The Tyrant's Pet

Joaquin, the crown prince, was loved and respected in the empire. He was charming, smart, and had a good public image. Unlike the views of those people from the countries that were trampled by the empire, the citizen of the Maganti had a different image of Joaquin in their heads.

To them, Joaquin was akin to a hero. That was why… now that he had taken in a wife, a lot of royalties and nobles were intrigued. 

Was the crown prince's wife… worthy? Aside from her parentage and status, was she worthy to stand on the same ground as Joaquin?

Aries smiled as she walked through the crown prince's palace garden, recalling the echoing twittering and murmurings of the servants resonating through the palace's thin walls. Their wedding had been the talk of the town, and if the servants couldn't stop themselves from talking about it, she was certain everybody else had the same topic. Especially about the interruption during their wedding and her face.

"What a lovely flower," she praised, stopping in front of the flowerbed full of lilies. "We should take some so I can arrange it during my free time."

"Yes, my lady." Gertrude, who was standing at arm's length, bowed slightly. When she raised her head, Aries glanced at her briefly and smiled, looking all elegant and beyond her reach. She watched Aries resume in her steps to stroll around the garden while Gertrude could only stare at Aries's slim back. 

Aries was beautiful, like a goddess who descended straight from the empyrean realm. But her aura now was different — different from when she was in the Rose Palace and the Vandran Residence. Gertrude couldn't point it out exactly, but if she was going to put it into words, Aries looked… tempting. Anyone would risk even their lives just to spend a night with her — she oozed sex appeal.

As they strolled the garden in peace, Aries stopped at the sight of a knight approaching her direction. She stood still, tilting her head and waiting for the knight to stop a couple of meters away.

"Greetings to the exalted crown princess." The knight bowed, fist across his shoulder. "Your Highness, the ninth princess, is here to pay her respect to you." He reported, making Aries arch a brow. 

"The ninth princess?" she smacked her lips as she mulled over it for a second. "Where is she now?"

"In the drawing-room, Your Highness."

Aries rocked her head, but instead of asking the knight to lead the way, she sauntered towards the nearest flowerbed to adore them. "Gertrude, this one will look good with the lilies."

"They will, Your Highness."

"That one too. Take some to the pavilion by the lake. I will arrange a flower vase for my husband." 

"Yes, Your Highness." Gertrude, like a dutiful servant, simply tilted her head down. But just as she was accepting orders from the crown princess, the knight frowned as they were purposely ignoring him. 

"Your highness," called the knight with a stern voice. "The ninth princess…"

"The ninth princess wants to pay her respect to me?" Aries cut him off as she carefully set her lazy eyes on the knight. "Or, is she summoning me, the crown princess, to pay my respect to her?"

The knight's frown grew worse, while the side of her lips curled up slightly. How could he argue with her if she worded it that way?

"Give my word to the ninth princess, my lovely sister-in-law, that the crown princess had an exhausting night. So, I am 'inviting' her to join me in arranging a flower vase for my husband. I will be very pleased if she graced me with her company." She offered a kind smile, waving as she turned around. 

The knight could only stare at Aries back with a frown. But what was clear to him was that the rumors they had heard about her were true. She was someone not to be taken lightly. She shut him up with almost just a sound, playing with her words to sound more pleasant than its real context.

*******

Aries sat daintily on the intricate marble chair in the middle of the large pavilion by the lake. On the table was a variety of freshly plucked flowers, vases, and materials for arranging flowers. Gertrude, her personal maid, and a few servants stationed to service her stood almost motionless outside the pavilion. 

"I, the ninth princess, pay her respect to the crown princess." Aries snapped her eyes, turning her head to the side. Her eyes landed on the figure steps away from the entrance, performing a curtsy for formality. 

"Raise your head, ninth sister. I am glad that you accepted my invitation." She smiled, watching Inez, the ninth princess, raising her head. She didn't have any change in reaction when their eyes locked. But Inez was a little stunned seeing that familiar face. 

Inez heard about the 'resemblance' of the crown princess to 'that' slave, and also the highlight of their wedding. However, she didn't actually think it wasn't just a resemblance.

That face… was the same, exact face they all knew. 

"Please, ninth sister, take a seat. Pardon the mess on the table. I thought of arranging some flowers to decorate my chambers so it will have some colors." Aries's voice snapped Inez back to her senses, and the latter was quick to recompose herself with a smile. 

"It is my honor, Your Highness." Inez sauntered towards the seat across from Aries, glancing at the flowers Aries was cutting and segregating. 

"I am honestly pleased that you came to see me. As you can see, I was a little lonely. Although I am relieved that His Highness, the crown prince, was a good man, there was still longing in my heart." Aries spoke while cutting the stem of the rose before raising her gaze at the beautiful ninth princess. "A company is just what I exactly need right now."

Her eyelashes fluttered ever so tenderly as the corner of her lips curled up bewitchingly, making Inez's mouth fall open. Aries then slid a white rose towards her, smiling. 

"For you."