The Tyrant's Pet

Sometime in the past…

Aries was standing on the balcony, holding a glass of wine that she hadn't drunk yet. Wearing a gorgeous dress with half of her hair clipped behind, cascading with the rest of her green locks. A deep exhale escaped her lips, unable to enjoy the fresh night breeze.

"I hope they don't drag me back inside," she breathed out, leaning her side against the railings. Today was one of those days she hated the most. She literally loathed banquets with passion, thinking that honing her swordsmanship was better than wasting it on smiling and being pretty at all times.

"Well, I can't help it," came out a whisper, sighing for the umpteenth time. "If I truly want to become the crown princess and replace brother, socializing is inevitable."

It was not that Aries didn't know how to blend in with women's gossip and men's discussion about politics. In fact, she was naturally good with conversations that many mistook her for someone who enjoyed it. Not that she truly hated it, but because of that, it was hard to get a moment of peace. 

Everyone just wanted a piece of her, and that was tiring. 

Thus, she always found herself sneaking out from the banquet hall, just like now, to breathe. Aries blinked, shifting it towards the entrance of the balcony when it creaked mildly as it opened. She rolled her eyes when she saw the person closing the door behind him carefully. 

"Having a good time alone in here?" asked the man with eyes the same color of seaweed and hair the color of clover green. 

"Cut me some slack, Davien." Aries watched Davien, the crown prince of Rikhill, approach and lean his side against the railings, facing her with a playful grin. "Don't look at me like that." 

"Like, what?" he laughed. "Spare me your histrionic sentiments, sister. I simply came in here to light up a smoke."

"Not in here." She stressed while widening her eyes. 

"Why?" Davien arched a brow, slowing down in taking out his cigar from inside the pocket of his suit. 

"I don't like it."

"Aries, is this how you will be once you become the crown princess? Good lord! Our Kingdom awaits a tyrant?!"

"Oh, please! I was enjoying myself in here until you came." She frowned and rolled her eyes, clicking her tongue in irritation while looking away. 

Davien laughed, taking out the cigar just to smell it, but he didn't light it up. Instead, his playful smile remained while gazing at his grumpy sister. 

"Is this that time of the month…"

"Not a sound." Aries set her unblinking eyes, peeved at what her brother was about to speak. Davien raised both his hands and pressed his lips into a tight and thin slash. 

She huffed and shook her head, peeling her eyes from him to the vast expanse ahead. "How can you be so careful about this? I hate that while I am working hard while you're acting like a buffoon."

"Sister, you're so strict." Davien chuckled with his lips closed. "Loosen up a bit, will you? I mean, it doesn't mean I am as friendly and handsome as always, doesn't mean I am not working hard in keeping my title."

"Working hard, tsk."

His lips stretched, poking her lean cheek with the cigar. "Why are you so grumpy? You're not usually like this. Come on, tell your reliable big brother what bothers you?" 

Her frown grew worse as he kept poking her cheek, but didn't lash out at him. Instead, she cast her older brother a side-eye. 

"Are you taking me lightly?" she inquired without beating around the bush.

"Huh?" 

"Why? Was it because I'm a woman? And you also think a woman isn't fit to rule and will bring ruin to a nation?" 

This time, Davien frowned at the ridiculous remarks his sister wouldn't usually spew. "Who told you that?" 

"I am asking you a question, Davien. Don't answer me with another question."

"No," came out a quick return. "Now, answer mine. Who uttered such an insult to my sister?"

Aries pressed her lips and looked away. A shallow breath slipped past her lips, feeling his gaze on her side. 

"No one," she answered after a minute of silence. 

"No one?" His frown grew worse before sighing deeply, facing the same direction where she was staring at. "Father isn't against it, nor our people. Our Kingdom and the citizens who were born and raised here shared one common thing, and that was our openness to innovation, changes, possibilities, and so much more."

"Isn't that the reason Rikhill, although small, persisted for hundreds of years?" he continued while hovering the cigar in front of his nose. "A female ruler after all these years isn't common, but that doesn't mean they cannot rule just as great as the previous kings. What I'm saying is, you know me and Rikhill more than anyone else, Aries. Don't let the outsider's words sway you."

'Not when they're mocking Father,' was what she wanted to tell him, but she ended up biting her tongue. Telling Davien that she overheard the conversation of the delegation from the Maganti Empire, regarding Aries' claiming a right for the throne, would benefit no one. 

It was fine if they mocked her, but they even ridiculed the king! She wouldn't have left it off the hook if the Maganti Empire wasn't an excellent ally, but a scary opponent. So she kept it in but attending the banquet triggered her. So she was annoyed at everything. 

"Aries," called Davien, facing her squarely. He waited for her to look back at him before his lips parted. 

"I think you're amazing," he confessed with a warm smile. "And I really think you… are more than qualified to own the title of the crown princess. You don't have any idea how I had been working hard; it's not an exaggeration to say I am working hard twice than usual."

"I'm implying is you are that tough as an opponent," he added and tipped the cigar at her. "Just in case you win, despite all the efforts I am putting to secure my seat, I will be at ease knowing Rikhill will be in good hands."

Davien flashed her a smile and winked, guiding the cigar in between his teeth. Out of habit, he lit it up, but Aries ignored the pungent scent of smoke. 

"I hate you," she whispered before a hand rested on top of her head. 

"I hate you just as dearly, sister." Davien massaged her scalp playfully. "You're forcing me to work hard."

"That serves you right. I will destroy you if you do nothing about it."

"Haha!" he burst out of laughter, already used to his sister's threats.

Aries just cast him a side-eye before she sighed. A subtle smile finally appeared on her lips as she picked up the wineglass, warning the mischievous Davien to stop ruining her hair, in which he returned with delighted laughs. 

All she could do was shake her head, taking her first sip of wine for the night.. However, when she blinked ever so slowly, the vast expanse was replaced with Davien's head rolling to her feet, standing in the middle of a battlefield where her forces were being overwhelmed by the soldiers from the Maganti Empire.