The Tyrant's Pet

The last time Abel and Aries went out together just to enjoy the day was already a long time ago. The excitement and delight had pumped blood into their hearts, giving them a whole new level of energy to what today had for them.

Following Abel's order, not a single knight followed them so the two could experience a day living a mundane life just like everybody else. No political affairs, no problem, or nothing. Today, it would only be the two of them.

Abel and Aries rode a steed to the capital, galloping and sometimes, just a leisure ride to enjoy the breeze of freedom the imperial palace lacked. When they reached the capital and Abel had tied his steed to a station, both of them, like young lovers, excitedly joined the festivities in the street.

Although… from another's perspective, they looked more like two young men who were good friends.

Aries thought wearing a disguise would be better. It was possible no one would recognize them or they wouldn't bump into familiar people, but it was better safe than sorry. Hence, she decided to put on a man's attire and a wig — the first one Abel bought her. She kept it until now.

As they stopped at the food stall to try out the buns she had heard about, Aries glanced at Abel. Abel's attempt at disguise was to wear a much simple attire. His green hair wasn't neatly brushed back like usual but was let down that reached past his brows. His allure looked different, but definitely not any less than when he was wearing an expensive tailored suit.

"Hmm?" Abel raised his brows as he handed a hot bun to her, which he wrapped with a handkerchief he brought.

"Nothing." Aries cleared her throat to modulate her voice a bit. "Thanks."

Aries held the bun delicately, as it was rather hot. She glanced around, only to see she was the only one holding it with a handkerchief, while the rest were simply using their clothes to let it cool down. When she shifted her attention to Abel, her face contorted.

"What are you doing —" she gasped when Abel suddenly smashed the steaming hot bun in his hand.

"Hah…" Abel looked surprised. "... so it has beans inside? How interesting."

"Ah, goodness…" Aries pinched the bridge of her nose, and when she retrieved her hand, she saw the other customers cast odd gazes at Abel.

"Hey!"

Aries flinched when the owner of the stall yelled at Abel. The latter didn't react strongly as he looked back at him, tilting his head to the side.

"If you don't like it, then don't buy it! How can you destroy our precious goods right in front of us, hah!?" the plump seller harrumphed as he pointed at Abel from the other side of the stall. "Aren't you ashamed some of these people could've bought it!?"

Abel blinked, watching the merchant throw a huge fit. Apparently, destroying the bun without eating it was a sort of disrespect to them. He didn't know that.

"Haha! Sorry about that, boss!" Aries chimed in when she noticed the seller was getting more and more furious at Abel's lack of reaction. "My friend here didn't come from the empire and is only here to visit a relative. So he might be a little ignorant."

Aries walked closer and shoved Abel slightly to the side. "I'm certain he didn't mean it like that."

"Hmph!" the merchant huffed, but slightly calmed down when he heard Aries's explanation. "Your friend over there should at least learn a thing or two of the place he was going! He'll be in trouble if he is that ignorant."

'Hehe… he's actually the one who is trouble,' was what Aries wanted to tell him, but instead, used the skills she learned in Rikhill to get on the people's soft spot.

In the end, Aries ended up becoming an acquaintance with the merchant and for them to stop talking, she bought all the buns as a treat to everyone who would come to the food stall. Fortunately, the merchant was generous enough and put up a carton that had a handwritten sign about the free hot buns for the children.

"How can you smash food in front of the person who made it?" Aries grumbled as she walked beside Abel after dragging him away.

Abel was wiping his hand with the handkerchief as he replied, "I was curious about what made them so special. I didn't know there was something inside."

"Did you expect it to be pure bread?" she asked, and he nodded. Aries opened and closed her mouth before she burst out in laughter.

"Darling, why are you laughing?" he inquired with a frown.

"Nothing — pfftt!" Aries stopped in her tracks, holding her stomach as she hunched in.

"This is annoying," he remarked, his expression dying the longer she laughed whilst trying to hold it back and failing miserably. "Darling, you are making me cry."

"I'm sorry." Aries wiped the corner of her eyes as she straightened her back. "It's just interesting that you seem to know it all, but you do not have any idea of a simple bun."

"Because it's the bun eaten by the poor." His frown deepened when she snapped her tongue at him. "I'm telling the truth. Conan had an expensive taste, and he only choose all exquisite food down to the finely aged wine."

"Ah, goodness." Aries shook her head while keeping her eyes on him. "I'm learning a lot today."

He shrugged. "Now I know I should turn around first before I break something in front of any stalls."

"I want to be angry, but at the same time, I just want to hug you. So cute." Aries raised a hand when he took a step, placing it on his chest to stop him from going closer. "Not here, Abel. We're both men right now."

"Sucks…"

"Later." His brows rose while her lips stretched playfully, winking at him before skipping her steps away.

"She… is learning," Abel dawdled, watching her skip away from him. Aries looked very happy and carefree; she looked very different from when they were inside the palace walls.

He raised his head to see the bright sky and smiled. "Today's weather is good," he said. "When's the last time I even cared about the weather?"

"Darli —"

"Daniel!" Aries corrected as her steps skidded to a halt, looking back at him with wide eyes.

"Right…" Abel clicked his tongue as he followed her calmly. "Wait for me, Ariel, Daniel, or whoever you are."

"Faster, Tiffany." Aries rolled her eyes, returning his sarcasm with a smirk. "What, Betty? Or whoever you are?"

"Petty, I see." He nodded, and thus, they started calling each other different names throughout their date.