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"Yes?"

Aries raised her head and paused in cutting the rose stem in the pavilion of the Sapphire Palace, her usual spot to kill time since she had nothing else to do. She watched Joaquin advance in her direction, perching on the chair across from her with a document in his hand.

"This is rare. You never see me during the day," she expressed, a bit surprised as she gazed at the man with genuine wonder in her eyes.

He tipped his head to the side, shrugging. "Am I, perhaps, bothering my wife?"

"Depends on the reason for your visit."

"Is missing you a valid reason?"

She bit her lip, suppressing her lips from curling up. "Well, the weather feels nice today, and it uplifts my spirit. You passed, barely." She narrowed her eyes while he laughed, watching him shake his head.

"So, what\'s the real reason behind the visit?" she asked when he recovered, knowing Joaquin wouldn\'t bother seeing her in the day as his role as a husband was only during the night. He should\'ve called himself a male escort since being a husband was simply playing under the sheet for him.

"Well, since you will soon get your hands on your official duties as the crown princess, I prepared you a list of candidates for your lady-in-waiting." Joaquin raised the document in his hand, placing it in front of her, and then beckoned her to check it.

"You could\'ve sent someone else to deliver this." Her brow arched as she slowly reached for the documents, keeping her eyes on him.

"I\'m keeping my word of becoming a better husband," he argued in a knowing tone. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"Hmm… nothing. I\'m just surprised, that\'s all." Aries checked the profile of remarkable noble ladies in the empire compiled inside.

Each and everyone had remarkable merits, making Aries nod as all their achievements and even their portraits were in their profiles. However, no matter how pleasant and commendable that was written in it, all these people were Joaquin\'s people. He was putting all his pawns around her, and that was for sure.

"They\'re amazing ladies in the empire indeed," she praised while Joaquin studied her in silence, arms crossed. His eyes narrowed as he glanced at the page she was reading before raising his eyes once again.

Meanwhile, Aries kept her breathing calm as she reached a page where a familiar face was drawn in it. Fortunately, she experienced enough jump scare and intense training during foreplay with Abel that she kept a stoic face.

\'I wonder what he\'ll say if I chose this woman?\' she wondered, flipping the next page as she didn\'t give this one even an extra second. \'Is he expecting me to lose it just because he let me see a traitor\'s face?\'

Aries remained silent, throwing praises here and there until she reached the last page. When she did, she raised her head and sported her usual smile at him.

"Did you find anyone to your liking?" he asked with interest.

"They\'re all amazing ladies, and I will be lying if I say it\'s easy to pick. Will you recommend me one?" she returned, tilting her head to the side. "If you are in here, trying to become a better husband, I would like to hear my husband\'s opinion before I make a decision."

Joaquin rocked his head as he leaned forward, resting his arm against the edge of the round marble table. While he hummed, Aries handed over the documents so he could pick his candidate for her. He took it and picked four pages, laying them over the table, their faces facing Aries.

"In terms of status and social reputation, this one will help you in high society…" Joaquin pointed at the first document while speaking their strong points. Aries listened, nodding in understanding as everything that was coming out of his mouth were things that weren\'t written.

"And this…" he paused as he raised his eyes, holding her gaze. "Although Countess Lloyd came from another land and married the Earl of Carballo, she doesn\'t lack or is less than those others who were born and raised in the empire. Personally, I think Countess Lloyd will be a good choice since she used to be an alien. She will be a huge help since she will understand your situation and has built many connections."

"Countess Lloyd, huh?" Aries rocked her head as she picked up the document Joaquin suggested. She looked at it and skimmed the written merits under her name, smacking her lips right after as she faced Joaquin.

"Then I\'ll listen to your suggestion." She smiled kindly, placing the document on top of the table. "I truly appreciate your input, Your Highness."

Joaquin didn\'t respond for a second and just stared at her until she spoke.

"She isn\'t your mistress, is she?" she asked bluntly, throwing him off his concentration. "Please do let me know if you had a past together. I will not get upset with you. I promise."

He laughed weakly. "No. All the lists of candidates are clean. I respect their husbands."

"That\'s reassuring to hear, then." She nodded, pleased that she didn\'t have to worry about a snake that would fawn around her husband. "Then, if we don\'t have a problem with Countess Lloyd, we\'ll go with her. It\'s an advantage that she can assist me in adjusting faster. Actually, I think doing my official duties will be a good distraction for me since it\'s lonely to stay in the garden all day long."

"But the rest is what you need." His eyelashes fluttered every so tenderly and in a mindful tone he said, "once you started doing your official duties, times like this will be rare."

"That is why I am not complaining, but at the same time, I am someone who enjoys doing productive things. Arranging the vases had been therapeutic, but it\'s better to prepare myself for the state matters before sitting behind the desk instantly."

"Well, make sense." Joaquin rocked his head, being rational like always, as he pondered on what benefit he could get. He glanced at her once again and offered with a smile;

"How about you visit me tomorrow in the emperor\'s palace? If I remember correctly, you hadn\'t had a proper tour around there since our wedding. It\'s good if you get yourself familiar with your workplace beforehand."

She smiled in satisfaction. "That\'s a great idea, Your Highness."

"Then I\'ll see you tomorrow?" he raised his brows. "I\'ll be sending a personal invitation to the countess, so you do not need to worry about it."

Aries pressed her lips and huffed, leaning forward while fluttering her eyelashes coquettishly. "I\'m close to thinking you truly meant it when you say you want to become a better husband."

"Because I am sincere, Circe." He winked, inducing waves of laughter from her. "My words had always been my bond, and I do not want to disappoint my wife again."

The two exchanged flatteries and spent an afternoon tea together. Little did Aries know, while she was busy indulging with him just so he could get a whiff of her scent, the people in Haimirich were in chaos — almost in total shambles.