The Tyrant's Pet

"They were already there, Your Highness, the seventh prince. I guess we should be looking forward to a reunion, huh?"

"What…" Roman ground his teeth, and unlike earlier, he found the strength to crawl with his beaten body to the metal bars. He clung onto it, carrying his weight, but failed to stand up.

"What did you say?" he asked, along with his deep exhale, ignoring the saliva and blood that went out of his mouth.

Aries's eyes were cold as she looked down at him. This man had always carried himself with pride and dignity, but now he just looked desperate and pathetic. But she couldn't judge him, especially because he cherished Violet. Everyone would look pathetic in his situation.

"Joaquin planted people to follow you during the hunting season." Aries simply shrugged. "You can guess what happens even if they lost you. You know my husband."

"Hah…" Roman huffed as his blood ran cold and this coldness went from the top of his scalp to the tip of his toe. Violet's smile crossed his head and her children played happily in the vineyard as the image he had last seen shattered like glass. His lips quivered and so was his entire body, sliding slowly until he could barely hold the metal bars.

"Elle." While Roman was breaking down silently, Inez kept her eager eyes at Aries's back. She was holding the metal bars, tucking her hair behind her ear from time to time. When Aries turned her head around, she sported a beautiful smile.

"Are you alright now? Hmm?" she asked. "Does your wound still hurt? I'm so glad to see you."

Aries quirked a brow and turned on her heel. Inez's lips stretched even wider when Aries squatted down to look at her at eye level.

"I am alright now," she replied and smile gently. "And you? How have you been here?"

"I… I…" Aries raised her brows while waiting for Inez to finish her answer. "I missed you."

Aries nodded in satisfaction. She studied Inez and, with just one look, one could tell how the ninth princess had fallen. The latter's hair was all over the place, and her body was dirty. Inez smelled, too. It reminded her of the past, but this time, their roles were reversed.

"Hand?" she opened her palm and drew it closer to the cell. "Put your hand on mine like how dogs do it."

Inez stared at Aries for a moment before her eyes fell on her open palm. She gulped a mouthful of saliva and then extended her trembling hand until a part of her fingers was on top of Aries's palm.

"Good girl." Pleased, Aries nodded. "Now, bark for me."

"Huh…?"

"Bark, Your Highness. Arf — like that." Aries giggled playfully, mimicking how Inez did it to her in the past. "Come on. Don't be shy. Do it for me."

The ninth princess's eyes shook at this request. "Elle… are you… are you still angry with me?" Her lips quivered, asking the most trivial questions. And yet, these questions and the answers were what mattered to her.

"We're even now, isn't it? What they did to you... they did it to me, too. Joaquin put me through the same hell, Elle. I understand you now." Inez's voice cracked as she had endured all the punishment because she knew Aries went through all that. "I am now suffering, Elle. They took everything from me, but I let it because I love you and I want you to forgive me."

"So we can start over?" Aries asked, and Inez nodded shamelessly. "Aww, my dearest ninth princess."

Her eyes softened as she clasped Inez's fingers gently. She watched Inez's hopeful look with teary eyes.

"Aren't you the sweetest, ninth princess?" Aries lowered her head and planted a peck on the back of Inez's dirty fingers. Yet, she didn't care as she rested her cheek against it, eyes on the ninth princess.

"Elle."

"Did you miss me, Inez?"

"Of course. More than anything."

"Even when I was the one who gave out the order that all your henchmen would be hanged?"

Inez's breath hitched, but staring at the gentleness in the crown princess's eyes, her heart warmed up. "Yes."

"Oh, dear. What am I going to do with you?" Aries sighed and frowned. "Joaquin is watching my movements closely. I knew what I did back there —"

"It's not your fault." Inez shook her head and smiled. "I understand why you did what you did. It's because you feel guilty and think I will feel betrayed if I knew the truth, right? Honestly, I was also angry at first, but then I realized you will not know my sincerity if I don't prove it to you."

"…" Aries was rendered speechless, tilting her head from one side to the other. She didn't plan to indulge with her, but Inez was a great distraction from the things now in her head. Still, she couldn't quite understand how Inez came up with this crazy realization. But then again, it seemed Inez was just desperate and standing on the line of insanity. Just one light push and she would go mad.

Aries understood that. She had been there.

But just as Aries's lips parted, she glanced over her shoulder when Roman raised a question.

"What are you maniacs talking about?" his voice was shaky, darting his eyes between the two.

Aries's expression was dead. "We're talking about love, Your Highness. Can't you see? We're star-crossed lovers." She shrugged nonchalantly and then smiled at Inez.

"Right?"

"Let's run away from here, Elle." Inez breathed out and tugged Aries's hand. "Once I get out of here… but I don't know if I will even —"

"Shh." Aries shook her head sideways and smiled. "I am already doing whatever I can to get you out of here. Will you trust me? Inez?"

Inez blushed when Aries finally called her name. "Really?"

"Really." Aries nodded reassuringly. "Will you wait for me?"

"Will you come back?"

"Of course."

"When?"

"When I can." Inez frowned at Aries's reply. "Inez… you know my situation. My husband is a crazy bastard. I need to be careful if I want to live."

Inez looked at her with sadness. How could she force the crown princess to visit her regularly when it would only put Aries in danger?

"For now… stay here, alright? I'll visit you once again if I can." Aries patted Inez's hands lightly and flashed her a relieved smile. Just then, Aries raised a finger and slipped her hand inside her cloak. When she took it out, she was already holding a small piece of parchment.

"Take this so you don't feel lonely." Aries slipped the small piece of paper into Inez's fingers and nodded. "This will make you feel I'm with you, always."

"Elle…" Inez retracted her hand while holding the paper. She inhaled it and smiled gently; it was the same scent as Aries, lavender. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Aries nodded before she held her thighs and pushed herself up. As soon as she turned around and faced Roman, she smirked. She didn't even hide her wicked expression from the seventh prince as she perked her chin.

"Can you stand?" she asked, followed by the sound of jiggling keys. "Because I will need your strength to get out of here."

Aries smiled as she slipped the key inside the lock and opened it, letting its creak echo.

"Come on, Roman. Don't fail Violet like that."