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"You\'re awake?"

Maximus grunted as he blinked weakly until his vision grew clearer. What welcomed his eyes were the pair of green gazing down at him. Aries was squatting beside him while he was laying down on the grass where he fought Abel.

"What are you…" Maximus propped his elbow against the floor, assisting himself to sit up. When he raised his head, he looked around at the vast expanse. Abel was nowhere in sight.

All there was Aries, squatting down beside him. Deep lines resurfaced in between his brows as he set his eyes back to Aries, frowning deeply. Meanwhile, her brows simply rose as they locked eyes with each other.

"Are you happy now?" he asked, almost scoffing in ridicule.

"Are you?" Aries cocked her head to the side, blinking almost innocently. "You can\'t stand against Wrath. Not in a one-on-one battle."

Maximus smirked, looking at her up and down. "I hurt him and that\'s all that matters."

"What a simpleton." Aries shook her head and sighed faintly.

"Hah…" Maximus collapsed on his back, gazing at the starless night sky. "What a great night!"

"You\'re dead."

"And still a great night." He cast her a quick look. "Are you not?"

"Is the thought that I\'m dead makes you happy?" inquired Aries out of pure curiosity, plopping her butt down on the grass.

"Of course." He let out a short laugh, looking away from her. "Who wouldn\'t? Aren\'t you sad? He killed me, despite knowing killing me also means killing you."

There was a long silence that descended the two after his remarks. When another minute had passed, Maximus glanced at her. It wasn\'t new to the two of them to spend time with each other. After all, they were once oathed to be betrothed to each other. However, what was rare was that they weren\'t fighting.

It was just silence. Pure silence.

"It hurts," she whispered as her eyes fell on him. "Every time his blade cut through your skin, it hurts. I screamed every time."

"He doesn\'t care about you, after all." Maximus snickered, pleased to see the slight sadness in her eyes. "But you shouldn\'t be surprised. He is the type of person who only cares about himself. Don\'t blame him. Blame yourself for thinking all your sacrifices will bear fruit."

"I never blamed Abel." His brows rose at her reply. "Not even once. "

"Maximus, what made you think I will hate him just because he hurt you?" Aries continued, falling on her side until she was laying down beside him. She kept her eyes on his side profile, holding his side eye. "I wouldn\'t be in pain if you didn\'t make me sign that contract, after all."

"Are you still purposely making excused for his actions?"

"I am rationalizing our situation."

"You are justifying his wrong deeds."

"Think however you like." Her reply was quick. "I don\'t have the spare energy to correct you. There\'s no point in arguing with someone who already decided. I can\'t bend that belief nor do I plan to do so."

The two of them stared at each other until Maximus rolled to his side, facing her squarely.

"I don\'t hate you," he said, propping his temple against his knuckles. "However, I don\'t like you."

"The feeling is mutual. I have nothing against you in the past. I just want you to stop bothering me."

"Well, surprise? You\'re stuck with me forever."

Aries opened her lips but closed them again. For an entire minute, all she did was stare at his face. From then and now, Maximus looked sickly. No matter how powerful he would get, his complexion was still pale, as if he would fall with the slightest push. He looked almost pitiful.

"You remind me of Joaquin. I\'m sure you know him." When Aries spoke, her voice was soft and calm.

"Don\'t compare me to that foolish human."

"Do you know what caused his demise, Max?" she continued, ignoring his remarks, which were full of sarcasm. "His obsession. He ruined many people\'s lives because of his obsession, and eventually, ruined his."

Aries paused, fluttering her eyelashes ever so tenderly. "That is why, when Abel told me about you the first time, I had this premonition. I dealt with people whose driving force was their obsession with things and people, and I know you will not stop."

"After all, just like what you said, you\'ve been watching us from the beginning. How I got out of that cage during the world summit, leading to my meeting with Abel. And then everything after that," she continued, sighing as she recounted the things that she never noticed in the past. "And even how a normal princess like me, who knows nothing about the creatures of the night, got a hold of Maleficent\'s power."

"You scared me…" she added sincerely, making him smirk in satisfaction. "... initially."

"Initially?"

"Mhm. Initially. I know people like you will stop at nothing until you get what you want. And what you want is Abel; it doesn\'t matter if he lives or dies for as long as they wouldn\'t forget about you anymore," explained Aries calmly. "People like you… it won\'t matter if it\'s hate or love. As long as you get a reaction from the people you want, that\'s all that matters."

"Is there a point in saying all this now? It\'s over. You and I… are here already."

"The point here is… I dealt with someone like you before." Her voice was still hushed, but each of her words had distinct stress on them. "Maximus Hakebourne… or should I call you Maximus Grimsbanne?"

She blinked ever so slowly, waiting for his response. But when he didn\'t answer, she just continued.

"Did you remember, Maximus?" she inquired. "We made a bet that night two years ago. Do you remember?"

Who would die first?

That was the question, but no one answered that. At least no one answered that aloud.

"I placed my stakes that night. Your answer is Abel, but did you know which name I spoke in my head?" she asked before the corner of her lips curled up. "Me."