The Tyrant's Pet

Two days had passed since Aries's training with Isaiah. Yesterday was hell. Despite all the preparation to fight, any muscle ached she felt sore everywhere. But it was bearable and she could move around now, albeit carefully. 

"Lord Isaiah didn't come yesterday and today so I can recover," she mumbled while replying to one of the invitations she received. Since she nagged Dexter, the latter agreed to let her check a few invitations to kill her boredom. He also prepared her some books she could read once she had nothing else to do. 

She smacked her lips, arms on the edge of the desk. She turned her head in the door leading to the balcony. It was left ajar, just in case Morro, Abel's raven, would come bringing his master's letter. 

"Now that I think about it, I didn't hear from him for days now." Aries frowned as it didn't occur to her until now. 

Well, actually, it already crossed her head, but she didn't dwell on it. She thought Abel was just busy; he was the emperor, after all. But still, ever since Aries stepped foot in the marquess's estate, Morro never failed to visit her to deliver Abel's letters and flowers. 

"It's already the fifth night," she mumbled, pushing herself to stand to walk towards the balcony.

As usual, Aries stood on the terrace with her hands on the railing, staring in the imperial palace's direction. 

"Fifth night and no word from him?" Aries tilted her head to the side, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Was he waiting for me? I couldn't visit him since my brother banned me from doing anything the past days, and then I was busy training and can barely get up the next day."

A shallow breath slipped past her lips as her eyes glinted menacingly. "He didn't forget about me now, did he?" the side of her lips curved down at the thought. 

Aries snapped her tongue as she blew her lips. "That was impossible..." she trailed off and her frown grew worse. 

"Was it?" 

This was one of the reasons she kept trying to distract herself and not think about it. Every night that would pass without hearing from him was adding weight to her heart. If not for her training under Isaiah and Dexter, distracting her by teaching her about poison, she wouldn't last this long.

"Did I do something wrong?" she wondered, thinking about her last interaction with Abel. That was the night of her debut. As far as she could remember, she and Abel ended on a good note. He even kissed her passionately before leaving. 

"Wait... did he hear about me collapsing?" her brows furrowed as she looked in the palace's direction with worry in her eyes. "But even if that is the case, he would've sent Morro in here. Even if the Marquess forbid any visit, he would find ways to contact me."

Her head throbbed because the more she raised a question, she would answer it, and then asked a follow-up question. Aries frowned and clicked her tongue. If this was before, she would be relieved to have some peace of mind without Abel. 

But now... she was sad and worried. She couldn't help but think about him, what he was doing, and who he was with. It was strange for her because she never thought she wouldn't suddenly hear from him. 

"He should make sure he was simply busy with the state of affairs." She huffed, shaking off any thought that Abel was simply living the best of his life with another woman. Aries made sure she wouldn't jump to that conclusion. But alas...

When Aries returned to her room and wrapped herself with the blanket, she left a gap so her eyes could look at the balcony. She stared at it for as long as she could remember, waiting for Morro to come, or Abel to magically appear.

Now she understood why Abel needed extra reassurance because she was also guilty.

Their relationship didn't start as a magical tale. Abel took her in as his pet and Aries simply saw him as a person she must cling to survive. She used to say and do things for her survival, and he was the type to do things without conscience as long as it was fun. Not just by slaughtering people, but also, Abel wasn't the person who would feel sorry if he cheated on someone. 

With the kind of people they were and their impure track record, their trust for another was truly brittle. The two of them still had a long — a very long way to go to build this trust. 

"I swear he will drive me crazy," she grumbled after an hour of waiting, but to no avail. Aries shut her eyes and clicked her tongue, forcing herself to sleep.

*************

"Lady Daniella?" 

Conan whispered and froze, blinking as he gazed at the person entering the emperor's palace. Aries was smiling as she looked around, ignoring the different gazes from men. As soon as her eyes locked with Conan, they glinted, making the latter gulp down a mouthful of saliva.

'She didn't say she will come here today,' he thought, taking a careful step back as she felt a bad omen about her surprise visit. As he did, Aries narrowed his eyes, and that was his cue to run away from her. 

'Shit! Shit! Shit! Why is she looking at me as if she will interrogate whilst torturing me?! My gut feeling tells me I won't like her questions!' Conan gasped as he hastened his steps without looking back. 

As far as he knew, Aries was very discreet during her visit to the imperial palace. The reason she would directly go to the Rose Palace, where she would meet Abel. For her to enter directly through the entrance of the emperor's palace, there must be a strong drive behind it. 

As Conan made a turn in the hallway, her face brightened up, catching Isaiah's figure exiting a room. "Psst!!" he whistled, jogging his way towards Isaiah. 

The Grand Duke of Fleure furrowed his brows, turning his head only to see Conan glide to him. When the latter halted, Conan slapped Isaiah's shoulder with a light and quick tap. 

"Didn't His Majesty say distract Lady Aries?" Conan inquired with an evil grin.. "Now's the time. Good luck!"