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On this auspicious occasion with the empire\'s great harvest and flourishing economy, everyone shared the common festive air that resonated across the banquet hall of the Lazuli Palace. Aries and Joaquin remained in their seats, accepting greetings, but mostly apart from everyone else.

"Everyone had been more welcoming than I expected," Aries muttered with a satisfied nod, smiling at a group of ladies and gentlemen dancing in sync in the middle of the hall. Joaquin quirked a brow, casting her a side-eye.

"You speak as though you didn\'t expect that," he returned with a chuckle. "Countess Lloyd had garnered enough attention. So obviously, everyone is aware of receiving special treatment, just like her. Now, people wanted to get in your good graces."

Aries turned her head in his direction, seeing him wink at her as his lips curled up proudly. She bit her lower lip to suppress a grin as she peeled her eyes away from him.

"It\'s better than I expected," she confessed, rocking her head.

His eyes remained on her figure and his smile grew subtle. Joaquin was glad to see her pleased by being accepted. Normally, he wouldn\'t stay in a banquet this long because it usually bore him. He would rather have a banquet on his own in a private lodging area where ladies would accompany him secretly.

But he didn\'t have a plan like that tonight. Joaquin just wanted to stay until she wanted to leave so the two of them could return to the Sapphire Palace.

"Circe," he called for no reason, waiting for her to look back at him.

"Yes?"

Joaquin pressed his lips into a thin line, watching her brows elevate while waiting for whatever he had to say.

"What?" she asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Nothing." He chuckled weakly and cleared his throat, setting his eyes on the crowd. "I just want to call your name."

He cast her a teasing side-eye, only to see her staring at him almost innocently. He noticed how she bit her lips and breathed slower.

"If you keep calling my name for no reason, you will bother me," she complained under her breath while he laughed. "You\'ve been acting strangely recently. It alarms me one way or another."

"Am I?" he kept his eyes ahead, on the crowd, completely baffled at her remarks.

"Mhm. You call my name more than usual and… never mind."

Joaquin pondered about it and only then did he realize he was doing things he would never do to someone. After their meeting with Baron Albe, Joaquin was unconsciously paying more attention to his wife. It somehow became a habit of asking Hernan about her whereabouts, what she was doing, and the sort.

And whenever they were together, he was ten times attentive. So, he would know if she was upset, happy, relieved, or whatever emotions she was feeling.

As realization dawned on him, he gazed at her once again.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?" he asked out of plain curiosity, watching her lower her eyes.

"Yes."

He frowned. "Why?"

"I don\'t want to get used to the attention," came out a muffled reply before raising her head, sporting a distant countenance. Aries faced him squarely and huffed.

"Just keep me at arm\'s length. Not too close or too far, Joaquin. Save me the trouble of adjusting when things changed for the worse."

Silence instantly fell on them as the festive voices and the sound of the orchestra faded in their ears. They looked at each other; her expression was firm and determined while a somber countenance dominated his face.

For a reason he couldn\'t understand, her remarks left a bitter taste in his mouth. Joaquin understood where she was coming from since their relationship was mostly for mutual benefits. The crown princess wanted him to be the greatest emperor to spite the tyrant in Haimirich while he was keeping her close because she could be handy in the future.

That had been his reason ever since he thought of winning her over. To squeeze out every drop of benefits he could take from her. What he would get in the process, such as the fun conversations, the shared laughter, the sweet nothings, and a great partner in bed, were all bonuses.

But why did her words bring this pang in his heart?

"Keep you at arm\'s length, huh?" he whispered as he lowered his eyes, tapping his fingers against the armrest.

"Mhm. That\'s better for me," came out a muffled reply as she also gazed at the crowd with a melancholic air around her.

The two of them were instantly enveloped with silence as neither of them talked for a while. It was unlike the mood between them just moments ago with the matters at hand. Still, she forced a subtle smile, so those who were looking in their direction wouldn\'t notice.

When Joaquin huffed after a moment, his lips parted as he turned to Aries. However, before he could say anything to her, Hernan approached his side.

"Your Highness," called Hernan, causing Joaquin to gaze at him. Hernan bowed as he approached the two since Aries also looked in his direction before he marched closer.

Aries quirked a brow as she watched Hernan bend over to whisper in Joaquin\'s ears. The latter rocked his head before facing her.

"I\'ll have to attend to some important matters," he explained, noticing the bitter glint that instantly flickered across her eyes. "I… Hernan, I\'ll come with you later."

"Huh?" both Aries and Hernan gazed at him with puzzlement which made the crown prince chuckle.

"I can\'t leave her alone in here, can I?" he sported a knowing look, keeping his eyes on his wife.

Worry instantly resurfaced in Hernan\'s eyes, which Aries noticed, but she kept her surprised countenance. She studied Joaquin\'s expression before she smiled subtly.

"It\'s alright, Joaquin." She reached for his hand and squeezed it. "It will be in my conscience if this important matter is delayed because of me."

"No, it\'s alright —" he frowned when she shook her head mildly.

"Please." Aries looked him in the eye and nodded encouragingly. "It won\'t be long, right?" she asked, shifting her attention to Hernan.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness." Hernan lowered his head slightly, hoping Joaquin would listen to his wife since this was important.

Aries kept her forced smile as she squeezed Joaquin\'s hand once again. "I will see you if you\'re taking longer than you should. I will be fine."

The two of them gazed at each other before Joaquin let out a deep exhale. He was willing to put the matter for later, even if it was important to make her happy, but his wife focused on their objectives, than her own heart.

In his mind, Aries was simply doing this because she didn\'t want to appear to be needy. She knew if she asked for too much, he would get tired of her. But right now… Joaquin couldn\'t even think of anything other than staying beside her where he could feel her presence and inhale the pleasant scent of lavender that he could only smell around her.

"Fine." In the end, Joaquin still agreed so she wouldn\'t get worried. "I\'ll be back."

"Mhm." Aries nodded, watching Joaquin rise from his seat and followed Hernan. As he walked away, he looked back at her once again and she flashed him a smile.

Her smile persisted but faded slightly when she faced the hall once again. From a far distance, Aries, sitting alone on the raised platform all alone, looked lonely upon Joaquin\'s departure. Anyone who could see her could not help but have this desire to accompany her.

One of them was Inez, who had been drinking more than she should and was standing alone by one of the pillars, keeping her eyes in Aries\'s direction.

\'Serves you right,\' she thought and smirked. \'You don\'t know… or maybe you already knew it was foolish to hold on to a man like him, but you still do.\'