The Tyrant's Pet

"Oy, Joaquin… what the hell are you doing?"

Ismael's voice shook just the way his heart pounded against his ribcage at the sight of blood on the table. This was what he dreaded to come into, the reason he rushed into this place without a second hesitation when Morro told him, 'disaster had come.'

This was definitely a disaster.

"Oh, brother. What a great coincidence for you to appear here at this time." Joaquin hailed in mockery, arching a brow at the fear dominating the third prince's face. "I wonder what is the purpose of your visit?"

"Let her go!" Climaco thrust his sword forward, making the knights around them be on guard. "Your Royal Highness, I'm asking you to let Her Royal Highness go."

"Oy…!" Ismael took a step forward, only to pause when Climaco pressed his blade against Joaquin's neck until blood dripped down to the crown prince's collar.

"Climaco!" Aries called through her gritted teeth. "Drop your sword."

"Your Royal Highness, I will only drop my sword if he lets you go."

"Hah…" Joaquin laughed in amusement, studying how Climaco's eyes burned with fury. "Look at you… glaring at me like a dog while trying to protect your master."

Climaco swallowed a mouthful of saliva and drew a breath. "I don't mind being her dog. I'd bite anyone who will try to hurt my master even if that person is you, Your Royal Highness."

"Oy, oy…" Ismael looked around the knights as they advanced a careful step. This was getting out of hand.

'That fool!' the third prince ground his teeth and balled his hand into a fist. 'I need to do something… Morro said that the emperor in Haimirich was pissed.'

As mentioned, the reason Ismael rushed to the inner palace in the middle of gathering his forces was that Morro told him Abel was pissed. When Ismael inquired, "why?" Morro answered a disaster had befallen Aries. Ismael didn't ask further questions and rushed to this place.

Now he understood the reason.

Just the thought of Abel was enough to make the hair across Ismael's body to raise. Not to mention, those who tagged along with Aries: Dexter, Conan, the Duke — Conan would always slander, and then Morro. The only reason the Maganti Empire was still in one piece was because of Aries, but if Joaquin hurt her more than he already did…

'Forget about the war… we will all die.' Ismael's eyes burned and stomped his feet forward. 'I can't let that happen. We've reached this far… we're only a step —"

"Your Royal Highness!" Ismael froze before he could walk past a knight when a familiar voice rang behind him. "We are here to invite you for questioning regarding the illegal casinos and illegal trades in the black market tying the crown prince!"

The third prince looked back, only to see a new batch of knights entering the dining hall and forming another circle around the knights, who were already present prior to their presence. The knights under the crown prince's order turned on their heels, making a stance with their swords.

When Ismael gazed at the door, his eyes met a middle-aged man who was tall, dark, and, despite his age, handsome, in his fighting suit. Modesto glanced at the third prince for a moment, before shifting his eyes towards the table. His jaw tightened the second he caught Aries pinned down.

"Your Royal Highness." Modesto narrowed his eyes and stood proudly in his uniform with which he had always questioned its purpose. "Please cooperate with us and let go of Her Royal Highness."

Joaquin looked around and laughed. For someone who was cornered, Joaquin didn't show a shred of fear. If anything, he looked rather amused by this. He hanged his head low, shaking it mildly whilst suppressing his laughter.

Seeing his demeanor, Modesto frowned. Climaco slightly retrieved his sword, furrowing his brows. Most of them wondered if the crown prince had lost his mind, but the dread crawling under their skin refrained them from lowering their guards.

The knight templars working for the church looked at the royal knights. Holding their weapons, observing each other's movements, preparing themselves to paint the floor red and fill the air with the piercing sound of metal clashing.

As the tension progressively built up, Joaquin didn't move an inch from his spot. The only person who could see how wicked he appeared was Aries. Her eyes shook, barely blinking, heart thudding. She never feared Joaquin until now.

This was the face of a real demon. Not that person who had a pair of wings and fangs. This was.

"Climaco, withdraw your sword right now," she ordered with a solid huff, holding Joaquin's wicked gaze.

"Your Royal Highness —"

"I said now!" Aries yelled, making Climaco lower his head.

With great reluctance, Climaco glared at Joaquin's side profile before he ground his teeth and retrieved his sword. Climaco took three steps back, holding the sword tightly until it trembled. Although he listened to Aries to respect her orders, he wouldn't hesitate to stain his sword and slay a royalty if Joaquin do something to her.

Climaco had been itching to slay this crown prince, after all. Not just for Aries, but for his colleagues who died unjustly in those filthy hands.

"Withdrawing his sword won't save him, my love," Joaquin whispered and shook his head mildly.

"I'm not saving him, I'm saving you." She retorted fiercely, ignoring the striking pain digging in her back as she glanced to her right. "That knight will not hesitate to kill you, Joaquin. I don't think your men's swords are faster than his."

"Thank you very much, my love. But alas, I don't need such help." Joaquin smiled confidently, and once again, loud footsteps resonated in the air.

"How dare you, members of the church, barge in the sacred place of His Majesty!?" a voice from outside the dining hall erupted, making Modesto and Ismael look back. Their eyes dilated, seeing that royal knights were blocking the door, and they didn't need to check outside to know they had blocked all exits.

They were surrounded, and Joaquin had deployed his men to take full control of the imperial palace.

"You…!" Modesto's voice rang as he seethed, eyes glaring in Joaquin's direction. But the crown prince ignored him, as he smirked at Aries.

"Give me that knight's head," Joaquin ordered in an incredibly quiet voice, but everyone somehow heard him loud and clear. "Now."