The Tyrant's Pet

Abel took Aries to the pavilion in the inner garden. He pulled her to his side as she thoughtlessly approached the chair.

"Huh?" she gazed at him as her shoulder bumped against him. "Is there a... problem?"

His eyelashes fluttered ever so slowly, casting her a side-eye. "There is only one chair."

"One chair...?" Aries furrowed her brows, counting the chairs placed on the opposite side of the round marble table. Even though it was obvious there were two chairs, Aries counted multiple times just in case her vision was doubling.

"There are two," she affirmed after blinking countless times. To her surprise, Abel suddenly kicked the chair away.

"There's only one."

She frowned as her expression died instantly. Her head slightly throbbed as she let out a sigh. Whatever Abel wants, he gets. Whatever he said, no matter how ridiculous it was, that should be a fact.

'Now there's only one chair... does he want me to stand up while he rests?' she cast him a dead look, not looking away even when he caught her gaze. 'Well, I've been sitting almost the whole day. So standing for a bit won't hurt, right?'

Aries forced a kind smile to hide her annoyance. "Your Majesty, I know you are a gentleman, but you don't have to worry. I can stand while accompanying you."

"Oh no, darling. That will hurt the pride of a gentleman like me. You should sit." His kind response made her narrow her eyes.

'What is he up to now?' she wondered, scrutinizing that devious smirk plastered on his face.

"Please, take a seat." Abel beckoned her to sit down, marching to the chair and he pulled it for her.

"How can I let you stand while I sit, Your Majesty? I'll just stand."

He frowned, cocking his head to the side. "Still, as a gentleman, I can't. Sit."

'Oh, my god! Just sit!' Aries screamed internally, feeling her stress increase every passing second. 'We wouldn't have this dilemma if he didn't kick that chair!'

"Come on." Abel cocked his head on the chair while holding the backrest.

A helpless exhale slipped past her lips. 'There's nothing in here, right?' she approached the chair warily, thinking there would be some glue or hidden trap on it. Aries studied it, but there was nothing amiss.

She glanced at him as she carefully sat down. Abel wriggled his brows, making her hesitate to sit down. But when she finally plopped her butt down, she frowned. She was correct. There was nothing wrong with the chair.

"Pfft —" Her frown worsened when he snickered. Aries looked up as he stayed behind the chair, hands over the backrest.

He purposely made me feel anxious. This psycho...'

"Darling, don't you believe I am a gentleman?" he smirked playfully, pleased to see her dead expression.

'We had two chairs, for Pete's sake! Did you kick that one just to prove you are a gentleman?' was what she wanted to say, but bit her tongue from running her mouth.

"Ahh... my legs hurt from training," came out a complaint with a lazy voice while her dead expression grew worse.

Surely, his mood changed faster than a blink. One second, he was gloating about being a gentleman. And then the next, he was complaining. He would drive her insane for sure.

"... not only do I have to deal with paperwork, but I also need to be fit. Standing even after that should be fine..."

'Ignore him, Aries. Ignore him. He put this upon himself.' She repeated those words like a spell, but her face kept distorting the more she listened to his whines. 'God... I hope the next poison I'd drink will kill me.'

Aries expression remained stiff and the life in her eyes grew dim. He shouldn't have offered the chair to her if he would complain right after. Why was he tormenting her brain like this?

'Fine... I'd rather stand than let him torture my dying mental health.' Another deep sigh escaped her mouth as she cocked her head back, eyes landing on his face. "Your Majesty, why don't you sit while I..."

SWOosh

For a moment, her mind went blank. Abel, who was just standing behind the chair and gazing down at her, was now gone. Instead, she felt a weight on her lap.

"My darling is so kind for letting me sit on her lap. No wonder I am so fond of her!" He intoned happily, sitting on her lap with his arm propped against the chair. He watched her pull her head back, facing him with a dead expression.

"Gentleman... where?" she mumbled without thinking twice because all her brain cells had already died.

"I'm watching my weight. I am being considerate, aren't I?"

"Abel, you could've said you want to sit on my lap."

"Why would I do that? I am a gentleman!"

'Please brain, don't leave me!' She begged internally, watching her soul weep while covering her lips. 'Is this his revenge for everything that I had done so far?'

Abel's eyes squinted in delight, reading her thoughts with just from her dead countenance. "Don't think too much, darling. I am simply... researching."

"Researching...?"

"Mhm! They said those who had pets always kept them on their lap. I am thinking what you will feel if I always keep you on my lap."

"Shouldn't you be asking me that? It'll be easier..."

"And I can vouch it's not that bad," he continued as if he didn't hear her last remarks. "You'll like it."

"..."

"Anyway, being a pet doesn't feel bad, huh? I have nothing else to do aside from receiving affection while my master does all the work." Abel rocked his head, quirking a brow as he cast her a look. "What are you doing? Pet me."

'He is going all out today, huh?' she blinked, eyes blank. Even so, she raised her hand and stroked his broad back. Out of irritation plus with a confused mind, Aries unintentionally slapped his back.

"Aw, that's animal abuse." He frowned while she drew back.

"Heh... there was dirt. I'm sorry."

Abel shook his head as he sighed. "Poor me. I have a terrible master. I should've stayed on the street like a stray cat... Meow."

'If I did something wrong, please tell me. I will never ever do it again.' Was what she held back from saying, listening to his nonsense with little interest. 'I should've slapped his back harder.'