The Tyrant's Pet

Days had gone by in a blur. Aries's daily routine centered on her health condition and the boutique. It had been over a week since the opening of the shop. So far, there were already a few clients as Aries sent out a few invitations beforehand.

"Strange…" she mumbled, enjoying the night breeze on the balcony of her room. Aries was sitting on the railing, holding a glass of wine while the bottle and snacks were beside her.

"I had been very busy for the past weeks," she whispered, looking into the thick darkness ahead. "But my condition seems to get better and better."

Was it because of the pills she was taking? She wondered. Or was it because she was getting enough rest? Aries was absolute it wasn't the latter. Although she was trying to get as much rest as she wanted, she knew she had been busier than ever. Yet, she wasn't experiencing fatigue.

Aries squeezed her biceps mildly. "Was it a false alarm?" her brows furrowed. "The physicians didn't know what sort of disease I have. But after getting checked, I don't feel that terrible anymore."

Her mind slowly drifted away, finding it strange that after getting herself checked, Aries felt better. She could just take it as the pills being effective, but what made it strange was that the pain was gone with a snap of a finger. Aries didn't feel any sort of dizziness and headaches, nor did she experience nosebleeds.

'When did it really start?' she wondered, narrowing her eyes while unconsciously twirling the wine in her hand. "Since… that time I started planning about the boutique…?"

Aries tilted her head to the side, not knowing if she should dwell on this. Not that she wasn't happy about it; she would be glad if it was simply a false alarm. However, Abel knew about her deteriorating health. He could've just told her it was fatigue, but he took it seriously.

"Speaking of," she murmured, frowning as she raised her eyes in the Imperial Palace's direction. From her room, she could see the towering towers of the glorious palace. "He had been equally busy and I can only count the times he woke me up in my sleep. I wonder what could make him so busy?"

Aries snapped her tongue, raising the wineglass to her lips. She winced slightly, licking her lips as she swallowed the wine down her throat.

The night breeze blew past her, making Aries clutch the shawl over her thin nightdress. Her foot dangling inside the balcony swung back and forth. Aries hummed, enjoying the peace the night gives leisurely.

"I want to wait for him tonight," she whispered, drawing a deep breath, allowing the wind to blow her hair back. "I wonder what time does he come? It's a little late."

Since Abel and Aries had been very busy with their lives, there were only a few times Aries could remember he woke her up in her sleep. She would be very sad if not for the roses and letters Abel would leave every morning to uplift her mood.

'Still, isn't it a bit strange?' Aries arched a brow, eyes fixed in the imperial palace's direction. 'Abel isn't the type to be satisfied with just purely sleeping beside me. It's been a while since he last touched me. What's going on?'

Aries didn't think about this much in the past because she was preoccupied with establishing her business. But now that she had free time, she couldn't help but narrow her eyes suspiciously.

"What is he… hiding from me now?" she wondered. "Is that the reason he wasn't seeing me while I'm awake? Because he knew he can't lie to me?"

Aries let out a dry laugh, casting a look of disdain in the imperial palace's direction. "Abel… you better come here now. I won't sleep a wink."

<strong>*****</strong>

<strong>[ Imperial Palace ]</strong>

Abel was lying flat on the grass in the garden of the Rose Palace. His eyes were fixed on the night sky, barely blinking. He had been silent for an entire hour now, while Conan, who was standing several feet from him, frowned.

When Conan's lips parted, his brows elevated. He gazed up, catching black feathers fall and then a raven flying down. The raven, Morro, landed straight beside Abel's figure.

"Morro?" Conan muttered, furrowing his brows.

"Your Majesty, I had returned after completing your orders," Morro announced, lowering his head. "I had surveyed the land you are interested in, and your suspicion was right. It seemed there was another regression."

"Had you met my sister?"

"No. However, Duke Darkmore told me she had been there."

"Mathilda?"

"Both."

Abel furrowed his brows, narrowing his eyes. "Anything else that you found interesting?"

"The duke will return to the empire after surveying the Heart's Kingdom," Morro reported, staring at Abel silently. He then glanced to the side, seeing Conan standing still while darting his eyes between him and Abel.

"Isaiah seemed to be in a hurry," Abel crooned.

"He wants to return before the coven. Your Majesty, I think the attendees of the upcoming coven had concocted a plan to end you."

Abel simpered. "Isn't that the reason the coven exists?" he cast Morro a knowing look.

"The coven is the only time I am vulnerable. However, since it was a gathering sealed by me and Isaiah, it cannot be changed easily." Abel slowly set his eyes on the night sky. "Morro, there was a mouse that had been lurking in the street of the capital. She's been evasive, managing to get away from the search team Conan formed."

"What?" Morro furrowed his brows and glanced at Conan, a bit surprised about this. Conan wasn't the type to fail in hunting down someone, but Abel said he failed?

"If you find her, lock her up somewhere. But if you can't, make sure Aries will not approach the imperial palace until the coven ends." A glint flickered across Abel's eyes as his jaw tightened. "The marquess will surely stop her, but just to make sure. She'll be devastated to know that a bloody coven exists."