Aries stayed inside her room the next day, sulking like a pampered princess. But that wasn't because to gain sympathy from Dexter. She was staying in her room because she meant it when she said she would live as quiet as a dead rat.
The first three days she had followed Dexter, she made sure he would feel her presence. Even if she stayed from a distance and did nothing major other than follow him, that was good enough for her. Her objective was to let Dexter know 'his sister' was in this place.
"My lady, His Lordship will worry if you don't eat properly." The worried voice of the young maid brushing Aries's hair snapped her back to the current lapse. "You're still recovering and..."
"I don't want another word from you," came out a cold voice, glancing at the servant's reflection in the vanity mirror. The latter lowered her head and pursed her lips, still brushing Aries hair delicately.
'I'm sorry,' Aries apologized in her heart as she was simply following the character of Daniella in her head.
She couldn't paint Daniella as someone pure with a heart of gold. Aries had believed that someone who was too good to be true was far more dangerous. She learned her lesson from that man; the man who was also too good to be true, but ended up ruining her country and her.
Moreover, from what Dexter told her, Daniella sounded lovely and caring to Dexter, but also a little terrible. Although he didn't specify anything, Aries wanted to be that close to the little details the marquess told her about his sister.
"Don't mention his name." Aries broke her silence with a melancholic voice, catching the servant's attention. "It's better to stay in that place. At the very least, he can use the distance as an excuse for not visiting his only sister."
"My apologies, my Lady."
"Just don't do it again unless I say so. Know your place." She glanced at the young maid once again, seeing the latter nod.
Silence then dawned in the room until the maidservant finished serving Aries. Once the latter was prepared to go to bed, the young maid, who had been assisting Aries since day one in the manor, bid her farewell.
CLICK
Aries let out a deep exhale as soon as she heard the click of the door. She gazed at it just to make sure it was closed before she collapsed on the bed.
"It's a little exhausting," she whispered, arms spread on the bed, eyes on the ceiling. "But I'm slowly getting the hang of it."
Acting as someone and staying in character the whole day was tough. Even when there wasn't anyone looking, Aries would stay in character so there wouldn't be slip up. Only at night time, when she knew no one would bother her again, she would tear down the mask she was wearing.
'If he doesn't see me within a week's time frame, I will have to force him.' She nodded, having a meticulous plan in mind if staying in her room wouldn't work on Dexter. After all, she had already predicted that Dexter wouldn't fall for that just yet. But she was being patient since she had to trust the process.
Her eyes softened bitterly the more she thought about it. Right now, she was planning to deceive Dexter, who had done nothing wrong to her. And she would think about it so casually as if it was some type of project. Although it was harmless in a way, Aries was aware of her heart.
"You're slowly becoming just like them, Aries." — just like those people who would use other people for their best interest.
"But then again, if I don't do this, I will never attain the justice I seek." Aries breathed out, resting her arm over her eyes. "Just think about all those things they had done to you. Those atrocious deeds that until now haunt me... it's a miracle that I survived all those years."
There was a long silence in the room as she listened to her deep breaths. Aries would never forget. Even if she wanted to forget, that man (the crown prince of the Maganti Empire) made sure she would never forget him.
"I need to be Daniella. I am Daniella. Aries died that day she fled her cage," came out a whisper, balling her hands into a fist as her jaw tightened. "Aries was long dead; they murdered her. Daniella... she would enter their land and, like a parasite... slowly kill them from the inside. She would avenge me."
The first time Abel proposed this plan, Aries felt a little conflicted about it. It just sounded surreal for her. Well, why would Abel go against a powerful country just because of one person? Abel might be a crazy tyrant, but he wasn't a nonsense ruler.
He could be unreasonable and too playful sometimes, but this was a big decision for Haimirich. So Aries didn't want to waste this opportunity.
She didn't want Abel's people to shed blood in a war for her. She had a different plan and she must succeed, no matter what. That was the only way to save the imperial armies of Haimirich from marching to that land.
"I'll think about that later after Dexter believes..."
KNOCK KNOCK
Aries trailed off, peeling her arm away from her eyes to the balcony. She propped her elbow to assist herself up, catching a raven knocking its beak against the glass.
"Abel," she whispered and a subtle smile instantly dominated her face. Aries hurriedly flung her legs out of the bed to open the balcony and receive Abel's letter.
It had been three days since she last saw him. But, every night, he would never forget to write to her. She stayed squatted down as she opened the parchment.
[ Will you marry me? ]
An instant laugh slipped past her lips, gazing at the raven before stroking it. "Your master's letters are the only ones that I look forward to everyday."
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