"What is that about?" Aries mumbled to herself, staring at the shut door Dexter closed from the outside.
Conan and Dexter simply left, just like that. It wouldn't be suspicious if this was in the past, since Dexter couldn't stand Abel and Conan, and Conan couldn't stand Abel and Dexter. And hence, she would mostly spend time with either of them alone. But now, it seemed like they had this non-verbatim agreement and left her in the dark.
"Abel?" she narrowed her eyes and shot the man across from her a suspicious look. "Care to tell me what is going on?"
Abel was leaning his back against the seat, arms crossed. "I'm not following, darling."
"Don't give me that excuse. I know you. You will not agree with my brother's suggestion that easily unless I asked for it." Aries raised her chin and crossed her arms. "Don't lie to me and you know I hate it when I'm kept in the dark."
Abel pressed his lips into a thin line before letting out a shallow breath. Since when did he become so powerless? Ever since marrying her, Aries had been abusing her power and bossing him around. Not that he didn't like being bossed around by her; he would like it if she stepped on him or take this attitude on the bed.
"It's really nothing, darling. It's just that it seemed a visitor came while we were away and is playing around," he explained truthfully. "The reason I agreed with the Marquess is partly because Conan made a logical point and is convenient for all of us."
"The other reason?" she raised her brows, studying his eyes, and knew he wasn't lying.
"I don't know what sort of person waiting for me in my throne hall." He smiled while her brows creased. "You already know what I am and what we're capable of. Humans might be weak against us, but there were vampires out there capable enough to take down Dexter or Conan."
"You know very well strength is not the only criteria for winning, darling." Abel tapped his temple lightly. "There were many vampires who were so cunning, and other forces that can harm me."
"Are you in danger?" she perked up, her heart racing in worry.
This time, his lips stretched wider. "What a stupid question."
"Tsk." Aries frowned at the immeasurable confidence reeking from his smile. "I'm still your wife, and even if you're capable, I'll always get worried."
"I am always in danger, darling. You remember how many times they serve me poison and not all those came from the marquess. You are one unfortunate lady for having a husband whom everyone wished to die." Abel set his eyes back on the window. The side of his eyes wrinkled as he smiled. "I used to think the same, but now... I don't want to die."
Her brows rose, watching him set his eyes back to him. She looked down at his hand when he extended it to her.
"Come, sit here, darling." His smile was gentle, waiting for her to clasp his hand patiently. Aries let out a shallow breath and carefully reached for his hand, only to her pulled and yanked on his lap. She clutched his shoulder on instinct, raising her shaking eyes at him.
"Now..." Abel cleared his throat and smirked at her. "... where were we before you invited them in?"
As soon as the last syllable slipped past his lips, Aries froze as her pupils dilated. His lips stretched until his eyes were squinting.
"So, you loved him...?" he asked, continuing the discussion they had before Aries stopped the carriage to pee, only to return with Dexter and Conan squeezing themselves in the carriage. It was obvious she was avoiding this matter, but Aries's last conversation with Joaquin had bothered Abel.
"Hah... yes," came out an awkward laugh, making his brow arched. Seeing how it upset him, Aries clicked her tongue and slapped his chest. "You're jealous because of that?"
"Yes. You told me you love me the night before that, and then say that to another man the next day. I'll kill him and make you watch how I'd do it." His voice was dead flat and his expression blank.
"Abel, do you seriously not understand why I told him that?"
"I do, but I don't like it." He planted his finger on her lips. "Those words are only for me. I claim the rights for it."
Her lips curled up as she crawled her arms around his neck, staring at his bewitching, handsome face. Abel, being a bit jealous, wasn't what she imagined him. She expected way worse, but perhaps it was because he understood Aries's reasoning.
Not that Aries believed she fell in love with Joaquin, just as she claimed. Although she wasn't lying about certain things; Joaquin was the nicest guy on some occasions. If Joaquin took her rejection well and still tried his best to court her properly, he might move her heart. However, that wasn't the case, and that wasn't what happened.
Joaquin hated rejection the most and had sought validation from others by means or foul. The man hadn't had long patience to spare and hence, he would rather force things. There was no way Aries would fall for that kind of man, especially if that man murdered her entire family and forced her to watch it.
That had always been crystal clear.
"He always says he was doing things because he loves me," she whispered, but now she could somehow talk about it with no positive or negative feelings in her heart. "That's why I let him have a taste of what it feels to be told they were loved, but the actions say otherwise."
"Actions hurt, but words hurt like the sharpest knife when they were empty." Aries looked up at him and smiled subtly. At the end of the day, Aries knew that would hurt Joaquin more than any horrible torture. Being told by the woman he love loved him at some point, but also aware she didn't fully understand what those words meant when she uttered them, had already devastated him before his inevitable downfall.
That was the punishment she bestowed on him, and he would take that and those conflicting words to the grave.
"I love you." Aries expressed and smiled subtly. "Same words, but they sounded different when it comes from the heart."
His lips curled up and rocked his head. "Just when I was thinking of experimenting... you just saved your ass, darling."
"..." Horror instantly dominated her face, watching that devious grin plastered across his face. "You were --"
"Yes. Literally." He nodded, smiling from ear to ear. "That other hole."
"I... married a nasty pervert, huh?"
"Welcome to my life."
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