Seeing Aries sitting on the railing of the balcony, the maid panicked as she hurriedly assisted her back in. Like a carefree person, Aries simply giggled. It was evident that the slight panic she gave the servant distracted her from making her wonder about other things.
After that, the maid prepared water for Aries to wash her face and a change of clothes from her nightdress to indoor clothes. As the maid served her, Aries carefully studied her every movement and absorbed relevant information like a sponge.
Once she was prepared enough to dine in the dining hall, Aries happily followed the maid for breakfast. Although she kept a reserved demeanor, one could tell she was... radiating with positivity. It was as though every step she took brought colors to the already gorgeous estate.
"Brother?" Aries smiled as soon as she entered the dining hall, strutting her way in. Meanwhile, Dexter simply cast her a quick look, holding a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
"Good morning."
He quirked a brow, eyes still on Aries, sitting on the chair closest to his spot at the end of the long table. She changed, he thought. He had been spending a fair amount of time with Aries in the imperial palace, so he immediately distinguished the difference with her aura now and before.
'Was it because that man trespassed this place last night?' he wondered but didn't dwell on it.
"Did you have a great night?" he asked, breaking the ice while the servant served Aries some food.
"Yes! I had a good dream." She grinned happily, tucking her hair behind her ear. "It's been so long since I returned to the main residence. So, I was a little too excited to live under the same roof as you."
Dexter raised a brow. There was not a trace of deception in her voice; even her eyes told the same as her mouth.
"Don't be too excited. You still need to rest a lot so you fully recover," he reminded her, but Aries pouted and snapped her tongue.
"Brother... I am alright and doing better. This is why I had to stay in isolation for a long time, even though I was already getting better. You always worry." A deep sigh slipped past her lips, smiling at the maid who served her the food before the latter bowed and smiled back. "I am cured now! I will die out of boredom. I already dyed my hair! Do you want me to change the color of my eyes too? And add more body arts?"
"I'm just saying..." He shrugged indifferently while she picked up her cutlery.
p
When those words flew out of her lips, Dexter paused as he gazed at her briefly. Aries was still busy putting butter and sugar on her bread, prattling her complaints about him.
'The servants left,' was what came in his head, glancing around. And yet, Aries was still acting the same when she didn't need to.
"Brother?" she called, looking at him with genuine wonder in her eyes. "Is there something wrong?" she asked, holding the bread to her lips.
Aries chewed the bread with her eyes on him, blinking cluelessly. Staring and studying her for just a minute, Dexter was now hundred ten percent certain Aries was a great actress. If one didn't know, they would truly think Dexter and Aries had a wonderful relationship.
"Nothing." He shook his head. "It's nothing."
"Oh..." she rocked her head and continued eating.
Once again, Dexter cast her a look. Yet still, Aries didn't show the slightest hint she had anything else in mind. It looked real; everything... almost felt real.
"Do you like it?" he asked, watching her eat heartily.
"Mhm!" She smiled with a stuffed mouth, swallowing it down before she cleared her throat. "It's delicious. But what made it better is that I'm sharing a meal with you after so long."
"Stop it." This time, his voice was cold as his eyes glinted. "You don't have to keep up the act when no one is looking. I prefer it that way."
"Huh? You prefer what? Brother?" Aries tilted her head to the side, utterly confused at his remarks. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean..." he couldn't finish his sentence while exchanging eye contact with her. Instead, his brows knitted as his eyes narrowed.
"Hmm?" she hummed with anticipation, taking another bite while she waited.
"Nothing." He shook his head and sighed in defeat. "Forget what I said."
A frown resurfaced on her face as she looked at him as if he was a strange creature. "Brother, you keep saying weird things and then say it's nothing. Should I start worrying now?"
"You don't have to and don't talk with food in your mouth. Have you forgotten etiquette?"
"Of course. It hadn't been that long when I started enjoying food again." Aries rolled her eyes as she huffed. "I have to learn etiquette again since I almost forgot everything after being stuck in my room for a long time. Also, I'm thinking of changing my hair back to its original color."
She paused as a devious smile plastered across her face. "Brother, I have a long list of things I want. I'll behave, so can you...?"
"You..." His expression was dead, sporting a poker face while she smiled awkwardly.
"Please?"
Dexter briefly looked at her doe eyes before he sighed in defeat. He pinched the bridge of his nose, having a little headache at what she was trying to do by acting like this in front of him.
"Fine."
Her grin stretched even broader and brighter. "You're the best!"
In the end, Dexter could only sigh and shake his head, watching her happily devour her breakfast in high spirits. But her act didn't just stop there. Aries made sure to never let silence enter the dining hall, talking about her 'stay' in the private residence before coming in here and complaining every once in a while.
"Huh? You're done?" Aries inquired after a long time as Dexter placed the napkin beside his plate.
"Yes."
"You're leaving?" she frowned, watching him about to stand from his chair.
"Yes."
"Aww... but I'm not done yet."
"Stop talking and focus on your food." Dexter clicked his tongue faintly, pushing himself up. "I need to attend to some important matters."
"Will you join me for luncheon? Or... tea time, at least?" came out a quick follow-up inquiry, causing him to raise a brow. "How about dinner?"
His lips finally parted after several seconds. "Dinner."
"Alright. See you then." Aries grinned as she waved, watching him depart the dining hall. When he was by the door, Dexter glanced over his shoulder, only to see her resuming in eating.
'What's wrong with her?' he wondered before leaving the dining hall. 'What sort of tactic did she come up with this time?'
Aries kept slicing the meat on her plate and only stopped when the door completely closed. She slowly raised her head, eyes on where Dexter left.
The side of her lips slowly curled up into a smirk as her eyes glinted deviously. 'To deceive everyone here... doesn't that mean I only have one target, brother? You? Their master?' a delighted chuckle slipped past her lips as she shook her head.
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