"What do you think?" Dexter leaned back, eyes falling on Aries. "He's your sparring partner for a month, so I presume you already got to know him quite well."
Aries breathed in faintly, looking back at her brother as she breathed out deeply. They indulged with Miguel for minutes before the latter bid them farewell because he still had affairs 'he had been putting off' to settle. Now, it was just Aries and Dexter, and after a few minutes, Dexter finally broke the prolonged silence between them.
"I…" she trailed off, staring at Dexter for a moment. "... don't know. He sounds genuine and looks honest, but at this point, I cannot just believe everything I see and hear in this land."
"The feeling is mutual." Dexter rocked his head. "This land will show you what you want to see and make you believe it is what it is. Unless you exert the effort to seek the truth."
"Brother."
"Mhm?" he raised his brows, cocking his head to the side. "What is it?"
"It's been a while since we have had time together."
"That is true." Dexter chuckled dryly. "Apologies. It's been a while since we had the time to relax, yet I keep bringing up things that we always think of day and night. I'm sorry."
"It's fine." Aries smiled, shaking her head mildly. "It's not like we have a choice not to think about our dilemma. After all, the stakes are high and we need to make sure everything goes our way."
His expression softened while staring at her. "How are you, Dani?" he leaned forward, propping his arms over the table. Dexter stretched his arm, sliding it over the table, and wiggled her fingers to signal her to take it.
Seeing his action, her eyes softened while her stiff shoulders relaxed. Aries slowly placed her hand on top of Dexter's hand, squeezing it.
"You know me, brother. I am well — I do not have a choice but to be fine. The only consolation I have here is that I know the people on my side were doing their best to help me in the background." She lowered her eyes, smiling. When she lifted her eyes back to him, she squeezed his hand before a question rolled out of her tongue.
"How about you? How do you find the royal palace? Dealing with everyone here can be quite troublesome. They would aggravate you at every turn and nitpick on you." Another shallow breath slipped past her shut lips. "I hope you're holding up well."
"Do I have a choice?" he humored, rubbing her knuckles with his thumb. "It's not that different from when I was in Haimirich. To be frank, I can't believe I have to thank Abel for being such an emperor because, if not for him, the people here would've challenged my patience. They're despicable."
Aries chuckled at the humorous look Dexter cast him.
"Besides, you are right. The stakes are high." Dexter slowly released her hand, leaning back against the chair. "If we made even the slightest mistake, I'd lose my only family. I cannot allow that to happen."
Dexter nodded at her slowly while Aries pressed her lips, smiling subtly. Just like the drive, their enemies had to end all of them, they also had a strong driving force for why they were fighting. They had too much to lose just to give up, just like that. Therefore, the option of giving up was not even in the negotiation.
"Brother." Her voice sounded softer while holding his gaze. "What would you do… if…"
"If?" Dexter cocked his head to the side. "If, what, Dani?"
Aries bit her inner lower lip. Spending time with her brother was the main agenda of this meeting. However, there was another reason Aries arranged this meeting.
"What would you do if one day Daniella shows up in front of you?" she huffed, forcing that question out of her lips. If there was someone who would relate to her dilemma, Dexter was the person to go to. After all, they both had beloved siblings whom they lost.
"What did you say?" Dexter blurted out, a little surprised at her random question. Never once did the two of them talk about Dexter's sister that deeply. There was one time they did, but that was all.
"Daniella." This time, Aries already gathered her courage to face this topic bravely. "After watching her take her last breath, having a funeral for her, burying her body, and grieving for her… what would you do if she suddenly shows up in front of you after many years?"
There was a brief silence between them, allowing the whisper of the wind fills in the silence. The two of them stared at each other.
Dexter had no idea why would she suddenly ask such a question. However, he knew Aries. This might sound random, but it wasn't just a what-if question to feed her curiosity. It was a question that required an honest answer to help her figure out something she hadn't said yet.
"Me?" Dexter drew a breath, humming as he pondered about it. "I honestly don't know."
He shrugged, blinking ever so slowly. "Many dislike Daniella, but she is my sister and I cherish her. They told me I was stubborn and a fool — some even say I am blind and perhaps, braindead. However, in my eyes, no matter how hateful my sister was, she will always be my family. If I can turn back time, I wouldn't let Abel kill her."
"That's given," she replied. "You would've fought him."
Much to Aries's surprise, Dexter shook his head mildly.
"No, sister." Dexter set his eyes back to her while his expression turned solemn. "I love and cherish Daniella so much that I would turn a blind eye to everything she would do. People were right when they told me I was a fool because now, I realized that if I truly loved her so much, I should be the one to stop her from crossing the line."
"Love… is not tolerating and watching them destroy themselves. Love is when you are prepared to be hated by that person because you disagreed with their twisted belief, and sabotage the action that might drive them to the corner," he continued with a short smile. "I'm not saying love and family are all about correcting each other, but rather, guiding and supporting each other to be better than we were a day ago."
His smile stretched. "Just like us." Dexter nodded at her reassuringly.
"As for your question that if Daniella shows up in front of me, I'd be a little confused. She was already dead, and I had grieved for her; I lamented day and night, blaming myself for her end. So it will be impossible that she would come back to life." He chuckled bitterly. "However, if that ever happens, I'd probably give myself a chance. I'm not saying I will blindly accept her with open arms, but rather, I'd give myself the chance to be the brother I should've been when she was still alive. And that includes taking her life with my own hands if necessary."
Dexter rocked his head as he repeated under his breath, "if necessary."
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