[ Royal Palace: The Queen's Palace ]
"Are you alright now?" Abel wiped the lingering tears from the corner of her eyes with his thumb. "The Mainland isn't healthy for you — I knew it. You've been crying more than before."
Aries pressed her lips into a thin line while its corners curled up. "About that…" she trailed off when Abel shook his head.
"Do not push yourself, darling." Abel kept his hand on her cheek. "If you aren't ready to tell me, then don't. I'd rather wait."
"Are you thinking I will lie about it?"
"No, of course not. It is just that I might seek trouble." Abel let out a deep exhale, retrieving his hand from her cheek. "However, if you do need an ear, I can lend you mine. It was just that I was not good at keeping quiet. I always look for a solution and there's no greater solution than taking out the roots."
He paused, looking her straight in the eye. "Are you ready to tell me what's wrong?"
To be honest? She thought.
"No," came out a whisper.
"Don't you need to get something off your chest?"
"I already did." Aries reached for his hand and squeezed it. "I cried, didn't I? Allowing me to cry and giving me a space where I could bawl my eyes out is already enough to get things out of my chest. However, I wouldn't deny that it barely rid the weight that is still weighing my heart down."
She bit her inner lower lip, gripping his hand tighter. "I have an idea of what happened or why things are happening. I simply… want to confirm it."
"Do you need my help?"
"No." She shook her head mildly. "You helped me enough."
"My helping hand extends far longer than you anticipate."
"I know, but this is something I realized to face on my own. After all, we already did everything. However, my past simply keeps finding its way back to me." Her eyes shone with determination and firmness. "Our plan continues — yours, too. Do not delay it just because I was having a slight personal dilemma."
"Everything personal to you is personal to me," he reminded, stressing it. "Just a reminder lest you need to hear it."
Aries smiled, nodding in understanding. "I know, but the reminder is very much appreciated."
"Very well." Abel drew a deep breath and lifted his brows. "Should I stay longer?"
"Don't you want to?"
"You don't have to ask, though I would be glad to be invited."
Aries chuckled before she slowly leaned forward, resting her front against him. "Can you stay tonight?"
"Wouldn't that bring you trouble, Your Majesty?"
"I was blatantly having an affair during my marriage with the late king," she humored. "No one would be surprised if they knew I was keeping a new lover after I had enough with the previous one."
"Listening to you having a lover during my absence makes me want to hurt Fabian."
"Fabian did his best to keep me alive." She moved her head to find a comfortable spot on his shoulder. "If not for him, I don't think I would've lasted for two years."
"Well… that makes me want to hurt him less."
Aries let out another chortle, snaking her arms around his body. "You talk a lot these days, Abel."
"Hmm?" Abel peeked down at her, blinking almost innocently.
"If this was before, I don't think we would've reached this part of the conversation with any fabrics on." Aries drew her head back a bit, looking at him playfully. "Have you grown tired of me?"
"Huh…" A dry laugh escaped his mouth before biting his lower lip while still smiling. "I was patient since you just cried."
"Didn't you like it when I cry?"
"I do whenever I'm inside." Abel grinned from ear to ear, holding either side of her hips. Aries chuckled at the ticklish sensation before her back landed on the soft mattress. "Conan will be mad and furious if he realized that I was gone."
"He doesn't know you left?"
"I left in a hurry. Though I told Mathilda I was leaving, I'm not sure if she was listening."
Aries bit her lower lips, watching him lower his body until his chest was on top of her body. He tilted his head to the side, brushing the tip of his nose against hers, and then pressing his lips against hers.
They both knew making love at this time wasn't the best idea, nor was it a good time. However, at this point, there was nothing that could make her forget other than a round of passion.
Her eyes shone in deep red as her fangs slowly grew, staring at Abel's face hovering over hers. He licked his lips as he pressed his thumb against her fangs, letting droplets of blood drip straight into her mouth. And with blood involved, the two of them indulged in a heated round of passion until the pain in their hearts was slowly replaced with the desire to become one.
******
Days later…
"Hah!" Aries swung the wooden sword with a huff before she paused. The wooden sword of her opponent flew away, only to sink into the ground a few steps away from her.
She raised her wooden sword, pointing it in front of Miguel.
"Are you mocking me?" she hissed. "How dare you go easy on me? I asked you to mentor me, not inflate my ego."
Miguel smiled, holding his hands up. His eyes were fixed on the queen's intimidating and unsmiling countenance. It was the first time he would teach the queen, but the second she stepped foot in the training ground, she didn't waste time and attacked him continuously.
It was quite intense; something he didn't expect and very different from her demeanor the first time they met. It caught him off guard. If they were holding real swords, he was certain he could've inflicted injuries.
"Believe me or not, Your Majesty, I am not going easy on you," he admitted, smiling helplessly. "However, I won't deny that I planned to since I didn't know what level of swordsmanship Your Majesty has. I was slow. Apologies."
Aries didn't answer immediately before she put down her wooden sword. "It seemed you have been underestimating me."
"I don't —"
"Pick it up, Lord Miguel." She cut him off before he could even make excuses, keeping her gaze on him. "Stop making excuses and do what you were told to do."
"Uh, yes." His smile lines faded slightly, turning on his heel to pick up the wooden sword. However, just as he took five steps, he felt this strong aura behind him, as if death itself came to stab him in the back.
All he heard next was Aries's voice rumbling down her chest, "I said... do not underestimate me."
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