"But with him."
Joaquin took a moment to absorb the situation as his eyes fell on the man at the altar. Abel was looking back at him with a right mixture of boredom and impatience. Although Abel's countenance leaned more on the duller side.
What was going on in here? Joaquin wondered. Did Aries say she was having an affair with this... baron? With this Baron Albe? He narrowed his eyes, but it wasn't enough to conceal the fury building up within his chest.
Days ago, Joaquin received a letter from this very man. It said Baron Albe would be busy with his wedding, and thus, he couldn't personally deliver the arms. Although as a 'joke,' — or what Joaquin deemed it to be — this Baron Albe even invited him to his wedding.
His eyes blazed with fury as realization dawned on him. So the wedding this Baron was talking about was his wedding with his wife? Anger surged through his chest as his entire body shuddered.
"I will kill you," whispered Joaquin without blinking at Abel, who stood motionless at the altar.
"Hey! You dimwit!" Joaquin's brows creased, moving his eyes to the source of the voice. His gaze landed on the man with boyish charm standing on the first row of the pew, pointing a finger at him fearlessly. "Can't you see this is a wedding?!"
"I think he mistook it as his funeral," Morro mumbled, but because of the still atmosphere, his voice still reached everyone except Aries. Joaquin's emotions and senses were all heightened, so a whisper would sound louder in his ears.
"Don't you all love efficiency?" Dexter sneered, balling his hands into a fist before glaring daggers at Isaiah. "Let me go so I can bury him myself!"
Isaiah simply cast Dexter a nonchalant look before shifting his attention to the two figures standing on the portico of the chapel. For some reason, the second Joaquin met Isaiah's eyes, he instantly felt an unbelievable chill down his spine.
Joaquin held his breath as his eyes scanned the chapel one more time. His Adam's apple bobbed, sensing this inexplicable air reigning in the surroundings while their eyes were all on him. No. Their attention was on his hand, which was almost crushing her wrist.
"Joaquin," Aries called, snapping Joaquin back from his trance. She waited for him to set his attention back to her before moving her other hand to his grip on her wrist, carefully freeing it. Much to his surprise, instead of retracting her hand, she held his hand and smiled.
"Walk me down the aisle."
As soon as those words slipped past her lips, his pupils dilated as his anger resurfaced in his heart. His jaw tightened, and he gripped her hand tighter once again.
"Are you making fun of me?" his voice shook, his anger peaking at boiling point. "You want me, your husband, to walk you down the aisle and hand you over to him? A mere Baron?"
Joaquin laughed in ridicule. Shock, anger, and humiliation condensed in one and settled within his chest. He was so angry he didn't know what to do. Or rather, he knew exactly what he wanted to do, but he was so furious he didn't know how he would kill Abel and everyone in here.
However, all this anger would remain in his heart, unable to express it when Abel's low and dangerous baritone voice echoed in the still air.
"Joaquin."
That second, Joaquin froze as his complexion paled. Abel simply called his name, but his heart thudded and this strong force told him to lower his head. His knees trembled and all his muscles felt soft as tofu.
Joaquin was scared... or rather, his body was terrified even before he could understand the reason. He released her hand, clutching his bicep to stop it from shaking. Never in his life had Joaquin fathomed he would ever fear something. He wasn't even sure why he felt so scared and intimidated, but it was too strong that he couldn't deny it.
What was going on?
"No more unnecessary interruptions," Abel added calmly, raising his chin and, at the same time, his eyelids drooping. "Let's continue my wedding."
Aries pursed her lips, staring at Joaquin. There was satisfaction in her heart seeing fear in his eyes for the first time, like a child in distress after misbehaving.
"Don't anger him." She raised a hand in front of him, watching him raise his blank eyes at her. "Walk me down the aisle."
His face twisted in anger, grinding his teeth, snapping back from his fear. But alas, when she glared at Abel, Joaquin was once again stunned as he held his breath. Abel wasn't even doing anything, but Joaquin's gut feeling already told him not to offend him.
"What..." he hung his head low and with great reluctance, he reached for her hand.
The side of her lips curled up subtly, facing her groom. Without a word, the two walked slowly, following Aries's pace as she was greatly injured. Meanwhile, Joaquin was questioning everything, unable to comprehend why he was here, walking his wife to get her married to another man.
Did this make sense? It definitely didn't make any sense to him.
It was ridiculous!
But alas, he was still doing it without a word of refute.
They walked down the aisle hand in hand, slowly but steadily. While she kept her eyes on the love of her life, Joaquin's eyes were on the floor. Only when a pair of boots was in front of him did Joaquin realize they reached the altar after minutes.
Joaquin slowly raised his head and his heart instantly sank upon meeting a pair of crimson eyes looking down at him. Their stature didn't have a tremendous gap, but before this man, he felt... small.
Abel languidly tilted his head to the side, studying Joaquin's wide eyes. The side of his lips curled up as he laid his hand, casting him a knowing look.
"Your Majesty, it seemed you truly adored me for coming as my best man," said Abel humorously. "Now, will you allow me to take her hand?"
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