Inez was a young princess who liked dolls. She liked them but not to y with them or be like them.


    She liked dolls... in another ''sinful'' way.


    At a young age, the ninth princess was aware of the growing ''abnormality'' within her. She was always curious about girls, but male children didn''t interest her at all. It scared her, especially while growing up. Thus, she deluded herself for years until she believed her own lies.


    The ninth princess cut down anyone who would poke that part in her heart and touch her curious mind. She channeled this emotion into anger, venting it to the beautifuldies who caught her eyes. Thus, beautifuldies who would cross her path would rather meet an ident that would scar them for life. Some just disappeared without a trace.


    However, when Joaquin returned from a victorious small war and brought a war trophy with him, things spiraled for Inez. She was simply curious at first since Joaquin was crazy about this woman. So, when Joaquin had his fun and lost remorse for this war trophy, Inez had a bet with him, which she won.


    It was out of pure curiosity since she kept hearing this war trophy was truly someone men might die for. And they were right.


    When Inez came into that old dungeon where Aries was locked in, even though she smelled terrible, dirty, and littered with bruises, she was glorious. No wonder Carlos couldn''t resist or stop himself when heid his eyes on her — that was what crossed her head.


    She simply wanted to see her up close, but for reasons unknown, Inez took her back to the Lazuli Pce to take care of her like how she would y doll. However, Aries saw through her and shamelessly revealed who Inez was.


    Actually, that didn''t anger Inez. It scared her.


    Aries scared her because she knew about it yet, the ninth princess didn''t have the heart to kill her. All she could do was make her suffer, but that wasn''t enough to kill Aries''s spirit. Because every single time Aries had a chance, she would whisper in Inez''s ears like a demon, reminding her of what she was inside.


    A man trapped in a woman''s body.


    That was the reason her blood ran cold when she saw the crown princess for the first time. Yet, even when Inez pledged to make her life a living hell, she couldn''t help but fall for her. Those opalescent eyes that always had meaning, the way her lips move, her touches that set her body aze — it drove her nuts.


    But thest straw was that handkerchief. That handkerchief the crown princess gave her proved the feeling was mutual. Inez felt epted, thus throwing her rationale out of the window.


    She wanted to take it slow since they hadn''t confessed their feelings verbally, but seeing her cry in fear and distress, it tore her heart into pieces. Before she knew it, she lost her discretion and expressed her heart for the first time.


    And it felt... wrong and right at the same time.


    <strong>"What, Princess? You don''t like how my breast felt like? Ten out of ten men said they''re amazing!" </strong>


    Inez recoiled and pushed the crown princess back in shock when ''that'' lunatic Aries''s maniacal voice suddenly crossed her head. Her eyes snapped open as she heard Aries''s tauntingughter echoing in her head.


    "I — Inez?" she blinked and gazed back at the crown princess with shaking eyes. Her breath instantly hitched because, in her eyes, she couldn''t help butpare the wicked grin of that woman and this worried and shocked expression on that same face.


    Aries pursed her lips and reached out to her. However, Inez suddenly sprung up to her feet.


    "Inez?"


    "Don''t!" Inez''s breath hitched once again, looking down at her with shaking eyes. "I — I''m sorry. There was an important arrangement that I forgot about. I — I''ll be on my way."


    "Inez..." Aries trailed off as she frowned, while Inez already walked away in a rush. But before thetter could leave, she looked back only to see the worry in the crown princess''s eyes. But she didn''t return and dragged her feet out of the chambers.


    Aries stayed in her spot as her eyes were fixed on the door. It took minutes before the side of her lips curled up into a smirk as she licked her lips. She wiped the corner of her lips while her eyelids drooped dangerously.


    "I knew she will like it." She leaned back, lowering her eyes to thevender on the table. Aries bent over to pick up a stem, leaning back, eyes on thevender in her hand.


    "The moth wants to dance with the mes, not knowing…" she whispered, running her fingertip up the stem delicately. "… it will burn her alive."


    <strong>SNAP!</strong>


    Aries smirked as her eyes watched thevender fall to the floor. For reasons unknown, the silent thud of the flower hitting the floor echoed in her ear while everything Inez did to her just because she couldn''t ept herself rewound in her head in a sh.


    And just like how Inez stripped her, walked her naked like a dog, hunted her in freezing winter, whipped her to submit, and drown her until she was out of breath, Aries promised to return the favor the same way. Strip the ninth princess until there was only the naked truth, have her walk in shame, and then drown her in her own pool of blood until she could no longer breathe.


    <strong>*****</strong>


    <strong>Meanwhile, in Curtis''s room…</strong>


    Abel was sitting on the armchair, his leg was resting over the other with an air of nonchnce around him. Curtis was in his usual spot, just right across from him. Abel shook his foot and arched a brow, cocking his head back, eyes on Curtis.


    "Hey," called Abel, waiting for Curtis to raise his head before he grinned deviously. "Shall we kiss?"


    Curtis coughed in his own saliva before he held his breath and looked back at him in horror and disbelief. Abel shrugged.


    "I never did it with a man," he confessed indifferently, even though Curtis was obviously not interested in it. "On the second thought, I think I did. Ariel. I missed him."