Abel gazed down at Aries and let out a shallow breath, adjusting his position so he was lying on his side while hugging her. He caressed her back carefully, feeling her scars with his fingertips.
"Still sad?" he asked after the prolonged silence and felt her nod under his chin.
Silence enveloped the two of them once more as Aries kept her eyes shut while Abel zipped his mouth. He knew this would affect her mood or ruin it completely, but he couldn't help it. Abel had seen how she cherished her family, and the seed of guilt he never knew was planted in his heart had grown without him noticing it.
Abel only realized it upon meeting Sunny, since that child was in the Haimirich Empire for a reason. His sister wouldn't send a child to his care if Tilly wasn't desperate to save everyone she could.
