Meanwhile…
"Am I that unreliable, Abel? Or was everything I had been doing meant nothing to you? Did you treat them as my hobbies to keep myself busy?"
"I am a human, Abel. Death, for me, is inevitable."
"I'd rather live my life helping the people I want to help and ignoring the problems I do not want to be a part of."
"You should leave."
Abel hissed through his gritted teeth as he closed his eyes in frustration, remembering the look in Aries's eyes while arguing with him. They had argued a couple of times before, but this was the first time they were this upset.
"How in the world… did things turn around?" he wondered, opening his eyes, only to see a dirty concrete wall. "I was the one who was angry, but she got angrier and now I feel like I should apologize. Why would I apologize?"
"Grandpa, I'm too young to give you proper advice."
Abel turned to his left and his eyes fell on Sunny, squatting beside him, looking at him with a poker face.
Sunny blinked. "Also, why did you drag me into this dungeon? Didn't you say I won't get tried anymore for attempting to rename the empire because I helped you?"
"Ah… because I need a second opinion lest this guy gives me a terrible one." Abel slowly set his eyes on his right, and Sunny followed his gaze.
There, on the other side of the cell they were currently locked in, was a man. His wrists were bound by a special kind of chain attached to the wall. He had slightly long and disheveled hair, but its deep auburn color stood out. When the man weakly raised his head, Sunny caught a pair of bright silver eyes through the strands of hair falling in front of his face.
"Who is this?" Sunny asked Abel.
"He was a good friend of mine who helps me clear my head when I need it." Abel smiled, staring at the man in satisfaction. "It's been a while, Joaquin. And good evening."
Joaquin snorted, darting his eyes between Abel, who was slumped on the floor with his back against the wall. And then at the child squatting near Abel, facing Joaquin, looking at him curiously.
"You see, when you cannot understand your wife, who would you turn to for help?" Abel snapped his eyes back at Sunny. The latter pondered about it with a finger on her chin.
"To the priest!"
"No. To your wife's ex-husband."
"Ohhh…" Sunny's lips formed an o-shape, eyes on Joaquin. "This lowly vampire is my grandma's former husband?"
"Ye — no." Abel frowned as if something occurred to him. "He was her… playmate. They used to play house before. I am the husband — the one and only."
Sunny bit her tongue to stop herself from speaking the unnecessary. Abel was obviously in denial.
"Grandpa, you should've just asked my pretty Grandma Marsella. She gives wonderful advice," she said.
Abel forced a short laugh. "Like what? I should kill myself to sleep?"
"But that's better than asking grandmama's former husband. They wouldn't separate if he understood her."
There was a moment of silence between Sunny and Abel as they looked at each other. The idea didn't occur to Abel until Sunny mentioned it, making him realize they were simply wasting time in Joaquin's sweet cell.
"She'll leave you."
Abel quirked a brow when Joaquin's voice pierced through the prolonged silence, shifting his eyes at him. Sunny also set her attention to Joaquin, raising her brows, blinking adorably.
"Aries… is a woman full of greed. Do you think you are enough now? Hah… she'll keep asking for more until you have nothing left." Joaquin sneered, eyes swirling with mockery. "Nothing can satisfy that woman."
"Did she eat everything in the food storage?" asked Sunny, curiosity apparent in her eyes, only for Joaquin to ignore her.
"Our relationship might be troubled from the beginning, but there were times we were good partners. I gave her everything… but she just went to another big fish."
Abel blinked. "I would also go to the bigger fish to get satisfied. Why would I have to stay with the smaller fish when there's this big fish who is not just better but the best?" the side of his lips curled up as his mind drifted to a different kind of 'fish.'
"You are right, boy. We've come to the wrong person." Abel cocked his head at Sunny. "This small fish will not understand the best. He's way below my league."
"Sometimes I enjoy talking to people and see how long it will take before their tongues fall off," Sunny remarked as she stood up while Abel dusted off his clothes.
"Glutton, I can tell you it's not that long… people are just too fragile."
"That's right. Sometimes, their heads just fall off even when they're doing nothing," agreed Sunny, grasping Abel's hand as they leave the cell.
Holding the cell open, Abel stopped and looked back at Joaquin. His lips curled up into a triumphant smirk.
"You say she was never satisfied with you… well, I heard the people in the Maganti had a very poor size and terrible performance. I can imagine the pain of all those girls faking it just to avoid bruising your egos." Abel winked and tugged Sunny's hand mildly, leaving the cell wide open.
"Let him rest for a moment," ordered Abel to the two knights outside the cell, holding leashes for the dogs they would unleash inside Joaquin's cell.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You are so cute…" Sunny petted the huge black dog happily as they walked past them. She frowned as Abel dragged her with him, looking up at his back. "Grandpa, can I take them for a walk next time?"
Abel glanced down at her, treading slower. "Sure, boy."
"Are you still sad?" she asked, changing the subject lest he changed his mind. Abel was the type who changes his mind the more they talk about it.
"Sad?" Abel laughed dryly. "I'm in tears."
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