The Tyrant's Pet

<strong>Meanwhile…</strong>

Everyone in the inner palace was kept on the hop with the matters on hand. One particular place was the royal court, where ministers and people in power discuss the state of affairs. Despite attending court meetings without the presence of the emperor, it didn't stop the greedy cutthroat individuals from trying to get the upper hand and control over everybody else.

Joaquin remained silent around the long table where they gathered. His expression was dark, hands intertwined in front of his lips. He barely had sleep last night, and all these loud yelling and arguments filling up the temporary court hall were making his head hurt. They weren't helping him in any way.

'No matter how hard and wide the search was conducted, Ismael and my men disappeared. There's no trace of them.' He thought, shunning all the other noises around him. 'Not to mention, the fire not only caused panic in the empire but also some think it's my doing since I arrested Carlos…'

"How can this happen right under our noses —"

<strong>SLAM!</strong>

Silence instantly dawned inside the courtroom as Joaquin slammed his hand on the table so hard it nearly broke. Everyone's eyes shifted towards the crown prince, swallowing down a mouthful of saliva seeing his dark and dangerous expression.

"For once…" Joaquin seethed as his pair of menacing eyes glossed over their faces. "… spare me your barking and speak what is only necessary. Do you think arguing right now is helping? The eighth prince is caught up in a scandal that will also put the royal family in a tight spot. The third prince, who is suspected of being the mastermind, is nowhere to be found, and a fire broke out inside the imperial palace, taking the life of Princess Violet, her children, and everyone stationed in the palace."

He planted his palms on the table, pushing himself up, eyes giving equal attention to all the men around the table.

"I, the crown prince, am doing everything I can to put everything in order while you only care about washing your hands and pressing on the problem without presenting a proper resolution. How did this royal court had fallen into the hands of greedy individuals who can only think of how they will benefit from this crisis?" he scoffed, ridiculing them when they were all in the same boat. "The emperor's health had been deteriorating and how am I going to face him if you lot fails —"
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"Your Highness!!"

Joaquin frowned when someone suddenly barged in the door, catching everyone's attention as they turned their heads to the door. Hernan was catching up to his breathing as he bowed and rushed inside.

"Please forgive me for this rude interruption, Your Highness, but something…" Hernan, Joaquin's aide, trailed off as his face crumpled at the thought.

"Speak." Joaquin's eyes darkened, knowing Hernan wouldn't sport such expression if this news wasn't worthy to get worried about.

"Your Highness, it's about —"

"Joaquin!!" Before Hernan could finish his sentence, everyone in the royal court heard a family angry voice coming from outside. As soon as Joaquin heard that voice, his eyes dilated before his gaze shifted towards the entrance where Hernan had entered.

<strong>BAM!</strong>

"Joaquin!"

There, the person who barged into the royal court was the man they had been searching for all night! But unlike what he appeared last night, Ismael was seething in anger and confidence, as if he didn't experience all that humiliation and revelation as he stormed inside the room without a care.

"You!" Ismael reached his hand out, grabbing Joaquin by the collar.

His action warranted apprehension from the knight as they surrounded him with their swords pointing at him. But he didn't care. He looked at the surprised Joaquin straight in the eye, seething in anger, grabbing his collar tighter.
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"What the hell are you doing, Joaquin?" he inquired through his gritted teeth.

"Hah…" Joaquin laughed in ridicule, finding everything hilarious. "My brother, it should be me who is supposed to be asking such a question. What do you think you're doing? To the crown prince?"

"Spare me your hypocrisy, Your Highness. How can you frame Carlos for something he hasn't done?"

"Your Highness, the third prince. The eighth prince is facing the consequences of his actions." Joaquin tilted his head to the side while the corner of his lips curled up into a smirk. "But more than that… aren't you a little bit too confident walking back in here when you're under the suspicion of involvement in these illegal operations?"

"Hah… what?" Ismael laughed as he gripped the crown prince's collar tighter. "Your Highness, the crown prince, just what will it take you to stop this madness? Not only did you arrest Carlos, but you also burned his wife and my nephews alive!"

His eyes glinted with murderous intent, smoldering in anger. Sensing the increasing anger from the third prince, Roman, the crown prince's sword had to step in.

"Your Highness, the third prince, it seems you had forgotten. You are needed to be taken in for questioning and assaulting the crown prince can add more to the piling up charges on you."

Ismael laughed as he glanced at Roman. "Charges for me? Why? What did I do?"

Roman narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Joaquin, and then at the stunned crowd. All of them were surprised for various reasons. Some were shocked to see the third prince coming back when they all thought he fled to hide, while others were surprised because of Ismael's actions.

He shouldn't be here, throwing a huge fit like normal. Modesto, who was also among the crowd, gazed at Ismael wide-eyed. From everyone's eyes, it seemed as though Ismael… didn't go through what he went through last night.

"Bribery, obstruction of justice, alleged involvement in the illegal trades, and so on," Joaquin listed down the offenses under Ismael's name. "Have you forgotten how you fled the scene and resisted arrest?"

"Huh?" to everyone's surprise, Ismael laughed and looked at everyone in shock, letting Joaquin go. "Apologies, brother, but I am not following. When did I resist arrest when no one came to the Jade Palace last night?"