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"Hey."

Abel reached for Aries\'s wrist, spinning her around before she enter the chambers. Her brows rose while he kept her wrist on the side.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked innocently. "Hmm?"

Aries excused herself after dinner to rest for a bit. Since she already spent some time with Abel and Dexter individually, she wanted to give those two a chance to talk about certain things. Thus, Abel walked her back to Abel\'s chambers lest "she would get lost."

"I also wonder, darling," replied Abel to her seemingly clueless inquiry. "Is there something wrong?"

"Aside from Maximus wanting to kill all of us, there shouldn\'t be any." She sported a subtle smile. "I\'ll wait for you here, Abel."

Abel assessed her smile, still holding her wrist in a slack manner. His lips parted before they shut again, smiling subtly instead.

"Very well." He carefully released her wrist. "If that is what you say, then I\'d assume there is no problem."

Aries mentally heaved a sigh of relief. "I\'ll see you later, Abel."

"Mhm."

With that being said, Aries performed a slight curtsy on instinct before turning her back on him. However, just before she could reach the door, she paused.

"Was it heavy?" he asked under his breath. His question was vague, but somehow, Aries had a clear answer to that. "Darling, two years can be deemed long or short. But for sure, there were significant changes throughout that time. Keeping secrets and details from me… is that one of your changes?"

Aries gulped, hearing it echo in her ear. She linked her trembling, squeezing her hand to soothe its trembling.

"Did you think I\'d just pretend nothing is wrong just because you said so?" he continued, eyes fixed on her back. "Darling, I… don\'t like how you are allowing them to suppress your radiance."

"I am hurt." Aries didn\'t look back as she made a silent confession. "I feel like my hand was just stabbed a hundred times yet, there was no blood. My hand… though it looks fine, feels like it was barely connected."

The corner of her lips curled up into a subtle smirk. "I had endured such petty retaliation for the past two years. Therefore, this is nothing."

"For you, I am allowing him to suppress my radiance." Aries slowly turned around to face him squarely. "It was true — one way or another. However, I look at it differently. It is not about me, Abel. I won\'t let Maximus ruin my reunion with you and my brother. There\'s no way in hell I will send you two in a battle that I am certain would take a lifetime."

Her countenance was cold and stiff, lifting her chin. "If allowing him to suppress my radiance will buy me some time to recollect my thoughts, then I do not mind keeping silent to my invisible wounds."

Aries and Abel stared at each other for the next minute. The look in her eyes said it all. She had no plans to elaborate on how hurt she was just to protect this moment.

"A certain emperor once told me there was no honor in death." Aries broke the prolonged silence building up between them, recalling Abel\'s words in the beginning. "It is the same with pride. My pride will be nothing if I died. Therefore, I am willing to bow my head down if that\'s the only way I\'d survive. I learned my lesson and am aware of my disposition. I don\'t care if people see me as cowardly or less likable, just like how I was used to."

"I… have many things to lose now," she breathed out, clenching her teeth until her jaw tightened. "Losing Haimirich completely and implicating our innocent subject… I thought I already mentioned I cannot go through all that hell all over again."

"Rikhill and the Maganti Empire were enough," added Aries in the same solemn tone. "I can\'t put my new family, friends, and my people in danger again."

There was another wave of silence that descended between them before Abel took a step forward. He said nothing as he reached for her hand, holding it gently, and then lifting his gaze to her.

"You haven\'t answered my first question," he said in a rasped voice. "Was it heavy?"

Aries held her breath momentarily and then rocked her head mildly. "I am confident I am carrying it well, but I must admit it was crippling. Fret not. Fabian will do something about it for sure."

"You\'re doing well, darling." His eyes softened, guiding her hand to his lips. "If your soulmate said he will do something, then I know he will. Your pain is his to bear, after all."

He kept her knuckles on the side of her lips, staring into her eyes lovingly. "I didn\'t say I hate your current resolution and reaction on certain things. However, I do mind whenever you lie in front of me. Don\'t lie… I hate them the most."

Aries pursed her lips into a thin line, stretching her thumb to touch his cheek. It wouldn\'t be a surprise if Abel suddenly march to the royal palace just because Aries was in a blood contract with Maximus. However, Aries had seen enough violence.

More than the urge to get even with Maximus, all she wanted right now was to spend time with him. She had endured many things all her life. So a slight pain wasn\'t enough to stop her from functioning completely.

"Rest with me," she suggested quietly, holding his gaze so he wouldn\'t look away from her. "Allow me to forget, even just for a moment."

Abel kept quiet for a moment, staring into her eyes.

"Say less," he whispered, pulling her hand gently and immediately circling his other arm around her waist. He guided her hand on his shoulder before cupping her face, tilting his head to the side while lowering his head.

As his face grew closer, Aries watched how his eyes slowly closed before his lips sealed hers gently yet hungrily.