The Tyrant's Pet

"Love... is what I do alone."

For some reason, Abel's words and staring at his back brought this inexplicable pang in her heart. His tone was still light, but she felt bitter about it. Why? Why would his back look so sad after stating such remarks?

Why... did that single sentence sound so heartbreaking? Who... broke his heart?

Her eyes softened, watching him stop in his tracks. Abel slowly turned around and tilted his head to the side.

"Darling?" he called, blinking cluelessly. "Come?"

Abel frowned when she just stared at him with incomprehensible emotions in her eyes. He raised a hand, offering it to her.

"Indulge with me more," he requested, waiting for her to run to him and take his hand. But when she didn't move a muscle, a shallow breath slipped past his lips. Abel walked back and stopped when they were toe to toe.

"That look in your eyes makes me uncomfortable," he joked, draping his arm across her shoulder and locking her head around his arm. "You're a man, correct? You're my best buddy now."

"Ahh...!" Aries frowned, walking with her upper body ahead as he kept her head locked with his arm. Surely, Abel was the only person who took her experimentation seriously. No man would headlock a lady while dragging her deep into the garden.

"I will suffocate at this point!" came out a yell, grinding her teeth while glaring at him. She was just about to feel sentimental, but he obviously sabotaged it. Aries sighed, glancing at his stretched lips while spewing nonsense.

She lowered her eyes, clicking her tongue. 'Here he is again.' She thought, getting the gist of this pattern she almost didn't notice.

Every time things would get serious, Abel would divert their attention. She frowned at the thought, ignoring him or the way she had to walk. If this was any normal day, she would get strayed, just as he planned. But today was an exception.

There were just so many things that were happening in her head. A distraction such as this wasn't enough.

Abel smirked as he cast her a glance. "Don't be so depressed. I came here to annoy you to death." He ruffled her hair, watching her raise her eyes at him.

A frown dominated her face, unfazed by the hand ruffling her hair. "You should leave me alone. I have many things to think about."

"Darling, don't use your head. The smarter you are, the sadder you will become!"

"Are you saying you're the saddest person?"

"I am saying I am the smartest!" he shrugged, highlighting the benefits instead of the bad side of their discussion.

She sighed. "Fine... where are we going?"

"I don't know?" he grinned as they passed by the arch, entering the deeper part of the garden. "This is your garden. Don't you know what lies in this garden and why I gave you the Rose Palace?"

"Huh?" Her reaction was the giveaway she didn't know. Well, it was not her fault! It was only been recent since she started roaming the imperial palace, but a day wasn't even enough to tour the entire place.

"Hah..." Abel snickered and shook his head lightly. "You are such a simpleton."

"Look who's talking." She pouted, scrunching her nose when her back began to ache. "My back. Can you let me go now?"

"Why? It's fun!" Abel tightened his arm around her neck, but just enough not to suffocate her. "Don't tell me you prefer two men kissing instead? Have you heard about the rumor?"

"You look excited for someone who is the subject of that rumor."

"Of course! Who would have thought that my preferences are enough to scare away annoying pests?" His lips stretched from ear to ear, lowering his head until they were at eye level. "They can't even look at me in the eye, afraid I will call them to my chambers. I should do that for fun."

Aries tried to hide her dismay, but her entire face crumpled at his gloating. This wasn't something he should be proud of. She heard from the whispering voices in the inner palace about the rumor, and Dexter even mentioned it.

That only meant the rumor had already spread like a wildfire. And here he was, excited to share a disparaging rumor regarding him! Surely, Abel was one of a kind.

'Some people try their best to not get their names in any rumors. But this man...' a shallow breath escaped her nostrils. '... I'm speechless.'

"Abel, are you the one who spread the rumors?" she asked, interfering with his nonsense boasting.

He gazed at her, blinking many times. "Why would I do that to myself?"

"Won't you find whoever started that rumor?" Aries bit her tongue as she had a sudden hunch. "Ah, never mind. Where are we heading?"

"Are you changing the subject?"

"No." She averted her eyes as they stopped.

This time, Abel released her neck, only to plant both his palms on her shoulders. He bent over, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. Meanwhile, Aries cleared her throat and avoided his investigative gaze.

"Is this because of that young lady?" he asked, searching for her elusive eyes. "You think she will be the prime suspect for starting this rumor? Hmm? Well, that only makes sense, though."

"Wait, what?"

"So it's actually because of her?" Abel frowned until his brows linked. "Shall I frame her?"

"Frame... oy, are you crazy?" she blurted out, but couldn't react quickly when he spoke in response.

"Well, that's a hilariously stupid question! Have you become a man?" he leaned his face closer, wide-eyed. "Do you like women now?"

"Huh?" Aries scrunched her nose up as this conversation was getting ridiculous with every passing second. Why was he panicking? Wait, he just said he would frame the dainty Lady Rosie!

Her mind buzzed for a second before she shook her head. "Wait, wait. Let's take this nice and slow, shall we?"

"Darling, don't speak as if we're in the middle of having sex."

"Not everything is about sex."

"Everything is about sex." He affirmed, rendering her speechless.

Aries looked at him dead in the eye. "What are we talking about again?"

"It's about, uh… hah! Never mind." He grinned and laughed, patting her shoulders lightly. "Let's forget about it and continue our lovely stroll. We're like elders, spending the remainder of our days in strolling."

"…"

In the end, Aries dragged her feet while he was holding her hand, guiding her in a spot located deep in the garden. She kept glancing up at him, sighing each time.

'Really… we never had a normal conversation. But I guess that saved Lady Rosie from this man's nonsense?'