The Tyrant's Pet

"Now, will you allow me to take her hand?"

Joaquin held his breath as he gripped her hand tightly, only to loosen it after a second.

"What sort of question is that?" he scorned, but unlike his defiant will, his body was moving on its own. Not that he was being controlled, but more like his body was reacting to save him from danger.

And before he knew it, he guided Aries's hand to Abel's. As soon as he did, he noticed the devious glint in Abel's eyes and how his lips stretched a bit wider.

"As a token of appreciation, here's my gift." Abel simply tapped Joaquin's knuckles before taking Aries's bloodstained hand. He didn't mind Joaquin after that, as he pulled Aries by the waist until her body crashed against him.

"My beautiful, lovely bride," he crooned seductively, looking at her with an equal mixture of affection and giddiness. He pinched her chin as she smiled back at him, leaning down and tilting his head to the side, about to claim her lips. However, just before his lips could touch hers, Conan's voice erupted.

"Hey! Don't skip the wedding!!" Conan harrumphed, pointing a finger at the two. "Exchange your marriage vows first before the honeymoon! We are not here to see you make out!"

Abel frowned while Aries giggled. They both cast Conan a look, seeing him pant after only exclaiming his distress.

"Sir Conan, I think you haven't been taking care of your health. You are panting after merely spewing twenty words," Aries humored, wrapping her arms around Abel's waist and leaning the side of her head against his chest.

"We are following the Maganti tradition, my dearest Conan," Abel chimed in, caressing her back casually.

"Who will want to see you fulfill your marital duties?! Everyone will be blind the second the straps of Lady Aries slid over her shoulders!"

Abel frowned but didn't deny that. He wanted everyone — this world, actually — to see how lucky he was to marry the love of his life. He would gloat about it, but at the same time, he wouldn't stand it if everyone see her naked glory.

How troublesome.

Aries let out a shallow breath and blinked weakly. If not for the fact that Abel's body was supporting her, she would've fainted from exhaustion or from her injuries. No one wanted to postpone this wedding. This was the only decision she truly had that came from the bottom of her heart, and something that didn't have a lingering feeling of other reasons other than this pure intention of marrying the man she love.

"Your clothes are dirty now," she whispered but didn't move away from his body, and instead pulled his waist closer.

He gazed down at her and smiled. "I don't need them later. Let's get married."

Her eyes softened as she nodded weakly. "Mhm," came out a soft hum before her feet left the ground. Aries snapped her eyes for a bit, a little taken aback when he swiftly carried her into his arms. When she looked up at him, his lips stretched.

"Like this." That was all he said, turning on his heel to face the altar with her in his arms.

The Reverend hurriedly jogged towards the altar to marry these two. His right eyebrow had thinned after his continuous plucking, and his eyes were still shaking. His throat bobbed, still unable to process what he had just witnessed with the crown prince, now emperor, the empress, and this man.

If anyone heard about this, it would be the biggest scandal that would reach even the farthest kingdom. Not just that, but also the humiliation of Joaquin after wearing a green hat. Yet, instead of losing his temper like usual, he even walked his wife and empress down the aisle to marry her lover!

<strong>How scandalous!</strong>

"You..."

The Reverend's back stiffened while Abel halted from approaching the priest when Joaquin's shaking voice pierced the air. Slowly, Joaquin raised his head, grinding his teeth in anger, and balling his hand until they trembled.

"That's you..." His breath hitched, watching Abel glance over his shoulder.

Abel's way of expressing his token of appreciation was by returning the memories he stole from Joaquin. A memory Joaquin deemed as a nightmare of getting beaten to a pulp and watching his wife roll under the sheet with another man at the beginning of their marriage.

It wasn't a dream that should've been forgotten. It was something Joaquin should've remembered because if he did, he wouldn't come to reach this point.

"I will get to you once I finish my wedding," Abel replied, eyes glinting dangerously that only the Reverend witnessed. "After all... that night wasn't enough to quench my anger, nor what you are about to experience for the next century of your life."

This time, the smirk on Abel's face faded, but his hold on Aries remained gentle. "I had said it, but I will repeat it for you." He glanced over his shoulder, and despite not meeting Joaquin's eyes, the latter felt Abel's gaze pierce his soul.

"If not for her, you wouldn't have this long grace period and this land had long been gone," he stressed what he had been telling even before Aries stepped foot in this land. "Slap yourself silently and watch carefully what a union between mutual consent is done."

"You!" Joaquin smoldered in anger, but Abel ignored him as he resumed his steps until he was standing before the Reverend.

<strong>Slap!</strong>

Joaquin's eyes dilated when his own palm landed on his cheek. His breath hitched when it was followed by another slap, this time with a much harder force. He continued to slap himself until his mouth bled and his palm numbed. But alas, he couldn't stop himself. Instead, he continued to slap himself over and over and over, and he didn't have the will or the strength to stop himself, all the while staring at Abel's back.

Abel gazed down at her. Aries was clutching the lapels of his suit, breathing heavily, but fighting to stay awake. Seeing how exhausted she was, he considered postponing this wedding for her to rest. However, Aries sensed his hesitation and gripped his chest tighter.

"Let's get married," she whispered with a deep exhale.

He remained silent for a few seconds before facing the Reverend. "I do," he answered even before the start of the ceremony.