The Tyrant's Pet

Just like Aries first night with Joaquin, he passed out even before they could go further. Although... she still had to snuggle with him and play for a bit.

'This will be the sight I will be looking at from now on,' she told herself while lying on her side, propping her temple against her knuckles. She raised her hand to caress his dark red hair with her fingertips.

"It's not black," she whispered, another thing to hate about Joaquin and this place. "How upsetting."

Aries withdrew her hand and inhaled sharply. She just met two members of the Imperial Family — Inez and Joaquin — but the fire in her heart was slowly consuming her from the inside.

"Mhm..." she quirked a brow when Joaquin let out a groan and moved slightly, still deep in his sleep.

"I guess he having fun." She snickered and moved closer to him, studying his face up close. She then leaned into his ear and whispered.

"How does it feel being fucked by me, Joaquin? I'll have more things to do with you. So enjoy every bit of it, hmm?"

Her eyes blazed as she glanced at his side, smiling dangerously as she drew back. Even when Aries loathed this man and was itching to suffocate him right at this second, she couldn't deny that her patience was also running thin.

She was also upset in a way.

"I missed him," she breathed out, cold eyes still at Joaquin. "Joaquin."

Aries cupped his lean face and frowned. "Can you die now?" she asked sincerely, but the answer she received was his deep breaths.

"It's just the second night and I feel like something already snapped." — or maybe, she had snapped a long time ago and, just like always, she naturally deceived herself that she was sane and everyone believed that... except one.

Abel.

"My husband..." she stroked Joaquin's cheek gently while her eyelids dropped until they were partially closed. "I take my words back. Don't die... just yet, hmm? Stay with me? I still have a lot of things to show you."

The corner of her lips curled up amusingly, suppressing her laughter while keeping her lips closed. When she recovered, she arched a brow and glanced at the glass door leading to the balcony.

Aries stretched her neck and gaze over Joaquin, furrowing her brows upon seeing a raven outside, on the floor.

"Morro?" Relief took over her face as she nearly jumped out of the bed. However, Joaquin's groan stopped her, making her slip out of the bed discreetly.

Once Aries was out of the bed, she tiptoed her way towards the entrance to the balcony. Squatting down, she stroked the raven's head with her index before taking out the letter tied around its feet.

"Wait!" she whispered aloud, seeing that the raven fluttered its wings as soon as she took out the letter. As if the raven would stop and understand her. So Aries hurriedly voiced out in a whisper.

"Tell Abel I miss him."

Her voice, however, faded into the still air as she watched the raven fly away. What was she thinking? As if the raven would understand her.

She frowned, crouched down with the rolled letter in her hand. "I really miss him... so bad." Aries bit her inner lip bitterly, hesitant to open the letter for some reason.

Having to spend a second with the man she loathed the most felt suffocating. Even though this was her means of revenge, having to smile sweetly, act as if she was slowly falling for Joaquin, expressing the lies as if they were the truth, was enervating in its own way.

But that doesn't mean she would stop. She was still adjusting and she would soon get used to living this lie — just like how she also believed the lie of being Daniella Circe Vandran.

Abel was the only truth she needed.

A subtle smile dominated her face as she gazed at the rolled parchment in her hand. That was right. For as long as Abel existed, she was certain she could live in deception and delude herself until her lie becomes her truth, but... Abel would be her constant reminder of who she was and what her name was.

"I wish him a safe journey," she whispered, opening the letter, tilting her head to the side. "I?"

Classic Abel. The man who would waste a parchment and send his raven to deliver a nonsensical letter. Aries could still remember the time he sent her just dots, but now, it was just a single letter "I."

"Pfft--!" She covered her lips, stopping herself from bursting out in laughter. "I, what? I miss you? Love you? I want to hold you? Goodness, love. Did he run out of ink? He never fails to give me something to mull about."

Aries shook her head mildly, but somehow, that single letter took some things off of her mind. Now she had to think about what Abel was trying to tell her, instead of getting drunk with the silent scream that she was holding in.

"I miss you more," she whispered, guiding the letter to her lips, closing her eyes, inhaling the lingering scent of Abel on it.

Abel had this distinct scent. Even when he was covered with blood and sweats and the smell of cigar or wine. This distinct natural odor of the emperor of Haimirich was something that made him smell... delectable. Which the people in this place didn't carry.

"Just one letter and I feel a lot better." Her smile remained as she clutched the letter close to her chest. "I feel like... I could finally breathe."

Her eyes shimmered affectionately, standing up, eyes up at the night sky. There was no star accompanying the moon, but somehow, in her eyes, it didn't feel lonely.

If anything, the moon looked as though she scared all the stars, as it was shining brightly. Not as intense as the sun, but just enough to bring light into the dark, silent night.

"Goodnight, Abel. I'll see you in my dreams."