The Tyrant's Pet

"I'm just glad you are here to comfort your pathetic brother, and I appreciate your heart for desiring to help me with everything you can. That alone made me feel a lot better. Thank you."

Aries pursed her lips into a thin line, still clutching her skirt. Of course, she knew what he meant, but he didn't have to do that to make a point. If she weren't willing, she would've moved away, but she didn't. However, no matter how she denied it, Davien had a point. If he didn't stop, she probably pushed him away.

"I know you adore me, too." Davien slowly retrieved his hand from her and smiled. "But this affection is different."

"What do you mean, it's different?"

"Do not mistake your affection for me for something more than it is. There were different types of love, Aime. A love for family, friends, lovers, for the land, and so on."

"Does that mean it is the same with you?" she asked, more upset at this than his attempts to stop her from pressing the matter regarding marriage. "Was your love for me different from that woman who brought you nothing but pain?"

Davien simply smiled at her, but that was clear enough for her as an answer. During this time, Aries didn't understand his brother and what he meant by that. All she understood was the growing frustration in her heart, knowing Davien have this special feeling for another person who didn't deserve it.

"I will walk you back to your chambers," he proposed after a moment, but Aries shook her head.

"No need, Davien. I can return on my own." Aries slowly stood up from her seat and gazed down at him. "Just take a rest."

"How can I?" Davien also rose to his feet. "Let me —"

"No." This time, her tone was firm and strong. "You don't have to."

Aries gazed at him sternly before she turned her back against him to leave. Her careful steps halted as she released a deep exhale, chin up.

"By the way, I will become the crown princess," she announced.

"Aime. I don't need this pity —"

"How I wish it was out of pity, Davien." Aries slowly turned around to face him. "I've thought of it for years, but I didn't have enough motivation or reason. However, after seeing you in such a pathetic state, I realized, I cannot entrust this land to someone so weak. I cannot allow Rikhill to fall into your command."

Her jaw tightened for a second. "Davien, I simply asked you to marry me for a much more peaceful resolution. However, now that you've proven it wasn't as peaceful as I thought it was, I have no choice."

"That title of crown prince… I'll take it away from you. You don't deserve it. Our people and our great Rikhill don't deserve such a weak-hearted crown prince and ruler," she added firmly with eyes burning with boldness. "I'll prove that I deserve it more than you or anyone."

With that being said, Aries left, holding that promise because the very next day, she asked for a private audience with their father, the king. And that was the start of her fierce competition with Davien, in which she emerged victorious, only to be cut short by a tragedy.

<strong>*****</strong>

<strong>[ PRESENT TIME ]</strong>

"Davien has the biggest heart, and he had so much love to give to everyone. And it angers me that even after knowing this person was fooling him, he forgives her," Aries mused quietly. "You did not deserve him, Princess. Did you feel guilty after hearing he died? Did you know how he died, Princess?"

"In that ridge where all my people were shouting for what we were fighting for, grunting in pain whenever a blade slice through their flesh, I watched my brother's head roll over to my feet," she continued, keeping her eyes on the princess's shaking eyes. "I had to pick up his severed head with my own two hands."

"When I retrieved his body, do you know what I found in his chest?" Aries lowered her eyes, remembering one of the most painful events in her life. "It was a ring. I remember that no matter how busy he was defending his crown from me, he would spare his time of the day to sketch a ring. I didn't know he finished it and got a person to craft it — I was busy trying to take his crown from him."

She slowly lifted her eyes at Princess Agnes again. "He loved you till the very end, Princess. He loved you so much he could forgive you, even though you broke him. But I'm not like Davien, my father, or anyone in Rikhill anymore."

"I don't have enough love to give away or grant forgiveness. I have no goodness left in me; it was stolen." Aries shook her head mildly. "I'm a firm believer that a person will only realize a person's actual worth if that person leaves. I experienced it myself. Therefore, I understand you probably realized Davien was someone who truly loved you, and his love isn't something that you can get anywhere. But you cannot bring him back. Neither I can. How I wished I can. I used to say I will do everything, even if that means sacrificing my life to bring them all back to life."

"But after everything that I had overcome, it is comforting to know they never left. They were here." Aries pointed at her chest. "They're always here, and will always be there."

Aries slowly rose to her feet, gazing down at the princess. Princess Agnes couldn't stop her tears from staining her cheek, unable to speak a word to Aries.

"I don't hate you, Princess. That's who you are, that's your character, and I'm not mad at it. I just do not want to deal with it." Aries straightened her back. "May you get the life you truly wanted, Princess. Let this be the last time we see each other."

With that being said, Aries carefully pivoted on her heel and walked away. Just after five steps from the door of the balcony, her steps halted.

"I'm sorry…" Princess Agnes whispered. Her voice shaking, she was unable to even look at Aries's back.

Aries glanced over her shoulder but said nothing before she resumed her steps, leaving Princess Agnes with the crushing guilt the princess had to continue carrying to her grave.