The Tyrant's Pet

"What…" Aries stood in the middle of the entrance hall of the Vandran residence and was met with surprise at the generous amount of flowers the servants were receiving. She rubbed her eyes lest her vision was simply doubling, but it was still the same.

"Most noble houses in the capital had sent flowers wishing you a fast recovery." Aries turned to her left when Gustav suddenly turned up with a gentle smile on his face. "The only princess of the empire is loved by all, and many were disheartened when you left the empire after getting married. The public outrage of sending you away had been high since, especially when they heard ‌your groom didn't even show the slightest decency of traveling here to fetch his bride."

"The imperial palace had been receiving criticism because of it," he added, setting his eyes on the flowers and gifts outside the portico of the mansion. "This was their way of showing their support to you, my lady. And to relay their relief that you had returned safely."

"To show support and relay their relief?" Aries smacked her lips, peeling her eyes away from Gustav. "Or was this an indirect message to speed up my recovery lest I die and my brother will start a revolt?"

Gustav chuckled with his lips closed. "Some of them, perhaps." He then motioned his arm ahead, eyes on her.

"Do you want to take a look, my lady?" he offered, receiving a quick glance from her, and then she nodded. "This way, please."

Gustav assisted Aries until they stood under the portico. The servants would still walk past them, greeting Aries as they did. She glossed her eyes over the gifts and flowers being unloaded by each carriage from different noble houses. Some looked grand, while others were simple but delicate.

"What is that?" Aries narrowed her eyes, settling her gaze on the huge wagon containing mountains of flowers.

"It came from the Imperial Palace."

Aries glanced at Gustav, slacked jaw. She then looked at the wagon and scrunched her nose up. Unlike the delicately wrapped presents and the beautiful arrangements of each bouquet, the Emperor just sent a wagon of flowers as if they simply uproot one of the gardens in the imperial palace and threw everything in the cart.

"When did he get the time?" she gasped, assuming Abel didn't have time since he had been busy with her last night and even this morning! There were many things he needed to prioritize.

"His Majesty was an efficient man…" Gustav chuckled, gaining Aries's attention as he stared at the wagon. "... and you'll be surprised at the things he considered his top priorities."

"You speak as if you knew him very well." Aries pointed out, watching the head butler of the marquess manor look back at her.

Gustav didn't answer, but he smiled warmly. She didn't also pry as they both looked at the situation currently happening in the residence's driveway. Aries snapped her eyes, stretching her neck to look past the situation before her. Her face contorted, seeing that there was more carriage passing through the gates.

"This… is a lot," she muttered. "And I can imagine the letters I must read later."

"You do not need to force yourself, my lady. Your peace and rest are the most important."

"Thank you, but it honestly relieves me." Aries smiled at Gustav. "Perhaps I was the strange one for feeling excited that I had something else to do other than sleeping and eating. I was bored when Abel left."

Gustav chuckled. "You remind me of the Marquess."

"My brother?" she arched a brow, seeing Gustav stare at the carriage leaving, only for another to replace it and unload what they brought with them.

"The Marquess isn't fond of doing nothing as well. Even during the days he should be resting, he would always stay in the greenhouse or in his study room to work."

"Well, I bet it will be the same for you."

"It is not, my lady. If I am resting, I will rest. My body and health are my foundation. Thus, I must take care of it."

Aries shrugged. "I guess it's different for everyone, then."

Aries idled under the portico while staring at the gifts for the lady of the Vandran. She wondered if she could sell a few and gain money since she needed her own, lest she wanted to spend on something she wouldn't want Dexter to know. Also, Aries had splurged her dowry while in the Maganti Empire.

"Gustav, send the presents to my room by batch. I would like to open them myself." She turned to Gustav with a mischievous smile on her face. "Anyway, I'll be heading to the greenhouse. If you need me, I'll be there."

"Should I tell the servants to escort you…" he trailed off when she shook her head mildly.

"No need for that. I will also head to the training grounds to see how my knight is faring." She smiled wider, watching Gustav nod in understanding.

With that being said, Aries parted ways with Gustav and headed straight to the greenhouse. The greenhouse was the only place that servants couldn't enter without Gustav's permission. And thus, the closer Aries was in the greenhouse, the lesser the servants.

It didn't take long when Aries reached her destination. Standing in the middle of the greenhouse, she breathed in and smiled.

"How nice," she whispered, looking around the beautiful yet deadly greenhouse filled with poisonous plants. "It seemed Gustav had taken care of this place while we're away."

Aries giggled, walking towards the intricate set of chairs and table where she and Dexter used to spend their day lecturing her about poisons. However, just as Aries reached the table, her eyes shook. Aries grabbed the table on instinct when her body swayed, feeling ‌light-headed for a split second.

She shut her eyes until she was certain she wouldn't fall. When she slowly reopened her eyes, her mouth fell open. It reminded her of the constant episode she had constantly experienced in the Maganti Empire, and even then, she knew there was something wrong with her.

"I should… get checked," she whispered, arching a brow when she felt something hot trickling down on her upper lip. Aries touched it with her finger and glanced at it, unfazed even when she saw blood on it.