When Aries opened her eyes, it was almost eventide, and her position was already facing the open balcony. Her first instinct was to check Abel, and to her surprise, the side of the bed where he slept was empty.
"Abel?" she called, propping her elbow against the mattress as she rose from the bed. Aries looked around the grandiose emperor's chambers and frowned.
"Where did he go?" her brows creased, letting out a shallow breath. She flung her legs out of the bed, assuming Abel went somewhere for some important matter.
Aries strutted towards the balcony that was slightly opened. The second she stepped her foot outside, the soft breeze kissed her cheeks, bringing a subtle smile to her face. Her eyes fell on the railing and, for some odd reason, she pictured Abel sitting on the railing all alone.
"I heard he rarely spends his time in the emperor's chambers," she whispered before approaching the railing where she rested her arms to enjoy the sunset. Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction as the emperor's balcony had a good view of the sunset.
"It's far better than the Rose Palace," she continued, recalling her time in the Rose Palace as Abel's pet. "How strange…"
Her eyes softened as she drew a breath. Ever since returning from the Maganti Empire, this was Aries's first time stepping foot on the Haimirich Imperial Palace grounds. She was too stupefied in the afternoon at the horror she witnessed in the emperor's chancery, that she didn't have the leisure to reminisce about her time in this place.
With a smile, Aries recalled the first time she arrived in this place. She moved her gaze in a direction and chuckled.
"If he stands on the railing, he had a good view of my room in the Rose Palace," she mumbled, imagining Abel standing on the railing while staring in the Rose Palace's direction. Although Aries could see the Emperor's Palace from the place of her dwelling in the past, she couldn't see the emperor's room; she didn't know which way the emperor's room was, anyway.
"Who would have thought I'll feel slightly strange?" she smiled, peeling her eyes away from the direction of the Rose Palace. "Before coming in here, I was expecting another hell. Staying in this place longer, I felt at home. But then, I chose to stay in the Marquess' estate, even though this place has a special place in my heart."
"Surely, I am so complicated," Aries added with a slight chuckle while talking to herself. "I don't know if I truly missed this place or… just the memories of that Aries."
Her lips stretched even wider when she felt a presence behind her. Glancing over her shoulder, her eyes gleamed with satisfaction upon seeing Abel's figure.
"What do you think, Abel?" she asked, setting her eyes ahead when she saw him advance in her direction.
"What do I think?" he repeated and hummed, standing behind her, and planting his hands on the railing on either side of her. "I think you just missed me."
"No doubt about that." She humored back, enjoying the breeze that was blowing past her. "Ever since returning, it was strange I kept telling myself, 'who would have thought?'"
"Many things happened, darling."
"Many things happened, indeed, and until now, everything still felt surreal." She rocked her head in agreement. "Maganti's downfall, the reinstatement of Rikhill as an official land of Maganti, Curtis, my brother the Marquess, you and me, and us."
"Who would have thought Roman would end up following you back in here? Even Violet cannot believe she will settle in a land that she only used to hear about. Who would have thought an ambitious knight like Climaco will also pledge his knight's vow to me?" She lowered her eyes as her smile slightly faded. "It was a hectic year for everyone, wasn't it?"
"It was." Abel lowered his head until his chin was resting on her shoulder. "But not for everyone."
"Except you?" Aries glanced at him and caught him side-eyeing her.
"Mhm. My everyday life with Conan is hectic," he humored, peeling his eyes away from her in a particular direction. "A day doing nothing or nothing happening will kill me."
"Because you can't stand boredom?"
"I can't stand the thought that another day will pass and I was still alive."
Aries bit her lower lip as she retracted her eyes away from him. "But now?" she asked.
"I prefer idling whenever you are around." His answer was quick, but his voice had a tinge of laziness. "I don't know if your effect on me is good, for I feel satisfied with you around, or was it called a negative effect for wanting to do nothing except to focus on you?"
"You flatter me." She chuckled, resting the side of her head against him. "Should I start selling classified information now to earn? I don't think there's any occupation that could sustain your luxurious lifestyle."
"Mhm… I'll send a list of people who will be interested in the business."
"I'm joking." Aries bumped her head against him mildly. "Even for a good reason, I don't want to betray this empire."
"You just do not want to work and become the breadwinner of the family."
"Well, my brother gives me a handsome allowance." She giggled, looking ahead once again. "I don't see any reason working so hard when he spoils me silly."
Silence enveloped them with such warmth and serenity. As they watched the sunset, Aries furrowed her brows. Her eyes veered in a direction and noticed that from here, they could see the forbidden mansion that she was warned not to approach in the past.
"Now that I think about it, that place…" Aries snapped her eyes and pointed in the forbidden mansion's direction. "Why is it called a forbidden mansion?"
His brows rose, shifting his eyes to where she was pointing at. When his eyes fell on the gloomy mansion from the distance, he smacked his lips. But instead of explaining or answering her question, Abel looked back at her.
"Do you want to go there?"
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