The Tyrant's Pet

Aries smiled awkwardly at the person across the table. After her meal with Dexter, introducing her to Roman for formality, Aries had to meet Violet in the garden of the House Vandran for the final preparation before they open their business. However, Violet seemed a little uncomfortable and curious, seeing that Roman was standing just right outside the pergola.

"I didn't know until this morning." Aries broke the silence with a sigh. "Apparently, His Majesty had sent someone he could trust instead of multiple people following me."

"Ahh…" Violet laughed awkwardly.

"Do you feel uncomfortable?"

"What? No, not at all, my lady." Violet shook her head profusely while waving both her hands. "I'm just a little… surprised. I didn't see it coming."

Aries pressed her lips into a thin line. "I understand. Many things had occurred, and the results of them can be quite surprising since no one expected it would turn out this way."

"Yes, my lady." Violet's smile grew gentler. "It still feels surreal how I am now here. All my life, I never thought I would ever live somewhere else. Actually, back then, I believed the only way for me to leave that place was if Carlos died. Although it was still the cause that opened the opportunity for me and my children to flee, I already expected the worst."

Her eyes grew soft as she smiled at Aries. "I am forever indebted to you, my lady."

"Please, Violet. You are not indebted to me. I simply repaid your kindness, but if you truly want to repay me, take care of your children. Protect them at all costs, even if you must sully your hands." Aries peeled her eyes away from Violet to the flowerbeds nearby.

Hearing the encouraging words from Aries, Violet observed her side profile. Aries had this look in her eyes, which the maternal part of Violet could understand. However, Violet said nothing, keeping her thoughts to herself. After all, it wasn't a surprise if Aries got pregnant back in the Maganti Empire, only to meet a tragic fate.

Violet didn't want to open that wound because she was also a mother. Losing a child… Violet couldn't even imagine the pain of losing a child. Hence, her respect and admiration for Aries tripled.

"My lady. The boutique can operate at your behest. Shouldn't you hold a banquet or a tea party, inviting ladies from the high society to promote your business?" asked Violet to divert their attention. "If you do that, then it would give us a good start."
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Aries slowly set her eyes back at Violet and smirked. "No need. I want to keep my involvement with it a secret for now."

"Pardon?"

"You've been helping out to finish the final touches in the shop. So, I bet you had heard a thing or two while eating out." Aries chuckled, seeing Violet bit her lips as she lowered her eyes. "It's alright, Violet."

"Is the slander that is circulating in the high society the reason you want to keep your involvement a secret?" Violet inquired worriedly. She had heard a few of the rumors unintentionally while eating in the restaurants. There were always those big mouths everywhere thus, anyone would get a wind of Aries's current sullied reputation.

"Allow them to talk to their heart's content." Aries picked up the teacup in front of her. "People have always something to say whatever we do. Their opinions about me don't matter. Actually, it is best to filter out buffoons who can wear my pieces."

"But my lady. Without connections, the shop will struggle to gain clients, especially with the condition of your business." Violet pointed out. "I'm also worried that if we met with difficult clients, they might slander the business. Once the word got out, the business might… faced with a crisis."

Aries smiled subtly, seeing the sincere worry in Violet's eyes.

"I am not trying to jinx your business, my lady. I'm just considering the worst-case scenario," Violet added. She had pledged to fulfill her duties. Therefore, her worries kept increasing since Aries still keep a few details of her plans to give Violet some time to process them.

"As expected, you never disappoint Violet." Aries placed down the cup of tea, smiling. "Do you know the reason I hadn't given you the entire detail of my plans?"

Violet furrowed her brows in confusion.

"It's not that I don't trust you, I do. However, I need to see how you will run it. After all, being on the field is one tough job. I need someone who cares enough to worry about it and make decisions at a critical moment," Aries explained, keeping it short and simple. "As for your concerns, I already made a move."

Violet's already furrowed brows creased even more. "My lady, what… do you mean by that?"

"I sent a few pieces to some noble ladies I knew in the past under the brand's name as a gift," explained Aries with a triumphant smirk.
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"A gift?" Violet gasped. "But my lady, if you sent a few pieces for free, is the added cost necessary? After all, each piece is worth a fortune."

"Necessary?" Aries chuckled with her lips closed, a bit amused at how Violet could be a little naive in this area. She couldn't blame Violet, though. The princess had always used her heart to help others, not to exploit.

"It's an investment, Violet," Aries explained patiently, to impart some business wisdom to Violet. "Before I was sent to the Maganti Empire, I had met a few influential noblewomen. Using their preferences, I designed each piece to their liking."

"But even so, what if they throw it away? Or ignore it, since they had other more dresses to spare."

"They won't dare do that. Trust me." A glint flickered across Aries's eyes as the side of her lips stretched into a sly smirk. "After all, others might copy our goods. However, only our clients know something others won't."

"What do you mean by that, my lady?"

Aries crooked a finger as she leaned forward, making Violet bend over. The latter's pupils slowly widened as Aries shared a secret with her.

"It'll be chaos." Aries winked as she drew back. "And it will force others to either buy the pieces we sell at all costs or… forget about it."

"My lady…" Violet looked at Aries, frightened at how Aries could be terrifyingly cunning. "… you frighten me."

Aries grinned. "Don't be. I don't bite."

"You don't bite, but you ruin people."

"Haha! I trust you will choose those you deem useful before handing out that sort of power and influence." Aries winked.

Seeing how Aries looked excited, Violet could only sigh faintly. Her respect and admiration for Aries just kept on taking leaps, and Violet was honored to work with her. She had always known Aries was wise and her doing business was as easy as eating peanuts because the land of Rikhill was a center of trade. However, for Violet, Aries might've not noticed it yet, but it was almost like this was preparation.

'A preparation to take full control of the high society and establish power…' Violet thought, smiling subtly. 'In that case, she wouldn't have a problem once she had taken the throne as the empress.'