Chapter 146 - Husband And Wife

"I miss green."

Aries raised her eyes, seeing Abel play with the tip of her golden hair. She was sitting on his lap, her dress barely hanging on her body after an intimate moment with him inside the carriage. It had been over two months since she started her journey to the Maganti Empire. 

Abel stayed.

So, Aries and Abel got to spend two more months together. To be honest, two months still felt like two days for them. They enjoyed their journey, very unlike what she expected. His presence helped her calm down.

"Me too." She smiled, resting her head over his shoulder. "But I'm also getting used to blonde."

"Don't. I'll shave your head."

She chuckled while closing her eyes to rest. "Please don't." Aries breathed out before her eyes opened gently. 

"We're almost there," she whispered. "Will you visit me?"

"I told you, I will."

Her lips curled up into a subtle smile. "Morro might get shot down by an arrow if it enters the royal palace."

"Morro has his ways." He smirked, massaging the exposed part of her back. "I'll keep in touch, darling."

Abel lowered his head and planted a kiss on top of her head. It was a long journey that only felt like hours. He never knew he would ever come to a point in his endless life that he would cherish every second as if he was dying the next day. 

Threatening Isaiah and moving the coven ahead of time was worth it.

Aries pressed her lips into a thin line. "I'm a little tired, but I don't want to sleep."

"You should, darling. You might not get a wink of it later." 

"Even so, I want to spend one more second with you. I don't want to waste it." In contrast to her affectionate and warm words, she hid a glare behind her closed lid. "I need more of you to remind myself... I have you."

"Hah..." Abel smirked, getting a gist of her vague remarks. "You truly know how to make me happy, darling." 

He pulled her body against his, holding her securely in his arms while showering her with kisses. As he did, the side of his eyes narrowed and sharpened. He knew he shouldn't exhaust her even though behind her lean body hid trained muscles. 

But then again, how could he send her to another man without her reeking of him?

"Aries... don't forget you are mine," he stressed each word under his breath after the prolonged silence. "Just... mine."

If this was before, Aries would scoff in ridicule. But now, a subtle smile turned up on her lips as she gazed up to face him. 

"Yours." She playfully bit her lips and moved her face closer to claim his lips. 

As the two engaged in another fervent kiss, certain people at her destination — the Maganti Empire — were preparing to meet the crown princess.

[Princess's quarters: Lazuli Palace]

A lady with naturally bright auburn hair sitting dainty on the intricate chair in the middle of the greenhouse. She gracefully placed the teacup back on the saucer, silver eyes glinting. The other princesses around the beautiful table hid their snicker behind their fans.

"The crown princess... I heard a lot about her," came out a voice full of contempt, raising her sharp argent eyes at the princesses around her. The side of her lips curled up into a cunning smirk. 

"I hope she won't disappoint. I just lost a toy recently." The giggles of the other ladies resonated, eyes burning with anticipation for the crown princess, their sister-in-law's arrival.

"I can't wait to meet her."

******

[The Crown Prince's Quarters: the Sapphire Palace]

"Your Highness, His Majesty summons you to his solar."

A man holding a handleless teacup raised his pair of deep-set, ashen eyes at the servant bowing by the door. The side of his thin lips curled up, highlighting his defined cheekbone and jaw. 

"I guess everyone is excited to meet my wife," came out an alluring voice, licking his lips before guiding the teacup towards it. His Adam's apple moved down when he gulped, hissing in satisfaction.

He flung his hands, showing his perfectly tanned skin as he stood up from his lazy posture. As he faced the servant, his smirk grew eerie as he spoke, "lead the way," which the servant abided.

Following the servant, his sharp grey eyes flickered with anticipation. 

Not just the royal family of the Maganti, but everyone across the empire was looking forward to the crown princess. Some for good wishes, but others for... something else. Either way, the empire had been thrice as busy these past several days as the crown princess' carriage approach.

*******

After the long wait filled with anticipation from both parties, a few dazzling members of the royal family, along with the crown prince, stood outside the inner palace to welcome the crown princess's entourage.

Their eyes glanced over the knights from the Maganti Empire and the ones from Haimirich. The declared numbers of knights from Haimirich who escorted the carriage were still complete. However, those from the Maganti... only five returned. 

Whatever happened on the way, no one cared. Whether these knights purposely offed their people or the soldiers from the Maganti Empire simply lacked in survival skill, the former were now in their territory. No one would also question if the people from Haimirich decreased in numbers. 

The tension in the air grew thicker when the crown prince's aide opened the door of the carriage. 

"Welcome home, my crown princess," the crown prince greeted in a low voice, offering his hand to assist her. He quirked a brow when a slender hand as fair as snow underneath her white laced gloves reached for his hand.

When she clasped his hand, Aries squeezed it until she was out of the carriage. As soon as she stood on her stature, the crown prince held her hand, bending over to kiss the back of her hand.

"I'm honored to have finally met you, wife." His eyes were sharp, keeping it to the white veil covering her face.

The woman, staring back at him through the veil, didn't feel the shred of fear his eyes were intending to instill in her from the get-go. Instead, her red lips — the only part of her face that was exposed — curled up into an alluring smirk. 

"As you should," came out a sweet voice, speaking the language of Haimirich.