The Tyrant's Pet

"Why?"

Abel snapped his eyes to Aries, who was sitting across the round table. They were busy finishing some works as the monarchs of the Haimirich Empire, which wasn't new to them at this point. Abel only had one request from the empress and that was for the two of them to call it a day before dinner, so they could have a meal together. After that, they would take a night walk before going back to their palace to finish a few works before rolling under the sheet.

"Darling, I need you to ask the full question for me to give you a proper answer." He erected a finger and moved it sideways. "Else, I'll just give you the answer, 'because I'm a beautiful creature, so why not?'"

Aries chuckled, propping her jaw against her knuckles.

"Why do you love me so much?" she asked out of pure curiosity. "I don't think I can continue working if this question isn't answered."

"And what makes you think I will answer if that is the case?" Abel put the document on the side and then leaned his arms against the edge of the table. "I like it when you think of me."

"I need to finish this or our people will starve."

"My feelings are more important than their stomach, darling."

"How are you the emperor?" her face scrunched up in dismay, making him laugh. "If you don't want to answer, then don't."

"Why?" Abel cocked his head to the side.

"You need to ask the full question for me to answer you properly. Else, I'll just say, 'I don't care.'" Aries glared at him, picking up the document grumpily. "Don't talk to me, Abel. I'm busy."

"Why did you close your eyes?" he asked as she attempted to refocus her attention on the document.

His question hindered her from resuming her work, lifting her eyes back to him.

"Huh?" she tilted her head to the side. "Closed my eyes, when?"

"Your first night with me," he said, tapping a finger on the surface of the table. "Why did you close your eyes and slept despite knowing I was by your side?"

Aries furrowed her brows. "Because… I need to sleep?"

Many things had happened since Aries met Abel. There were even moments she had forgotten how the two of them could converse this way. Back then, she had to think a hundred times before opening her mouth. But now, she wouldn't even think of anything and doesn't fear that tomorrow would never come to her.

His eyelids dropped as his eyes softened. "I was a dangerous person, Aries. Still, I am. If I don't love and devote myself to the only person who trusts me enough to sleep beside someone like me, then how can others put their faith in me and entrust their lives in my hands?"

"Ask me the same question tomorrow, and I will come up with a different answer for sure," he continued, cupping his cheek as he assessed her beautiful face. "However, I don't think all of those answers will directly give you the answer to why I love you so much, darling. Bits and pieces, perhaps?"

Aries pursed her lips before the corners of her lips curled up into a smile. "That answer is good enough for me."

"Do you love me?" he asked out of plain curiosity.

"Yes." Aries nodded. "So much is an understatement."

"Really?"

"Seriously."

Abel rocked his head while leaning back. Her brows rose and her eyes narrowed, seeing him lift the document he put to the side previously.

"You… weren't working?" she blurted out, making him frown.

"I was working, but I finished early." Abel glanced at the parchment to see the sketch he did. "I'm working on my artistic skills. What do you think?"

Aries studied the sketch he did which was her while she was working moments ago. "Not bad."

"Not bad?" his frown deepened. "It was perfect!"

"I am naked!"

"Weren't you?"

Aries opened and closed her mouth, gazing down at her conservative dress that covered most part of her body. She hadn't even changed into her nightdress, but she was already naked in his eyes!

"Good lord." She shook her head in disbelief, covering her chest protectively.

"Hmm." Abel narrowed his eyes as he focused on her chest area. "Right… you have bigger breasts."

Her face slowly turned red, watching him gaze at his palm while he squeezed the air. Even though her body was no stranger to his touch, moments like this embarrassed her. But that didn't stop him and successfully distracted her from doing her work until it was time for bed. Meaning, time for Abel.

The next day, and the following days after that, Aries earned this habit of asking Abel at least one question a day. Her questions were always different, but his answers to each of them would always move her heart.

Abel would also ask her a question in return like a hobby. However, his question every day was the same.

"Do you love me?"

Every day without fail, he would ask that question as if his daily reassurance of her love.

The reason this memory suddenly hovered over her head was that a question rose in her head at the thought of him. A question to which she needed an immediate answer or else she wouldn't function properly.

Does he still love her?

Yet, despite wanting to know that answer, her heart couldn't help but thud at the thought of meeting him for the first time after two years. More than her desire to get the answer to that query, her anxiety and nervousness were slowly dominating her.

Aries and Maximus slowly turned their head in the door's direction, wide-eyed and breathless. The sovereigns were still debating, unaware of the stench of blood that was wafting through Aries and Maximus's nostrils.

Slam!

"Presumptuous!" a king's roaring voice echoed as he slammed his hand on the surface of the table, about to throw a huge fit when three loud yet calm knocks interrupted the heated argument.

<strong>Knock… knock… knock…</strong>