The Tyrant's Pet

Aries looked back at the entrance of the rose palace, smiling subtly at Gertrude and a few maids. They were tearing up as they bid her farewell, but Aries didn't shed a single tear. It wasn't strange, though. There was nothing to cry about. If anything, she should be elated.

But she wasn't also thrilled about it.

"My lady." Aries snapped her eyes, turning her head to the side. There, walking towards her was Dexter, still in his formal suit.

"Greetings, my lord." She curtsied when Dexter stopped at arm's length. "What brings you here?"

"I heard my student is finally leaving the palace. Hence, I rushed in here."

Aries chuckled wearily. "To bid me farewell?"

"Well." He shrugged, sporting a short smile. "I volunteered to make sure you leave the capital safely. You can say I will stay longer with you for a bit."

"You don't have to, though."

"But I was worried."

"Worried?" A brief laugh escaped her mouth, staring at her tutor. "Or were you interested in how I gained my ticket to leave?"

The corners of his lips stretched that reached his eyes. "Perhaps, both." He took a step forward, hands reaching towards her. "Shall I assist you in?"

"Thank you." Aries nodded, clasping his hand as she hitched inside the carriage. Dexter followed after she settled in, sitting across from her. It didn't take long when the carriage started moving.

She glanced at him before setting her attention on the window. As they moved away from the palace, Aries could still see some lights not far away. And then came to sight was the king's palace, where the ball was being held.

"I expect Sir Conan to rush to me." She broke the silence after a few minutes, eyes still on the window. "I didn't think the marquess will come and see me. I wonder why...?"

"Sir Conan is busy scolding His Majesty."

"That's so like him..." she purred.

Aries rocked her head. He didn't need to explain the reason Conan was unable to see her off. Not that it upset her; she wasn't going on a vacation, after all. Aries would leave Haimirich permanently.

"Lady Aries, you don't look like you're happy." Dexter pointed out, staring at her side profile. "I thought you will be smiling from ear to ear at this accomplishment."

She didn't reply immediately, letting her heart rate settle to a normal pace. When it did, she carefully peeled her eyes away from the window to the man across from her.

"He killed her," she spoke while he raised his brow. "The replacement. He killed her."

"Ahh… any thoughts about it? Did you feel bad?"

Aries let out a faint laugh as she shook her head. "Why would I? That could've been me, my Lord."

"That's true…" He rocked his head, closed-lipped, studying her demeanor. "Then why do you look like that?"

"Because I didn't feel anything in particular about it." Aries let out a deep exhale, lowering her eyes with an incomprehensible smile. That was right. She didn't feel sorry for the woman's death, nor was she happy about it. All she thought was, that could've been her… or not.

Silence descended upon them as neither of them talked. She kept her eyes down while he was scrutinizing her demeanor.

"Why are you here, my lord?" she asked out of nowhere. "Were you planning to talk me out of this? That would be strange, though. Will you enlighten me?"

Dexter smiled politely. "Believe me or not, I am simply here to accompany you. I didn't plan to talk you out of it, since Lady Aries had always known what she wants. She doesn't need someone telling her what to do."

"And what do you think I want?"

"I don't know. Only you know that." He shrugged, leaning back comfortably with his leg resting over the other. "What do you think do you want, Lady Aries?"

There was a moment of nothing but silence in the carriage. Only the sound of the wheels suspended the silence while the two of them looked at each other in the eye.

"Marquess," she called in a low tone, letting out a faint exhale. "You don't seem to like His Majesty. Why are you staying?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"It might sound ridiculous, considering your position in the empire. However, I always felt like you can always leave if you want to." She pointed out which she had never voiced out before, catching him off guard. "So, why are you staying?"

His brows rose upon hearing her questions before he laughed. Surely, Aries was smarter than he expected. There were things she had already noticed but didn't utter for her own reason. When he recovered, he let out a sharp exhale.

"Who knows?" he tilted his head, sporting a warm smile. "I also wonder why, Lady Aries. I can always choose to leave, but despite that, here I am. "

This time, he peeled his eyes away from her to the window. His eyes narrowed as they relaxed, his weak smile persisting.

"I don't particularly like His Majesty. In fact, I abhor him," he continued in the same deep tone. "There wasn't anything appealing about him. He is complicated, fickle, and annoying. He does whatever he wants regardless if his actions will hurt others."

He slowly set his eyes back to her. "And yet, I can't leave... or rather, I don't see any reason I must leave. Where will I go?"

Aries's eyes softened as she listened to his voice in silence. She knew when Dexter was simply being smart or speaking honestly. This time, she knew it was the latter and she could relate somehow.

"If you're hesitating to leave, don't," he continued sternly, his eyes sharpening. "Leave, Lady Aries. Leave this place and never look back, for that is the right thing to do. That is the wisest decision you will ever make in this life. This place doesn't suit you because the longer you stay, the more it will corrupt you."

He paused while staring at her solemnly. This time, he truly wanted her to leave from the bottom of his heart. It was a shame, but he didn't dislike her to the point he would trick her into staying.

"The palace is only gorgeous on the outside. But there were things you wish to never know," he added in the same tone. "Leave while you still can. Trust me."

Aries remained silent, processing his words of encouragement. She had spent a fair enough time with him to know that he meant everything he uttered.

"I know that, My Lord," she whispered, peeling her eyes away from him to the window. "Everything you said... I already know that, for I also told myself that this is the wisest thing to do."

"That's good, then..."

"But then again, I also wonder where I will go?" the space between his brows wrinkled while staring at her look back at him. "Marquess Vandran, I think I understand your heart now."

A subtle smile appeared on her face while he frowned before he sighed.

"It was too late, huh?" he muttered in defeat, chuckling whilst shaking his head.

"Mhm." She chuckled, letting out a deep exhale as she set her eyes back to the window. "I think you already know that, though. You haven't bid me farewell."