Chapter 70 - They Remember None

"Your Majesty!" 

Conan barged inside the emperor's office in high spirits, making Abel, who was sitting on the armchair with his leg over the other, blink cluelessly. On the long settee on the emperor's left was Isaiah, eyes at Conan, who was stomping his way inside. Both men could only watch Conan until he stopped near them, hands on his hips.

"My, Conan. I've never seen you this pissed for a long time." Abel pointed out in his usual quirky voice. "I'm interested. Did you bully him, Duke?" 

He cast Isaiah a look, and the latter frowned. Isaiah's expression was enough for Abel to know he was innocent this time. So, he rubbed his chin, eyes back to Conan. 

"Did my sweet bully, bully you?" he asked, knowing Conan just returned from accompanying Aries. This vassal of his kept pestering Aries just so he could get away from his work. What a lazy person.

"Your Majesty, let's kill the Grand Duke of Fleure!" Conan huffed, pointing at the innocent Isaiah, who had done nothing wrong yet.

"Huh?" Abel laughed, glancing at Isaiah. The latter also pointed at himself in confusion. 

"Minister, what crime did I commit to deserve death?" Isaiah inquired calmly, not a bit offended by Conan's ridiculous request. 

"You exist!" 

"..."

Abel chortled delightfully, casting Isaiah a look while the latter frowned. "Poor Isaiah. Even I am amazed how you're alive with all the hate you've been receiving." 

"Only His Majesty's opinion matters to me." Isaiah shrugged indifferently, glancing at Conan. "My apologies, Minister. If my existence anger you, then may you die in anger."

"Haha! Goodness... this is why they hate you!"

"Your Majesty!" Conan's frown grew worse as those two were talking as if they were treating his words as a child's whims. "The Grand Duke is going against you! How come Lady Aries went to the forbidden palace without us knowing? I think he is conspiring with Marquess Vandran! You know how the marquess abhors Your Majesty!" 

Conan spewed in one go, huffing and puffing. He glared at Isaiah and then back at Abel. To his surprise, Abel didn't show the slightest hint of surprise. 

"You knew?" Conan gasped in disbelief, feeling betrayed for not knowing. 

"Conan, is there anything in this palace that I don't know of?" Abel cocked his head to the side, sporting an innocent look. "I am fond of Aries. So obviously, I knew her every movement, who she talks to, and what she might be thinking."

"Your Majesty!" 

"Minister, didn't you consider that Lady Aries might accept His Majesty for who he is?" this time, Isaiah's remarks rendered Conan speechless. "Why are you suddenly alarmed by it? Don't you wish for her to know about it?"

Conan's mouth fell open, but no words came out. The grand duke had a point, but... that was just Conan's wishful thinking. At the back of his head, he knew this wasn't the perfect time for that. Was there a perfect time to tell Aries about the secret behind the empire, though?

Abel let out a dry laugh, shaking his head at Conan's reaction. "Aries is smart, Conan. You keep underestimating her, which is quite disappointing. She will know if Dexter is using her to hurt me. Same with this matter about this son of mine. Aries wouldn't dig into it because she will think it's not something she should concern herself with." He paused, leaning back comfortably, shrugging.

"My darling might be bothered or intrigued, but she will keep it to herself. I wouldn't find her interesting if she doesn't force me to use my head," he added in a knowing tone, unbothered by this snake slithering around his beloved Aries. "Why don't you calm down now?"

For what reason he was letting Dexter freely? That was simple and quite ironic, but between Dexter and Abel, Aries was honestly safer with the former. 

"But…" Conan's shoulder relaxed as he sighed deeply. "… isn't it better to tell her? Marquess Vandran can be sneaky when he wants to. So, she might figure it out herself."

"With His Majesty knowing about her every movement?" Isaiah arched a brow, almost convinced that Conan was in the season to be dumb. "Minister, I respect that you have grown fond of Lady Aries. However, she is not one of us and that is an unchanging fact. Humans are fickle. They had uttered countless promises, but have you remembered one that they fulfilled? I remember none."

Silence instantly descended upon the room. Abel darted his eyes between Conan and Isaiah, keeping his upturned lips shut. Isaiah's argument totally hushed Conan, which wasn't an unfamiliar sight to behold. 

Their banters were one of the things that he found interesting to listen to. Conan wasn't always this dumb, after all. He could be very intense and cunning if he wanted to, but it seemed he slightly changed after hanging out with Aries for the past months.

Abel clapped after the prolonged silence. "Conan, just focus on helping my darling in finding her replacement. Weren't you planning to screen the candidates at tomorrow's ball? Since you're not heavily invested in this annual celebration, just take a seat and listen. It's still better that you know the general details."

Conan let out another deep exhale, dragging his feet on the empty armchair. Abel was right. He should just focus on 'hanging out' with her since she might leave the palace sooner.

When Conan took a seat, Abel shifted his attention to Isaiah. The latter snuck a glance at the gloomy Conan. 

"So, where were we again?" Abel inquired, waiting for Isaiah to refresh his memory. 

The Grand Duke cleared his throat, tossing unnecessary thoughts at the back of his head. "The members of the council seemed they were plotting something."

"Ah, right! The meeting…" Abel rocked his head lightly, lips stretching into an evil smirk. "Since the meeting is postponed, let's accommodate them in the forbidden palace? It seems those from that island were showing interest in us."

A smile dominated his face, linking his hands together. "Now that is what you call entertainment.. I hope their scheme won't disappoint me."