The Tyrant's Pet

[ The Grimsbanne Mansion ]

"We have no choice." Aries let out a deep exhale, concluding their family meeting. "I have to come back to the royal palace to secure my position."

She scanned everyone's faces and didn't have to study them so hard to notice the displeasure plastered on their faces. She just met these people, but their reaction brought this warmth to her heart.

"I don't like it." Abel crossed his arms under his chest, lifting his leg over the other as he leaned back. "No way in hell would I allow my wife to go back into that hell. I'll burn it."

"This is why I hate planning." Samael propped his elbow on the armrest, resting his jaw against his knuckles. "How about we go with my plan, which is to improvise?"

"That is exactly the opposite of a plan, Sam." Lilou rolled her eyes before setting them to Aries. "I am with you in this, Aries. Although I admit it is dangerous, our enemies had been planning for this family's demise much longer than I had existed. Fighting them head-on is just what they wanted and there's no way in hell we'll give that to them."

"I am tired from fighting for two full nights and then I still have to travel. However, having a plan is better than having none," Claude chimed in, rocking his head. "Auntie Lilove and Aries have a point. These people had been planning for this family's demise for a very long time. It wouldn't be a surprise that they could kill us all, regardless of the blood hierarchy."

Claude shrugged when Abel and Samael glared daggers at him, turning his head in Lilou's direction only to flash her a grin. Lilou breathed out, nodding at Claude before setting her attention back to Aries. The two of them nodded, and then they cast their respective husband stern look.

"Abel, we have no choice," said Aries, only to hear an expected dialogue from him;

"We always have a choice, darling." Abel cocked his head to the side. His expression was arrogant.

"If we do, why don't you share your suggestion?" Aries inquired, trying her best not to sound sarcastic. "I would love to hear it."

"Well…" Abel ran his tongue across his inner cheek and cast Samael a quick look.

"I already gave my suggestion, which they obviously turned down," Samael remarked the second he met his uncle's eyes. "Though I want to stick with it, I'm afraid I'd have to sleep in the other room tonight if I speak further."

You were on your own, was what Samael truly meant by that. Abel got the message. Knowing he got no allies anymore since Claude gave in to his auntie's charm, Abel smacked his lips and snapped his eyes back to Aries.

"How about I kill them?" he suggested arrogantly. "It'll be quick."

"I can go with him!" Samael intoned, raising a hand as a volunteer to accompany Abel.

"Why do you make it sound like you're just going to run an errand?" Claude scrunched his face in dismay, darting his eyes between Abel and Samael. "If it was that easy, we wouldn't be sitting here talking about it."

"That is right. You two are not barbarians," Lilou added, shaking her head mildly. "Are you even listening to what we said?"

"I can repeat everything word for word if you like." Abel grinned, winking at Samael. The latter sported a grin of approval, only to hide his smile when his wife's gaze fell on him.

"How stupid," murmured Samael, signaling his wife to stay away from Abel. "Don't talk to him, love. He thinks with his fist."

"Sometimes, with his dick," Claude muttered to himself, and fortunately, no one heard. Or rather, they just ignored his comment.

"Abel." Aries let out a deep exhale, waiting for Abel to focus on her again. "Even if we all agree, we still need your approval and voluntary agreement on this."

"That's right!" This time, Conan couldn't hold his tongue anymore. "You kept claiming to be the reliable and rich big brother! We need your assistance in this!"

"Right…" Claude rocked his head, casting Rufus — Fabian's brother — a look. "Right?"

Rufus shot Claude a cursory look but said nothing. Instead, he kept quiet and waited for how this first family would conclude.

Aries pressed her lips into a thin line, revealing the sincerity in her eyes. "Please," she whispered, holding Abel's gaze with no intention of looking away.

Abel assessed his wife's face in silence before scanning everyone present in Samael's workshop. Except for Tilly, who didn't have any contribution to the discussion aside from being present, and Samael, everyone was looking back at him with anticipation.

"Do what you want," Abel spoke after a moment, looking back at Aries. "However, you'd never hear me say yes in this, darling."

"And why is that?"

"Because I don't like it." Abel kept his answer simple and short. "I don't remember the time I didn't let you loose in every level of hell we are in, darling. It'll be the same in these goddamn pits of hell. However, this time, I will only allow you to do what you want and I'd do mine."

"And what are you going to do?"

The corner of Abel's lips stretched, peeling his eyes away from his wife to his sister, Tilly. "Why don't you ask her?"

Everyone furrowed their brows, shifting their attention to Tilly. Tilly, who was eating a biscuit quietly and slowly, stopped. She lifted her head, only to see multiple pairs of eyes cast upon her.

Tilly blinked before she lazily looked back at Abel.

"They're asking what I'd do, sister. I told them to ask you since you're my sister and you might know." Abel shrugged, summarizing the reason for the attention on Tilly.

"Let him be." Tilly's voice was small and soft, looking away from his arrogant big brother. "And stick to Lilou's plan. Abel has better things to do."

"Err… like?" Claude blurted out, intrigued.

"Claiming the title that my father passed on to him in the House of Lords." Everyone stared blankly at Tilly while Abel smirked. Aries furrowed her brows as if she had recalled one crucial detail.

"The title of the Marquess," Conan whispered as if he also remembered something, snapping his eyes back to Abel. "You'll take the legal title and reinstate this house?!"

The corner of Abel's lips stretched even wider until his teeth were showing. "I don't see any reason I shouldn't. You should also return to that palace, dearest Conan. The blood hierarchy had lost its value, but titles are precious in this land — it seems."