The Tyrant's Pet

Violet froze instantly at the cold blade against her throat. Her blood ran cold, breath suspending, and fear embraced her like an old friend.

"Don't scream, Princess Violet, if you don't want to see your children dead." Violet bit her quivering lips, dread traveling down her spine. All she could do was nod in agreement without making a sound. Yet, the blade against her throat remained until slight blood oozed from it.

"Captain." Suddenly, another man in black clothing approached them. Violet gazed at the other person but was unable to see through the darkness where the man was standing. All she could see was the other person looking at them in their direction.

"We silenced the workers around and the maid." Violet's heart sank upon hearing the man's reports. "The children were upstairs."

"The crown prince ordered to drag them back alive," replied the man holding Violet captive. "Take the children and we'll return to the empire as soon as possible."

"Yes." Violet saw the other man put his fist across his chest and bow. However, he didn't move from his spot and took a step back to make way for them. She tried to scream, but it went out as muffled with the palm over her mouth.

'Please! Not my children!' was what she was screaming before the man pressed the dagger against her throat, making her wince.

"Cooperate, Your Highness or your children will get hurt even before you reach the empire." The man threatened her, bringing a tear to her eyes.

Violet felt helpless. Her entire body was shivering from fear, letting the man tug her towards the main door. However, just as the man holding her from behind reached for the door handle, a grunt escaped his mouth. His hand over her mouth slid down as he slowly dropped to her side.

Yet Violet was rooted to the ground, holding her breath. When she looked down, she caught a knife plunged into the man's nape. He was dead.

"What…" came out a shaking voice, clutching her skirt tightly with her trembling hands. What just happened?

"Your Highness." Her back stiffened when a voice came from behind her. She recognized that voice; it was the man who was reporting to the other person just now.

Slowly, she twisted her neck like it was rusting metal. As soon as her eyes landed on him, she gulped as he lowered the black veil covering half of his lower face.

"Who…"

The man placed his fist across his chest and bowed. "I came here under the orders of the third prince."

"What…" Relief instantly welled up in her chest the second he mentioned the third prince, but a bit of doubt also resurfaced in her heart. Despite that this person saved her from that other person, she couldn't just trust him easily.

"I know you have a lot of questions right now, but we must flee this place. It is not a safe place anymore, Your Highness," said the man sternly. "Do not worry about the maid and the other workers in here. They were safe."

"My children —"

"My colleagues would've taken them along with the others."

"No. I just left their room. I must see them at once." Violet shook her head, eyes at the man before her. "How would I know this is not a part of the crown prince's ploy?"

A shallow breath slipped past the man's lips. "Behind you, Your Highness." He jerked his chin towards the main door behind her.

"They were just outside."

Violet sized him up cautiously, reaching for the door handle without taking her eyes off of him. When the faint click caressed her ears, her heart pounded against her ribcage. She didn't want to turn around and get stabbed in the back, but she had to give him the benefit of the doubt since he still saved her in a way.

She carefully peeked outside and to her surprise, Belle, her maid, was carrying one of her children and another farmer, the other. Around them were the other workers and men in uniformed black clothes.

"Goodness…" without thinking twice, Violet opened the door and rushed outside the mansion and onto the greenery. "Thank God."

Belle, the old nanny who had served Violet, raised her head when she heard the main door open. Tears instantly formed in the corner of her eyes, seeing that Violet was safe and sound.

"Your Highness!" called Belle, watching Violet rush to them until she was standing in front of them.

"Oh, Belle…" Violet heaved a sigh of relief as she checked her children immediately. It felt like a thorn was plucked out of her throat upon making sure they didn't inflict the slightest injury.

"Oh, God…" her eyes welled up, patting her chest as she hugged Belle and her boy. Her child in Belle's arms was still asleep despite being carried, while the other was awake, rubbing his weary eyes.

"Mother…" the boy called lazily, only to see his mother rush to him and hold his hand.

"Are you alright?" she asked, and the boy nodded despite the confusion.

"Thank God…" Violet heaved another sigh of relief before her eyes glossed over everyone's faces. "Are you all alright?"

"Your Highness — I mean, my lady, we're safe," answered Belle with worry. Violet had been like that; she would worry about them and treat them all equally like a family, but she was never worried about herself. "The third prince's people came to our rescue, so no one got hurt. However, my lady, your throat."

Violet touched the minor slash in her throat and winced. Yet, she forced a smile onto her face.

"I'm alright. This is nothing. What matters is that you're all alright." Violet scanned everyone around, doing a headcount in her head. To her relief, everyone was here, and they were all safe.

"Your Highness." A voice came from behind her. It was the man who told her to look outside. Violet turned around and faced the man, watching him stop at arm's length.

"What is going on? How did the crown prince know we're alive?" Violet shook her head mildly before she corrected her question. "The seventh prince, was he alright?"

As soon as that left her lips, the man lowered his eyes as his jaw tightened. That reaction was enough for Violet's heart to sink.

"I will explain everything to you on our way, Your Highness. For now, we must leave this place because the crown prince's people will soon surround this area when the first unit didn't return." The man raised his eyes and nodded encouragingly. "Please, Princess Violet. Your safety and the princes's safety are the only things the seventh prince wanted. The third prince can't let Prince Roman down."

Violent swallowed the frustrating tension in her throat before she nodded in understanding. "Just answer me one thing," she whispered. "Is he still alive?"

"Yes." she breathed out when he replied almost instantly. "However, he is held captive. The third prince said the crown princess is on it. So rest assured."

As soon as Violet heard the crown princess's name, her heart slightly felt at ease. Her lips curled up into a weak smile.

"Alright."