"The Grand Duke is… missing?" Aries repeated the news she just heard and also the point of Dexter's visit.
He nodded. "And I'll lead the investigation since everyone's hands were full at the moment."
"Why?"
"I just told you."
"Yes, but why you, of all people?" Aries frowned, staring at Dexter across the small round table inside one of the sitting rooms in the Hyacinth Palace. She was glad to hear Dexter requested an audience with her this morning since she truly needed to talk to him. However, the news he brought with him wasn't what she had expected to hear nor a topic she wished to hear.
"Because I'm still His Majesty's people and regardless of our conflicting affiliation, I have a duty," explained Dexter, shrugging.
"But…" she bit her inner lower lip and sighed. "Will it be dangerous? Are you sure the Grand Duke went missing, and he wasn't held up because of a situation?"
"If that is the case, then that's better. But I still need to confirm."
"I see…"
Dexter studied her demeanor and tilted his head slightly. "Are you worried?"
"That is a question with the most obvious answer." Aries snapped at him crankily. "Of course, I am worried. The Grand Duke was a capable man and if he truly went missing after a mission, then that means wherever you are heading could be dangerous."
"I will be fine, Dani." He smiled, nodding at her reassuringly. His conversation with her sounded like a repeat of his exchange with Gustav last night.
Aries wasn't appeased, but she didn't push it further, knowing it would be pointless. "When will you return?"
"As soon as possible." His brows rose, noticing the disapproval in her eyes. Dexter let out a faint breath, bending over, and stretching his arm over the table. "Dani, I will come back in one piece."
He wiggled his fingers until Aries reluctantly clasped them. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, keeping his eyes on her.
"I will retreat if something goes terribly wrong," he added, making Aries shake her head.
"You retreat before everything goes terribly wrong."
"Yes, I will retreat and save my own skin like a coward before anything happens." He nodded, but her frown deepened.
"It's not funny!" she snapped, gripping his hand tightly. "I'm serious."
As he looked her in the eye, he laughed and said, "I am too! I will be fine and return to you in one piece. I will come and find you first once I returned, so you better be safe while I'm away."
"I am always safe."
"You are, but somehow, you always find a way to get in trouble." Dexter deadpanned. It was obvious he was referring to the carriage incident days ago.
Hearing this being broached again, Aries could not help but roll her eyes. However, she didn't entertain it, as she didn't want to discuss that again.
Dexter let out another brief chuckle, releasing her hand as he drew away.
"So, when will you set off?" she asked.
"After my visit here, I'll depart with a small unit of knights."
"I see… so it's really sudden."
"Not quite, since Isaiah should've returned to the empire weeks ago. His Majesty simply gave a grace period before finally giving out his order."
"So that's how it was…"
Dexter knitted his brows, seeing her rock her head before picking up the teacup in front of her. As she sipped tea, he narrowed his eyes.
"Is something troubling you?" he inquired, making her brows raise.
"No, nothing. Why did you ask?" she returned while putting the teacup back on the table.
Dexter cocked his head to the side and blinked, waiting for a more honest answer from her. Seeing his reaction, Aries let out a dramatic sigh.
"I just had a quarrel with Abel regarding the carriage incident, but I'll be fine. Treat it as a normal banter between a married couple." Aries scratched her temple, sighing once more as it reminded her how bad things ended between the two of them yesterday.
"We'll be fine and figure things out… eventually," she added, smacking her lips before forcing a smile at him. "Thank you for noticing."
"You don't have to thank me." Dexter winked, picking up the teacup to his lips. "I can stay for a little while longer. So, if you need ears to take things out of your mind and off your chest, I can lend you mine."
Aries caught him wiggling his brows over the rim of the teacup before he took a sip. The corner of her lips curled slightly, moved by his offer.
"You'll judge me," she pointed out. "You and everyone are on the same side here."
"The only thing that His Majesty and I can agree on is your safety. But even so, I never judge you."
"But you won't understand where I am coming from. No one is on my side."
"Dani, we are all on your side." Dexter planted his palms on the armrest and pushed himself up, walking over the table until he was standing behind her seat. He then placed his hands on her shoulder, massaging them gently.
"I never said there was anything wrong with what you had done. Matter of fact, I wasn't even surprised, knowing your nature." Aries looked up at him as he remarked kindly. "I planted all those knights to protect you not because harm is always following you, but for instances like that. I'm certain your husband had thought the same but allowed his shortsightedness reign over him."
Aries let out a weak chuckle. "I thought you'd finally put in a good word about him."
"I don't know how things went down between the two of you, but seeing my sister is in a terrible mood, I assume it was pretty bad." He grinned playfully, squeezing her shoulder mildly. "I'd be a hypocrite to deny that it didn't make me slightly happy."
"I'm still upset about it."
"I know, but he's probably feeling a hundred times worse. I always think he deserves any bad day every time."
"Brother, he's still my husband, and it somewhat hurts my feelings when you're speaking so cruelly about him."
"He should learn how to stop upsetting my sister, then. Probably, I'd be a little considerate." Dexter shrugged, patting her shoulders before taking a step back.
He stayed with her for a while, touching upon a variety of topics, but mostly avoided heavy ones before Dexter bid her farewell with a tight embrace. He told her he would have an audience with the emperor before his departure, only to find Abel, Sunny, and Marsella busy planting flowers and plants in the vicinity of the forbidden mansion.
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