The Tyrant's Pet

"A crime of passion. Hello there, my dearest best friend. Nice to see you alive and well. That only means you have a life I can end."

A long silence fell in the conference room, staring at Abel, whose attention was fixed on Maximus. Maximus had gained a bit of popularity over the past two years; he was known as the man who abdicated the throne for the woman he was about to marry.

Normally, Aries and Maximus had to bind their relationship in a marriage. However, this was the mainland, and they had different rules and traditions. That was why no one really raised questions since Maximus held total control of the Mainland; he still does. Aries was simply someone to do most menial work, and she was but a puppet he control.

Realization quickly dawned on many of them. They didn't want anything to do with this conflict between Maximus and Abel.

"Hah…" A dry laugh escaped Maximus's lips, amused at what he heard. "I am surprised that you managed to step foot in this land without reaching my radar. Surely, I underestimate how sneaky you can be, my friend."

Abel erected a finger as his lips parted, but then closed his lips as if he changed his mind.

"Later." He pointed a finger at Maximus, smiling. "I will deal with you later. You're not that important."

A frown instantly appeared on Maximus's face. "Not important, huh? Do you think silencing a few of my men is enough for me to let you do as you pleased in my territory?"

Maximus smirked, raising his chin up. He didn't do anything, but that second, multiple people appeared in the conference like shadows. Not just inside the newly established palace, but also, multiple knights under his orders surrounded the area.

However, just as the knights appeared in the conference room, a few marshals inside wielded their swords to stop them from coming closer.

"Huh?" Maximus' brows rose in puzzlement, assessing the marshals that were in charge to intervene in case an argument reach its boiling point.

The people that were in charge of the summit came from each land across the world. Although it wasn't official yet, he had heard that this unofficial organization would soon declare an independent organization with the purpose of imposing peace. Aries, although a part of this founding, had little control over it.

Still, they were on the mainland and the person in charge of this was still a citizen of the mainland. Meaning, the chief was Maximus's subject. Therefore, how bold of them to stop the king's knights from seizing an intruder.

"According to our policy, His Majesty of the Haimirich Empire is a member of the Summit. Therefore, we ask Your Majesty of the Mainland to order your people to retreat at once." said a marshal sternly, standing several steps from Maximus.

"A member of the Summit?" Maximus laughed in mockery. "And when did this happen?"

He glanced at Aries, and based on her puzzled reaction, he instantly knew she knew nothing about this. This mystery was answered almost immediately when a person in the room spoke.

"I heard the summit is usually held in a neutral land and is planned by those monarchs who had always been neutral since its establishment, including the first church to be ever established." Ismael broke his silence, keeping a calm countenance while casting Maximus a look. "But since those who originally facilitated the previous summit were reluctant to hold another summit or others dying 'naturally,' the mainland had to agree to the people of the world to create this organization."

"I must say. Even though this organization is ought to be temporary until the end of the Summit, I am amazed at the results of their months of preparations and training to uphold their policy," he continued in a slow manner, guiding everyone to a certain point. "I do not mind knowing the existence of such an organization to keep the peace and order between humans and non-humans."

"You're the person who let him in?" Maximus arched a brow, watching Ismael cast him a nonchalant glance.

"No. Your Majesty." The corner of Ismael's lips curled up into a smirk. "How dare I let someone in a territory that isn't mine?"

A layer of frost resurfaced in Maximus's eyes, staring at that annoying smirk plastered on Ismael's face. The latter definitely had something to do with this; Abel would never enter this land without Maximus noticing.

"Your Majesty, is it safe to say this is an abuse of power?" Veronika, who had also been silent since the beginning, chimed in. She slowly leaned forward, cupping her cheek, eyes fixed on Maximus. "After all, since the summit is held in your land, you think you can do just as you pleased? As far as I know, the reason we all took the risk of coming in here is because of the Queen's oath in letting this newly established unit impose their policy. Allowing our requests to send at least one of our people to be a part of this unit had added reassurance in our hearts."

Her eyelids dropped as the corner of her lips curled up into a smirk. "This unit or organization is a joint project of all the countries in the world. It is the world's project. Are you going to waste the Queen's effort to make this happen by going against the world?"

"What a sharp-tongued girl…" Maximus laughed through his gritted teeth, only to hear more monarchs raise their concerns, obviously, siding with Veronika and Ismael.

If they allowed these royal knights of the mainland to take a step closer, this joint project would cease to exist. Furthermore, that only meant they would be in danger. If the king die in this very place, the country they were leading would surely start a new regime in a war.

There were many consequences if anything happened at this summit, particularly to those members of the conference. It was the very reason it took Aries two years to make this happen. They — Ismael, Veronika, and many other monarchs and people — wouldn't allow Maximus to ruin her hard work.

"Your Majesty," the marshal called Maximus once again, this time with a firmer tone. "I asked you once again to order your people to retreat at once. We will accept the emperor of the Haimirich Empire as a member of the Summit. And therefore, he is under the protection of the comity of the nations. Failure to comply, and we will assure you the Queen will not be able to protect you."

Aries was in disbelief, hearing how this marshal stood his ground at Maximus. Her lips were slightly parted, darting her eyes between the marshall and Maximus, before shifting her attention to Ismael. The latter winked at her, and when she shifted her eyes to Veronika, all Aries saw was Veronika flashing her a smile.

'You two…' Aries swallowed the tension in her throat, only to set her eyes on Abel on instinct. There, Abel was smiling at her from ear to ear.

Just what… did this man do for the past three nights since he woke up from his slumber? How did he manage to do all this and reach out to people in such a short time?

Little did Aries know, it wasn't actually Abel who prepared all this. He wasn't in the right state of mind. How things turned out like this was as simple as her act of good deed finding its way back to her.