The Tyrant's Pet

"It's too early for you to wake up, darling."

Abel sat down on the edge of the mattress while Aries stretched her hand to him. He raised a brow before meeting her hand.

"I can't move," came out a coarse voice, squeezing his hand midway. She felt sore last night, but the moment she woke up, the soreness and fatigued heightened. She could barely feel her legs.

"Of course, you can't." A smug grin instantly dominated his face, tilting his head down slightly as he caressed her cheek. "Why did you wake up so early? Hungry?"

Aries pressed her lips tightly, tugging his hand. Taking notice of her sweet and subtle 'seduction,' Abel let out a shallow breath as he moved and sat on her side.

"Better?" he asked, helping her rest her head on his lap, her arms around his hips.

"Mhm." She hummed, closing her weary eyes to rest them a bit more. "I had a bad dream," she whispered, opening her eyes ever so slowly.

"Ahh... it's about that place again?" he inquired despite having a glimpse of her nightmare last night.

"No," Aries muttered, keeping a momentary silence.

She had nightmares last night about how she became a slave in Maganti Empire. However, Aries was already numb with that kind of nightmare. What forced her to wake up was the dream she jumped into after her first nightmare.

Her eyes softened as her limbs wrapped around him tightened. "It's about you, Abel."

"Oh? Tell me about it." He stroked her hair gently, massaging her scalp while staring down at her.

"In my dreams, you're gone, Abel." Her cheek squished against his thigh as she sighed. "Not dead, but gone like never exist. No one remembers you, not Sir Conan, Lord Darkmore, or Marquess Vandran. It was scarier than you dying."

"Oh... that's strange."

"It's the real nightmare."

Abel continued to stroke her hair before the side of his lips curled up subtly. If only she knew how heart-melting it was that she was clinging on to him because she had a bad dream.

"Darling, how was that a nightmare?" A low chuckle escaped his mouth while playing with her soft hair. "You remembered me. It doesn't matter if the world had forgotten my name. For as long as there is one person who remembers me, that is good enough for me."

Aries frowned, feeling a little needy or just sort of arrogant reassurance. "That's selfish."

"Well, that is because I am selfish." He laughed proudly, but his eyes were gentle. "If death finally caught up to me, I will accept that reckoning with open arms. I won't struggle just because you'll be sad. What's important to me is someone will mourn for my death genuinely. That's the kind of man I am."

"Don't say things like that." Her frown grew worse, glancing up just to glare at him. Since she couldn't really move with her body aching all over, Aries opened her mouth to bite his thigh. But instead of Abel reacting strongly, he simply blinked cluelessly.

"Ouch?" he tilted his head, making her stop biting him. "Darling, is that a punishment, or are you trying to seduce me? I am sincerely puzzled."

"Help me."

"Huh?"

"Help me get off of you. I will ignore you," Aries muttered in a dead tone, wanting to roll over, but her lower half was almost dead. She wasn't even exaggerating.

"Pfft--! No." Abel playfully massaged her scalp to tickle her. "Stay like this."

"I hate you." She buried half of her face in his thigh, stopping herself from rolling her eyes from the tickling sensation in her head.

"That's alright. You'll still be screaming my name later. Hehe."

"I really... really hate you."

His grin stretched broader, unapologetic at her abhorrence. For some reason, those three words still sounded so sweet in his ears. He massaged her head until her blinks grew weaker and they shut closed.

"She just woke up because of a bad dream," he whispered, chuckling while shaking his head lightly. "How cute."

His eyes grew gentle, placing his palm on his chest. His heart was beating like normal, but it felt different. It felt... full. As if the emptiness in it was now overflowing with something he couldn't put in words.

He gazed at her, who fell asleep with her head on his thigh, arms still wrapped around him, although they were loose. He stroked her head affectionately, petting her to make her sleep deeply.

"How nice," he whispered with a subtle smile. "Really nice."

Abel remained in that position for as long as he could. He turned his head to the window, noticing that the weather was quite good as well. In his eyes, everything just seemed perfect. It was as if he could see the world in an entirely different light.

It didn't look grey where the only distinct color he could see was red. It now looked radiating. He didn't know whether to shut his eyes, afraid of getting blinded or keeping them open to admire its beauty. Either way, it was really pleasing in the eye.

"Today... is surely a good day..." he smiled as his eyes glinted. "What a good day to screw someone over."

His subtle and gentle smile gradually turned brighter, in high spirits with the evil thought that flashed in his head. Surely, Abel would always be Abel and he had his priorities. For example, those who left those scars in her body.

Aries's body was littered with scars. Although she was taken care of in this place, causing her scars to lighten, it was impossible to erase them completely. The reason he left hickeys all over her, concealing all those scars with his marks.

She didn't know that, but Abel was miffed every time he looked at them. Not because it made her 'less', but they were the reminder of Aries's sufferings, and no justice was served... yet.

"It will be fun." He smiled, setting his eyes back to her. "Sleep well, my darling. You need more energy so we can have fun screwing people over."