The Tyrant's Pet

"What are you doing?"

Curtis gasped, watching Morro swiftly catch the bowl of water on his right hand while catching Gertrude by the waist on his left. The latter didn't even flinch at his efficient movements as he stood straight.

"I didn't kill her," Morro defended himself.

"Take her to the next tent and let her rest, Morro." Morro shifted his attention to Abel. "Take those two with you. I will take care of her."

"Alright." Morro sauntered towards the stand near the bed and placed the bowl of water. He then cast Curtis a look and tipped his head towards the entrance of the tent.

"You heard His Majesty, or shall I carry you? I don't mind carrying --"

"I can walk." Curtis blurted out reluctantly, giving Abel and then Aries a worried look. "Please take care of her."

Although Curtis didn't receive a reply from Abel, he still tilted his head down and dragged his feet to follow Morro. As the two of them marched towards the entrance, Morro stopped beside Ismael and bent over.

Ismael jolted and raised his hands up. "I can walk!" he announced, making Morro frown.

"Alright."

"Goodness..." he heaved a sigh of relief, casting Morro a complicated look as the latter seemed to have taken a liking to make use of his shoulder. Knowing what monsters these people were, Ismael, despite his trembling knees, forced himself to follow them.

He looked back one last time as they were by the entrance, letting out a deep huff. Curtis also looked back and his eyes landed on Abel, who was sitting on the edge of the bed while watching Aries. These two men realized something right at this moment.

That man... never cared about anything else other than Aries.

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

Since the hunting competition in the empire would last for three days, the participants had their own tents where they would stay for the next three days. Next to the crown princess's tent was a smaller tent for her servant and knights. So, Morro took Gertrude to her tent while Curtis and Ismael followed them.

"Can you stop pacing?" Ismael grumbled in annoyance, gazing at Curtis from the chair near the open entrance of the tent. "You're making me woozy."

Curtis stopped and gazed at the third prince. Morro was still with them, wrapping Gertrude with a quilt like a cocoon to 'dry' her up.

"How did you save her?" asked Curtis to Ismael. "How did you find her?"

"What's with that tone?" Ismael frowned as he glared at him.

"Why? Do you want me to bow and ask politely?"

"This fucker..."

"How?" Curtis repeated with a stern voice as he walked in the same spot, eyes on Ismael. "How did you find her?"

"I don't need to answer that."

"You..." Curtis's eyes clouded in red as he marched towards Ismael and grabbed him by the collar. "Did you betray her?"

"What?!" Ismael ground his teeth as he gripped Curtis' wrist.

"She's not someone who will end up in that state if no one betrayed her with her plans. She took you in and trusted you — you probably sabotaged her plans."

"Hey, are you --" Ismael stopped himself as it seemed explaining was pointless. Curtis already pushed all the blame on Ismael and believed them without hearing his side of the story. Being a part of the royal family was enough reason for Curtis to point his finger at him.

"The crown princess betrayed her own self." Before Ismael could resort to violence, Morro spoke. "She is lucky the third prince is around the area and helped her from suffocating to death whilst risking his own. He saved the crown princess, no doubt. But His Majesty saved both of them."

Both Curtis and Ismael turned their head in Morro's direction only to notice the ball of white on the bed. The latter raised his head and blinked.

"She will be fine now," Morro reassured while patting the ball of white on the bed.

"She will suffocate!" Ismael yelled and pushed Curtis away, glaring at him before setting his attention back to Morro.

"No, she will not. It's cold, so I'm simply keeping her warm," Morro explained.

"You wrapped even her head!" Ismael pointed to the cocoon in distress. "Goodness! The crown princess will kill you if you kill that little servant?"

He pinched the space between his brows as Morro wrapped Gertrude like a mummy. Ismael let out a deep exhale and stomp his feet towards the bed. He shook his head and took out a small knife from his waist and then carefully ripped the quilt for her to breathe.

"How can you wrap her with these layers of clothes? You're simply restricting her to breathe. Also, where did you get all these?" he continued, realizing Morro was inept at these things. Hence, he reduced the quilt.

Meanwhile, Curtis watched Ismael help Morro take off a few quilts since the latter was correct. That layer of the blanket would kill Gertrude. It might keep her warm, but she would eventually suffocate.

"What do you mean Aime sabotaged herself?" Curtis asked after a minute, still standing rooted in his spot.

"Your princess is mad!" Ismael replied, ripping the quilt to hasten their task. "I found her choking herself; she didn't even know there's some wild bear drooling over her."

"It's a witch's work," Morro chimed in. "Lady Aries is still sane... a bit."

Ismael raised his gaze at him and glanced at his razor teeth. "What the hell are you people?" he asked after mustering enough courage and strength to inquire once more.

"I'm a bird."

"..."

"Never mind." Ismael shook his head after a moment of silence, as it seemed Morro was the type who shouldn't be asked. Just then, a memory crossed his head, making him gaze back and study Morro.

"You're that person," he paused. "That person that night. The one who cleaned up the knights Sir Conan wiped out."

Morro nodded. "I am the one who brought him the horse."

"What did you do to them?" asked Ismael, while Morro tilted his head to the side. "The carriage and the knights simply vanished. How did you do it?"

"Ate them."

"What?"

"I told you. I'm a bird and I eat animal and human carcass." Morro shrugged before pointing his finger up. "I flew and carried them to the mountaintop where the vultures hang out. We had a feast."