Prelude

"Your Highness."

Aries looked up, seeing Gertrude's worried face while holding her hand. Only then did she realize she had been scratching her shoulder that Joaquin kissed earlier while dipped in the tub. Her lips were a little swollen already as she tried to wipe off the traces of that man.

"Please let me help you, Your Highness," Gertrude offered as she guided Aries's hand on the rim of the tub. The latter just pressed her lips and gazed down.

Gertrude moved and sat on the small stool outside the tub, eyes full of worry. She had spent almost a year serving Aries, and this was the only time she had witnessed her master act so distraught. Or rather, bear the eyes of someone who was drunk with blood lust; Aries was starting to scare and worry her.

"Gertrude," called Aries, bending her knees to rest her hands on top of it. "You know where His Majesty picked me up, right?"