The Tyrant's Pet

<strong>Meanwhile, in the Vandran Residence…</strong>

Aries let out a deep breath, watching Sunny hold a bowl of grapes on her lap. The little girl had an impressive appetite, knowing Gustav simply refilled the bowl she carried from the imperial palace to the house vandran.

"So, Sunny will stay in the estate for the meantime?" Aries looked away from Sunny, who was sitting beside her on the settee, to Dexter on the armchair.

"Yes."

"Why?"

Dexter snapped his eyes at Aries ever so tenderly. "Don't you want her to?"

"Sunny wants to stay with Grandmama," Sunny chimed in as soon as Dexter's remarks left his lips, watching Aries look back at her with furrowed brows. "I was sad staying in Grandpa's house. I missed Grandma."

Aries bit her inner lower lip, observing the little girl's innocent and adorable face. She sighed, and then the side of her lips curled up subtly, patting Sunny's head before facing Dexter.

"I don't know what's going on, but I'm getting worried," she expressed honestly. "I don't mind looking after Sunny, but… I don't like this uneasiness in my heart."

"Don't worry, Dani. His Majesty will tell you what is going on after he resolved some things." Dexter breathed out, looking at her in the eyes solemnly. "Give him… give us some time."

Aries remained silent, clutching her skirt tightly. "I hope I won't regret this," she whispered. "I won't be able to forgive myself if this trust I am willing to give you all will cost me to lose those who are dear to me."

"You won't."

"I hope so. Anyway, I'm tired for the day." Aries planted her hand on her thigh and pushed herself up. "I'll resign to bed early."

Aries curtsied slightly before turning on her heel to leave. She didn't look back once, leaving Sunny and Dexter inside. Little did she know, the little girl jumped from the settee when she stood up, following Aries with the bowl of grapes in her arms.

"Seriously…" Aries looked back at the door once she crossed the threshold, only to flinch upon seeing Sunny behind her. "Sunny?"

Sunny blinked, looking up at her. "Can I go with Grandmama? Or are you also angry at Sunny?" she queried.

Aries wanted to refuse, knowing she wasn't in the mood to deal with a child. However, she didn't have the heart to turn down Sunny's request. A deep exhale escaped Aries's nostrils, squatting down in front of Sunny.

"Sorry, Sunny," she expressed with a bitter smile. "I'm not angry at you; you did nothing wrong."

"Can I sleep with Grandmama?" Sunny threw a follow-up question, watching Aries's eyes soften.

"Why?" Aries asked. "Are you scared?"

"No, but Sunny wants to sleep with Grandma."

Aries's lips stretched a bit wider, patting the little girl's head. "You remind me of my little sister. Her name was Alaric. She used to sneak into my room and sleep with me." She then pinched Sunny's chubby cheek mildly.

"Shall we bathe together?" she proposed, and Sunny's lips stretched from ear to ear.

"Yes!"

Aries chuckled, offering her hand for Sunny to clasp. "Then, shall we?"

When Sunny clasped Aries's hand, the latter took the bowl of grapes from Sunny to carry it. Holding each other's hand, they sauntered through the hallway to Aries's chambers.

Gertrude was already waiting for Aries in her chambers when the latter came with a little girl. Gertrude had already prepared a warm bath for Aries, so Aries and Sunny went to bathe together.

Dipped in the warm tub together, Aries scrubbed Sunny's back mildly. They were silent since coming to the bath, worrying Gertrude, who was inside the bathing room, lest Aries would need some assistance.

"Your skin is as white and soft as milk." Aries's voice pierced the silent air after a long silence, an attempt to kill the awkwardness she was feeling. Her lips curled up. Sunny looked pampered, and Aries could tell because it was showing on the girl's skin.

"Mother likes to bathe with Sunny," Sunny replied in her adorably innocent voice.

Aries smiled subtly. "You must've missed her."

"Sunny misses everyone." Sunny pressed her lips into a thin line, but she didn't show the slightest sign of sadness. "But Sunny needs to stay here for now."

'I always want to ask the real reason she's in the empire,' Aries thought, biting her tongue to stop herself from raising questions to a little girl. 'Her previous answers were too vague, after all.'

Silence befell their shoulders once again as neither of them talked. Sunny's back was still facing Aries, and when the latter told her to turn around so she could scrub the little girl's arms, Sunny saw the complex look in Aries's eyes.

"Grandma, are you worried about Grandpa?" asked Sunny out of plain curiosity.

Aries paused, snapping her eyes ever so slowly at the little girl. The corner of her lips curled up slightly.

"Yes," she answered under her breath. "Your Grandpa is strong and capable, but I can't shrug off this unrest in my heart. It was almost like… I might not see him again."

Aries's hand trembled as she held the cloth to scrub Sunny's collar. She breathed out heavily, lowering her eyes to hide the deep worry in them.

"Abel isn't the person who keeps things from me unless… it is something that can harm me or our relationship," she continued melancholy. "For him to keep his mouth shut, I know, deep in my heart, there is something grave that will happen. I'm not sure myself what it was, but what I am certain is this uneasiness in my heart will not disappear anytime soon."

"I'm scared," Aries added, forgetting she was talking to a three-year-old girl. She was practically a toddler, although she spoke like an adult.

Sunny pressed her lips into a thin line while staring at Aries's somber front. She was almost in awe at how sharp Aries's instincts were.

"Don't worry, Grandma." She flashed Aries the brightest smile, clutching the latter's hand. "You probably miss Grandpa. Sunny is also anxious about my mama and papa, but they're strong. I trust them!"

Aries smiled warmly at the little girl, sighing in relief that she was here. "You are the sweetest, Sunny. Your parents are lucky to have such a wonderful daughter."