"Don''t underestimate our home. I didn''t go insane for nothing, Aries."


    Aries pressed her lips into a thin line while holding Abel''s gaze.


    "You were right," she said, rocking her head as she slowly set her eyes on the envelope. "I think I should relearn arithmetic."


    "Heh. I''m avable." He pped, wiggling his brows yfully when she cast him a sidelong nce. "It just so happened I am truly interested in this subject that my knowledge of it was vast."


    "I will have to check my schedule for that," replied Aries offhandedly whilst opening the letter and ignoring the distractions around.


    Of course, if Abel was going to annoy her, he has a reason behind it aside from rifying things. And his reason for today was to squeeze himself more into her busy schedule. Their nights together were too less for him.


    "Hmm..." Aries furrowed her brows as she read the lengthy letter. When she finished reading its content, she lifted her head at him. "You are quite rxed, Abel. If you already know the content of this letter, shouldn''t you be scheming at the moment?"


    "Scheme is too vile, my dearest."


    "Any ns about this?"


    "Yes. I thought of one." Abel ced his hands across his chest and nodded. "I''ll go by instinct."


    "That is the opposite of a n, darling."


    "I don''t need to n. All I need is trust my love." He dawdled coquettishly.


    "Oh my god, Abel." Her expression died, shaking her head incredulously. "At times like this, I cannot help but wonder if the man who had run this empire was actually you or His Grace Isaiah."


    "Hey, that''s low!" he frowned. "They seemed to have nned everything already --"


    "And we''re in for a ride?"


    "Darling, what''s with that tone? It will be a fun ride!"


    "This is big, Abel!" Aries eximed, raising the letter once again. "Whatever flowery words this person used, the message behind it was as clear as day."


    "Heh... I have a history with everyone."


    "And that is the reason everyone had something inmon." Her eyes sharpened, keeping them on this letter that went around in a circle when he could''ve finished it in one sentence. "They all hate you to the point they want you dead."


    "I... don''t die," he stressed, and his tone this time made her look back at him. "I can''t die. I am not mortal."


    Aries opened and closed her mouth, but her tongue kept rolling back to her throat. In the end, she simply pressed her lips into a thin line. Those remarks he had uttered didn''t sound arrogant nor did it sound like he was taunting her; it was more like a desperate wish he used to have. Everyone was aware Abel used to seek death before he became its bringer.


    "Have you found peace, at least?" Her voice was softer after a moment.


    "Yes." He smiled subtly, extending his arm to her. "Not just peace, but a home that isn''t a carnage."


    Abel yed with the tip of her hair while staring at her lovingly. "Don''t worry about this letter, darling. You have me, and I have you. You''re the holder of Maleficent... and I am a Grimsbanne, my sweet darling."


    "I''ll try," whispered Aries, adjusting her seat and carefullyying down on her side. She rested her head on hisp, lifting her legs up to the divan, the letter in her hand. "I''m scared, Abel. Always."


    "And why is that?"


    "I don''t want it to happen again." Her voice lowered as her soft eyes narrowed. "What happened to Rikhill... I cannot go through that again, Abel. I cannot take another loss, so the fury in my heart about my brother is something I cannot quench until I see their blood spill."


    "You cannot me me for being thorough. My confidence and arrogance back then had led us all to the downfall of Rikhill," she continued. "I learned that lesson in a hellish way. Haimirich is now mynd and the people in it were my subject. The man who ruled over thisnd was none other than my husband; if you fall, Haimirich will also fall."


    "I had long epted that the problems we have are something just as bigger as thisnd and just as heavier as our crowns." Aries slowly rolled until on her back, eyes up to him. "I am your empress and my duty is to protect this empire -- you."


    Abel brushed her hair gently, keeping his eyes on her determined pair of eyes.


    "You never fail to make my heart flutter, darling." He smiled, brushing her lower lips with the back of his fingers. "No wonder that the queen was the most powerful piece in the game of chess. Having a powerful queen... just urges the king to stay still and wee the word people call vulnerability."


    "So, what is our n now?" she breathed out after a minute, raising the letter to let him know what she meant by that. Abel snapped his eyes at it tenderly, and the corner of his lips slowly curled up into a smirk.


    "There were many things we can do, but should we really?" he slowly set his eyes back to her. "You want to uncover the truth behind the incident involving the marquess, and I... want to hear their cry for friendship and brotherhood. Let''s see how this bond canst."


    The two of them stared at each other in silence, and in that silence, they had agreed on something. Trouble woulde one way or another, so instead of turning it down over and over, they would just face it and then end its roots once and for all.


    <strong>*</strong>


    <strong>*</strong>


    <strong>*</strong>


    <strong>[ To an old friend I hold dearly in my heart,</strong>


    <strong>It has been a long time since you left, but you had never left my mind since. I would constantly wonder how you have been; was the world out there treating you well? And at times like that, I would recall the times you would visit my father and have a good time with me. </strong>


    <strong>Funny, isn''t it, my friend?</strong>


    <strong>My little brother used to loathe you for taking my time, but in the end, he took you from mepletely. I realized he didn''t hate you just as much as he loathed me. He was cruel, but he is my little brother and I had forgiven him.</strong>


    <strong>It is the same with you, my friend. I had forgiven you for leaving your dearest friend behind just because you were fascinated by a mortal''s words. </strong>


    <strong>My forbearance for waiting for you to return and everyone had run thin. I realized I shouldn''t dwell on the passivity of this world and people. Therefore, I had decided and put matters into my hands. </strong>


    <strong>I will visit you soon, my friend. I hope you are just as ted as I am.</strong>


    <strong>Before I end this letter, I heard you''ve found a beautiful wife. I wonder if she was the person who would read this letter? I hope she does, my friend. I rewrote this letter repeatedly and spent an entire evening perfecting it to leave a good impression. </strong>


    <strong>The thought of her makes my heart pound. I guess we''re still the same, after all.</strong>


    <strong>Your dearest friend,</strong>


    <strong>Maximus ]</strong>