The Tyrant's Pet

"I didn't know there's a lake in this place." 

Aries wowed, sitting on the grass by the small lake deep in the Rose garden. Abel just took her to this place and now, they were idling by the lake, using Abel's coat as the cloth she sat on while he was lying on his back.

She turned her head to her right, staring at Abel's bright countenance. He was lying on his back, using his arm as a head cushion. He looked so carefree for an emperor, skipping his duties just to roll on the grass and spend a lazy afternoon with her. 

A shallow breath slipped past her lips, peeling her eyes to the lake. "Do you think Sir Conan will know we are here?" she asked, breaking the silence between them. 

"He will, but it will take a while," he replied lazily, eyes still closed. "Very nice weather... I feel like I will literally melt if I relaxed even more."

'Just melt,' was what she wanted to tell him. But, like usual, she kept her thoughts to herself. She had already said many sarcastic remarks to him. She was afraid another sarcastic remark would shorten her life span. 

"Do you always come here?" she asked once again, looking around at this oasis hidden in the garden. She took it back. The main garden in the emperor's palace wasn't the best. The garden in the Rose palace was. 

"Nope."

"Why not?" Aries raised a brow, casting him a look. 

Abel slowly opened his eyes, and his gaze instantly caught her. "I rarely left my throne." The side of his lips curled up in a smirk while her brows furrowed. 

Didn't he mean he rarely left his office? At this point, Aries didn't have the energy to spare to crack the hidden riddles in his words. She was simply training herself to take his words in as they were. Overanalyzing his every statement was just ruining her thoughts. 

"Darling, let me tell you about myself." She shifted her eyes back to him, staring at him while the shadows of the tree danced on his face. "I am the type of person who will go mad if I stop doing something. The devils in my head will start whispering and they're very annoying."

"What you're doing now is the complete opposite, though." She pointed at with innocence in her eyes. 

He smirked. "I know, right?" 

"What does that mean?" she frowned, a little confused. If Abel was someone who wouldn't stop doing anything to distract himself, why was he with her? Asking that question internally made her press her lips as she looked away. 

'It's not because he's with me, right?' she wondered, disliking the conclusion she had in her head. 'That's cheesy and out of his character.'

Abel let out a low chuckle while staring at her rear. Even though she wasn't saying what was inside her mind, he could tell she was in denial with her expression. It was not like he was that kind to tell her the reason. On second thought... he might. 

His brow arched as an idea arose in his mind. "It means being with you calms me," he confessed, watching her face stiffen. His lips stretched even broader, seeing horror appear on her face.

"Maybe I had fallen in love with you and I didn't realize it until now that I am saying it." He uttered sincerely. "Hmm... I love you." 

Meanwhile, Aries turned her head to him like a robot. She nearly heard the creak of her neck as she did. But in contrast with his tone, his expression was playful. That instant, she knew he wasn't serious. How could she fall for that dreadful confession?!

Aries glared at him, raising her hand to show him how she balled it into a fist. "I will risk my life and strike you once." Who cared about death? At this rate, she would die due to a heart attack.

"Darling, calm down!" he gasped, wide-eyed, and raised both his hands to surrender. "It's a bad idea. Don't hit me!" 

Abel raised his brows as she just glared daggers at him. Her glare was digging a hole into his eyes, but he refrained from talking and simply watched the change of air around them. 

"Do you always spat out words as if they mean nothing?" she inquired after some time, clicking her tongue in irritation. "Words have their power! They can hurt someone in a spot where weapons would never reach."

"Darling, aren't you cute? Words only have power when a person had power." Abel quirked a brow, always happy to argue with her with their different opinions. It was always fun for him. 

"Do you think those at rock bottom can say their words have power? I bet they will agree with me. Because someone who is powerless was never heard, no matter how much they yell or beg. No one listens to someone who hasn't proven their worth." 

"That's the point." She asserted while putting down her hand. "You are the emperor. Hence, your words are your bond. Your words alone can save tens of thousands of people or wipe out a kingdom."

Aries paused as she exhaled sharply, peeling her eyes away from him. "Don't joke with me like that."

"Why?" he propped his elbow to sit upright, tilting his head, eyes on her. "Don't tell me my words touch a part of your heart that -- "

Before he could finish his sentence, her palm covered his lips. She sported a fake smile to hide her irritation. 

"Your Majesty, I consider your words as precious as golds," she chuckled, but the vein in her temple protruded. "Let's save them up, hmm?" 

His brows rose, reaching for her wrist to put it down. "Sure," he said. "But then again, I was being serious --"

Again, both her palms covered his lips while she glared at him. Aries wanted him to drop the subject, but the more she wanted it to stop, the more he was eager to continue it. He grinned behind her palm, pulling his head away. 

"What I'm saying is..." he trailed off and laughed when she fumed and tried to cover his mouth once again.

"Golds! It's raining gold! Let's not waste them — ack!" was what she kept yelling while trying to stop him from spewing nonsense. But as she did, Abel grabbed her wrist, causing her to fall onto him.

A soft gust of wind blew past them, changing the chaotic atmosphere into a standstill. 

Her eyes dilated as her face hovered a palm length over his face. Aries held her breath, hearing her own heartbeat in her ear. Abel, on the other hand, sported a smile as a glint flickered across his sharp eyes.

"Why, darling? Did my words, perhaps, sway you?" he dawdled, smirking at the beautiful sight before him. "My feelings are my responsibility, not yours. Don't let it sway you. You can't handle it."

Abel lifted his head and tilted it a little to claim what he was in here for; her lips. This time, though, he kept his eyes open while staring at her dilating eyes. He smirked against her lips at her reaction before he closed his eyes.

'I was serious, though,' he whispered in his head that just drifted and would never be spoken again.