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"If he could hurt me for being friends with His Majesty, he wouldn\'t definitely let you off for capturing his heart."

Conan didn\'t directly say it, but Aries got a gist of what he meant; an admiration turned into an obsession. And as someone who was shackled by these types of trickery of words facade as love, admiration, and such, Aries was aware of how lethal this feeling could develop. It was just as dangerous as anger. Perhaps more dangerous.

"So he\'s that type, huh?" Aries rocked her head in understanding; a little glad this visit was fruitful.

"He\'s a little more complicated than that. Actually, even when he is my brother, I can\'t completely say I know him." Conan smacked his lips and shrugged mildly. "But one thing I do know about him is his prejudice against the outside world — humans in particular."

"And why is that?"

"We stayed on the mainland because of them." A deep exhale slipped past his lips, setting his eyes back to the last batch of criminals standing on the gallows, whilst a knight was putting the noose around their necks one by one. "He, many think it was the humans\' fault why we are locked up like criminals inside a vast cage."

"Even I had the same thinking back then. Why are we supposed to stay on the mainland? And why is it a crime to leave this place? The mainland is far too cramped for us, vampires, who were far superior to those who think the world outside is just theirs. Things like that used to annoy me," added Conan quietly. "In the end, I realized it was not the humans\' fault they were scared of us. It was the people in the past\'s fault and the man in power. The King."

"If not for them, humans wouldn\'t be oblivious to our existence. And therefore, they could have done something about their fears. Our father, the king, was adamant about maintaining what the previous kings had protected; the mainland." His eyes slowly narrowed. "But who would believe that? That we needed protection instead of acceptance? Humans are fragile creatures who break so easily, and yet the king wanted to protect the mainland?"

"Our king… was not guarding the mainland, nor had he ever genuinely protected his people. The people he was shielding were those humans who had nothing to do with him. He was scared to let our existence known. People surely got fed up with that — I did, so I left." Conan slowly faced Aries as he summarized what it was like to be a citizen of that aforementioned land. "I guessed that\'s the reason for his downfall."

"You… think your father is dead?"

"If he isn\'t, Maximus will never be king." Conan shook his head. "None of his children were worthy of replacing him."

"Because you all share the same sentiments?"

"And the goal to spite him. He\'s very much aware that if he abdicated the throne and pass it to one of his children, no one will continue his will."

"Conan…" Aries\'s eyes softened as she clenched her teeth. "Do you still hate him?"

"Now? I don\'t anymore. I just don\'t have any familial attachment to him or to any of my siblings. They were the worst of the worst. I\'m already content with my life right now. However, it can\'t be helped. Now that my brother rose to power, it seems they planned to lower the walls of the mainland and be a part of this world." Another deep breath escaped his mouth. "It just so happened Haimirich was a powerful empire and very ideal to have a proper connection for their grand introductions."

"I guess the visit will be a diplomatic official visit, huh?"

"Maybe… maybe not." Conan scratched his temple in irritation with just the sheer thought of people from the mainland — particularly his brother — stepping foot in a place Abel built from scratch. "Can we not accommodate them?"

"Abel and I had agreed we will welcome them with open arms," said Aries, watching him frown deeper. "After all, this might mean change, Lord Hakebourne. Change is the only constant thing in this world. I also think it is about time for humans to know the existence of vampires and other creatures who walk on the surface of this world with us."

Conan straightened his back and let out a faint huff. "It\'ll be dangerous."

"Danger had always lurked around the corner ready to gnaw us at the drop of a hat," she argued in a knowing tone. "It\'ll be the same if we deny it or face it."

"You were the empress of this land. I\'m certain Haimirich will be fine."

"That is motivating and pressuring at the same time."

"I am your subject, Your Majesty. Therefore, my opinion, which we both know was highly subjective, compares nothing to yours."

Aries gazed at him with a subtle smile. Every time Conan tries to flatter her, it always surprised her how he sounded so mature and a gentleman. He differed greatly from the Conan who would shamelessly weep and clung to her feet for something so stupid.

"Conan," she called, making his brows elevate in the absence of honorific. "What will you do if you see your father?"

His brows knitted, confused, but he still answered. "Nothing."

"I mean if you knew he is not dead and showed up right in front of you?"

"Nothing."

"Are you sure?"

"Mhm."

"What if I tell you I know where he is?"

This time, Conan didn\'t answer, and simply assessed her complex expression. Even though her expression didn\'t give way to what she truly meant by that, Conan\'s gut feeling told him she was being serious. Aries wouldn\'t throw this sequence of questions just to joke with him. Abel, perhaps, but not Aries.

"I\'ll take a leap of faith," she said after a minute of silence. "Come. Follow me."

<strong>*</strong>

<strong>*</strong>

<strong>*</strong>

Conan stood by the door in one of the chambers in the forbidden mansion. He barely blinked, his pupils dilating, his attention on the person lying on the bed. Aries looked back at him as she stood a meter from the bed.

"So?" she asked with a delicately arched brow. "Still, nothing?"