The Tyrant's Pet

"What should we do?"

Tilly pressed her lips into a thin line, seeing that all their eyes were on her once again. Patience filled everyone's eyes, hoping her silence meant she was pondering about it and not just pure silence.

When another minute had gone by, an abrupt noise and the appetizing scent of meat wafted everyone's noses. Everything instinctively raised their eyes to Fabian, only to see his bright smile that made his eyes mere slits.

"Please. Do not pressure Lady Tilly that much. Here, have some snacks —"

"Hey, Fabian. I heard you've idled in the Haimirich Empire for half a year before you showed up." Samael cut Fabian mid-sentence, crossing his arms while leaning back comfortably. "I shouldn't have trusted Sunny with your hands."

"The young miss was spoiled rotten in the palace."

"Even so, this guy right here is practically a stranger." Samael pointed at Abel with his thumb. "How can you trust him?"

"You don't trust me?" asked Abel to Samael, watching the latter look back at him.

"Dearest Uncle, do you think you have the face even the devil will trust?"

Just as Abel's lips parted, Conan jumped in, saying, "he is the devil."

"Exactly." Samael blinked, looking back at Fabian. "Ahh… now I understand. Fabian trusts him because he's a spawn of evil."

"We are friends," Abel intoned, raising his brows at Fabian, to which Fabian responded with a broader smile. "See?"

Samael's expression died, shaking his head sideways.

"In any case, Maximus died and the mainland still had no king and the Queen is unconscious. Great!" he clapped, leaning over to pick up a piece of meat Fabian barbecued. "I guess I just have to find a great place to migrate my family."

"You can go to Haimirich. I will surely give you a good life," offered Abel, watching Samael pause just as the latter picked up his food. "What do you think?"

"Well…" Samael shook his head, turning his head in his wife's direction. When he saw Lilou smile and shrug, he shrugged as well. "I'll think about it. Though it isn't a terrible offer."

"You are welcome."

"Before we think of that, we still have to clean up the mess in this place," Lilou reminded them, standing beside her husband's chair with the tray still in her embrace. "Do not forget that no matter where the Grimsbanne goes, people wouldn't stop bothering them. Your existence alone is a threat. For as long as the Grimsbanne lives, they wouldn't stop."

There was a moment of silence right after Lilou's remarks, for that was the painful truth.

To be truthfully fair, the Grimsbanne could just live on their own in silence and in peace. They had been living just as quietly as a dead rat, not causing any trouble — intentional or not. However, their peaceful lives were ruined overnight.

And thus, here they were. Gathered in the backyard, having a barbecue party for the sole reason of keeping their inner peace by "relaxing." Instead of letting their emotions take charge.

"You are wrong, dearest niece," Abel spoke after a moment, correcting her. "It's not, "for as long as the Grimsbanne lives," but for as long as they live."

"They wouldn't stop until they are breathing." Samael rocked his head, obviously agreeing with his uncle. "It's not us who started all of this, love. Remember that."

"So, when are we attacking?" asked Conan, calming down after some time.

"I suggest we do it as soon as possible," Fabian suggested, only to hear a young man's voice from behind.

"Is that after dinner?" when they turned their heads, all they saw was a young man approaching with a towering man walking behind him.

"Are you two done sparring?" asked Lilou, darting her eyes between Claude (her husband's nephew) and Rufus (Fabian's brother). "Come. Fabian grilled us something to enjoy."

"Nice!" the young man named Claude clapped excitedly, but instead of joining everyone, he headed straight to the bonfire around the area. "Mister Fabian, these are goods, right?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Great!"

Lilou shook her head mildly, setting her attention back on her husband and then to Abel. "For that, we need Tilly's agreement. Although we lived on the mainland, I do not mind leaving. However, Tilly lived in this place for a long time."

"Well, that's right." Samael raised his brows, facing Tilly's direction. "What do you think, Tilly?"

"Lest you had planned on changing our minds, I would like to let you know Mathilda I can kill you." Abel bit his tongue when Lilou and Samael shot him a glare, shrugging. "Intimidation always works. See? She's already trembling in fear."

"She's as hard as a rock," Samael rebutted, glancing at his auntie. "Ignore your brother. He's only good at giving advice about sex, but anything else — don't listen to him."

"Ouch!" he winced when a slap landed on his shoulder, and when he looked up, all he saw was his wife's glare. "Right, right. I'm sorry. I misspoke."

"Tilly, don't listen to these men." Lilou shook her head, flashing Tilly a kind and understanding smile. "Listening to them will not be good for you. Just tell us if you are willing to leave this mansion and the mainland. Whatever your decision is, we can always compromise."

"No fucking hell…" Abel and Samael mumbled quietly, only for the latter to press his lips when Lilou glared daggers at him.

"Mama~!"

Just as they were waiting for Tilly's decision while the rest enjoyed their barbecues, they heard Sunny's sweet voice. All of them turned their heads in the voice's direction, but their attention fell on the woman walking between them as she held the children's hands.

"Oh, she's…" Lilou trailed off, distracted as Abel suddenly sprung up from his seat and marched towards his wife. "... he had been refusing to leave that chair since last night, but it seemed he was simply waiting for her to wake up."

Everyone — especially Abel's family — kept their eyes on his back, watching him approach his wife and witness the strange softness in his eyes. Quite a strange sight to behold, but not surprising.