"That answer… Abel is the only person who can answer that."
Aries's eyes watched Lilou rise from her seat, seeing the latter flash her a short smile before meeting her husband halfway.
"Mama~!" Sunny cheered happily as soon as Lilou approached, making the latter chuckle at her daughter's cuteness.
"Sunny, why are you eating again? Aren't you on a diet?" Lilou poked her daughter's nose playfully.
"Papa said I can eat just for today because I'll be stressed later." Sunny pouted before casting her handsome father a pitiful look. "Right? Papa?"
Samael, a man whose face screamed mischief and evilness, gasped in awe. "Yes!" as if spellbound by his daughter's charm, he nodded without a second hesitation.
"Really? Sam?" Lilou's cold voice, however, brought him back from his daze. A deep exhale slipped past her lips, shaking her head. "Just for tonight, alright?"
"Love, come on. We haven't held our daughter for two years. Even if it's just two nights for us, it's two years for her. We must spoil her rotten or she might just want to get adopted by that guy." Samael cast Abel a glare while the latter grinned from ear to ear. "See how pretentious his smile is? So scary."
Lilou's expression died, watching her husband find someone to push the blame on. Back then, her husband often used Fabian as a scapegoat to get out of trouble, but now he had another one. Did he think that since he had been using Fabian, he should abuse Abel's existence?
"We'll talk once the children are asleep," said Lilou, and Samael instantly froze, followed by Abel's wicked laughter.
"Good luck, dearest nephew. I told you, a happy wife is a happy life." Abel's smile stretched broader until his eyes were squinting, turning on his heel in his wife's direction. "Don't bother me tonight. We'll give you a cousin."
Aries frowned, watching Abel advance in her direction.
"Hello, my love." Abel bent over, planting a soft kiss on her cheek before dragging a chair beside her. He sat down, facing her squarely. "Are you tired?"
"Not really." Aries shook her head, glancing in Lilou and Samael's direction, only to see the latter flashing his wife a puppy look as if he was asking his wife for forgiveness… or maybe something else.
"Darling." Abel snapped a finger to get her attention, tilting his head to block her view. "Are you alright?"
"Mhm." She nodded, sporting a smile. "Did you enjoy hanging out with them?"
"Well, Samael is such a chatterbox. He needed some advice about his marriage, so I gave him a ton. In exchange, he will make a portrait of us."
"A portrait?"
"He's a painter, remember?"
"Oh… right…" Aries rocked her head, remembering the books she read during the two-year separation. Samael's works on the mainland were famous and thus, Aries knew a thing or two about him. She had also seen a work of him since Samael was the person who painted the previous king's portrait.
"That's… amazing," she whispered, lifting her eyes at Abel with a smile. "The portrait of the previous king was perfect."
"He might be a crybaby, but he got some serious talent."
"I don't think he is."
"Come on. He is like another version of Conan."
"Or another version of yourself," she humored, chuckling. "They said if you meet another version of yourself, you'd realize how annoying you are."
"I am not annoying…" he trailed off, raising his brows briefly. "... well, maybe a bit."
Aries chuckled at his admittance, covering her lips with the back of her fist. Meanwhile, Abel couldn't help but let out a sigh and smile subtly. He raised a hand, brushing her jaw with his knuckles. His action stopped her laughter, causing her brows to elevate as she lifted her eyes back to him.
"Abel?" she called upon seeing his soft countenance.
"I'm really glad to hear you laugh again, darling," came out a gentle and sincere confession, instantly warming up her heart. "That rest… let it be the last that I won't hear from you again."
Her eyes softened, nodding. "Mhm." Aries held his hand, keeping her eyes on him.
"Did I make you wait so long?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"I hate waiting."
That was true, she thought. Abel was the most impatient person she had met in her life. Make him wait for a minute and that would be guaranteed mayhem. The reason it was almost impossible to think that Abel survived waiting in the spirit world for two years, only to wait for another few days to meet her, and another several days.
Yet, he waited patiently.
"Thank…" Aries trailed off, watching his brows rise. She pressed her lips into a thin line, smiling. Instead of thanking him for waiting for her or for coming to her, she realized that wasn't what mattered to him. Abel had done everything for her, not because he wanted her to thank him.
"I missed you," she expressed, making him smile in satisfaction.
"That's what I've been wanting to hear," he whispered, brushing her cheek with his thumb gently. "Did you mean it?"
"Mhm." Aries nodded, bending over until she could see his face up close. "Abel, did you age? You look like a true uncle now."
Abel cocked his head to the side. "Your hair is white, darling."
Aries cupped her face to check if there were wrinkles. She hadn't seen herself in the mirror as she went straight to the backyard with Sunny and Law after she woke up. Perhaps she aged since her hair had turned white. The possibilities were countless, after all.
"Darling." Abel chuckled, planting his hands on top of her hand that was cupping her cheeks. He lowered his eyes, searching for her eyes before he uttered, "you are beautiful."
"Huh?"
"Always," he added with a gentle certainty in his voice.
Aries held his gaze before the side of her lips hooked up into a subtle smile. In his eyes and under his gaze, there was never a moment she felt ugly. Aries always felt like the most beautiful woman whenever he looked at her, and it used to be flattering. But now, it was heartwarming.
"So, don't worry about —" the rest of Abel's words were shoved back in his throat as Aries moved forward, claiming his lips without a moment's notice.
His brows rose and his eyes dilated in surprise before his surprised countenance softened. His eyes slid to the corner to look at her, only to see her shut eyes. Abel smiled against her lips before he shut his eyes ever so slowly, savoring the softness of her lips which he had been craving.
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