"Uh."
Aries frowned when she only saw Joaquin open his mouth slightly, but didn't answer. She glanced at Davien and then at Curtis, and huffed.
"Excuse me," she said, patting Davien's chest using the back of her hand. "It's my time to act as the knight in a white horse who saved a beautiful damsel in distress."
Aries winked mischievously and pranced past Davien. The latter rolled his eyes, feeling his head throb at his devious sister. Meanwhile, Curtis just laughed at Davien's expense and then glanced at Aries back. A shallow breath slipped past Curtis's lips as his smile lines faded when Aries approached Joaquin, whom they believed was the victim here.
"Are you hurt?" asked Aries as soon as she stood in front of Joaquin. When the man didn't reply and just kept staring at her, she bobbed her face to examine him. Seeing no visible wounds or bruises, she heaved a sigh of relief and patted her chest.
"It seems you're alright." She nodded with a kind smile.
Joaquin took a moment to recover from the beauty right in front of him. She was gorgeous from afar, like a star shining the brightest, but beyond anyone's reach. But she was even more beautiful up close. He could imagine himself using all the praises he knew to describe her, but he was certain his vocabulary wasn't enough to give justice to her beauty.
"Thank you," came out a low and magnetic voice, offering a subtle smile to her. "If you didn't come, I'll be in trouble. You are amazing."
She smiled, cupping her blushing cheek. His brows rose when Aries punched his chest mildly.
"Gosh… do you think your praise makes me happy?" she was nearly squealing like a little girl, making Davien and Curtis shake their heads.
"She never learns how to deal with compliments," Curtis breathed out while Davien was already at a loss of words for his sister.
"I'm not amazing… at least, not that much… goodness, you!" she continued, punching Joaquin's chest mildly, but quicker. The latter blinked twice before the side of his lips stretched, chuckling at the silliness of the woman.
At first, she was akin to a demoness, about to drag everyone back to hell with her. And then, she was acting like a brat in front of her brother and friend while they scold her. Now, she was akin to a little girl, who was clearly happy with the praise but denying it shamelessly.
Joaquin had never met such a beguiling lady, but one thing was for sure, this silly young lady had caught not just his attention, but his eyes, and his heart, as well.
At that moment, Joaquin already knew what he wanted: HER.
One incident was led to another.
Thanks to Joaquin's intel, he was able to track Aries's movements, and hence, he would see her frequently, which she believed was all coincidence. Every meeting with her was the highlight of his day, and because of her kind and carefree nature, he managed to befriend her.
Aries, despite being a princess, was different from all the princesses Joaquin had met in his life. Even his little sister Inez, who was the beloved flower in the Maganti Empire, couldn't compete with her.
Aries preferred wearing men's clothing; she liked swords and her skill in archery was better than most knights. Despite her natural gifts, Aries never slacked and used her free time to hone her skills whilst sharpening her mind.
Admirable was an understatement. She was exceptional, phenomenal, and carry a beauty that was just so otherworldly.
The people of Rikhill admired her just as sincerely as the crown prince Davien. Some were even rooting for her to win the title of the heir, despite being a woman.
The more Joaquin grew closer to her, the more his budding feelings bloomed. But alas, she had only seen him as a friend. No matter how he wanted to go closer, there was just this invisible and unbreakable wall that he just couldn't break through.
Was it because she knew he was a commoner?
Joaquin had pondered about this thought many times at the stagnant progress of his friendship with her. And the more this wall separating her and him grew familiar, Joaquin would sod whenever Curtis and Davien were around who often took her attention.
Jealousy arose in his heart every time he would look at her and she was smiling, especially in front of those two.
Joaquin was a man, so he understood a man's heart. Davien might not have any romantic feelings for Aries, but in Joaquin's twisted brain, it was possible. Intermarriage was still allowed in other places, and the laws could be bent anytime.
Although this was all hypothetical, what Joaquin was certain of was that Curtis… was the same as Joaquin. That man was in love with Aries. But unlike Curtis, who was already satisfied with being just her friend, Joaquin was different.
Joaquin thought if she knew he was the crown prince, she would understand that he was worthy of her love. But he was wrong. Instead of accepting him, Aries grew wary of him and grew distant, doubting their friendship and his intention for going incognito and staying in the land of Rikhill.
He was patient — he tried to.
He wanted to show her his sincerity and gain her clemency for hiding his identity. Although Joaquin was successful in gaining her trust after weeks of 'courtship' (which she never thought it was), Joaquin asked for her hand in marriage.
"I fell in love with you at first sight," Joaquin confessed, standing before her in the middle of the garden in the inner west palace. "And you never left my mind since."
He reached for her hand and smiled at her lovingly. "Marry me, Aime."
"What?" her brows furrowed, trying to digest this sudden proposal, which she thought was just a casual walk.
"Marry me," he repeated with a smile. "I may not make you my empress, but I will love you dearly. I'm marrying you because I love you…"
Aries lowered her eyes as his voice sounded more distant, unable to digest all this ridiculous proclamation of love. He wanted her, but he was saying he wouldn't make her his empress? Not that Aries have such an ambition, but anyone with a sound mind would find this ridiculous.
Moreover, Joaquin knew she had been competing with Davien all this time for the title of the heir. What was he babbling about?
Amid the confusion, Aries snatched her hand from him and looked at him in dismay. She shook her head, opening and closing her mouth like a fish. When she recovered her voice, she only spat out one word.
"No." Aries wanted to say more, but instead, she took a step back before leaving without a word of explanation. If only she knew that that action of her and her refusal was the trigger to drive him crazy, she would've chosen to answer carefully.
But Aries… wasn't aware that Joaquin would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. She wasn't aware that she was the only one whom he tried to get without using force, but her refusal and the audacity of the king for negotiating with the Maganti led Joaquin to the methods he was so familiar with.
And thus, the reason they were on this podium, watching the execution of those who opposed Joaquin.
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