The Tyrant's Pet

"Marsella?" Aries whispered, automatically engraving that name in her head because the look in Abel's eyes sent a chill down her spine.

"Yes. That name. If you see her in the street, don't walk past her. Turn around and walk away. Do you understand?" he raised his brows, making her nod in understanding despite not fully grasping the reason. "Good."

"How would I know her, though? What does she look like?"

"She..." Abel cocked his head to the side and then looked at her with conflict. "The last time I've seen her, she's an infant. I told you. She eloped with a man."

"That's too vague..." she smacked her lips in disappointment. "But why should I be wary of her?"

"I'm not saying to be wary of her. I'm telling you, avoid her at all costs."

"But why?"

"Because..." Abel winced as he looked in the window. "... she will like you."

"Huh?" Aries scrunched her nose up. "She will like me?"

"Mhm. You... don't want to be liked by her. You'd rather wish she won't take a liking to you." Abel poked the tip of her nose mildly.

"Why? What would happen if she likes me?"

"I will kill her."

"You will what?"

"If you think you went through hell, that nutcase will prove you had only glimpsed the fiery gates of hell," he explained with certainty, not giving her a chance to question his claims. "She's that type of crazy. She's abnormal. If she likes you, she'll take you to the pits of hell to have some company there."

Aries let out a shallow breath and nodded in understanding. She didn't know whether it was because of his tone or the look in his eyes, but the uneasiness in her heart suddenly grew distinct.

"Marsella," she whispered, not to forget the name of his sister. Aries then raised her head when she heard wings flapping. A smile resurfaced on her face, watching a raven land on the open window of the carriage.

"Morro!" she called happily, while Abel quirked a brow at her. "I'm so glad to see you."

The raven, Morro, cast her a glance before shifting his attention to Abel. The two of them looked at each other, making Aries furrow her brows.

"What?" she asked Abel. "Why are you suddenly silent?"

"Morro, tell them I'd be there later." Abel smiled at her. "I will take her to the Vandran Residence myself."

'But it was urgent, Your Majesty!' Morro's frantic voice rang in Abel's head, but the latter didn't share the same urgency about the matter.

"Just make sure Conan doesn't step foot in my chambers."

'But Your Majesty... he and the Marquess had already infiltrated the Imperial Palace.'

"Hmm?" Aries cocked her head to the side, blinking almost innocently.

Abel smiled at her before casting the raven a look. "How about Isaiah?"

'He retreated.'

"I see..." he rocked his head in understanding.

"Are you talking to Morro?" she inquired, darting her eyes between Abel and the raven. "You can talk to animals?"

"Morro is not an animal, darling. He likes to be one, though. Just like me, sometimes I just want to become a cat. No stress or work, all I need to do is to meow," he humored, smiling from ear to ear until his eyes were squinting. Aries clicked her tongue and slapped his chest.

"Seriously. You are good at diverting my attention." Aries rolled her eyes. "Are there some sort of enemy waiting for you in the imperial palace? Is it your sister? Will you be alright?"

Abel let out a faint exhale and pinched her cheek. "No. It is too early to assume things, darling."

"But you said Sir Conan..."

"It's nothing like that, darling. More like... it was his private matter. I don't think I have the right to talk about it."

"Is that so...?"

"Don't worry too much, darling." Abel nodded encouragingly while cupping her face. "I'll visit you at the Vandran estate."

"You will leave now?" she frowned instantly, making him smile.

"No. Of course not. I had to make sure you meet Gustav first. It'll be too dangerous."

"But I know Gustav."

"You know his face." Aries's brows furrowed at his reply. "Darling, you have a long — a very long way to go to understand vampires had their own abilities. Mimicking a person's face isn't impossible for some, and neither falling into a realistic illusion."

Abel chuckled with his lips closed, leaning his face to brush the tip of his nose against hers. "How cute. You're like an infant in my world."

"It sounds... very dangerous," she mumbled, watching him draw his head back.

"I never said it wasn't. I told you, didn't I? We should've stayed in the land of Rikhill."

Aries frowned. "But this is your land. One way or another, you would always think about it. It's not like it's that easy to forget a place you built from scratch."

"How cute." Abel grinned, pulling her waist closer to him. "Don't worry. You won't be in danger."

"Anyway, Morro, is that all?" he cocked his head back, eyes falling on the raven.

'Aside from not having entry to the inner palace, that's all. But the chocolates... Your Majesty, the imperial palace is being plagued by a colony of ants! It was too much for the knights and servants to handle.'

Abel burst out in laughter. "Goodness. How interesting!"

"What's interesting?" Aries queried, looking at Morro with narrowed eyes.

"Chocolates, darling," he explained. "The amount of chocolate in Haimirich alarmed them. I guess my guest is a sweet tooth."

Abel paused as his eyelids drooped. "Glutton."

"Huh?"

"Nothing, darling. I just realized I sort of figured out what my visitor was."

"Pardon?" her brows rose, looking at Abel's grin. "Who?"

Aries and Morro looked at Abel in anticipation, but the latter's grin simply stretched from ear to ear. Abel didn't answer the question, but by the looks of it, he wasn't expecting an enemy. Or maybe Aries was wrong, she thought. After all, Abel would have the same wicked expression if it were a formidable opponent.