The Tyrant's Pet

Was it out of pity? Or was their fate meant to be tangled in an erratic mess that was meant to end tragically?

Out of curiosity, Aries peeked at the different paths people had in life. She found it interesting how a person's decision, life events, and such could have different outcomes.

For instance, Ismael.

His life would have its own up and down, spiraling into a total mess before attaining his goal. One of those complicated messes before his success was Aries.

If Aries didn't flee Joaquin's clutches and didn't meet Abel, she would return to the Maganti Empire, where she would meet Ismael. Even when Ismael and Aries lived within the imperial palace, Ismael was someone who didn't want to pry too much into Joaquin's affairs. At least, not those types of affairs.

But somehow, someway, he meets her. And just like how Carlos was mesmerized by her stunning beauty despite her pathetic state, she would capture the third prince's heart. The only difference was that Carlos did the unimaginable, but Ismael exercise compassion.

Unfortunately, Ismael was just too powerless, and his first revolt failed miserably.

In the second revolt years later, Ismael succeeded. Joaquin and his regime ended. It was a feat everyone celebrated; the night, the rebels hoisted their flags in the imperial palace. The Maganti was free. While everyone outside was busy seizing everyone and taking control of the imperial palace, Ismael had a different agenda.

Standing in the middle of the empress's chambers, Ismael held his sword until it trembled. His fiery silver eyes were fixed on the woman, wearing a plain white dress before the open window. The moonlight shone on her long, straight, green hair, giving her an elegant luster like a goddess — an angel trapped and caged in this room.

"You did it." Aries's voice was soft and weak, turning her upper body to face her visitor.

The moment she faced him, his eyes fell on the blood that stained her chest. Blood dripped off of the corner of her smiling lips. She had these soft eyes, holding this sense of pride and relief underneath those pairs of emeralds.

"Now you only have one last step, Your Highness." Her smile remained, nodding encouragingly. "End me."

Ismael gulped, opening his quivering lips.

"Go." He breathed out. "I will burn down this place. While it's on fire, run to the farther east. Vito will be there waiting for you."

Aries smiled subtly. "And where will he take me?"

"Far away from here."

Her eyes softened, advancing in his direction without any trace of fear. Aries stopped three steps from his vantage point where she could reach the tip of his sword.

"No matter how far I run and hide, nothing will change Ismael." Aries clipped the tip of his sword and raised it slightly. "It's been many years since the downfall of Rikhill, and it's been many years that had passed."

Aries lifted her eyes back to him with a subtle smile. "I am just glad to live and witness the day Joaquin meets his demise."

"I thank you for letting it happen. You might've done this because of many things, but for me, it is the revenge I sought for." She held the blades with the tip right before her stomach. "I am tired, Your Highness. If I am going to die, it would be my honor to die in the hands of the man I yearned for every single day."

"Release me from this torment, Your Highness." The irony of her request was that she looked more at peace, and that broke his heart. "You promised to grant me one wish back then, and this is my wish."

Ismael's jaw tightened as a thin layer of tears coated his eyes. "I'm late, aren't I?"

"No." She shook her head, smiling. "You were just right on time."

His breathing slowed down, assessing her peaceful countenance. From what he had learned, the empress had been sick and, according to the spy he planted in her shadow, her sickness might take her soon. The blood that stained her white dress and the smeared blood on the corner of her lips confirmed she was suffering. Whether he listened to her wishes or let her live just because he was reluctant to let her go, Aries would still die.

"You are so cruel," he whispered, making her smile stretch.

"Perhaps, I am."

Silence descended on the empress's chambers as neither of them talked. Ismael kept his eyes down, unable to thrust his sword, just as she wished. After another second of nothing but silence, her loud coughs pierced through the still air.

Ismael gazed up, only to see her coughing out blood, and she seemed to be in terrible pain. When she stopped coughing, Aries wiped the blood on her lips with the back of her hand.

"Please," she whispered, wincing at the pain within her. "Don't keep me caged anymore."

His face contorted with pain, clenching his teeth. Those words and that look in her eyes, Ismael knew his reluctance would only bring nothing but suffering to her. Just like others who bore feelings for her — Joaquin, Inez, Carlos, and all the others — it would simply destroy her as well.

"I… hate you," he confessed with a jagged breath, mustering his courage to thrust his sword into her stomach.

Her expression softened after her breath hitched, holding the blades on instincts. Instead of writhing in pain, Aries felt relieved and amused at how easy and fragile her life was. As her life slowly slipped away from her grip, her body felt heavy, falling to the ground. However, Ismael took a large step, catching her and holding her body down ever so carefully.

Aries snapped her weary eyes as he cradled her body on the floor. Tears landed on her pale cheek, seeing how his tears fill his eyes. She raised a hand to touch his face affectionately.

"Don't cry," she whispered weakly. "I am happy to have seen you reach this far."

Ismael sniffed and replied through his gritted teeth. "What would I do without you?"

"Many things." She smiled subtly, her vision zooming in and out as her consciousness slowly slipped away from her control. "Thank you, Ismael."

Ismael was unable to say anything, holding her hand that was on his cheek, and leaned over his face to feel the slight warmth of her rough palms. When his eyes fell on her thigh and then on the exposed part of her body, he could see the terrible bruises up close.

His heart sank at the sight of her body, shifting his eyes to meet hers. Aries smiled at him for the last time before her eyes closed ever so slowly. All he could do was silently weep whilst embracing her dead body, before carrying her out of the empress's palace, where everyone was waiting for the new emperor.

<strong>Dramatic and tragic.  </strong>

That was what Aries thought about this route.

If Aries hadn't met Abel, she would've died around this time in the hands of the man she didn't expect to love. Everything would've ended then. Seeing this course of life that could've happened, Aries didn't feel sentimental or anything of the sort. All she felt was amusement and fascination.

"I didn't know you and I will have such special feelings for each other. It's interesting, isn't it? How one event, one decision, and one encounter can change everything." Her smile looked amused, arching a brow as she caught a figure outside the window.

Aries looked back, only to see a particular butler standing in the vast expanse whilst staring in a particular direction. She snapped her eyes up and caught another bolt of lightning in the sky before it started pouring into the mainland.

"Your Majesty, I don't know why you are suddenly saying this, but —" Ismael stopped when Aries suddenly raised a finger to stop him.

"Hah…" His brows furrowed, seeing her turn around to face the window squarely. "... oh, dear. He got out."

"Pardon?"

Aries cocked her head back, smiling mischievously at him. "It seemed the summit will become more interesting than expected. You should put your bets before it's too late."