Conan asked Aries before she set off in Maganti. His words were, "I understand the crown prince should fall slowly, but can't you just poison the rest?"
Aries remembered the curiosity in his eyes while the side of her lips curled up into a smirk. Conan was the person who preferred ending or settling things in the most efficient and fastest way.
Her answer was, "I am poisoning them," and then chuckled when his brows creased, so she clarified. "I am a venomous wench, am I not?"
A poison that could blind. A drug that would make them lose their minds, a foul heathen that would corrupt them with her beauty... and then castrate them.
After everything she had done to reach this far, Aries was now ready to strum their heartstrings. To strip them all bare just the same wicked way they ripped her clothes and defiled her innocence.
Just the same way. No more, no less.
"Circe..." Aries blinked and a tear instantly rolled down her cheek while Joaquin wiped it gently. "Forgive me for not knowing your sufferings."
She leaned her cheek against his palm, teary eyes on him. "I am disgusting, Joaquin. How am I --"
"Don't say that." Joaquin shook his head as he raised his other hand and held her other jaw. He searched for her eyes, nodding encouragingly at her.
"You're my wife and what happened to you doesn't make you anything less," he affirmed, containing his anger just so she could calm down. "I am here and I will protect you."
Aries hiccuped as she squeezed his hand. "Joaquin..."
"I understand why you didn't say a word. You kept your silence for me..." his lips curled up bitterly, wiping her tears with his thumb. "I should be the one who needs to feel shame, for my wife had sacrificed in silence for me."
"What are we going to do now, Joaquin? I'm scared." Aries squeezed his hand even tighter until it trembled. "This isn't just like Carlos. My name is tied with this and who would believe an outsider --"
"Circe." His jaw tightened as he ground his teeth. "You're not an outsider anymore. You are my wife and an Imperial."
She bit her lower lip to stop them from quivering, hearing his silent sigh. His eyes were burning, but his voice was gentle and sympathetic. It only showed Joaquin... had changed for her. It wasn't a change for the good or bad, but a personal change exclusively for her.
"I will protect you and I will say this repeatedly until you believe me," he reassured, but only bitterness filled her eyes.
"Words aren't enough, Joaquin. You need to do something," she stressed through her gritted teeth. "I need actions, Joaquin. This will destroy me, and it is driving me crazy."
He held his breath, understanding where this desperation and fear were coming from. What his wife confessed would not only put the royal family under the spotlight, but it would surely make them a laughingstock. It was far different from the scandal about Carlos.
However, even if the crown princess didn't ask for anything, her confession was enough to anger him. He was simply holding back because his wife was still recovering. He cared for her and that was the truth and nothing but the truth.
"Come here," he called under his breath, pulling her gently into his embrace. Joaquin rubbed her back carefully while she clutched his back with her chin over his shoulder.
"Do you trust me?" he asked, and it took several seconds before she nodded. "Then will you trust me with my plan?"
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"Keep meeting her." Her mouth fell open as all the colors on her face turned white when he answered. Joaquin held her shoulder and squeezed them lightly, staring her in the eye.
"I swear to God I hate this just as much as you, Circe. However, I can't think about any other resolution other than this," he explained helplessly.
"You want me to keep meeting someone like her? And relive with my fear and trauma?" she asked in disbelief, a reaction he had expected. "Joaquin, how can you sing your devotion and love to me if you are pushing me to return to something you know can kill me?"
"Circe, please listen to me and understand." Joaquin squeezed her shoulder lightly. "This isn't as simple as silencing someone. I had enemies. The current state of affairs and the matters regarding the Valiente are already too much to handle at the same time. We always needed reasons — a strong one. You know that."
A shallow breath slipped past his lips. "Don't let this rattle you and lose your judgment. My wife is the woman who can put a man on a death row out of it with just mere words." He smiled subtly and nodded.
"I need that Circe. I need you to be strong now of all times," he added under his breath.
Aries pursed her lips into a thin line, keeping her silence for an entire minute. The two of them simply looked at each other and he was patiently waiting for her answer.
"I understand." She breathed out and nodded. "I will stomach it and trust you."
"Good girl." He heaved a sigh of relief, bending over until his forehead was resting over her. "I will make sure no one will ever touch you again. You're mine and she dared..."
Aries lowered her eyes, inhaling his heated breaths, and got a whip of the mixed scent of wine and tobacco. "She will harm you."
"She will never be successful." Joaquin slowly drew his head back and held her hand. "I promise. Touching my bottom line is the last thing anyone would want, and she just did it."
His lips curled as he raised her hand and placed a peck on her knuckles. "I won't let her get away with it."
"Thank you, Joaquin," Aries whispered and collapsed into his embrace. She raised her head, resting her chin over his shoulder. Unlike her pitiful expression, her eyes narrowed dangerously as the side of her lips curled up.
"No problem, my love." Joaquin smiled while patting her back. However, for some reason, he caught something from the corner of his eyes. When he moved his eyes towards it, it landed on a cabinet stand. His eyes slowly widened when he caught the smirk on her face reflecting from it.
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