The Tyrant's Pet

Violet instantly froze at the presence she felt behind her. She took a deep breath, twisting her neck and it moved like a rusting metal to confirm she was simply seeing things. However, she instantly caught a figure in the corner of her eyes, only to feel relief at getting a full glimpse of the person.

"Your Highness," she whispered, instantly recognizing the man underneath the full armor. The moonlight glinted on his metal helm, and she heaved a sigh of relief as if reliving a day she fondly recalled in her memory.

"What are you — I mean, how...?" her brows rose, looking around the balcony. How did Roman jump in here? Although the balcony wasn't that high, it was still a challenge.

While Violet was scanning the railing to find any trace of a ladder, Roman was studying her behind the visor of his helm affectionately. His lips curled up subtly, seeing that she seemed well all this time while the Maganti Empire was in chaos.

'Princess Violet...' he called in his head, watching her snap her beautiful eyes at him. His heart softened when she smiled warmly at him.

"It doesn't matter how you got here," she said, breaking the stillness in the air with her kind voice. "How are you, Your Highness? You must've had an arduous journey to reach here when things just ended in the Maganti Empire."

Violet tilted her head to the side when she received nothing from him. If she didn't know this was Roman, she would be very alarmed. However, even without seeing his face, Violet was certain this was definitely him. Roman just had this distinct aura he gave off to her.

"Why don't you come in, Your Highness? The wind is growing colder," she continued, keeping her warm smile despite not getting any response or reaction from him. However, she could feel his gaze behind that visor.

When another minuted had passed and Roman still didn't respond to her invitation, Violet drew a deep breath. She was already used to Roman's silence, so she turned and reached for the doorknob. Roman would surely follow her if she came in.

However, Violet had just opened the door slightly when she halted at the words she barely heard. Her brows creased, looking back at him while tilting her head to the side.

"I like you." Her breath hitched when Roman repeated louder. "From back then, I had always liked you. I liked you so much, so I asked for my father's permission to get married. But alas, Carlos... hah. I was a step behind my brother."

"Your Highness..." Violet called under her breath, in disbelief at what she was hearing. There was no way Roman would spew all this just like that. "Are you alright?"

Instead of being moved or the sort, she immediately took a step towards him to check his temperature. Much to her dismay, as soon as she took a step, Roman stepped back.

"Your Highness, why...?" she breathed out, furrowing her brows in confusion at the clear invisible line he was drawing between them.

"Please stay there, Princess." Bitterness flickered across his eyes, but he adamantly kept his heart still. "Please."

"Your Highness, I don't understand why you were suddenly saying all this. If you're not ill, then are you... drunk? You're not gravely injured, are you?" Her voice shook as the worry in her eyes continued to increase. "You didn't... travel in such a state to come in here, did you?"

Roman shook his head mildly. "It's not like that, Violet."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Then, why..." she trailed off, swallowing down the tension in her throat. She gazed at him up and down carefully before her eyes settled on the visor that was hiding his face. "Why are you saying all of that if none of what I had mentioned is influencing you?"

"Because it was the truth." Roman took a minute before confessing what he held back for years. "It was the truth, and I... am grateful that you asked me to stay that night."

"I had been thinking about that time all this time, wondering what could've happened if I become selfish and stayed by your side? Not just that, but I had also been thinking if we would have a different life if I didn't cower back then and fought for you," he continued solemnly, expressing his heart for the first time as if he wouldn't be able to express it in the future. "There were times I would paint a better scenario if I had decided differently during those times, but there were also times I would see a way worse conclusion."

Roman chuckled bitterly. "But we can't reverse the time just to see how things would play out, can we?"

Violet pursed her lips into a thin line as she clutched her hand close to her chest. She didn't say anything; she couldn't.

"That's why I am saying all this now, because I do not want to regret this in the future," he added. "Before the revolt, I had a bit of a setback. I had to pay a huge price for it, and now I am still in debt, which I am willing to pay."

"I'm truly grateful that you were worried about me, and at the same time, ashamed that I had burdened you. However, I cannot fulfill my promise." Roman lowered his eyes as his face contorted. "Ismael will take care of you and my nephews. You do not have to worry about anything. Just focus on living a better life now, Your Highness. There's nothing you — we should fear about now."

"You're leaving?" Violet's lips quivered, getting into the bottom line of this sudden confession. It was obvious. This was his way of bidding her farewell, and it sounded like they would never meet again. Roman only tilted his head down, but that was enough for her to get the answer she sought.

"Why?" she murmured. "Why are you leaving? Where? No, I mean, what sort of debt do you need to pay?"

"It is... something to preserve the little honor I still have."

Violet held her breath until her neck turned taut. "Then why... would you say all that if you're leaving? Isn't that a little selfish, Your Highness? After all this time... you kept silent. You didn't say a word, nor did you get credit for all the help you had given me. Why would you confess, saying you like me, only to announce you are going far away? Why, Your Highness? I can't understand."