The Tyrant's Pet

"You were that person, right? The person who broke his heart after giving him false hope."

Aries narrowed her eyes while staring at Princess Agnes's pale complexion. Yet, her stony countenance didn't change. Her mind, however, returned to a particular memory in the past.

<strong>Years ago — many years,</strong> the young crown prince of the small land of Rikhill fell in love with a princess at first sight. He would go on daydreaming and singing love songs, jumping with joy every time he would receive a letter from her.

Aries would usually frown seeing how her brother act like a little boy. Out of curiosity, while Davien was sitting under the linden tree, reading a letter leisurely, Aries came up from behind him. The startled Davien scolded her whilst hugging the letter to his chest.

"What's so wrong if I get to read this letter?" she frowned, sitting in front of him under the linden tree. "Who is this person you've been exchanging letters with? And you're always acting like a jester every time they come. Do you have any idea how funny you look?"

Davien snapped his tongue in irritation. "Don't sneak and read our letters, Aime!"

"Why would I?!"

"You literally just came up right behind me!"

"I just arrived! I barely read anything." Her eyes slid to the corner, making his eyes narrow suspiciously.

"You… can't lie."

"Fine!" Aries huffed. "I had a glimpse of it, alright? So what? Ashamed of your soppy exchange of letters? You should feel sorry for me because I cannot unread it anymore. My innocent eyes are tainted!"

"That's your fault for being too nosy." Davien let out a dry laugh, shaking his head at his distressed sister. He excitedly held the letter and looked at it again with a satisfied smile. "These letters are from my future wife. I'll make her my Queen."

Aries frowned. At this point in time, she was still too young, around thirteen, to desire the throne. Still, his remarks didn't sit well with her. Before being a princess, Aries was Davien's little sister, who was always fond of her big brother, and marriage for her meant her brother would have less time with her.

"You can't get married." Aries folded her arms under her chest grumpily.

"Huh?"

"Davien, can't we just marry?"

"Huh???" Davien's mouth fell open, looking at her up and down incredulously. "Aime, are you out of your mind?"

"Why?"

"What you said… didn't you have goosebumps? How can you ask your brother to marry you?" he gasped, making her frown deepen.

"What's wrong with that?" she cocked her head to the side. "Our uncle married his cousin."

Davien opened and closed his mouth, unable to say a word for a moment. Intermarriage wasn't banned in their land, but it was also not a thing anymore. Moreover, Aries was too young to be talking about marriage. She hadn't even debuted in high society yet.

"Aime." Davien cleared his throat and folded the letter, which he put inside the small box containing all other letters from the same sender. He then moved closer to her, looking her in the eye.

"Intermarriage isn't banned in Rikhill, but it's still filled with controversy. Furthermore, I practically raised you! How can you ask me to marry you?"

Aries blinked, her big green eyes bore innocence. "Even shepherds eat their lambs, Davien."

"What?" Davien's youthful face stiffened at his little sister's rebuttal.

"I want to be with Davien forever!" A bright grin slowly resurfaced on her innocent and adorable face, holding his hand. "I'll be Davien's Queen!"

That day, Davien could only look at his little sister with disbelief and lectured her about the importance of marriage. And, like usual, the two of them just bantered like what children do. In the end, Aries's stubbornness left Davien in utter distress.

They were so innocent back then, and would always be a memory Davien would use to tease Aries when she was being too stubborn as they grew more mature and their priorities, dreams, and values changed over time.

Growing up, Aries became more and more dazzling and wise; Davien, too. There were many things that changed in the two of them over the years, but there was just one thing that didn't change in him. That was, he was still as joyful each time he would receive a letter from his pen pal. Although he wasn't jumping with joy anymore, the charming smile on his face was always present each time.

<strong>Until one night…</strong>

Aries stood by the door of the crown prince's chambers, watching her brother on the floor. His room was turned upside down with broken porcelains scattered around. Davien had a bit of a drink from tonight's welcoming banquet after his expedition, and she got worried because he had been drinking, unlike his usual alcohol intake. Hence, after tossing and turning on her bed, she shook her head and snuck into the crown prince's chambers.

Much to her surprise, what welcomed her eyes was Davien in a pathetic state, crying in anger and pain. This was the first time she had seen her brother like this.

"Davien," she called under her breath, watching him lift his head.

"Aime." His eyes were bloodshot, surprised at her presence apparent on his face. "What are you…"

"You were drinking so much during the banquet," Aries explained, marching inside and pausing when she felt a shard pierce the side of her foot. But she didn't react and simply removed it before she continued and squatted down in front of him.

"I sensed something was wrong, and I was right." A deep exhale slipped past her lips, staring at his charming face with those same pair of green, looking back at her as if he desperately needed help. "You have no idea how you look so pathetic right now. I nearly mistook you as a stray dog."

Her eyes softened as her jaw tightened. "What happened?" she asked under her breath, cupping his lean cheek while brushing the tears rolling down his cheek with her thumb.

"My poor brother…" she lifted her eyes up at him, and the moment she locked eyes with him, a pang struck her heart. "... who hurt you?"