiled softly and bowed. "I took some time to recover, ma’am. But I’m back now."

"The name... Alex..." Theo tilted his head slightly, squinting as if trying to recall something. "Uh—ah..." Suddenly, he flopped down, clutching his head as pain shot through it.

"Theo!" Daisy immediately crouched beside him, panic flashing across her face as she reached out to steady him. "Theo, hey—what’s wrong? Does it hurt again?"

Theo winced, pressing his palm to his temple. "It’s fine... just—damn..." He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to ride out the sudden wave of pain. The world around him blurred, faces flickering, voices overlapping. Alex’s face from years ago, blood, shouting... Daisy’s voice calling his name.

"Theo!" Daisy’s tone sharpened, trembling with fear. "Alex, call someone—"

"No," Theo breathed out, shaking his head weakly. "I... I saw something."

Daisy froze, still gripping his arm. "Saw something?"

Theo opened his eyes slowly, his voice hoarse. "You... crying. And Alex... bleeding." His throat tightened. "What happened back then?"

Alex’s expression stiffened, his jaw clenching as he exchanged a quick glance with Daisy. "Sir," he said quietly, "you should rest. It’s not the time to—"

"Tell me," Theo cut him off, his tone low and shaky but firm.

Daisy took a deep breath and forced a small smile, brushing her fingers against his cheek. "Hey... not today, okay? You promised this would be our date."

Theo blinked, confused for a moment. "But—"

"No buts," she said softly, her tone firm but warm. "If you really want to remember, do it when you’re ready. Not when your head’s about to explode."

Alex lowered his head respectfully. "Madam is right, sir. Please, take it easy today."

Theo exhaled slowly, his gaze softening as he looked at Daisy. He reached up and gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb. "You must’ve suffered a lot..."

Daisy blinked, momentarily taken aback by his tenderness. Her lips parted, but no words came out. Instead, she forced a small, shaky smile and covered his hand with hers. "I’m fine, Theo... really. You’re the one who needs to stop scaring me like that."

A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Guess I’m not very good at this ’normal date’ thing, right?"

Alex, still standing a respectful distance away, hid a small grin before signaling the rest of the security to move back and give them space.

She let out a quiet laugh, though her eyes still glistened with worry. "You could start by not collapsing in public."

Theo chuckled softly, brushing away a strand of her hair. "Alright. I’ll do better." He tilted his head playfully. "Just promise me, don’t cry again."

"How can I not cry in my whole life?"

Theo’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Then just... don’t cry because of me."

Daisy blinked, her breath catching for a moment. "Hmm..." She nodded lightly. "Your head, still hurting? If it is, let’s just go back home for now?" She held onto his arm, ready to help him up.

Theo quickly shook his head. "I’m okay now. Let’s go..." He pushed himself up and brushed the dust from his palms. "Let’s go, honey..."

"Ah..." Daisy closed her eyes briefly and sighed. "Why can’t I get used to this...?"

"What?" Theo tilted his head, confused.

"Honey, darling... you didn’t call me using those endearing names before," she paused, rolling her eyes up. "Or have you?"

Theo let out a huge exhalation. "What am I? A frozen king? Then get used to it. I’ll call you whatever name you want me to... and I promise, even after I regain all my memories, I’ll remain the same..."

Daisy shook her head slowly.

"Why? You don’t like this ’me’?" Theo held onto her hand.

"No... it’s not that..." She paused, then shook her head again, her eyes softening. "I like everything about you, so there’s no need to change or whatever. Adapt, grow, be you... love yourself..."

Theo stared at her for a moment, his expression caught somewhere between surprise and tenderness. Then, without a word, he squeezed her hand and leaned closer, his forehead resting gently against hers.

"Hmm... I will," he murmured softly, his breath warm against her skin. "I’ll do my best... let’s go."

Daisy smiled faintly, her eyes lingering on him for a second longer before nodding. "Alright... let’s go," she echoed, her voice gentle but bright.

He straightened up and intertwined their fingers again as they began walking down the quiet path ahead. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees, catching in her hair, and Theo glanced at her from the side — a soft grin forming on his lips.

"You know," he said lightly, "if this is what a date feels like after all the chaos... I might actually start liking it."

Daisy laughed softly, "Oh, really? But this is not my style..." She pouted slightly and furrowed, "Let’s go watch a movie..." she linked their arms and lifted her chin to look straight at him. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Movie? What kind?" Theo leaned closer and pecked on her forehead.

"Hmmm..." Daisy tapped her chin, pretending to think deeply. "Maybe... a romance? Or let’s see what movie is on now and decide there..."

"Okay... anything..." Theo smiled, genuinely happy just by looking at her.

They walked for a little more before heading to the car, deciding to go to the mall for a movie date.

"Theo..." Daisy turned to him, her tone suddenly more serious.

"What is it?" he asked, glancing at her.

She hesitated, biting her lip before speaking again. "Can I go back to work after this? I mean... Aurora’s been handling the shop all by herself, and she’s—" Her voice trailed off when she noticed the slight frown forming on his face.

"I can’t?" she asked softly, tilting her head, testing the waters.