The Tyrant's Pet

'He isn't invited, yet, here he was, ruining my day just by breathing.'

Maximus's lips stretched wider as if he heard Aries's thoughts. He dragged his seat closer to Aries discreetly, able to get away from everyone's eyes as they were rather busy debating.

"My lovely wife, why do you look so upset so early?" he asked, leaning his side against the armrest. "You haven't even participated in the debate."

Aries leaned back and quirked her brow. "There's only one request when before coming in here and that was no one should talk to me. Obviously, I was upset that I now have to repeat that request."

"We have guests, dear." Maximus maintained a smile. "Should you show them how you loathe me?"

"Just one smile and no one knew my desire to disintegrate you." Aries also kept her smile. "But since it is obvious you do not have any plans on leaving me alone, I'm intrigued. Just what did that man send you to approach me sneakily?"

"Sneakily?"

"That seat isn't yours."

"They added it because I request to have a spot beside you." His smile grew brighter. "Why do you think everyone has a seat despite me attending?"

"I see." Aries peeled her eyes away from him with disinterest. "Stop talking to me."

"But I want to talk to you. You've been cooped up in your chambers before the summit, dear. I was worried."

"Worried?" She cast him a nonchalance sidelong glance, smirking. "Or scared?"

"And why would I get scared?"

"He is coming, isn't he?"

"Pfft—" Maximus glanced at the people around the table to check if he disturbed them. Fortunately, he didn't. He leaned closer and cocked his head to the side. "Why would he come?"

Aries kept her poker face but slowly turned her head until she was facing him squarely.

"He is not interested, dear," said Maximus with a triumphant smirk. "Are you curious about what the letter he sent me, hmm?"

He didn't get a response from her, but he still continued.

"He said I shouldn't show up in front of him or he will tear me apart," he dawdled. "And he congratulated me on my upcoming wedding. I guess you call it a blessing?"

Aries let out a short scoff. "You should know how to lie better, dear."

"Hmm?"

"He isn't someone who gives his blessing, and if he did, he would do it personally," Aries corrected, keeping her sharp countenance as if she wasn't affected by it. "You think you know him better than I do? Think twice, my dear."

Aries paused, leaning forward as she stressed her next word. "For so long, you had admired him from a distance. I stood beside him, slept in his embrace, and even counted how many moles he had across his body. But oh well, just keep trying. You might bluff me one of these days."

"Haha…" Maximus laughed quietly, leaning back whilst shaking his head. "If you know him, can you tell me why he sent me a blank letter?"

'A blank letter?'

Deep lines appeared in between Aries's brows, puzzled. She had been mulling about what letter Abel sent Maximus and she was dying of intrigue. Aries even thought of possible short threats, but never in her imagination did she think Abel sent a blank paper.

"So you don't know?" Maximus's cocky voice snapped her back from her trance. "I guess you don't know him just as you claimed, dear."

Aries quickly sported a smirk, telling herself this wasn't the time to think about Abel.

"He… was probably too tired to hold the pen and just talked to the paper in hopes his letter will write itself," she humored, sizing up Maximus. "I mean, I wouldn't even waste my energy to write you one. What makes you think you are so important to him, dear?"

"At least I got a blank paper. What did you get?" he spat back, smiling back at her. "Nothing?"

The smile on Aries's face faded slightly, replaced with nothing but coldness.

"What amazes me is your talent in pressing my nerves," she mused, only to hear him spit back.

"And what amuses me is that after what you did, you are still hopeful he will accept a traitor like you?" Maximus bore a lopsided grin as contempt shone in his eyes. He leaned forward once again, stressing his next remarks.

"That man will accept anything as normal, but he never accepts traitors. He loathed them with passion; you either die proving your loyalty or live as his enemy. Don't forget you chose the latter."

Her jaw tightened as her breathing suspended, swallowing the sudden tension in her throat. No matter how annoying Maximus was, there were some truths in his last remarks.

Wasn't that the reason she was afraid of facing Abel?

What if Abel wouldn't understand her reason and deemed them as mere excuses? Abel had an explosive temper, and if he considered her someone who betrayed him, Aries was aware of what would happen.

Aries lowered her shaking eyes ever so slowly while Maximus smirked in ridicule. The voices in the conference sounded distant in her ears, clutching her skirt tightly, chanting to keep her cool and composure.

​ 'Don't let him get to your head,' she told herself, only to see someone knock on her armrest. Lifting her eyes, all she saw was Ismael shaking his head mildly.

<strong>'Keep an open eye,'</strong> Ismael mouthed and smiled subtly, making her furrow her brows. <strong>'He hasn't won yet.'  </strong>

Aries tilted her head to the side while Ismael looked away. The latter's expression turned stern as he faced the conference, leaving Aries with myriads of question marks. She peeked at Maximus only to see him smirking at her; it seemed Maximus didn't notice Ismael.

"Keep an open eye?" she blurted out under her breath, causing Maximus to quirk a brow.

"Huh?"

Just as her lips parted to distract Maximus from what she mumbled just now, her pupils went wide as her heart thudded. Maximus's dilated eyes and the sudden surprise that suddenly dominated his face proved Aries wasn't hallucinating.

He had come.