Chapter 131 - I Hate Ghosts

"You should love me more, Conan." Abel frowned, staring at the somber night sky while lying on the vast landscape in the empire. "Gustav said he will kill you if I forced my way into the marquess' territory. Isn't he heartless and aren't I good?" 

Conan, who was standing two meters away from the emperor, frowned. "Your Majesty! Gustav already sent a word, but you still went to see Lady Aries!"

"I was worried."

"If you're worried, then why wouldn't you let her rest?" he frowned.

Conan had received a word from Dexter's trusted butler regarding Aries' health condition. Apparently, she fainted due to fatigue. Although the physician didn't verbally speak about the primary source of her fatigue, Dexter's warning to Abel was enough to know the cause.

It was Abel. 

"She's already lucky that she didn't die during your first night..."

"Why would she die on our first night of consummation?" Abel quirked a brow, turning his head in Conan's direction. "Aries is special. Hence, I want her to last. Why would I kill her?"

A deep exhale escaped Conan's nostrils. "Your Majesty, I give up. If Gustav came to kill me, my soul will never rest in peace, and I will haunt you forever."

"I hate ghosts..." Abel frowned, watching Conan huff before storming away from him. "What a bother." 

He snapped his tongue before gazing back at the clear night sky. His arms spread wide, unbothered by the fact that people might see the emperor lying on the grass.

Just minutes ago, Abel went to visit Aries after receiving a word from Gustav. However, just right outside the gates of the palace, Gustav was already waiting for him, as if he had known Abel would still do whatever he wanted. 

Not that Gustav could match him in a serious duel. Thing was, Gustav had his ways of making people agree with him. 

"I can't deny that my insatiable thirst for lust isn't easily quenched..." came out in a lazy and low voice, closing his eyes ever so slowly. "But Aries can keep up with me for a few rounds, and I'm satisfied each time." — it was just that his lust was bottomless. 

It was already amazing Aries could last a round, but then again, Abel was being gentle. He was already holding back and barely leaving her with tons of hickeys. She never complained, so he didn't really consider holding back even more. Aries could take it. 

But it seemed although they both enjoyed each other's company on the bed, her body still had its limits. He wouldn't let her off and had been too excited, especially during her secret visits. On top of that, Aries had to work hard on studying and brewing tea to build a good image for the public. 

She hadn't started her training with Isaiah yet. But if she did, her schedule would be even more packed. 

"I never thought I will regret a decision... a bit." Another deep exhale escaped his mouth at the thought of this situation he put upon himself. Surely, humans' fickleness infected him. 

It was his idea to send Aries to the Maganti Empire and drag that wretched empire to the mud. He thought of that because he wanted Aries to get even. But with all these meticulous preparations, he was starting to regret it. He was getting less and less time from her. 

"I should've ordered Isaiah to destroy that place." He sighed for the umpteenth time, opening his eyes ever so slowly. "But well... we're already in it."

Abel remained silent for a second before he pulled his body to sit up. He stretched his shoulder in a circular motion, his other hand on his shoulder blade. 

"Since I cannot see Aries for a while, I might as well do something productive. Conan!" he yelled even though his advisor wasn't around the area anymore. "I'm going to that damn place."

As soon as those words flew out of his mouth, Isaiah slinked out of the dark like a shadow coming to life. He stopped at a good distance, standing next to the bush.

"Your Majesty, the coven is approaching," Isaiah reminded him with his cold baritone voice. "I don't think this is the right time for you to leave the empire."

"Fucking Coven." Abel snickered as he slowly stood up, running both his hands through his hair and brushing it back. "I'll be back in a few days. Distract Aries while I'm there."

"Your Majesty." 

Abel cocked his head back and sported a devious smirk. "Don't worry, Isaiah. I won't wreak havoc in that place. I just need one good reason why I shouldn't wreak havoc."

"..." What did he even mean by that? It rendered Isaiah speechless as he could only stare at Abel, stretching his neck from one side to the other. 

The next second, Isaiah heard what seemed to be the crisped sound of bone-crushing as the back of Abel's shirt moved away from his body while something from his back grew. His eyes glinted menacingly, snapping them around. They were currently just right in the middle of the landscape near the driveway of the inner palace. 

There were still many people and knights around. Usually, Abel would let out his demonic wings in the forbidden palace. Therefore, Isaiah, just to be sure, removed his right glove. On the back of his large hand was a raised scar that looked like a circle with triangle lines inside. 

He raised his hand in front of him, palm facing down. When his scar glowed in faint red and then he clenched his hand. 

Nothing happened... or rather, nothing seemed to happen. 

"Your Majesty, you've been acting more and more reckless." Isaiah pointed out when a pair of wings that were akin to gigantic bat wings fluttered open. Its sharp tip dripped with blood and for someone like Isaiah, the sight of it and the power it naturally emanated was... eerily majestic.

Abel smirked, licking his fangs, cocking his head back, eyes on Isaiah. "I'm not being reckless. You're here to put up a barrier so no one else will see us." He laughed with his lips closed, wiping the corner of his lips as he hissed. 

"Or maybe... I am being reckless and hoping Aries would see so I could use the cage I procured." His smirked remained, gazing up at the starless night sky.  "Either way... I'm off."

In a blink of an eye, the ground he was standing on shook and cracked, and before Isaiah could blink once again, a powerful gust of wind blew past him. 

Abel was gone and the shallow cracks were the only trance he left.