Rejected and Pregnant: Claimed By The Dark Alpha Prince-Chapter 702: Tension radiating off him

"Let’s go to the dance floor!" Jasmine exclaimed, casting a playful look at Erwin. He chuckled, pressing a lingering kiss to her temple before leading her toward the center of the deck, where the crowd moved in a blur.

Karmen turned his attention back to Aisha. "Do you want to dance?" he asked. He took the empty glass from her hand and set it alongside his own on a nearby cocktail table.

"Why not?" Aisha agreed, a soft smile touching her lips.

Karmen reached for her hand, his fingers lacing through hers as he guided her toward a pocket of space just as the tempo shifted. The high-energy beat faded, replaced by the soulful, sweeping notes of a romantic ballad.

As they came to a halt, Karmen felt a rare flicker of nerves. I have never actually danced before, he realized, his mind racing through the technicality of the movements.

He was used to the strict routine of his life and the rigid protocols surrounding Gabriel. And this setting was completely new to him. He looked down at Aisha, hoping his hands wouldn’t betray his inexperience as he prepared to follow her lead.

Karmen’s foot caught against the deck as he mistimed a turn, a rare moment of clumsiness that pulled a genuine, soft smile from Aisha’s lips.

"Have you really never danced before?" she asked, her eyes dancing with amusement. "I suppose your life by Prince Gabriel’s side doesn’t leave much room for the ballroom. Just follow my lead, Karmen. Don’t panic."

She stepped closer as she draped her hands over his broad shoulders. She began to whisper a rhythmic count, guiding him through the basic box step. Karmen focused intently on her movements, his initial rigidity slowly melting away until their motion became smooth.

"There," Aisha encouraged, her voice warm. "You’re doing much better. Like a pro."

"I didn’t expect you to introduce me to your friend as your boyfriend," Karmen admitted. He held her waist firmly, his gaze locked onto hers as if searching for a hidden truth.

Aisha arched her eyebrows playfully, her fingers trailing up to his nape to adjust the collar of his shirt. "Are you not?" she countered softly, her proximity making his heart hammer harder against his ribs than any training session ever could.

"Hmm." Karmen’s smile was just beginning to reach his eyes when a sudden shove from behind sent him stumbling forward. The impact was enough to break his balance, and in the blur of a second, his lips landed squarely on Aisha’s.

The world seemed to freeze. A jolt of electricity surged through them both, leaving them wide-eyed as they pulled apart.

"I’m sorry!" Karmen apologized instantly with panic. He whipped his head around to see a drunk couple stumbling nearby, giggling as they offered a slurred apology for their lack of coordination.

He turned back to Aisha, a deep frown etching into his forehead. "It wasn’t intentional. I’m truly sorry," he repeated, his heart hammering against his ribs. He felt restlessness wash over him; he was terrified she would think he had orchestrated the moment or violated her boundaries.

"It’s fine, Karmen. You did nothing wrong. Just calm down," Aisha said softly, reaching out to touch his arm. She could feel the tension radiating off him, sensing that he was beating himself up far more than the situation deserved.

The awkward tension was broken by the sharp chime of the ship’s intercom. The romantic ballad faded out as a formal voice announced that dinner was now being served in the grand dining hall on the second floor.

"Let’s go and have dinner," Aisha said, holding his hand. Karmen curled his fingers around her before walking down the stairs.

~~~~~

Casaio stepped into the chamber with a small plate in his hand. He handed it to Zilia. "Hot chocolate lava pastry," he murmured.

Zilia looked at the decadent dessert and then up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Did you actually ask the palace chef to prepare this at this hour of the night?"

"Hmm. Since you mentioned you were craving it, I couldn’t exactly let you go to sleep unsatisfied," Casaio replied. He sat on the edge of the velvet chaise beside her and lifted a silver spoonful of the warm, oozing pastry, bringing it gently to her lips.

Zilia leaned in and took the bite, a small sigh of contentment escaping her as the rich chocolate melted instantly on her tongue. The warmth of the cake and the palace air created a perfect, quiet moment between them.

"Do you want some?" Zilia asked, guiding the spoon toward him with a playful tilt of her head.

"No," Casaio refused, his eyes softening as he watched her. "It’s for you. I want you to finish every bite."

Zilia smiled, catching a stray drop of chocolate from her lip. She rested a hand instinctively over her stomach, her expression turning thoughtful. "What do you think? Will we have a girl or a boy?"

"I have no idea," Casaio answered, leaning back slightly to admire the glow of the palace candlelight on her face. "I don’t mind the gender either way. I just want them to be healthy." He paused, a smirk tugging at his lips. "But I will say this, if we have a girl, I’m going to be extra protective."

"Thank you, Cas, for giving us a chance. Without you, I don’t know how I would have even lived," Zilia murmured, lowering her eyes.

"I started hating you but it couldn’t go long. My love never subsided in my heart for you," Casaio asserted. "It keeps overpowering my hate, which I built temporarily. In that period, I’ve hurt you too. And I’m truly sorry for that. I still feel guilty for every moment of hurt you experienced along with the punishment in the prison."

"Let’s not think about it. I’m sorry for even bringing it," Zilia said, resuming eating. "Nick returned in the evening. Did you get a chance to talk to him?"

"Not yet. I didn’t find him in the palace. Later, I found out he went out for some work," Casaio replied. "In the morning, I’ll talk to him anyhow."

"Yeah. He has suddenly isolated himself from everyone," Zilia murmured with concern.