What a lazy student. She makes me proud.

"Are you alright?"

Marquess Dexter lowered his head to see if Aries was alright. He had noticed ever since he came that she has been even more silent. Although she was paler than usual, he pretended not to notice with that bandage around her neck. But now that her body was swaying slightly, he didn't have a choice but to ask.

"Mhm," came out a low hum, blinking weakly while reading the handout Dexter asked her to study. As usual, her prayers last night to feel better weren't heard. Or maybe because she prayed under her breath that it didn't reach whoever could hear her. Either way, Aries needed to be alright.

Although Conan told her Abel left for an important trip — which she didn't care if it was hell or anywhere — Aries didn't want to be seen weak. Her eyes narrowed to read the seemingly scrambled letters. Before she knew it, her heavy head was already falling to the side.

Fortunately, Dexter's reflexes were fast. Using his palm, he caught her head from hitting the table. His eyes dilated as she was hot to the touch.

"You have a fever, my lady," he called with furrowed brows.

"Mhm?" she forced her eyes to raise at him, snapping when she realized he was propping the side of her head.

"You're burning," he repeated while she drew her head back, noticing her pale complexion and the sweats on her forehead. "We'll call it a day. You should rest for today."

"No, it's alright. I can..."

"No." Dexter's eyes grew colder while staring at the incomprehensible expression on her face. "I commend your diligence in learning, my lady. However, you shouldn't force yourself if you are not feeling well. I'll leave a notice to Conan and inform him about your condi —"

"Please don't." He frowned at her abrupt reply, watching her hang her head low. "Please. I will be alright after drinking water."

Dexter remained silent, eyes on her figure. Staring at her like this, she seemed to shrink in her seat. He had heard a bit of detail about Aries. Such as she was someone Abel picked up somewhere, and she was a princess of the ruined Rikhill. Just the name of the place she came from. He already had a vague idea of the tragic life she had led.

Apparently, he couldn't sympathize. Especially for someone who was bound to die. With the kind of temperament Abel had, Aries wouldn't have a long life. The bandage around her neck was an indicator. That was better, he thought. Death was better than living under the same roof as Abel.

'How tragic,' he muttered inwardly and let out a shallow breath. 'To be struck with a series of misfortune. Was this a trauma response?'

Another minute passed before he decided. Dexter closed the book in front of her, stacking three more books on top of it. Aries furrowed her brows, breathing heavily as watching him move made her a little dizzy.

"Head." He tapped the top of the book. "If you don't want me to tell Conan, rest here. I'll pretend we're still having our lesson."

"But..." Aries trailed off as Dexter cocked his head to the side. Left with no choice, she awkwardly rested the side of her head on top of the stack of books. It was uncomfortable, but her eyes felt heavier. Surely, forcing herself didn't help her delude her body that she was alright. It only worsened her fever.

With the silence as if she was the only person in the room, Aries tensed shoulders gradually relaxed. It didn't take long when her eyes shut closed, succumbing to the rest her body needed. But before she entirely fell asleep, she whispered, "thank you."

"You don't have to." Dexter shook his head and opened a book to read. Consider it his generosity, since she seemed she truly didn't want to inform Conan about it. Although he still planned to notify Conan right after their lesson so she could rest even more.

"Why is she even studying when he will kill her once he is bored?" he wondered, glancing at the woman across from him.

It was strange and rather shocking when he received a letter from Conan, asking him a favor to be someone's tutor. He wanted to refuse, but this piqued his interest. Hence, he accepted the invitation with a condition he would check first before completely accepting the role.

Now, here he was. Teaching someone who was bound to die. Well, he was just here to feed his curiosity. Dexter shook his head, shifting his attention to the book he was reading. Never mind, he thought. All he has to do was tutor her while she was breathing. But just as that thought crossed his mind, he raised his eyes at the door when it abruptly opened.

"Your Majesty." Despite the sudden arrival of Abel, who was supposed to be out of the country, Dexter remained calm. He slowly stood from his seat, beckoning a proper bow for the sovereign of Haimirich.

Abel quirked a brow, darting his eyes from Dexter to Aries, who didn't rise from her seat. Although he sort of disliked the harmonious atmosphere in the room as it made him feel like he ruined something, he pretended not to notice.

"Is she dead?" he inquired while cocking his head to the side.

"She is asleep, Your Majesty. Shall I wake her up?" The dashing Marquess replied while raising his head slowly.

"What a lazy student. She makes me proud." Abel chuckled, strutting his way to her. He walked around and stood behind her chair, planting his palm on the backrest before bending over to her side. A frown instantly appeared on his face, noticing her pale complexion and deep breaths. Before he could speak, Dexter already explained.

"She was about to collapse in the middle of our lesson. However, she didn't want to inform Sir Conan about it. So I told her to rest in here since she didn't want others to know." Dexter studied Abel, but there wasn't much to see. The latter just stared at Aries as if he was appalled, rather than concerned.

"Tell Conan on your way to see the maids who took care of her this morning. They shall be hanged. How dare they?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

To Dexter's surprise, there was this slight annoyance in Abel's usual indifferent voice as he gave his orders. But the surprise didn't stop there because the next moment, Abel poked her cheek.

"Wake up." Abel poked Aries's lean cheek a couple of times, but she didn't wake up. "If you don't, you will never wake up."

But nothing. The only response he received was her deep breaths. Normally, he would've unsheathed his sword and plunged it into her nape to do her a favor. But he didn't. Instead, he simply frowned.

"She still hadn't learned. Darling, shouldn't you be wagging your tail in the presence of your owner?" he clicked his tongue, squatting down a little while holding her wrist over his shoulder. In one swift move, he carried Aries into his arms like a child.

"What a bother," came out a complaint, ignoring Dexter as he marched away.

As he did, Dexter stayed on his spot wordlessly. His eyes remained on Abel's back, catching Aries's face that was resting on the emperor's shoulder.

'Hmm...?' he narrowed his eyes before a smirk turned up on his lips for a split second. 'That's interesting.'