One week had gone by in a blur. Aries' lesson with Marquess Vandran and Conan proceeded as planned. She would spend the day with them, absorbing all the knowledge as much as she could. For the past week, Abel only visited her once and, just like before, he only made her talk nonstop.
She was almost getting used to this life. Especially with Abel's lack of presence, Aries could breathe properly.
"Do you think His Majesty will come tonight?" she asked, glancing up to look at the maid through the mirror. This was her first time talking to a servant, so she wasn't surprised when the latter flinch.
"My lady?" the maid paused from brushing her emerald hair, looking back at her through the mirror.
"The last time His Majesty came, he didn't tell me he will come. So, I was wondering if he would come tonight." Aries sported a kind smile.
"That... I don't know, my lady." the maidservant hung her head low. "Please forgive this servant for not knowing."
Her brows rose, seeing the reaction of the maid. She turned around in her seat, standing up to face the servant. Aries then glanced at the two other maids, who were bowing from the distance.
"It's not your fault if you don't know." She sighed and planted a hand on the maid's shoulder, waiting for the latter to look up. When their eyes met, Aries sported a kind smile.
"Thank you for taking care of me. You may resign to your rooms early tonight. I would like to rest early."
"Yes, my lady." the maid bowed once again before she left without making a sound.
Aries stayed on her spot while gazing at the shut door. "I pounded against that wall just now," she mumbled, recalling the surprise in the maid's eyes when she planted her hand on her shoulder.
She was certain that if she kept pounding on that firm wall around everyone, she would break it eventually. The walls the servants had were much simpler than Dexter's and Conan's. Aries didn't want to even think about the invisible wall around Abel; there was no hope for that man.
"I hope he doesn't come..." she trailed off because someone barged into her room. Speaking of the devil.
Abel.
This time, Aries remained calm as her eyes studied him. Just like the last time, Abel's clothes and hands were stained with blood. But unlike that time, he was now holding a bloody sword.
'Did he come here to kill me?' she wondered, but panic didn't come as expected. Instead, she was strangely calm. Was it because she was a bit exhausted today after working hard day and night? Or was it because she already knew Abel would kill her one day?
'No. I won't die tonight.' — it was her determination to live.
Aries sported a weak smile as Abel kicked the door closed, storming in her direction. Before he could swing his sword or talk to her, she already took a step to meet him.
"Your Majesty, good to see you tonight." She smiled while looking into his sharp red eyes. "Shall I ask the maids to run you a bath?"
Abel quirked a brow and tilted his head. "Why would you ask the maids to run me a bath? Do you, perhaps, find me... filthy?"
"N — no." The wrinkles on the side of her lips slightly faded, fighting this suffocating, murderous aura emanating from him. "How can that be?"
Deep down, she was scared — terrified was an understatement. Whatever irked this man, Aries didn't know. But that didn't matter. What mattered to her was for him to drop that sword and calm down.
She raised her chin when Abel pointed his sword at her throat.
"Then, tell me, my pet. Why shall I let you live?" all he could see was red, and if she asked for it, he wouldn't have a problem plunging his sword to her throat. To his surprise, Aries held the blade and took a step forward.
"Will my death make you happy?" she asked in a soft yet firm voice, ignoring the blood that dripped down on her throat. "This humble subject lives for His Majesty. If my death will quench your anger, then I will gladly accept your decree."
"Hah... lives for me?" he snickered, as his eyes drooped menacingly. "In the end, you still asked for it."
As he pressed the tip of his sword against her throat, he stopped. Aries kept her eyes opened, staring at him straight in the eye. It was just like that time, he thought. Those pairs of emerald orbs were always clear and determined.
Silence enveloped them as his eyes fell on the blood that dripped on her white chemise.
"You're dirty." he pointed out, withdrawing his sword away as he took a step forward until they were toes to toes. Keeping the sword down, Abel tilted his head to check her throat. His thumb caressed her skin around her minor wound.
"What is wrong with you?" came out a deep, menacing voice as he raised his sharp gaze to her.
What was wrong with her? If she was going to answer, an entire night wasn't enough. And she knew if she asked him the same question, an entire year wasn't enough. What she did took a lifetime of courage, but that somehow calmed him down.
Aries kept her smile for a bit. "Shall we bathe together, Your Majesty?" — she had toed the line, so toeing even more was what she needed.
Abel furrowed his brows and glanced down, seeing that she was carefully slipping her fingers in between his bloodstained hand. When he looked up, Aries smiled kindly, as if the wound in her throat didn't exist.
"Please allow me to clean this blood away," she requested kindly, giving him an accepting look. "It's not good to sleep without washing up first. Shall we?"
All he could do was stare at her in silence as she led him the way. His eyes fell on the hand that was holding him. She was trembling and he could feel that she was scared, but Aries was still clasping his hand. His eyelids drooped until they were partially closed.
'Did she know the reason why I came here to kill her?' he wondered, raising his gaze on her back. 'Lives for me...? Hah... what a funny lie.'