The Tyrant's Pet

The first full moon after Aries's coronation came just a few days later. Abel briefed Aries enough for her to understand how this night gathering would be for, its agenda, what to expect and people she should be a little wary of. Although Abel would be there with her, many things could happen and Aries had to stay on her toes.

In the Haimirich, every full moon, the night council would gather to talk about the matters of nonhuman beings. Many things happen in this empire that weren't known to the public. One of them was the crimes committed by vampires or witches getting ousted by their sisters or brothers that were usually addressed.

Abel had established the empire and after going through trial and error, he had figured he needed a different set of rules for nonhuman beings. After all, unlike humans, these creatures weren't as easy to deal with.

He had established a blood bank where everyone could donate a portion of their blood to decrease the crimes the night. He had allocated a town for the witches far away from the capital; a location that was close to the wall and dangers. The witches and very few warlocks could fend for themselves.

Abel had resolved many matters so everyone could co-exist with very few problems arising between humans, vampires, witches, and a minor number of other nonhuman beings. Still, despite all these resolved matters, the Haimirich Empire wasn't perfect.

No matter how great the emperor was, there were still those stubborn people who bore malice.

Aries understood everything and got herself familiarized with how the night in the Haimirich Empire wasn't always as quiet as it sounded. If one was just a little too cautious and listened carefully, they would hear their hisses, gulping, and smell the stench of blood in the air.

"You are all too modest." Aries snapped her eyes as she peeked at Abel, sitting on the host seat at the end of the long table, from his right. "Was it because my empress, who you all dearly want to meet, is finally here with us?"

Aries pursed her lips and glanced at the people around the table. She gulped. Abel briefed her on everything she needed to know, but she was still a little intimidated. The people around this long table looked noble and just like Abel, they didn't look different from humans.

She had a glimpse of them before in the coven. But only now did she have the leisure to study them.

"We simply want to leave a good impression on Her Majesty, Your Majesty," said a middle-aged man modestly. "We, the night council, agreed we do not want to surprise her."

"The night of the coven came as a shock to her," a woman chimed in. "And we presumed she probably didn't have a good impression of the night council. We wanted to correct that."

"That is right. The night council is simply doing its duty for our people." Another man added.

Aries and Abel listened to their explanation one after another. She was told the night gathering wasn't always peaceful — it was rare — and those times were the most dangerous ones, according to Conan. Because whenever the night council was too silent and calm, something was definitely brewing.

"Are you saying…" Aries trailed off, glancing at everyone as they paused when she opened her mouth. "... the marquess wasn't your people?"

The answer was a pin drop silence while the side of Abel's lips curled up into a smirk. Abel leaned back, cocking his head to the side, arms crossed.

"The night council wants to leave a good impression on me, and was afraid that I had misunderstood you that night." Aries breathed out calmly, raising her chin as she sported a hard countenance. "However, it seemed you care more about what I think and killing my husband than actually imposing these rules you speak of."

"I know everyone is aware the Marquess Vandran isn't my blood brother. However, even if the blood running through his veins is different from mine, he is my brother," she continued solemnly. "I am glad you thought so highly of me, but if you truly care, you would've helped investigate the matter."

Aries shook her head. "But until now, the only people who had been putting their all to uncover the truth were His Majesty, the grand duke, and Sir Hakebourne."

"Oh, darling. You shouldn't have shut them up like this!" Abel intoned, amusement fastened in their eyes. "I told you. They were a bunch of hypocrites. So, you don't need to spare them a bit of your energy and simply watch them while waiting, whose tongue falls off first."

"Abel."

"Whoops. My bad." Abel raised his hands on either side of him, smiling from ear to ear. "Right… I will behave and watch what I say."

Aries nodded. "I had heard all your concerns regarding the night and the recent attacks. Since I had earned a seat in this place, I will surely do my best to keep your heart at ease."

"Tch." Suddenly, a man let out a snicker that everyone heard. "You didn't earn that sit, Your Highness. We put you there."

Abel whistled at that snide remark. This was what he was talking about when he told Aries the night council was mostly filled with numbskulls. He just got used to their unkind remarks and let them express them just to make them feel better, and he also gets a bit of entertainment from it at times.

But Aries was different from Abel.

He was someone who enjoyed playing the villain and giving people 'fighting chances' to give him a thrill. His wife, on the other hand, wasn't completely fond of these things.

"I didn't earn this seat?" Aries let out a laugh as if she had heard the greatest joke in her life. She then studied the man with a smirk, raising her chin and making her eyelids droop. "I think you and I and every single one in here knew the reason why I am now sitting in here. Delude yourself all you want, but this seat… I earned it that night those who weren't present tonight lost their limbs."