The Tyrant's Pet

"I see." Abel's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Will you not enlighten me, darling? I do not wish to argue due to misunderstandings. I thought they were your friends. At this point, you must've known they do not wish to marry me, the emperor. So, why would you poison them when knowing our relationship wouldn't be a problem for them? Don't you have any conscience lying to your friends anymore, darling? Or had your mind changed about us?"

"Hah. How insulting." Aries let out a dry laugh. "I am fond of them and they are wonderful ladies, fitting to be candidates to become an empress of this empire. I feel bad — terrible each time I feed them lies. However, liking them doesn't necessarily mean I fully trust them, Abel. They were still candidates and we're still rivals. Anything can happen in the imperial palace and I'm not so strong that I can be just as relaxed as you."

"Oh?" his lips curled into a satisfied smirk.

Aries fluttered her eyelashes ever so tenderly. "Now, did that quench your anger?"

"It sure did."

"Will you quench mine?" she returned, causing him to arch a brow.

"You're angry?"

"More like disappointed," she clarified, letting out a faint breath before she continued, "was it wrong to save a helpless child?"

"No."

"No?"

"No."

"Then why did you purposely give me trouble, sending your people in my way, forcing me to lie over and over to these ladies?" her eyes sharpened as the last trace of positivity on her face disappeared. "Are you telling me manipulating my situation was done out of fun? And not because I saved that poor child from getting run over by that carriage?"

"Saving a helpless and neglected child was not wrong, darling. What is wrong is you risk your life to do it," he argued calmly, finding zero faults in his argument.

Aries laughed. "It is not the action, but who did it?"

"Exactly."

"Hah… I am lost for words."

"Aries Grimsbanne." His eyes glinted menacingly as his countenance turned cold. "I do not care if you poison everyone in this place and kill them, nor do I care if you want to become a saintess who never sinned. You can do whatever you want and become whoever you want to be. I'll support it with all my heart."

"However, not at the cost of your life, darling." Abel bent over, hands on the space between them. "You could've saved that child and exchanged it with yours if not for the people in your shadow. Do you have any idea how insulting it is on my part that I do my best to protect you whilst giving you the liberty to still have control over your life, only for you to jump in the middle of the street and risk losing your life to save a child you didn't know?"

"Do I have to know someone before I risk my life?"

"No. Even if you know them, even if it's me, do not risk your life and lose it."

Aries frowned as the fire in her eyes blazed, getting angrier the more he spew his arguments. Of course, she could understand his words. However, she couldn't comprehend them.

"Even if it's you?" A dry laugh slipped past her lips, drawing away. Her eyes sheltered disbelief and miff. "Am I that unreliable, Abel? Or was everything I had been doing meant nothing to you? Did you treat them as my hobbies to keep myself busy?"

"I don't mean it that way, darling."

"No." She shook her head. "One way or another, that is what you meant. That's how I see it."

Abel pushed himself away while keeping his eyes on her, only to move closer. He took her hand and flipped it to see her palm. His jaw tightened at the sight of her untreated wound. She didn't even bandage it to not catch anyone's attention; even if she didn't say it herself, it was obvious.

"The scent of your blood… and even just the faint scent of your flesh…" He raised his head to meet her eyes, gripping her wrist with control. "... rips through my soul, Aries. I can't even imagine if you die before me."

"I am a human, Abel. Death, for me, is inevitable."

"And that drives me crazy." His eyes shone as his canines revealed themselves. "There is no honor in death, my love. How many times do I have to repeat it?"

"I'd rather live my life helping the people I want to help and ignoring the problems I do not want to be a part of." Anger and displeasure pooled in her eyes. "Why not just lock me in, Abel? In that case, all I can do is spread my legs whenever you come."

"Aries…" His grip around her wrist tightened. "You are fully aware no one can anger me just as much as you do and no one can drive me insane, just like you. And yet, you will purposely speak absurdity, touching the twisted part of my brain no one ever dared. Do not test me. I might mistake that as a wish, darling. There's a reason ‌people say be careful what you wish for."

"I mean it if I say I didn't mean to be mean, but I can be a prick if you tempt me," he continued, eyes fiery. "Call me an asshole, be my guest."

"Asshole," she breathed out, clicking her tongue in irritation.

Silence descended on their shoulders, but they kept their piercing gaze on each other. Aries ground her teeth and snatched her wrist from him, snorting as she massaged her wrist while moving it in a circular motion.

"You should leave," she remarked. "Let's discuss this again once you and I are calm."

Another minute had passed after her remarks, but Abel didn't move a muscle. Aries let out a sharp breath and snapped her eyes. At the same time, the door opened on its own.

"Should I walk you out?" she inquired, making Abel arch a brow as he glanced at the open door.

Abel set his eyes back to her and smirked. "I'm angry, but I can't even think of breaking your pinky." He slowly rose to his feet and gazed down at her.

"But you are correct. I shouldn't just care… it's always been easier that way."

With that being said, Abel sauntered off. He stopped when he was by the door and looked back as a habit, only to see her looking away. It was an unusual sight to behold since Abel would usually look back, and each time, Aries would still keep staring at his back with a warm smile on her face.

"How upsetting," he whispered before he resumed his steps.