What was happening behind closed doors?

"Your Highness!" Gertrude exclaimed as soon as she came closer to Aries, who was left sitting in the middle of the bed. Her eyes shook at the handprint around her neck, lips quivering as she hesitatingly sat on the edge of the mattress.

Aries was staring into nothingness, blinking ever so tenderly.

"Gertrude," she called, shifting her eyes to Gertrude only to see the latter's worried face. "Prepare me a dress that isn't too reserved. Just enough for someone to notice these marks."

"Your Highness…" 

"It's nothing, Gertrude." Aries kept her cold expression as she looked away. "This won't kill me."

"But His Majesty…"

"Abel won't see me for days, so don't worry."

Gertrude pursed her lips into a thin line, staring at Aries's side profile in worry. That wasn't her real concern, but how Aries recklessly let herself get harmed. But then again, Aries didn't have that many options.