The Tyrant's Pet

There were many factors Aries fell in love with Abel. He terrified her, yes, but aside from the fear of what he could do, everything still boiled down to what he had done for her. Abel might not be the kindest and could slay a man without a conscience, but what mattered to Aries was how he treated her.

One of the many things she liked about Abel was that, after coming clean about what he was, he hadn't kept Aries in the dark. He would openly say what was in his head if she asked him, even if he knew it might cause a stir in her heart.

And because of this, Aries came to know about the person Sunny brought into the empire.

"Sir Conan's father...?" Aries repeated under her breath. No one had mentioned Conan's family, nor did she ever ask since the man was always busy nagging her. But now that Abel mentioned it, a myriad of questions hovered over her head. Still, more than the questions, Aries realized one thing; the only things she knew were just a fraction about this empire and the people she treated as her new family.

"Mhm." Abel nodded. "His father."

Aries blinked countless times before the side of her lips curled up. "Wasn't that good news, then?"

"Hmm... no."

"What? Why?"

"Because first, that friend of mine is in a deep slumber. And second, Conan doesn't want anything to do with his family."

"What?" she gasped in disbelief, looking back at Abel with shaking eyes. "But... why? I don't understand — why?"

"Darling." Abel let out a deep exhale, moving his face forward to look her eye to eye. "Not because you have a loving family, doesn't mean it is the same with others."

Aries pursed her lips, nodding slightly. "I know that..."

"Conan's father and I were acquaintances on the mainland. However, although he was a great friend, he was a neglectful father and a foolish man," he continued casually. "His standing had hindered him from doing more than he could. As a person in power, he had to choose and make painful sacrifices. Apparently, he chose others more than the role of becoming a father."

"Your father is amazing, darling. He was able to rule and build great relationships with his children. Unfortunately, Conan's situation is exactly the opposite," Abel added with a knowing tone.

"You mean...?" Aries trailed off after absorbing every piece of information like a sponge. Her pupils slowly dilated at the conclusion that hovered over her head. "Sir Conan is... a royalty?"

Abel nodded. "Back on the mainland, there's a person in authority to keep things in order. And Conan's birth father is the king, and obviously, he was a prince."

"Wow..." Her mouth fell open as she didn't expect that.

"Conan might act like a drama queen, but darling, you do not want to anger him," Abel remarked, bringing her back from her trance. "Lest you haven't known yet, Conan used to be my right hand, my sword. He simply switched roles with Isiah for a change, but he was the cruelest among my vassals."

Aries held her breath, hearing her head buzz at all these revelations, and to think this was simply the tip of the iceberg. Just how little did she know about the people who had been helping her all this time?

Abel smirked, enjoying the surprise dominating her face. He arched a brow when her lips quivered open.

"Ho — how?" she asked with a shaking voice, barely keeping up with these pieces of information. "I mean, I've seen you all move and from my perspective, you — I mean, he is equally fast and capable, just like my brother and His Grace Darkmore."

"He is — from what it looks like." There was a sense of pride in Abel's voice, with a tinge of confidence. "Not until you know Conan had stopped using his advantages as a vampire."

"You mean...?"

"It was all innate talent, strength, speed, wits, darling." Abel shrugged, his brows raised. "He hadn't used his vampire senses for the longest time."

"Hah..." she let out a sharp exhale, barely blinking. "But... why?"

"I will tell you if you want me to, but personally, I'd rather let him tell you his reasons himself since it was his personal issue." Abel cocked his head to the side. "Should I tell you?"

Aries shook her head profusely. "You don't have to. I don't think I can process more information in such a short span of time."

"Haha. How cute." He chuckled with his lips closed. "My point here is because he was adamant about not using his vampire senses, he didn't know his father was sleeping within the imperial grounds."

"Pardon?"

"Don't tell him about what I told you. It's our little secret since you're my wife." He winked, not beating around the bush anymore.

Aries lowered her eyes as she pondered about it. She had already tons of things to mull about, and now she had to think about this one. Fortunately, Aries was already used to staying away from other people's affairs as part of her survival instinct.

"Can I..." she slowly raised her head and held his gaze once more. "May I know why you hadn't told him about his father?"

His eyelids drooped, but they failed to conceal the complex glint that flashed across them. "Our dearest Conan will end him."

This time, Aries's breath hitched. She studied Abel's expression and was certain he was telling the truth. Conan would end his own father, and Aries couldn't think of other deeper reasons that justified Abel's decision to keep Conan in the dark other than that.

"Of course, although I don't plan on telling Conan until his father wakes up, things can happen," Abel intoned with a light voice.

"Such as?"

"That child," he remarked, raising his brows to give her a knowing look. "That glutton might tattle and spill the tea."

Aries gasped and slapped his chest. "Then what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be supervising Sunny?!"

"But you said I should stay."

"No, you go now!"

Abel frowned, locking his arms around her slender frame securely. He raised his leg, only to wrap it around her.

"No..." he buried his face on top of her head lazily. "My wife is still sad. I should stay and take responsibility."

"Abel."

"Don't be sad. Your husband is here now." His lips stretched from ear to ear, and no matter how she tried to push him away, Abel didn't budge. In the end, Aries gave up and allowed him to wrap his limbs around her like a snake.