The Tyrant's Pet

"I can't. It's too late for me to do that."

Roman's heart sank as his mouth fell open. His mouth opened and closed like a fish, but his voice was stuck in his throat. When he recovered, a shaking voice came out.

"But you said…"

Aries rolled her eyes and wiggled her wrist from his grip. "It's how I fuel you," she explained, opening the bottle of medicine only to pour it on his wound and then immediately pressing cloth on it.

"Ughh…!" he grunted in pain, wiggling weakly, but she pressed harder.

"Endure it. This might feel another torturous night, but trust me, this pain is not meant to kill you," she remarked while his breathing grew ragged, clutching her wrist once again on instinct. "As I've said, it's too late for me to save Violet. I can't go there, but have faith in your brother. I'm certain Ismael isn't as stupid as he was yesterday."

"What…?" he breathed out sharply, still gritting his teeth.

Aries shrugged and raised her brows briefly. "You and Ismael had a deal, I'm sure. He didn't tell me what it is, but knowing how predictable you are, it's certainly about Violet. Gosh… you two will be a good couple."

"Will she be fine?" he inquired, ignoring the sarcasm in her tone. "I mean, how did you — ugh, god damn… how did you know…?"

"How did I know about Ismael and Violet?" Aries finished his sentence, afraid he would be out of breath and die. "You're asking the dumbest questions, Your Highness. I thought you already figured that out when I told you about Violet, but well, in your current state, I can't blame that you will be needed some spoon feeding."

She shrugged once more, removing her hand from the cloth only to pick another for the stab wound on his stomach. Just like how she did previously, Aries poured the liquid medicine and pressed the fabric on his wound.

"How did you think Violet got out of that fire?" she continued in a low voice, ignoring his continuous grunt at the stinging pain. "How did the fire even start? I bet you had been wondering how Ismael got out of Joaquin's perfect scheme unscathed."

Her expression was dull, showing zero sympathies while he writhed in agony. "You're correct. The person who's been messing with the crown prince is none other than me. I like Violet, so she got my mercy. The third prince, on the other hand, although I don't condone his other actions, isn't a terrible person. He had to do what he had to do to survive and fight for what he thinks is right. It's just that his enemy is someone with no conscience. I guess you understand that since you still chose Ismael instead of fighting the crown prince with your guerrillas."

"Ismael got the credit for my actions. Although he hated the idea, someone had to take the credit," she continued with a nonchalant shrug, pouring some medicine into his other wounds that made him grunt more. "Also, it's better to use Ismael to become the face of the crown prince's enemy. He's quite charming."

"Ugh…" Roman breathed through his gritted teeth, barely hearing her explanation with the pain crushing the veins in his brain. But he still grasped her explanation from the snippets of it.

"Now, you're probably wondering why I am doing this. Well, the answer should be obvious, right?" she smiled, and once again, Roman grunted as she shifted to his other wound. "You know this face, Roman. You've seen it multiple times. I still remember how you used to look at me behind that metal helm of yours."

The side of her lips curled up bitterly, but her glinting eyes were sharp. "You always looked at me with pity… and I hated you for that. Back then, I had always wondered why you hadn't killed me if you truly pity me. But that doesn't matter now. If you killed me, then I wouldn't have the chance to kill Joaquin."

"So, I guess that is just right." She smacked her lips before raising her eyes when she noticed Dexter coming back with a barrel of water. "Took you some time."

"Thank the knights who caught me on the way back." He replied sarcastically, almost rolling his eyes. "I had to drag their bodies away. You're welcome."

Aries sported a fake smile before looking back at Roman. "He's barely conscious. I don't know if simple stitches will even save his life. He lost too much blood, too."

"Are you saying I should dig a grave now?" Dexter exhaled sharply, straightening his back after placing the barrel of water near the bed. "Then, what? Invite a band so they could play a song or two while we bury him? I'm sorry, Dani. But if he dies, he'll rot in this room until someone finds his corpse here."

"Well, I don't plan on letting him die after that effort I exerted." She shook her head in irritation, matching Dexter's attitude, as she was also not in the mood for any scolding.

"Dani." His voice lowered, hands on his hips, eyes on her. "What are you thinking of doing with such a reckless action? You could've ordered your people — what's the use of garnering loyal dogs if you will do their job?"

"Who said I'm being reckless?" she snapped her eyes back at him and tilted her head to the side. "I'm not, brother."

"You're not?" he snorted. "Sneaking in that prison, carrying a grown man thrice your weight, and having no people to have your back is not considered reckless?"

"I know you'll come," she replied almost instantly, rendering him speechless with the clarity in her calm voice and eyes. "If not you, Sir Conan will probably appear out of nowhere. The chances might be low, but Lord Darkmore might also be there. But I'm sure, if the three of your will not, Abel will. He's always watching, right?"

Dexter ran his tongue to his inner cheek, studying her expression for a moment. "How are you certain we will?"

"I just know." Aries peeled her eyes away from him and back to Roman. He passed out from the pain, but his heart was still beating. "You people just come out of nowhere. It doesn't matter where I was, deep in the ground or on the roof, you guys just appear. How did you even come to this place?"

She glanced at him with inquisitive eyes. "Did you also fly?"