The Tyrant's Pet

As the beautiful melody echoed across the inner palace, the breeze seemed to have also warmed up. Marsella drew a deep breath while sitting on the railings of the balcony, tucking her hair as the soft breeze blew past her.

"What are you doing here?" Dexter's voice came from behind her after the mild creak. A frown dominated his face, apparently displeased at the presence of this intruder.

The moment Dexter resigned to bed, he instantly knew there was another person in his room. He wasn't wrong because the second he opened the balcony, Marsella was there in her nightdress as if this was her room.

"The amount of display of affection in the palace is too much for a vulnerable maiden such as myself." Marsella looked back at him and smirked. "That is why I fled to save myself from such histrionic sentiments that are knocking into my fragile heart."

"So, you intruded into my room?"

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"It is wrong in many ways," he replied through his gritted teeth.

"Oh, come on, Marquess. It's not like I plan to sleep with you. Unless you want me to," Marsella mused, peeling her eyes away from him. "I simply found this room up to my taste."

"Therefore, you're claiming ownership?"

She smirked, glancing back at him. "Why don't you humor me for a little while? I can be an excellent company. Gustav can vouch for me."

"Did Gustav let you in all on his own?" he asked in disbelief, marching towards the railings. "I can't believe him."

"He's doing a good deed by helping a damsel in distress." She arched a brow, offering the bottle of wine she had been enjoying. "I do not have a spare glass, but I had enough wine."

Dexter darted his eyes from her eyes to the bottle before accepting it. With his arms against the railing, a deep exhale slipped past his lips before chugging down a mouthful of the beverage.

As he hissed, Marsella was staring at him silently. Noticing her prolonged gaze, he arched a brow.

"What?" he asked, only to see her shrug.

"Nothing." Marsella grinned, looking away from him toward the towering imperial palace. "Can you hear them, Marquess?"

Dexter furrowed his brows, his eyes following her gaze. He narrowed them and subconsciously raised his sense of hearing. At that moment, he heard the faint sound of music. It was soothing, a tone different from what Abel would usually play whenever he had the time.

"I guess she's happy," he whispered, smiling subtly at the thought of how warm the music was that affected the night. He gazed up at the crescent moon shining up above. "No wonder tonight felt a little less cold."

Marsella smacked her lips. "Now that you are in the good mood, can I have your room?"

"No." His smile instantly died, looking back at her dead in the eye. "Did you think you can trick me by telling me my sister is happy?"

"She's not your real sister."

"Does blood matter?" he arched a brow. "Dani and I might not share the same blood, but we care for each other more than a real sibling. Take your relationship with your brother, for instance… ah, right. You're not the real Marsella."

"I am not and I will never be."

"But that shell, that face, and body, are hers. So, technically, you're still blood-related to him." Dexter shrugged nonchalantly. "My point here is, your argument isn't valid. Therefore, get out of here. I won't give you my room."

Marsella frowned, studying his handsome face. "Mhm… you don't look bad."

"Don't even think seducing me will work."

"Really?" Marsella bent over until her face was a palm length away from his face. "I haven't been paying attention to people's faces. I didn't know you were quite charming."

Dexter narrowed his eyes, etching her facial structure in his head. To be honest, Marsella looked like the face of seduction. He resembled Abel upon closer look, or rather, her sharp eyes looked like the emperors'.

"Say…" she traced his sharp jaw with her fingertips, batting her eyes coquettishly. "How about we share the bedroom, Marquess? I do not mind spending the night with you and have some fun. After all, it was quite unfair that people are having fun while you… and I are supposed to spend this night all alone."

"Make sense…" Dexter nodded slightly before his eyelids drooped, watching her lean her face closer. However, as their faces were inches away, the corner of their lips curled up viciously. Marsella was a second late as Dexter pushed her off the balcony without a second hesitation.

Her eyes went huge while she was free falling, seeing Dexter look over the balcony with a smirk.

'That jerk…!'

"I would rather sleep on my bed all alone than spend it with someone who reeks of bloodlust." He chuckled, watching her fall without a trace of remorse. It didn't surprise him that Marsella landed on the ground safely soon after. "The residence had a lot of rooms to offer. Gustav will give you a proper one. However, don't sneak inside my room again or I will draw my sword."

"It's your loss, dearest," Marsella yelled in irritation and added louder, "if I were you, don't even think of sleeping. You will not wake up… or you might, but the first sight you will behold is my beauty."

Dexter chuckled at her confidence. Surely, she was Abel's sister. They both had the habit of sneaking into places and claiming things just because they caught their eyes.

'I never slept since you stepped foot in this place,' he thought, pushing himself away from the railings. As he did, his brows rose as his eyes fell on the bottle of wine that he was still holding.

"This is His Majesty's favorite," he snickered, chugging the wine as he walked back inside his chambers. 'He likes stealing my things. I guess it's not bad to drink this wine, which he had been preserving for centuries.'

<strong>Meanwhile,</strong> Marsella snapped her tongue as she stared at the balcony. Dexter already left. How rude.

"Ugh…" She ran her hands through her tousled hair, grinding her teeth. "Good thing he pushed me off, though. Marsella nearly came out."