The Tyrant's Pet

"… my favorite."

Aries's sharp countenance didn't change the slightest as she exhaled, keeping her eyes low while Joaquin retrieved his hand. He sneered at her one last time and straightened his back, saying nothing else as he walked past her. The look on his face as he departed the room was something as if he finally solved a mystery, putting him in high spirits as he was totally convinced the crown princess was Aries.

When he left, Aries stayed in the same spot for minutes before she let go of the rope.

"Leave me alone," she said, walking towards Curtis. "Before I change my mind and get you hanged."

The traumatized knight had to force himself to stand up and drag his feet away. He couldn't even look back as he exited the room, closing the door behind him. When he gazed at the other knights, who witnessed everything, his heart sank when they averted their eyes from him.

This was… was what was going on behind closed doors. The royal family, especially the crown prince, wasn't anything close to his public image. He was mad and twisted, and so was the crown princess. Both of them were crazy and the knight just came to know that, telling himself how foolish he was to feel exhilarate when Joaquin told them they would escort him today.

"You…" the knight trailed off, but he couldn't finish his sentence as he hung his head low, seeing that rope dangling down on his front. <strong>'This place is sickening.'</strong>

<strong>********</strong>

Aries stopped several steps away from Curtis and Gertrude. The room was dead silent until Gertrude mustered her courage to speak.

"Your Highness…" came out a shaking voice while tears shone in her eyes. "His Highness asked him to play, but Sir Curtis didn't kneel. He remained in his seat and even tried to stand upright after he was… after they dragged him out of the chair."

Gertrude bit her quivering lips as she raised her head to Aries. She was scared, terrified. She thought she was going to die when she was kicked while protecting Curtis' already beaten body.

To Gertrude's surprise, the side of Aries's lips slowly curled up as a glint flickered across her eyes.

"Your Highness?"

"I'm sorry you have to go through all that, Gertrude." Aries squatted down near Curtis and checked his pulse. "Can you stand up?"

"Ye — yes?"

"Call for the maids and physician to look after him," she ordered without taking her eyes off of Curtis, brushing the stray hairs away from his face. "I promised him no one will ever get to touch him, but it's inevitable since it's the crown prince."

Aries then raised her eyes at Gertrude. "Nevermind, Gertrude. I'll go ask them. Just stay there." She didn't wait for Gertrude to respond as she pushed herself up and marched towards the door.

The knights were still there, so Aries simply instructed one of them to summon the physician and servants while the other returned to the room with her to carry Curtis on the bed. When the servants arrived, they were already carrying first aid and water to clean the room. Gertrude rested on the divan, letting another servant help her clean her wound before the royal physician arrived.

While everyone got busy tending to Curtis and Gertrude and cleaning the blood on the floor without ever speaking a word, Aries remained silent on the armchair around the set of divans. She was simply watching everyone from that seat, ignoring the constant look from Gertrude and the stifling silence of the servants.

"Hah…" everyone froze for a second when her brief laughter broke the thick silence. "Hah… ha ha hahaha!"

As if she had gone mad, Aries's waves of laughter bounced across every corner of the room. And yet, everyone inside with her and listening to her maniacal touches of laughter could only squash down the sense of dread creeping into their hearts. Some, like Gertrude, snuck a puzzled look at her briefly, while others couldn't even dare.

"Ah… how fun," came out a perverted voice, biting her lower lip to stop herself from grinning like a maniac. "It seems my husband had gone… asinine. Just what did the third prince do to him for him to lose his mind in just a few days?"

No one answered as they all verbally agreed to pretend they couldn't hear her. Thus, while Aries was laughing and talking, everyone tried their best to continue what they were doing. But if they were going to answer, they would all say it wasn't just the crown prince who lost his mind, but also the crown princess!

It was not like everyone wasn't aware of Joaquin's temperament, but Aries's temperament still shocked everyone. She was legit mad. Who would laugh like this after an argument with her husband?

"So… interesting." She rocked her head, glancing at everyone, and smirking upon catching a few shivers the second they felt her gaze. "You lot…" she spoke and everyone held their breath, praying they wouldn't be the 'lucky' person who would catch her eyes.

"… better start learning to walk on your knees and hands." She smirked, humoring them to 'liven' up the mood. "Who knows when will my current pet will last? You need to adjust now while it's still early so it won't be hard when my husband and I start pampering whoever is the next one."

Such simple words uttered in a humorous manner still sent a chill down their spine. Even so, they got the message. They couldn't let Curtis die. Some glanced at Gertrude and saw her looking down. If not for that maid, Curtis would've died before Aries arrived.

They could already imagine what could've happened if Curtis died. One or two of them would have to replace his role.

Oh, how they missed those days when the crown prince and crown princess had a harmonious relationship. Now, everyone had to choose between them, but how? They were both mad destructive!

Aries chuckled as she read their thoughts with just their expression and body language.

"Make sure Curtis and Gertrude will get enough rest and attention." Aries planted her palms on the armrest and stood up. "If the crown prince returned or his men, risk your life and protect those two. You'll be rewarded sweetly."

She then paused in her tracks towards the door, tossing her head back nonchalantly. "If those two died or even had another scratch, everyone will pay the price and I'm telling you, it's something no one can afford."

Her lips curled up, unfazed by the display of favoritism, as she walked away, eyes glinting dangerously.

'I'm almost there,' she thought. 'We'll soon be on the same page, Joaquin.'