The Tyrant's Pet

"The emperor couldn't get enough of the empress and he couldn't take his eyes off of her… How's that for a headline, darling?"

Abel's eyes narrowed, cupping her cheek before leaning his face forward. Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he rolled his tongue inside her mouth, clutching his shoulder blade on instinct.

"All Hail — kyaaah!"

"Long Live His and Her Majesty!! May the heavens bless this empire!"

Another wave of cheers exploded upon seeing the emperor kiss the empress for everyone to see. Women blushed at His Majesty's enthusiasm while men shouted for encouragement. Abel was not only known as a tyrant, but also a man with a promiscuous lifestyle.

Since these not-so-secret affairs of the emperor didn't affect his ruling, it only became common knowledge that everyone didn't give much importance. Therefore, seeing the emperor passionately locked lips with their empress, everyone was reassured their wedding would only bring good to the empire.

As the cheers continued, Abel slowly and reluctantly parted his lips from her. His lips were curled into a triumphant grin, assessing her hilarious reaction.

"I've always wanted to do that in front of everyone," he said, wiping the corner of her lips with his thumb. "And let them know you… are mine. Only."

Aries blinked twice as she processed what had just happened. Her eyes made a quick scan of her surroundings discreetly, and hearing the louder cheers and the blessings of their people for a wonderful union, she smiled.

"You caught me off guard." She didn't raise her voice despite the echoing shouts in the street. "What are you going to do with my ripped skirt?"

He smirked. "The royal mantle will do its job."

"Behave." Aries pinched his thigh but kept her smile. "This dress is already heavy enough, and having an orgasm while having to keep up a smile will be torturous."

"But I'm… bored, darling."

"Abel." Her pinch on his thigh tightened, twisting it a bit. "The night will fall, eventually. Ever heard patience is a virtue?"

"Fortune favors the bold, darling," he argued with raised brows, but the unchanging look in her eyes told him a firm, "no."

Abel frowned a bit, letting out a shallow breath.

"Fine," he said, leaning back and adjusting his seat. "I'll wait for the honeymoon."

"Thank you." Aries smiled in satisfaction, facing the side of the street, and waved. "It'll be hard for them to create a new rumor that this union is done with a heavy heart."

"Oh, darling. Even if I didn't do what I did, everyone in the imperial palace will definitely know how much I adore my wife." Abel crooned indifferently, glancing at the children on the other side of the street. His naturally sharp expression was swiftly replaced with a smile, waving at them.

The curiosity in the children's faces brightened up. They only heard stories about him, and not all tales about the emperor were positive. But after seeing him smile at them and they felt their 'small' existence was seen by such an esteemed figure, some of them ran, following the procession.

"How adorable," he commented, seeing how silly the children were. "I wonder what ours will look like?"

"What, ours?" Aries looked back at him, only to see him staring at the children following their carriage. That second, a pang instantly struck her heart, knowing bearing his child was impossible.

"Oh, darling, don't be sad." Abel slowly shifted his eyes to her and offered a warm smile. "I'm not in a hurry to have children. It was just a thought I had in passing, but it was irresponsible of me to blurt that out. Forgive me."

"It's fine, love. I understand." Her smile was meek, looking away from him. Although her expression didn't change, a string in her heart was tugged with bitterness.

Aries raised her brows when she felt his hand hold hers. When she looked down, she caught him moving their intertwined hands on his lap. Her eyes slowly moved up, only to see him looking at their surrounding.

"It's not impossible," he said quietly, and for some reason, despite the echoing cheers around, she heard him loud and clear. Abel let out another shallow breath, casting her a knowing look.

"Starting a family… is not impossible, darling. Therefore, do not blame yourself. We'll do it once we had a serious conversation about it, and we're both ready for it." Abel winked at her, pulling their hands from his pocket to place a peck on her knuckles. "Let's enjoy each other for now."

Aries drew her lips into a thin, tight slash, gazing at him intently. Ever since she came to know he was different, Aries had always wondered if her situation of bearing a child would still be a problem. Although she had embraced the fact she might not become a mother, the thought would always cross her mind, which she normally wouldn't entertain.

There were also times she wanted to ask him if they could start a family since Abel was not human. But the fear that she was simply holding on to hope she made up herself often overwhelmed her. Hence, she didn't broach this topic, and he didn't mention it too.

The reason Aries wasn't that surprised upon hearing his last remarks. She wasn't even angry at him, knowing Abel never had such thoughts of fathering an heir — his heir. But now that he brought it up himself, a part of her heart was touched.

"Mhm," she hummed a soft tune, looking away from him. "Once we're ready, let's talk about it."

Both of them held each other's hands while using the other to wave at the people. The cheers continued until some people had already lost their voices. So far, they had met no trouble until minutes later, Aries looked up.

As soon as she did, she gripped Abel's hand tighter as her lips parted.

"Climaco," she whispered, and the knight riding a steed on the side of their carriage jumped out of it in a flash. Gasped from the crowd distorted the continuous cheers as a child who climbed up on one of the house's pipes fell from it. Fortunately, Climaco was quick to act upon Aries's call and caught the child in the nick of time.

Aries was still gripping Abel's hand until her hand turned white while his hand turned red. She kept her focus on the house pipe.

"It'll fall on the carriage ahead of ours," she whispered.

"Halt!" From the front, Isaiah suddenly yelled, and all the knights yelled the same to relay the message to the last knight of the procession. People were slightly confused and even the nobles who were part of the parade.

"Roman," Abel whispered, letting his wife grip his hand while he followed her gaze. She kept that pipe from falling and hurting the innocents, yet his focus differed from Aries's current concern. "That pipe will hurt my wife if you don't do anything about it."