Ares despised Vincent.
If anyone overheard, they might dismiss it as jealousy over Vincent’s friendship with his wife. But it wasn’t jealousy—not even close. There was something about Vincent that set off an instinctive, simmering distrust. Others described him as angelic, a man of grace and charm, but to Ares, Vincent was nothing more than a snake slithering through murky waters. So whenever Kirine defended Vincent, it only stoked Ares’s irritation.
Finally, his frustration spilled over. “Then what about me? What am I to you?”
The question slipped out before he could stop it, a fleeting moment of vulnerability that surprised even him. Yet, deep down, he needed the answer. Did he even mean anything to her? Maybe he was afraid she’d say it didn’t matter. But her answer surprised him.
“You’re my husband,” she said plainly, as if stating the most obvious fact in the world. Yet, the simple words grounded him, offering a small but undeniable relief. At least he wasn’t nothing to her.
“Well,” he muttered, trying to keep his voice steady, “as long as you know that.”
A faint laugh escaped her, a sound that was both incredulous and amused.
She found him impossible to understand, no matter how hard she tried.
***
“Sasha, this is a friend of Mommy’s,” Kirine said, introducing Vincent as they picked up Sasha from school. Sasha glanced briefly in the direction Kirine pointed, gave Vincent a quick look, then nodded.
“Yeah, I know,” she said, her tone flat.
Kirine nearly asked how Sasha knew but held back, gently patting Sasha’s head. “Mommy’s friend wanted to come and see you. Don’t you want to say hello?”
“Hello…” Sasha mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper, before slipping behind Ares.
Smart kid, Ares thought, silently pleased with her reaction. Without needing any encouragement, Sasha had instinctively distanced herself, and he couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. Trying to keep a neutral expression, he gave her shoulder a reassuring pat, hiding the faint smile tugging at his mouth.
But his satisfaction was fleeting.
“What are you staring at?” Ares asked, working to mask the irritation in his tone as Vincent’s intense stare lingered a second too long.
Vincent didn’t respond right away. His gaze shifted slowly between Ares, Sasha, and Kirine, head tilting in faint curiosity. “They don’t look much alike,” he commented.
“Vincent,” Kirine admonished softly.
“Oh, was that rude of me?” Vincent replied, feigning a look of apology.
But to Ares, it was anything but apologetic. “If you know it’s rude, maybe you should hold your tongue,” he shot back, struggling to keep his cool.
Were it not for Kirine’s friendship with Vincent, Ares wouldn’t have hesitated to grab him by the collar right then and there.
***
When is that guy leaving? Ares found himself thinking for the hundredth time.
Since Vincent had arrived, Ares had been constantly on edge, sighing in frustration every few minutes. Vincent was staying in quarters arranged by the Emperor and had left for a while to perform a blessing ceremony at the royal palace, giving Ares a brief respite—but not for long.
“Why did you call me here?” Ares asked, his voice already tinged with impatience.
Kirine glanced up from her work and motioned to the seat across from her. “Sit down.”
Without thinking, Ares obeyed, but the moment he took the seat, an uncomfortable sense of foreboding settled over him.
“I want to leave,” he muttered
Kirine looked at him, unfazed. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I just remembered I had something to do.”
“Your business is right here.”
Ares let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his hair. “So, why did you call me?” His voice was sharper now, clearly irritated.
“What do you think?”
He stared at her for a beat before realizing what she meant. His eyes widened in sudden realization. “…No way.”
Kirine didn’t respond, but instead, she placed a small vial on the table in front of him.
“This time, it won’t turn you into a child,” she said, her tone almost reassuring.
“Yeah, I’m not drinking it,” Ares shot back, his voice firm.
His refusal was even more resolute this time, but Kirine simply slid the vial closer to him, her intent clear—she wasn’t taking no for an answer.
Ares frowned, his gaze fixed on the vial. I really don’t want to do this. He hated the very idea of being turned into a boy again, and this time, with no idea what the potion might do… it only made the situation worse. The thought of losing control, of not knowing what might happen to him, filled him with dread.
Just then, a knock came at the door, followed by Cecil’s voice from outside. “Chief, there’s a message from the magic tool workshop.”
“Just a moment,” Kirine replied, her tone clipped as she stood up. She glanced at Ares and gave a quick instruction. “Stay here,” she said before leaving the room.
Ares remained seated, his eyes still on the vial. The door clicked shut behind her, and through the thin walls, he could hear the faint sounds of her conversation with Cecil, a brief exchange that barely reached his ears.
Ares’s gaze naturally drifted to the vial. This is my chance.