There were many things that Aries wanted to ask regarding the person Abel returned with. However, she knew she didn't have the leisure to worry about others now. The men she was surrounded with were capable men, whom she hoped would use their brains first before violence. She had to trust them.
That night, Aries thought Dexter would drag her back to the Vandran Residence with him. Much to her surprise, Dexter didn't. But instead, he proposed to stay in the Imperial Palace for the next three days.
For what reason?
To find out what exactly Aries's health problem was.
Which led her to this situation.
"So?" Abel arched a brow, lying leisurely on his side with his temple propped against his knuckles. Sitting on the chair beside the futon Abel was lying on was the chief royal physician, checking the emperor's pulse, while the five more royal physicians behind the chief were on standby.
Nervousness was apparent in the chief's eyes and sweats formed on his forehead. In the room with them was the Marquess, Dexter, standing on the other side across from them. Beside the Marquess was an armchair where Aries perched. Conan was also present, standing near the physicians.
"What is your diagnosis?" Abel asked, batting his eyes ever so tenderly.
"Your Majesty…" the chief physician's voice was shaky, clearing his throat as he mustered the courage to speak. "Your pulse is normal and I don't see —"
"My heart just stopped beating." Abel tapped his chest with his index. "How did I know? I stopped it myself. How did you not catch that?"
"But your Majesty, there —"
"Next." Abel snapped his eyes to the other physician on standby. Once he locked eyes with the first physician, he tapped his temple. "My vassal fried my brain. Check and see if there's a problem."
"How can he ask someone if there's a problem in his head when it's already obvious?" Dexter murmured, warranting a pinch on his leg from Aries. The latter glared at him while he shrugged, mouthing, 'but it's true.'
Aries shook her head and huffed faintly, ignoring Dexter's side comments. But her gaze lingered on his solemn side profile for a moment and then sighed. She didn't have to tell Dexter about her condition because he had already known about it.
Dexter had been watching Aries in the Maganti Empire from a distance. Therefore, he already knew something was wrong even before she could tell him.
Aries then shifted her attention back to the next physician, who took the chief's seat to ask Abel questions as an exercise for Abel's 'brain damage.' These poor physicians knew that the Marquess and the Emperor had a deal. The details were unclear, but what they knew was that they had to keep this confidential since the patient was the Marques's sister and not Abel.
Still, why were they checking Abel's condition? The answer was rather simple.
Dexter didn't trust just anyone who would look after Aries's condition. He wanted the best, but the problem was that Abel was convinced he was the best. Being vampires wasn't helping since they were all clueless about how to deal with a sickly human. Hence, they were filtering out people and creating a small team of experts to detect Aries's exact disease.
So far, it was still unknown, apparently.
"Your Majesty, it seemed you didn't inflict brain damage. Aside from that, do you feel nauseous at times…"
"He's out." Dexter intervened even before the physician could finish his sentence. "Wrong diagnosis. I'm certain His Majesty had more problems in the head."
Aries's face contorted, staring at the physician's aghast expression. Adding to her dismay was Conan's reaction.
"I agree with the Marquess this time." Conan rocked his head in agreement.
The physician nearly wept as his lips quivered. "My lords, I'm certain your concerns were psychological and not —"
"Are you saying I'm crazy?" Abel cocked his head to the side, not blinking even once, instilling horror in the physician's fragile heart. "Go out before I show you how to check someone's brain with you as my lab rat. Next."
Aries pinched the space between her brows in distress. She remained silent and agreed to this just so these three men would stop fussing. But it had been three days since they were here and there was no progress.
"Stop," she spoke under her breath, raising her chin, and setting her eyes on the physician who forced his trembling knees to straighten. "Stay with the rest. I'll have a talk with them."
The physician bowed slightly, joining the other doctors instead of walking out of the guest chambers. Once the physicians were lined up on the side, Aries glossed her eyes over at them and then at Dexter, Conan, and Abel.
"Your Majesty, I understand you want to make up with us for sending me to the Maganti Empire, which was on a verge of a revolt. However, my brother and I had been held in here for days and there's still no progress." Aries raised her chin fearlessly. "I do not mean to offend, but you and my brother are deterring these experts from doing their job. Thus, there is no progress at all for the past three days."
The physicians' eyes shone with tears, barely keeping it together, cheering for Aries deep in their hearts and soul. Yet, there was this lingering fear in their hearts that Aries might anger Abel, and instead of getting better, she would hasten her death!
"Please, I'm begging you." Aries pressed her lips as she drew a deep breath, glancing at Dexter and then at Conan, before settling her eyes on the emperor across from her. "Allow these people to do their jobs."
"They are not the best if they cannot work under pressure," Abel argued calmly, making Conan nod in agreement.
"That is right. His Majesty had promised the Marquess to give the best medical attention to you, Lady Aries," Conan backed up the emperor solemnly. "Please do not misunderstand. This isn't just about you, but also, keeping the peace between the imperial and aristocratic faction."
"If peace is the matter you needed to keep, you shouldn't have sent me to another land in the first place," Aries retorted unhesitatingly, making the physician cringe.
"I cannot disagree with her." Dexter sided with her since it was only natural for him to do so.
"Conan…" Abel slowly pushed himself from his reclining posture, sitting up to face the Vandrans. Seeing this, the physicians held their breaths, wondering what would Abel do to them. However, Aries and Dexter kept their chin up and fearlessly looked back at the emperor.
Others might think the four of them were putting on a show. However, they weren't. They were simply choosing their words and arguments correctly. The Imperial Palace was open, and the security was almost zero. In other words, they were keeping things in order and relaying their concerns whilst making it appear this had something to do with politics.
"I think I had an ear defect. I didn't seem to catch what these two are saying." Abel arched a brow and gazed at Aries from head to toe coldly. The side of his lips curled up, eyes glinting with mischief.
He planted his palms on the coffee table before him, leaning forward over it. "I sincerely wish you will recover, my lady. I really do," he expressed in a quiet voice, nodding reassuringly.
"Conan, summon more capable physicians in here and let the Vandrans choose just as they pleased." Abel pushed himself away and stood up. He then faced Conan and smirked. "The order is still the same."
As Abel sauntered off with a nonchalant wave, Aries also stood and curtsied. But just as Abel stood beside her, he cocked his head back. His eyes fell on her and smirked.
"I always had a soft spot for feisty ladies." He winked and then resumed his strides. Conan followed behind him to send the emperor off.
When the door closed behind them, Aries let out a deep exhale. She then glanced at the physicians, who looked back at her with worry, and then at Dexter. The marquess was staring at the shut door solemnly, evidently displeased at what Abel had said.
'He's concocting another scheme again. I can tell,' Dexter thought, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
Another shallow breath slipped past Aries's lips. "So, shall we all continue?" she clapped, smiling at the physicians, who looked back at her with worry.
"I am in your care. Therefore, please take care of me."
"Ye — yes, my lady."
The sourc𝗲 of this content is free(w)ebnov(𝒆)l