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Abel was known by many titles: an emperor who ruled an empire with an iron fist, a tyrant, and someone who was infamous for his promiscuous lifestyle. His name alone was shrouded with controversy. But just days ago, another rumor resurfaced in the high society regarding the emperor.

That was... Abel was into men.

A rumor that could put the person who started it a ticket to death row shook the high society. Although the rumor was kept amongst nobles, their whispering and murmurs during tea parties and banquets wouldn\'t stop.

For women, this shocked them to the core. Especially those who had seen the emperor and fancied his stunning looks. But for men who heard this? They felt nothing but dread.

Abel would call women to his bedroom. Now that he was interested in men, everyone was busy hoping that they wouldn\'t catch Abel\'s eyes. They were afraid that the emperor would fancy them and call them to his bed. If he did, they wouldn\'t have any choice but to sacrifice their chastity.

"Hahaha!" Abel burst out in laughter as he listened to Conan\'s whines early in the morning about these ridiculous rumors.

"Your Majesty!" Conan seethed in distress, stomping his feet in front of the emperor\'s desk. "This is not a laughing matter! Everyone, especially men, is terrified to show themselves to you! Haven\'t you noticed their reaction during your court meeting?!"

Abel wiped the corner of his eyes, holding his stomach to stop himself from laughing. "Is that the reason? I thought they simply liked me!" he intoned playfully, clapping in amusement.

"Your Majesty... did you kiss Lady Aries while looking like a man in public because you want such rumors to exist?" Conan frowned helplessly. He was already stressed by appeasing Aries, and now he had to deal with Abel\'s actions!

Was it possible to split himself?! Why couldn\'t this emperor relax for a bit and not cause trouble for Conan?

"Your Majesty, can you give me a break? Lady Aries is already angry with me..." came out a muffled voice, on the verge of having an emotional breakdown due to stress. "... how about you try to be a normal emperor for a day? Just one day."

"Dearest Conan, your problem with Aries is a separate matter from me! I am being normal." Abel laughed while shaking his head. "Poor you. This is what happens if you step out of your bounds."

"Admit it, Your Majesty. You\'re sabotaging me, don\'t you?"

Abel raised both his hands in defense. "I am innocent, my loyal aide. It\'s just that I am the better cupid!"

Conan frowned. At this point, he truly believed the real reason Aries was angry with him was because of Abel! She wouldn\'t be that repelled by Conan if Abel wasn\'t playing with her head! For Pete\'s sake! Conan\'s intention was good!

\'Just what\'s so wrong in helping?\' his frown grew worse as he kept his thoughts to himself. \'I know you want her to stay for as long as she can. Why is he so against making her stay? It\'s not like what he is, is something that bothered him.\'

"Conan, Conan, my loyal aide." Abel sighed dramatically. "You are so cute. I told you, didn\'t I? Don\'t spoil my fun with her and stop thinking about anything deeper or further ahead. Don\'t let me repeat this again."

Conan let out a sharp exhale. "Fine," came out a grumble. "Then, I won\'t hold back anymore. Lady Aries kept asking me why the sudden change of heart. I\'ll just tell her it was not me who had a change of heart."

He huffed, making Abel raise his brows. When Conan bowed and excused himself, Abel fixed his eyes on the door of his office. A faint laugh slipped past his lips, leaning back against the chair.

"I think Conan had become senile." He gazed at the door, keeping his slight smile. "Aries is not dumb. She\'s too smart not to notice who had a sudden change of heart. She simply needs a confirmation which... I obviously won\'t do. I\'m not that kind."

No one in this empire or in the entire world knew Aries better than Abel. They both knew that because Abel never sees her any less than anyone. In fact, he saw her in high regard. Regardless of the atrocities done to her in the Maganti Empire, he never made her feel any less despite that.

Thus, he could see the real Aries. The Aries this world tried so hard to kill, but still thriving and surviving.

<strong>*****</strong>

Meanwhile, in the inner palace\'s library...

Aries flinched when Dexter snapped a finger in front of her. "Yes?" she blinked, recollecting her scattered thoughts.

"Did you perhaps hear the rumor about His Majesty?" he inquired, propping his arms against the table. He tilted his head to the side, batting his eyes ever so tenderly. "You\'ve been spacing out a lot."

"Huh? Oh, I\'m sorry," came out an awkward reply while scratching her jaw. "What rumor are you talking about?"

"The rumor about His Majesty fancying men." His eyes scanned her momentarily before he pointed out. "You\'re not wearing a wig today, although you\'re still wearing a man\'s outfit."

"It\'s comfortable," she murmured, not surprised by the rumor he was speaking. That was Abel\'s fault, so she wanted nothing to do with it.

Dexter chuckled. "At this rate, I don\'t know if we will be able to finish our lecture. You keep zoning out. Shall I lend you an ear?"

"No." She pouted, averting her eyes away. When she glanced at the man sitting across from her again, she cleared her throat. He was waiting.

"It\'s just... I\'m thinking about my replacement," she confessed while his brows rose.

"A replacement?"

"Mhm. A replacement." She nodded, eyes lowering. "But somehow... it just doesn\'t sit right with me."

"Why won\'t it? You are given the chance to escape this place. Is there any reason you feel like it\'s not right?"

A shallow breath slipped past her lips. "If I know, I wouldn\'t be so hung up finding answers."

"Lady Aries, do you like His Majesty?" this time, her breath hitched as she raised her head until she locked eyes with him. "By that, I mean, if your brain doesn\'t know the answer, ask your heart."

Dexter pointed at his chest, eyes still on her. "There were certain things that our minds don\'t know, but our heart does." He pointed at his temple briefly before putting down his hand. "Sometimes, the answer isn\'t also important. The question is: do you love him? Do you care enough? What do you feel about that person? And what is his effect on you when he is around you? Things like that."

Aries remained silent as she stared at Dexter\'s kind countenance. He was surely different from Conan. The latter was only fun to hang out with, but Dexter\'s wisdom was on a whole different level.

"I don\'t love him..." she whispered as she lowered her eyes. "... that\'s for sure. What is love even mean?"

"The meaning of that word differed from different people."

"What is love for you then, Marquess Vandran?"

Dexter raised his brows at her question, a bit surprised. "Love... is a strange phenomenon that occurs to people. It doesn\'t matter what status you have or how smart you are. It cripples people to an extent." He shrugged nonchalantly.

"What about you, Lady Aries? What is the meaning of love for you?" he asked, bouncing the question back to her smoothly.

"Love..." she whispered as she racked her brains for an answer. "... is something that isn\'t forced, I guess?"

Little did she know, her brief distraction with her own thoughts, she failed to notice the surprise her answer brought at the Marquess. He smiled and laughed shortly, rocking his head.

"That\'s an interesting answer. It reminds me of someone."