It was wrong to hurt others, and doing it intentionally was just worse — awful. But what was worst was witnessing it and still doing nothing. Abel was no God, he was no Demon, he… was worse. However, there were too many people who were worse than him. Matter of fact, this world was just full of the worst people and it was funny because, in a way, that made Abel a bit better than everyone else.
"Your Majesty! Please have mercy on me! I really didn't mean to do it. It's just that they threatened to kill me and my wife —" a middle-aged man desperately clung to the emperor's thigh as he gazed up at Abel. "Save — save, save me, Your Majesty! I really didn't want to do it! I — I — I will fix this! Just please, Your Majesty, don't throw us out of your graces. Our family had always supported you since the start of your reign and I —"
"Are you telling me I owe you because you've been one of the emperor's supporters for many years?" Abel cut him off with a delicately arched brow. "Funny, indeed. That your support also means I should turn a blind eye to your deeds."
"That's not what I meant, Your Majesty! I was wrong! I was —" the old man winced when Abel grabbed a portion of his hair.
"I would probably pity you if not for the fact the reputation you were sullying was my wife's." Abel pulled his foot where the man was clinging to him, dragging the man by his hair to take him somewhere away from the documents. He didn't want to redo them just because some filthy blood stain them.
"Your Majesty!" the man's voice exploded even louder, panic apparent in them. "Just this once! I will fix —"
Suddenly, Abel and the man paused when a loud voice from outside caressed their ears.
"Her Majesty, the Empress has arrived!"
The two-door of the emperor's chancery carefully creaked open, revealing the empress in the middle. As the gap widened, Aries caught Abel grabbing a middle-aged man by the hair while the latter was clinging to the emperor's leg.
Both men turned their attention towards the door; Abel looked pissed while the middle-aged man's eyes lit up as if staring at the only hope he got right now. No one could blame this nobleman, for Aries was known to have a heart of gold.
Many loved Aries and had accepted her kindness was just as intense as her wrath. But overall, she was a forgiving empress, especially to those who deserved it. THOSE WHO DESERVED IT. Obviously, the nobleman didn't think of that, as he only thought of getting out of this place alive.
"Your Majesty!" yelled the old man and kowtowed when Abel released him.
Her eyes fell on the nobleman's trembling back before lifting her gaze to Abel. The latter was just staring back at her with sharp eyes, no affection or anything of the sort in them. It was the same for Aries. Her eyes were cold and distant, her expression was stiff.
"Raise your head, Baron Clegg," ordered Aries softly, watching the man raise his pale face. "I heard His Majesty had summoned you after the allegations regarding the child prostitution were made public."
"Your Majesty, please believe me. I didn't want to do it. Those in the underground simply threatened me to do as they say," the man explained with a shaking voice through his gritted teeth. "I really… I really didn't want to do it, but they forced me! Please, Your Majesty, I am also a victim here."
While the man explained and begged for mercy, Aries and Abel stared at each other silently.
"He will not go to trial, my dearest Empress." After a minute of quietness between the emperor and empress, Abel broke his silence. His voice was calm and low and also dangerous and dark. "This man… had already confessed and thus, as the emperor of this land, I sentence him to death."
The old man's breath hitched, nearly choking as he raised his head at Abel. He then cast the empress a desperate look, silently praying to get her help.
"Those children…" Abel slowly gazed down at the man, eyes glinting maliciously. "... nothing you do can bring them back. Therefore, nothing can save you."
"Your Majesty!" the man adjusted his position, so he was facing Abel while kneeling. He rubbed his palms against each other as he begged, "please, Your Majesty! Have mercy on me! I will cooperate and tell you everything I know about the growing black market in the empire. I will do everything you tell me, just — just don't kill me."
The man begged and begged, saying everything to get a little bit of sympathy from the callous devil. As he did so, he would constantly cast Aries a look and also begged her. The only person who could change the emperor's mind, and actually the only person who could challenge the emperor's orders, was the Empress.
The emperor and the empress had equal standing and authority, so whenever an issue come up and both monarchs had opposing opinions, it would be a long discussion until both parties compromised. Some believed it was a terrible change for Haimirich, but many disagreed because Aries wasn't as unforgiving as Abel.
A shallow breath slipped past Aries's lips, slowly marching inside until she plopped down on the divan.
"I said… it would be nice to follow and monitor his movements," she dawdled, eyes on the nobleman who brought forth an ocean of brine to his eyes. "Baron Clegg, this empire… is ours. We know everything that goes in here, and as such, we were aware of this matter even before this all came crashing down."
Aries leaned back. "Your offer to cooperate and help us… the royal knights were already apprehending those who were involved right this moment as we speak. Therefore, His Majesty was right. There's nothing that can save you."
The old man's expression froze as his heart stopped for a moment. Abel arched a brow as he assessed the man before Aries beckoned Climaco and Gustav to take the man away. The moment Climaco held the man's shoulders, the latter started struggling and begging more intensely, but all he saw before the door closed right in front of him was the empress staring back at him from the divan, and the emperor standing with his hands on his hips.
The emperor and the empress both carried an air of nonchalance before the door was slammed closed and off he faced judgment.
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