The Tyrant's Pet

Aries and Abel paid respect to the grave of her family in silence. It wasn't like she had to introduce Abel as if they could talk back, but rather, the two of them simply performed the customary greeting by doing a deep curtsy in silence. After the quick ceremonious curtsy, both of them stood in front of the tree where her father's remains lay.

Both of them didn't speak a word, allowing the morning breeze to blow past them. They stood side by side, holding her hand in front of her, while Abel kept his hand inside his pocket. Although his eyes were set ahead, Abel had been observing her from the corner of his eyes.

"Thank you, Abel." The side of her lips curled up as her eyes softened, staring at the newly grown trees before them. She thought she had already emptied her eyes of tears, but she could feel her eyes heat once again. Her throat bobbed after gulping the building tension in her throat.

"You have no idea how this means to me," she continued, clearing her throat so her voice won't crack. "The last time I was here... the scene it left in me haunted me every single night. But now, I... I am thankful to be back."

Aries focused her eyes on the valuable pieces mounted on the trunk and smiled subtly. "I really am thankful to be back."

Silence fell on their shoulder as the wind whispered in their ear. She kept her eyes on the trees and her smile never left her face. She wanted to savor this moment and carefully digest that her family's remains weren't just thrown away somewhere to rot.

"Thank you for bringing them back home." She slowly turned on her heel to face him squarely. "This is the most beautiful gift I will forever cherish."

Aries raised her hand between them, which Abel clasped silently. Her eyes softened with affection, appreciation, and adoration.

"My family... had always wondered what sort of man could handle a piece of work such as myself," she confessed, squeezing his hand mildly as she recalled Princess Aries's life. "They were always worried that with my personality, marriage would be a problem. Davien even thought I would build a harem once I became the ruler of this beautiful land."

"Hah... good thing Rikhill fell."

Aries chuckled at his insensitive remarks, but she was almost used to it. Abel would always be Abel, and he would say things that crossed his head without a filter. But that was his charms. He might be brutally honest, but at least he never lied just to make him appear good.

"But I'm proud that I returned in here after years with the love of my life," she continued with a soft tone, staring into those beguiling pair of crimson that reflected her with so much beauty and elegance. Aries had never seen herself as beautiful, and what happened to her in the Maganti Empire crushed her sense of self-value.

But in his eyes, she... was the only one in them. In those intimidating pairs of deep crimson eyes, she was the most beautiful, the most valuable, and the most loved.

"I can never imagine a life without you, Abel. And before them, I promised to love you to the best I can." Aries drew a breath as she faced the trees of life where her family rested. "I'm now in good hands, Papa. Davien. Alaric..."

"You do not need to worry about me anymore," she continued under her breath, holding Abel's hand tightly. "I am now happy and content. I... never thought I would be this happy in this life ever again, but I am. Finally."

"I hope you will now have your peace." Her eyes softened as she smiled at the warm breeze that blew past her ears. Aries remained silent for minutes before she faced Abel. He had been quiet, although he did all that ceremony in paying respect to her family.

Even when they were facing each other once again, Abel remained silent. He only kept his eyes on her beautiful face, smiling subtly at the stunning luster in her eyes. For minutes, the two of them just stared at each other with smiles on their faces, not saying a word, and allowing their hearts to speak to each other at every beat. Not that they had nothing to say anymore, but their hearts already knew the unspoken sentiments pooling in their eyes.

They were happy, content, and madly, deeply in love.

"Wait!!!" the serene atmosphere suddenly broke as Conan's frantic voice erupted in the silent ridge. Both Aries and Abel turned in Conan's direction, making her brows furrow.

"They're here?" she murmured, only to realize this was what Abel meant when he said they disembarked before them to another place.

"Dearest Conan, are you aware you are interrupting our beautiful moment?" asked Abel when Conan reached them. "I was about to kiss her."

"Your Majesty! Didn't you say you want to get married?! Are we skipping steps again?"

"But we didn't fulfill our marital duties yet."

Conan scrunched his nose up as he looked at Abel from head to toe in dismay. Hadn't fulfilled their marital duties? Then what did they call all those days and nights they spent locked up in the Rose Palace?!

"We're getting married?" Aries queried, raising her brows to catch Conan's attention. Knowing this man, he would eventually get sidetracked and would end up nagging Abel like he had always done.

"Yes! His Majesty wanted two weddings!" Conan raised two fingers at her excitedly, as if he didn't complain about it during the preparation. "One is meant for you to replace all the bad things that happened to you in that garbage of an empire, and then another one where the bride's family is present!"

"Oh..." Aries looked back at Abel and saw him shrug.

"Two weddings means two wedding nights."

She chuckled and then shifted her attention to Conan. "You've worked hard, Sir Conan. Thank you."

"Heh." Conan rubbed his finger under his nose, grinning arrogantly.

"Then, shall we..." she trailed off when Conan whisked out a garland from his suit and placed it on top of her head. Aries touched it and looked back at him, wide-eyed.

"The children made it for you," explained Conan, pointing down to refer to the people waiting at the foot of this hill. Her lips curled up once more and faced Abel.

"What do you think?" she asked with a smile.

"Lovely." His eyelids drooped, touching the garland on top of her head. Aries giggled and squeezed his hand once again.

"I do," this time, Aries already uttered her 'I do,' even before Conan could start the quick ceremony of their second union.

"I do," Abel replied with a smirk.

"Wait, wait! I haven't --" Conan gasped in horror when Abel bent over and cupped her face to claim her lips.

"I love you." Aries grinned against his lips, and he chuckled into her mouth before a deep voice slipped past his mouth, saying, "I love you more."

"Forever," she added, and he continued with, "and ever."

When Aries and Abel drew their head back, Conan's face was aghast. Not only did the two of them kiss right in front of him whilst professing their undying love, but they also ignored his efforts to facilitate a proper wedding!

"Just proclaimed them husband and wife, will you?" Dexter's voice erupted, catching Aries's attention. He was already marching lazily in their direction with Curtis and Climaco.

"What?!" Conan harrumphed angrily, only to jump when a figure slinked out behind the king's tree. "What the — have you always been there?!"

Seeing that Isaiah had been hiding behind the tree, Curtis' face suddenly froze. However, the only person who noticed his expression was Morro and Climaco.

As Conan's blood pressure spiked steadily, venting his anger toward Dexter and Isaiah, Aries couldn't help but chuckle. She decided to ignore him and face Abel, and the latter had already shunned everything aside from her. They looked at each other's eyes once again with affection and everlasting love.

Conan might be dissatisfied with the second wedding, but for the groom and bride, having them around in this place where she lost everything, including herself, was enough to celebrate this win, this newfound love, purpose, family, and life. She couldn't ask for more.