The Tyrant's Pet

Aries bore a blank expression, lost for words at her current situation. She blinked, looking back at the people around the same table as her. 

'Please don't look at me that way. You all know I am innocent,' she wept internally, sensing everyone's discomfort inside this room where noblemen with an official role in the palace gathered. She had already heard ridiculous rumors when she started accompanying Abel to his important affairs. 

But... Abel took this to another level. 

Aries let out a shallow breath when she felt a weight on her shoulder. She glanced at it, seeing Abel rest his chin on it. 

'Just... what the hell is he thinking? Why is he doing this to me?' she wondered, suppressing her urge to throw a huge fit out of stress. 

Just moments ago, when she was about to sit in the corner — where she usually sat — Abel called her. It was too late to realize his devious plans. It was only when he yanked her to his lap, telling her he wanted to pet her during the meeting, did Aries realize what kind of game he was playing today. 

Now here she was. Having to endure the awkward stares and atmosphere by sitting on his lap while they talk about the current state of affairs. 

Aries helplessly turned her head to the side, to where Conan was sitting. 'Sir Conan, help... huh?' she frowned when Conan raised both his thumbs as if he was cheering her. 

'Is our alliance already marked by betrayal?' her thoughts were disrupted as she flinched when Abel caressed her arms with the back of his hand. 

"Ahem! I mean, what I was saying..." one nobleman cleared his throat, looking away from the end of the table where Abel and Aries were. 

Abel leaned the side of his head against her, listening to the voice filling the room. He was the only one who wasn't affected by this promiscuous display of affection. His chin was still resting on her shoulder, arching a brow as he sniffed. 

"Darling, did you change your perfume?" he whispered in her ear, snapping his eyes at her. But his sudden interruption also distracted the person talking.

"Don't mind me. Continue." 

Aries pressed her lips into a thin line, feeling sorry for everyone. But she didn't have any power to stop this situation from unfolding. So, while the nobleman awkwardly resumed his reading, she leaned to her side and whispered back. 

"Sir Conan sent me the perfume you..." she trailed off upon noticing Abel's confused expression. "... uh, yes."

"Did he tell you it was from me?"

"Well..."

"How disappointing. I thought you already know my preferences by now." Abel smirked as she lowered her eyes. "No wonder you smell like human manure. Conan's taste is just the worst."

"..." 

Her expression died as she cast him a disdainful look before glaring daggers at Conan. The only reason she used this strong perfume was that Conan said it came from Abel! She hated the strong odor. Not that the scent was bad, but it was too strong to her taste. She still sprayed it on her to gain some browny points.

Now, Abel was saying she smell like human manure? Did she torture her nose just to get insulted? What was Conan doing? Sabotaging her? 

She had noticed it for the past two days. Conan was acting very strange and spewing nonsense. 

'Is he pushing me off the cliff?' she wondered, narrowing her eyes at Conan. 'I'll surely interrogate him later. I'll push him to his death before he does.' 

*****

The meeting ended awkwardly since Abel shamelessly teased Aries. He would laugh in the middle of the meeting but then cast them a deadly look, telling them not to waste his time whenever they stop talking. 

Despite that, Abel managed to make a conclusion in the end, as if he was listening attentively throughout. It was almost amazing how he didn't fail to notice even the slightest detail. 

"Sir Conan..." Aries ground her teeth, walking behind Abel and Isaiah with Conan in the hallway back to the emperor's office. "... have you betrayed me already?"

Conan glanced at Abel's back, who was talking to Isaiah side by side. When he was certain the two were invested in their conversation, he cast her an apologetic look.

"Lady Aries, what are you saying? I will never betray you...!" came out a whisper as he leaned to her side.

"Then why are you letting his Majesty drag me around?" her eyes snapped, keeping her voice only above a whisper. "Why are you cheering on me earlier?"

"That is because that's the only thing I can do."

"Sir Conan, remember when you nagged His Majesty from getting distracted just a week ago? Isn't the situation also a distraction for everyone?" Aries instigated while clicking her tongue. "Come clean now. What are you trying to do, Sir Conan? If you haven't betrayed your only ally, why are you acting very strange now?"

Conan sported a conflicted look, sighing heavily, seeing that his answer would decide for this alliance. It was so hard to earn Aries' trust. She wouldn't trust him again if he gave her an unsatisfactory answer.

"Thing is..."

He trailed off when Abel suddenly stopped in his steps. The latter looked back, eyebrow raised. 

"Hmm? Why are the two of you buzzing like bugs there?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. Aries and Conan slowly turned their heads at him, bearing the same complicated expression on their expression. Isaiah also raised his brows, seeing their expression. 

"Ahh..." Conan awkwardly laugh as he clapped. "I'm just telling Lady Aries that I'll let Your Majesty know about her request!" 

"Request?" Abel furrowed his brows while Aries blinked, looking at Conan in confusion. 

"What request?"

"Yes! Didn't you say you want to go out of the palace and have a date with His Majesty?" Conan exclaimed, giving her a knowing look. "Right? Right?"

'This little...!' 

"My darling wants to go out of the palace?" Aries clenched her teeth secretly, promising she would make Conan pay next time. She secretly glared daggers at Conan while the latter avoided her eyes. 

"Your Majesty, it's actually... just.. ha ha..." To her surprise, Abel didn't seem angry about it.

"Hmph... sure. Let's do it." 

"What?"

Abel cast her a look full of disdain. "Date," he said. "Didn't you say you want to have a date with me?"

"Uh... aren't you busy...?"

"Conan, am I busy?" his eyes veered at the enthusiastic Conan. 

"No! His Majesty has all the time in the world! Also, this humble aide will cover for you!" 

Her brows could not help but twitch, seeing Conan's energy. He surely planned this. Whatever his intention was, Aries somehow got the gist of it.

'I'll make him pay someday...' she pledge as invisible fire engulfed her. Meanwhile, Conan didn't even dare look back at Aries as he was sweating buckets from the murderous intent she was sending him. 

'I'm sorry, Lady Aries.. The cupid is simply doing his job.'