The Tyrant's Pet

"Mister Fabian is his name. His weapon hides in a form of a skull ring, and I think it's really cool how he rubs it with his thumb before wielding it!"

"A skull ring, huh?" Abel repeated with a delicately arched brow, recalling the skull he had glimpsed before leaving the plaza.

"Mhm! It then turns into a black spear that can slay vampires. If you get grazed by it, the wound will never heal. Mister Fabian is really cool, although people say his smile is annoying for no reason," Sunny added, only for Leon to chime in.

"That person has questionable morals," Leon stressed, very much aware of Sunny's fondness for the aforementioned butler. Hence, she was biased. "Your Majesty, as someone who personally knew your kin and their people, I had met this person a few times. There's only one I can tell you about him, and that is he only listens to two people. Sunny's parents."

"Mister Fabian listens to Sunny." Sunny frowned, knowing their family butler was also very fond of her. "Why are you asking, Grandpa? Did Mister Fabian come to fetch Sunny?"

"I doubt," Conan answered for Abel, sporting a flat expression. "I don't trust this person. Although he saved Her Majesty, his intention is still questionable why he hadn't shown up in front of you until now."

Sunny's frown deepened, leaning back and hugging her toy bunny closer.

"He won't harm Sunny," Leon remarked with conviction. "I'm certain of that."

"He… is revolting," Abel chimed in after a long silence, tossing the pebble to Sunny, which landed on her side. "The person who threw this that killed a La Crox turns my stomach."

Sunny picked up the pebble with her cute and chubby fingers, cocking her head to the side. "Sunny doesn't understand."

"Am I… the only one who felt repelled by it?" Abel narrowed his eyes, studying Sunny's innocent countenance, and then Leon. Seeing that Leon bore confusion in his eyes, Abel shifted his attention to Conan and then to Isaiah.

None of them seemed to have shared the same sentiment as Abel.

"So, it is just me, huh?" Abel closed his eyes briefly while scratching his brow with his index. "Will you… find this person?"

"Your Majesty, shouldn't we prioritize the matter regarding Maximus IV?" this time, Isaiah couldn't stay silent anymore.

"It's rare for me to agree with him, but the grand duke has a point, Your Majesty." Conan backed him up with a nod. "In a few days, Maximus will enter the imperial palace. But since we know he is already in the capital, we need to watch all his movements at all times."

"I… agree with them," Leon also voiced his thoughts. "Mister Fabian is a strange person, but he might have had a reason for not showing up. He won't cause trouble."

"You better learn how to lie better, Leon." Abel pointed out, making the man clear his throat.

"He is a person who can cause trouble, but I think he respects you enough as his master's uncle to cut you some slack."

"I think this respect only goes as far as not showing up in front of me," Abel argued calmly but adamantly. "Dealing with the current sovereign in the mainland is necessary. However, I need to confirm if I can stand my wife's presence or if she can stand in front of me without killing me once she awakened her witch."

His eyes glinted menacingly, moving his gaze at Sunny before his gaze fell on that pebble. He had been holding it until now to get used to the repugnant lingering scent left by the person who threw it.

"If my guess is correct… I don't think Aries should awaken her witch," he added under his breath. "I might kill her… or she might kill."

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

<strong>Meanwhile…</strong>

The wind blew past Aries, causing the hemline of her nightdress and hair to flow back beautifully. She clutched the shawl to her chest, eyes on the towering figure's back, who was standing not far away from her vantage point in the Rose Garden.

"Who… are you?" Aries asked after approaching the person, watching the person slowly turn around. The latter was wearing a cloak with a hood over the head, and with only the moon as their source of light, she couldn't see the person's face clearly.

Her eyes fell on the freshly plucked flower in the person's delicate and slender hand, but her focus wasn't on the flower but on the skull ring on his index finger.

"I…" a chilling baritone voice of a man came from his lips. "... have the same question, my lady. Who are you?"

Aries slowly raised her head, and after a moment, her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Looking back at her were a pair of thin eyes that bore no confusion, no intrigue, or anything negative or positive at all. If anything, his eyes told her… he was contemplating.

"I'm —" Aries pursed her lips and gulped, realizing there was no reason to introduce herself. But alas, she was unable to look away from him.

The person's thin eyes narrowed even more when the corner of his lips curled up slightly.

"A vindictive person once told me she wished for me to meet someone who will make me question myself just because I told her love takes away the proper functionality of the brain," the man spoke calmly and cooly, while Aries could only look at him with her lips slightly parted. "Did you know what I told her in response?"

"What… what did you tell her?"

"That I'd end this person if I ever come across one."

Her lips quivered as she breathed out, "did you meet this person already?"

"Mhm."

"Will you kill her?"

"Will you allow me..?" The man smiled, offering the flower to her. Aries only glanced at it, and a part of her wanted to accept it, but she didn't. She pursed her lips and clenched her hand, looking up at him again.

He added, "to kill... my soulmate?"