The Tyrant's Pet

The knights announced Aries's presence before they heard a voice from the inside, giving them permission to let her in. Aries curtsied for formality the second she stepped foot inside the office before Joaquin told her to take a seat on the divan while he settled things with Hernan.

She waited for Joaquin to finish from the futon, watching him talk to his adviser. Joaquin looked normal whenever he was working, and hearing them talk about the state of affairs that didn't include deaths or schemes was quite a refreshing sight to behold.

When Joaquin dismissed Hernan, he arched a brow and gazed at the set of seats around the coffee table. His lips curled up the second his eyes met with hers. She had been watching him, and that look in her eyes held a faint admiration.

"Now that I think about it, we usually meet in our chamber and meals." He knocked on the desk and stood from his seat, only to prop his bottom against the edge of the front side of the desk. He folded his arm under his chest, eyes on the woman sitting daintily on the futon.

"I don't think I had ever watched you immersed yourself in your mountain of paperwork," he continued as his eyes fastened in amusement, thinking there were more things they hadn't seen in each other. "Now, I'm intrigued."

"Was watching me glare at the mountain of documents worth it to waste your precious time?" she humored. "But I was pleased to have a glimpse of how my husband works hard. He is quite charming, I must admit."

Joaquin chuckled. "Is he?"

"If I've seen him while he is in the middle of work before I married him, I would surely dream about him."

"Have you recovered?" he asked after chuckling at her remarks. "I hope you do because it's quite cold and warming up sounds truly enticing."

"You can check my stitches and be the judge." She shrugged. "I do not want to take sole responsibility."

Joaquin pressed his lips into a thin line while looking at her. If he wasn't thinking about her well-being, he would've pounced on her after coming into his office to tease him. Also, this was her first time visiting him, so it was quite the perfect time to add some romance. However, they had plans and he couldn't put his lust before that plan.

"Never mind." He shrugged and pulled his bottom away from the desk to her. The second he plopped down beside her, his hand crawled over the backrest, eyes on her.

"I can wait and I do not want to deter your recovery just because I am itching to get my hands all over your body," he remarked with a teasing smirk. "How are you faring, my wife?"

"I am alright..." Aries trailed off and bit her tongue. "Well, you hadn't been visiting recently. So, I thought of visiting you."

"How sweet. Did I worry you?"

"Knowing you, getting worried is foolish."

He arched a brow and cocked his head to the side. "Then why are you here?" he asked, playing with the tip of her hair.

"Guess." She zipped her lips and smiled playfully.

"Mhm... you need something?" His lips stretched broader than the golden gates when she rolled her eyes. "Circe. I've been using my head every second of every day and I do not have time for riddles."

"Should I start speaking slower now, then?"

"Haha... funny." He laughed weakly, gazing at her straight in the eye. "But I want to hear it, Circe. I want to hear the reason coming from those lips."

Aries pursed her lips and let out a shallow breath. Averting her eyes, she whispered, "I came because I missed you." Her voice lowered at the last three words, barely audible.

"I didn't hear you."

"Joaquin." Aries raised her eyes back to him and huffed before she repeated louder. "I said it's because I missed you."

She clicked her tongue in irritation. "Are you happy now?"

"You don't have to be angry about it, Circe." He chuckled, tucking her hair behind her ear. She glanced at him and sighed, only to see his gentle countenance, whose eyes bore with nothing but affection.

"Was it too much to ask to hear such affectionate words from my wife?" he wondered in a quiet voice, smiling weakly, batting his eyes ever so tenderly. "It is not like I will criticize you for expressing your fondness for me."

Joaquin let out a deep exhale and moved closer, resting his head on her shoulder and circling his arms around her waist. He pulled her closer but avoided touching her wound underneath her dress. Aries forced her muscles to relax, knowing he would know if she stiffened at his touch.

"I was exhausted, Circe, and I appreciate your gesture for visiting me because you missed me," he crooned, blinking weakly, unafraid of showing his exhausted state. "I would've kissed you right then and there, but kissing you will make it hard for me to stop. It was better if I conducted myself decently, so we can prepare your body to bear a child."

Aries gazed down at him, surprise apparent in her eyes. 'Was he terrified of committing the same 'mistake?' she wondered, but her surprise slowly shifted to anger but disappeared as quickly as to how it resurfaced. 'Does he still consider it as a mere mishap?'

"Once everything is settled, I will return to you and give you my undivided time," he promised in a gentle voice, smiling at the thought of starting his own family with his beloved wife.

There was a moment of silence between them before Aries leaned the side of her head against him. She raised her hand and patted the back of his shoulder lightly.

"Joaquin... how was the seventh prince?" she asked, causing his brows to raise at her out-of-the-blue inquiry. "I wished for you to return, Joaquin. However, I had been... bothered by the people lingering around you."

Her eyes glinted. "I think the seventh prince, Roman, is the mole we've been looking for."