The Tyrant's Pet

"Bring the crown princess a glass of water."

Joaquin glanced at the maid, who returned with them while he escorted Aries back to the Sapphire Palace. Since everyone helped put out the fire, they somehow calmed it down. So when they were certain it wouldn't spread, he escorted his wife back to the Sapphire Palace for her to rest for the night.

"Thank you," Aries expressed, sitting on the edge of the mattress and smiling meekly at him. Joaquin perched on her side, nodding at her as a response. "Will you stay for the night?"

"As much as I want to, I have a duty to make sure everything is in order." He sighed and raised his hand to her side, brushing her cheek with his thumb. "I'll visit you once things settled down."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "I know," cradling his wrist, keeping her eyes on him. "Joaquin, is there something going on I must know about?"

"There's none that is worthy of your concern."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. Everything is under control," he affirmed with a slight nod. "Just rest for tonight. With everything that took place tonight, I'll be busy in a few days. I'll see you when I had the time."

Aries simply looked at him while biting her inner lower lip. Her lips parted, but then she closed them again before she nodded reluctantly.

"Alright," she breathed out, averting her eyes away from him.

Seeing her expression and how she fought herself from probing more was so realistically believable that Joaquin momentarily forgot the person who owned this face. The thought of Aries being possibly involved didn't even cross his head as there wasn't the slightest hint she was involved.

He let out another sigh and cupped her cheeks. Joaquin searched for her eyes and only spoke when he held her gaze.

"I have everything under control," he repeated reassuringly. "You don't have to worry about anything. Trust me."

"I… just promise me one thing, Joaquin." Aries sported a mixed expression as she held his wrist. "You can tell me anything if things are going bad for you. I'll surely help you with all my power. Although I am now your wife, one word from me and my brother will surely extend his hand to help you."

"This might sound rude, and I didn't mean to question your competence. All I'm saying is we had our options. I'm your ally at the end of the day," she added sincerely.

The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Joaquin nodded. Of course, what she remarked was rude and could be perceived differently, but he understood his wife was simply being sincere. It was a good alternative at the end of the day.

"I'll keep that in mind." Joaquin glanced at the maid, who returned with a glass of water. "For now, rest. You'll need it for tomorrow."

Aries just nodded as an answer, raising her head when Joaquin pushed himself up. The latter gazed down at her once again before patting her head mildly. After he reminded the maid to make sure that the crown princess should be comfortable, Joaquin left without ever looking back at her.

Meanwhile, Aries remained silent as she kept her eyes on his back. When Joaquin was out of sight, she sported a subtle smile as she gazed at the maid, who was handing her the glass of water.

"You can now leave me. I'll be fine."

"Yes, Your Highness."

With that being said, the maid left to fulfill the crown princess' wish. Gertrude was helping Curtis settle, so the maid had to make sure to please Aries for her to get noticed.

Once alone, Aries finally breathed out in relief. She placed the glass of water on the nightstand before throwing herself back onto the bed.

"What a night," she exclaimed, tossing an arm to cover her eye, leaving one open. Slowly, the side of her lips curled up into a sinister grin, biting her bottom lip to suppress her laughter.

Oh, how she enjoyed tonight's activities. But what delighted her the most was the thought of tomorrow.

"The fun had just begun." Aries reached her hand out. "This isn't the worst that will come in your way."

Her lips stretched until her teeth were showing, a smile that rarely appeared on her face from someone who was used to smiling with her lips closed. It was satisfying to see Joaquin contain his anger while coaxing his wife, whom he saw as one of his many options. Aries just had to make sure he was aware she was also his option.

Doesn't matter if she was the first or the last. So long as he was aware, her plans would still be in motion.

'Everything… slowly but surely, will be put in their place and before he knows it, it'll be checkmate.' Her slightly squinting eyes glinted once again before she cover her eyes to rest. 'Tonight will probably be the second night I'd be able to rest peacefully.'

Aries covered her eyes entirely with her arm while chuckling.

Knock… knock…

Her brow arched, peeling her arm away from her eye and looking in the window. It was a bird — not Morro — knocking its beak on the window. Aries tilted her head before she pushed herself up and flung her legs out towards the window. When she opened the window, she was met with a gust that had the scent of smoke from the fire in the eighth prince quarter.

"What is it?" she wondered, untying the huge roll tied around the bird's feet. As soon as it came off, the bird fluttered its wings and flew away, leaving a feather behind. Aries simply glanced at it before setting her eyes back on the rolled paper in her hand.

For reasons unknown, Aries carefully opened the letter before the side of her lips curled up into a smirk. Her eyes fell on the words;

[ I kept this, but I didn't know what to do with it, so I thought you can use it to its full potential. It is not much for what you had done to me and my children, but it may come in handy in the future. I sincerely pray for your safety, Your Highness.

Violet ]

Aries snapped her eyes and gazed at her right hand. Inside the rolled parchment was a seal, and inside the letter was something it would come in handy in the future.

"Oh, Violet… if only you're a little ambitious…" she smirked as her eyes glinted, because surely what Violet left would come in handy.