Chapter 641 Contentment

"Darling, let's give them a lovely last image, shall we?"

Aries pressed her lips into a thin line while the loud request to see the two of them intimately grew louder. She rocked her head mildly, seeing his lips stretch broader. She slowly closed her eyes when he tilted his head and bent over.

Another loud roar exploded the second their lips touched. When their lips parted, Aries smiled, seeing the genuine satisfaction on his face as if he was very pleased.

"Did you always want to do that?" she asked with a brief chuckle.

"Always." Abel kept his arm around her waist. "I've always desired to gloat and let everyone know how lucky I was."

? "No, I was the lucky one." Her eyes softened, holding his gentle gaze.

"I am, darling," he argued playfully, making her chuckle.

"If you're going to do it again, just do it and make the people happy."

"I never thought of making people happy will ever please me," he humored with a wink. "But do I make you happy? Were you just as happy as I am?"

"If you don't, I wouldn't be standing here in front of thousands of people with you."

Pleased with her answer, Abel moved his head to claim her lips again. They smiled against each other's lips, giggling before facing the excited crowd.

Aries's brows rose, glancing at him when she felt his hand slipping through the gaps of her fingers. Her eyes softened, holding his hand back as they waved at the countless people celebrating their union.

Abel and Aries had always been sneaking, meeting secretly, and had been pretending. But now, they didn't have to do all that hassle with all the support they were getting.

Their forbearance had paid off.

Meanwhile, as the people's voices continued to echo, eyes on the platform where the emperor and empress were standing, one person wearing a thick cloak with a hood over the head was walking away. The person was tossing and catching a black trinket that had dried blood on it, a silver ring with a distinct skull on it around his index glinting under the mild sun.

Looking back to the platform, and catching the emperor and empress leaving the platform, the person's lips curled up into a wide smile.

******

"Aren't you having too much wine, darling?"

Aries snapped her eyes at Abel, who was sitting on his throne right beside hers. After they entered the palace, they were given time to change clothes for the banquet and the endless ceremony along with it. Despite that, they had greeted the nobles invited for this royal banquet and Aries had chosen Climaco as her personal knight — the captain of the empress knighthood brigade — what she felt in the plaza never left her mind.

"It's a wonderful day and it'll be a shame not to celebrate it," she humored with a playful smile. "Am I restricted to have fun and relax for a bit?"

Abel simpered, reaching for her face, and brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. Her cheeks were in a bright shade of red, complimenting her fair complexion. Her blinks were languid, her eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

How gorgeous!

"I just don't want you to sleep on our first night together," he remarked in a low tone, feeling his entire body relax under her gaze.

The music playing in the background created a warm and cozy ambiance. The occasional giggles and chattering from the guests added a much lighter mood. Others regaled in the music, dancing in the hall, their passionate eyes were kept exposed.

Everyone was jubilant, happy, and passionate, just like the hosts of this banquet.

"Tonight… is not our first night, Abel," Aries giggled, setting her twinkling eyes at the group of young ladies and men dancing in sync. Their dresses glimmered under the chandeliers, and men's neat formal suits didn't pale in comparison.

What a pleasing sight to behold.

"As the empress and the emperor?" he returned, watching her look back at him. "I've always made love with you like it was the first time, darling. It's always a first for me."

Aries fluttered her eyelashes ever so tenderly, tilting her head slightly. Her lips curled up into a subtle smile.

"That's right," she whispered, recalling the countless passionate nights and days in his embrace. "Our compatibility in the bed is… phenomenal."

"I know."

"I remember our first."

"Good times."

"Our second… third, fourth, fifth, and then the rest."

"They're just as fun as the first."

"And hot as hell."

Abel smirked as a sharp glint flashed across his eyes. She was looking at him, her passionate desire clear in her eyes that gave them a different luster and added to her allure.

"Do you think you can stand?" he asked, causing her brows to raise.

"Well, of course, I am. I am not drunk."

"Well, if that is the case…" Abel slowly rose from his throne and stood in front of her throne with an open hand. "Can I have this dance, my empress?"

Aries chuckled. "Are we mandated to dance?"

"Depends if I told you." His lips curled up into a smirk. "But I'm asking you. You can refuse and I will go back to my seat, but the people are watching. Please do not break my heart."

Abel arched his brow and glanced over his shoulder, noticing the growing attention on his back. The emperor had stood up from his throne to ask the empress for a dance. Of course, everyone would notice. He never stands up from that chair unless it was time for him to leave.

"I do not have the heart to break it," she returned with a giggle, taking his hand as a gesture of accepting his invitation for a dance.

As the emperor assisted the empress down the stairs, the crowd dancing in the hall slowly and elegantly made way. The orchestra also played a different tune that was much slower and romantic the moment the emperor and empress stood in the middle, facing each other.

Everyone bore a smile as they watched the emperor snake his arm around her slender waist, his other hand holding her other hand. And along with the mellow tune, they danced their first dance for the night without taking their eyes off each other.

This wasn't the first time they danced together, but this time without a mask to conceal their identities.

Abel couldn't ask for more.