The Tyrant's Pet

"Now's the time. Good luck!"

With that being said, Conan hurriedly sprinted past him and in the fastest he could. Isaiah tilted his head, only to raise his eyes at the corridor where Conan came from. As soon as his eyes caught Aries, who was grinding her teeth, he finally understood why Conan was in a hurry.

"Your Grace!" Aries called and grinned, but frowned when Isaiah looked away.

'I didn't hear her,' he told himself, turning his back against her and walking away. However, despite that he obviously ignored her, her quick steps resonated in his ears until she caught up to him. His expression was dead, hastening his speed, but she also did.

It was not that Isaiah was afraid of Aries. The reason he was trying to ignore her was that he knew the reason she was here and the questions she had in store were something he didn't want to answer. Didn't Conan run away for the same reason?

"Your Grace." Isaiah cast her a side-eye as she sported a bright smile until her eyes squinted. And yet, despite her amicable expression, the protruding vein in her temple was far too evident not to notice her facade.

"Are you busy?" she asked warmly, while Isaiah kept his poker face.

"Yes."

"I see. Can I have a moment of your time?"

His poker face slowly cracked as the corner of his lips curved down. His steps slowly came to a halt, accepting the fact that he couldn't avoid her. Aries wouldn't leave him alone and it would be troublesome if he accidentally snap her neck.

"Lady Aries." He breathed out, facing her squarely. "I can help."

"Pardon?"

"Whatever you want to ask, I don't have an answer for it. However, I can help you catch Sir Conan," he offered solemnly, causing her eyes to dilate. She didn't come in here to ask for someone to die, but Isaiah just made it sound like he would kill Conan at her behest.

Aries cleared her throat, covering her lips with the back of her fist that was covered with a thin laced glove. "Alright, then. I'm sorry for the trouble."

"It's alright." Isaiah secretly sighed in relief as he pointed in a certain direction. "Please wait for me in a drawing-room. I'll bring him to you."

Just when Isaiah thought everything was smoothened out, Aries shook her head. His forehead creased, watching the side of her lips curl up mischievously.

"I'll be waiting for Sir Conan in the storehouse behind the Rose Palace," she hinted with a smirk. "Bring him there."

With that being said, Aries grinned from ear to ear and walked away. All he could do as she did was stare at her back, tilting his head. She was... evil. It was a good thing he offered his help because he knew Aries came today to meet her goal. She wouldn't leave this place empty-handed.

"She's becoming like His Majesty," he muttered, peeling his eyes away from her back to catch Conan.

**********

The Rose Palace was just a quiet place now. Ever since Abel ordered for everyone to desert the said place, only for her to return, no one knew that Aries and Abel didn't go on their separate ways that night. Instead, the Rose Palace had become a 'sad' place for Abel with the memories Aries left.

That was the story that went around the maid's quarters. Hence, Conan simply tasked a few maids to clean the place a few times a week. After all, Abel and Aries preferred uninterrupted time together. Or rather, Abel would rampage if someone disturbed his time with his dearest Aries.

In other words, there were only a few times a week there was a living soul in the Rose Palace. Today... wasn't one of them. Hence, Aries didn't find the need to move discreetly when she set her foot in the place. She walked around freely, heading to the storehouse, where she told Isaiah where she would meet them.

"Really... why are they trying to ignore me?" she grumbled, sitting on the old wooden chair inside the storeroom of wheat and other goods.

From Conan and Isaiah's reaction, they were definitely trying to hide something. What was it? Were they hiding Abel? The emperor should be glad that Aries didn't want to push her luck and barge to his office directly. Well, she was afraid too, because she was terrified that she would catch Abel in the act.

"Really..." her eyes sharpened as her pupils constricted at the thought. Aries tried her best to not jump to conclusions. However, Conan and Isaiah's reaction forced her to overthink.

If she had a butcher knife in her hand, she would have been sharpening it already. Jealousy... was starting to settle in her heart and she disliked it more than anything.

'How can I train myself without him when all he wants is for me to think about him?' she wondered and sighed deeply, shaking herself. No matter how she told herself she shouldn't be too dependent on Abel, she couldn't help but look for him. It didn't matter if he would see her personally or send a letter. All she wanted was for him not to forget about her.

"It's not that easy," she whispered as her eyes softened with bitterness, biting her lips as she didn't want this herself. She just couldn't help it, and doing nothing about it would drive her mad. Surely, Abel's effect on her was akin to an addicting drug.

She was already hooked.

CREAK...

Aries closed her eyes as she took a deep breath upon hearing the loud creak of the entrance. When she opened her eyes once again, a menacing glint flickered across her eyes. She raised her head, catching Isaiah carrying Conan like a sack on his shoulder.

Conan wriggled his body, but Isaiah bound his hands and feet behind him. A clothed also covered his mouth. When Isaiah heartlessly put him down like a sack, Conan let out a muffled protest, only to freeze upon catching the eyes of the devil.

'Lady Aries...' his eyes dilated, seeing the thick layer of darkness filling her eyes. '... Your Majesty, I hate you!'