The Tyrant's Pet

Abel didn't apologize, but Aries took his action of not retaliating or killing her as one. Eating inside her room, she glanced up at him, who was eating across from her.

'I feel like I won a lottery,' she thought. Considering she spewed all the things she had always wanted to say and was still alive. 'Sir Conan's advice was helpful. Although, I wonder if he heard about Abel seeing me earlier today... I guess the news came in late.'

Noticing her gaze, Abel paused and lifted his eyes up. But the second he did, she already averted her eyes and refocused it on her food. Unlike usual, he didn't sport a smirk or anything of the sort.

The skit she pulled off earlier... he would've cut her tongue if he was in the slightest bit not in the mood. Or maybe not. A shallow breath slipped past his lips, more annoyed that there were more bad things he wanted to do with her for fun. But she might actually get mad and stop playing with him.

Abel dropped his cutlery, making her raise her eyes to him. "I lost my appetite," he announced in a dead tone and she just rocked her head, not knowing how to respond to that.

He leaned back, hands on the armrest, eyes on her. Aries cleared her throat before she awkwardly put down her cutlery. How could she continue eating if the emperor already stopped eating? She reluctantly peeled her eyes away from her food that was barely touched.

"You can continue eating," he said in a dead tone, but his expression said otherwise. "It's alright."

'Say that when you're not glaring at me!' Aries screamed internally, getting frustrated by the second. 'Did I really get through him? Since I told him not to hurt me whenever he pleased, would he starve me to death?'

At this point, Aries just wanted to weep in the corner. Her heart was telling her to just give up and be a marionette. As if that was the best option.

"It's alright," came out a meek response. Since his expression was in contrast to his words, she did the same.

"You're still angry." He pointed out.

"I'm not angry."

"You are."

Aries laughed weakly. "No, Abel. I — I am not angry."

"You look like you are about to lash out at me." He argued stubbornly.

Aries scratched her temple, keeping her expression in check. She wasn't angry! But since he kept on insisting, she was getting angry. Goodness gracious, she thought. If not poison, he'd starve her to death or stress her out until she wither away? Was that the new plan?

This was giving her a headache. It was better if he was threatening her instead of dealing with a grown-up child. He was just starting a drama out of nothing! Was this also his talent?

"That's strange." Abel rubbed his chin, eyes narrowing while pondering deeply. "Why are you so angry you're ignoring me? I can understand if others do it since the least they want is my attention. You're not others."

She bit her lower lip, staring at him with a dead expression. "I... am not angry. Do you want me to?"

"No." Abel leaned over, linking his hand to rest his chin on the back of them. "Darling, then, why are you not paying attention to me?"

He looked at her with anticipation in his eyes, unsmiling. Aries let out a defeated sigh, propping her arms against the edge of the table, eyes on him.

"I am always paying attention to you," she admitted since she couldn't keep her guard down around him. "Do you want me to look at you while you eat? I thought that will make you uncomfortable and it's rude."

"Not just by eating, but I want you to only look in my direction."

"..."

"It's not fair when I think about you always, wondering what's inside your mind. But you can't even appreciate how amazing I am. Seriously. Rude!" A frown dominated his face, looking at her as if the entire world wronged him.

'Does he have a split personality? One second, he was a cold-blooded man who has no conscience poisoning me. Then the next second, he was like a child who needed undivided attention and whines.' Aries didn't know where to put herself anymore. 'Keep it together, Aries. Don't let him drive you insane.'

"Fine. What do you want to do?" she inquired helplessly, giving in since she didn't have a choice.

Abel looked up as he pondered for a second. "Prove that you're not angry anymore."

"How can I prove that?"

"Stab your hand."

"..."

"I'm joking." He averted his eyes, an indicator he wasn't joking. "We're playing house. You're the wife. Why don't you feed me?"

'Ah... playing house.' Aries rocked her head lightly. 'I am the wife and he is my eldest son. Right...'

She shrugged off the unnecessary sarcastic thought she had in her head as she sported a smile. "Sure." Since there were only two chairs, Aries dragged her chair with all her might. She huffed when she finally reached his spot, plopping her butt down before facing him.

But just as Aries faced him, Abel sprawled his arm across her front, hand on the armrest. Her brows rose in surprise as he buried his face on her shoulder, making her body stiffen almost instantly.

"Don't get upset anymore," he murmured with his other hand, settling on her back. "I don't like it."

"..." Aries warily cast him a side-eye. 'Did that really bother him?' she asked herself, furrowing her brows.

All she could do was awkwardly pat the arm across her. "I'm... not, really." Averting her eyes away, letting out another shallow breath. "I'm not thinking about it anymore and I already moved on. I was just famished."

"Really?" to her surprise, Abel, who was acting like a clingy child moments ago, lifted his head to show his arched brow and smirk. "Are you sure?"

'How manipulative. I can't believe I felt bad for him even the slightest bit.'

Abel rested his chin on her shoulder blade, smiling bewitchingly. He blew on her ears, making her tilt her head slightly.

"I'm serious, though," he smiled subtly, almost relieved. "It bothers me, Aries. I don't mind when you bother me... but not that kind of way."

Aries carefully set her eyes on him, pressing her lips into a thin line. She squashed down whatever idea — good or bad — that was tempting to resurface in her head while staring at him.