The Tyrant's Pet

Aries held Dexter's hand, sitting on the armchair right beside the bed. Her arms were on the edge of the mattress, eyes locked on his pale complexion.

"Brother." Her soft voice pierced the deafening silence. "I'm sorry…"

The rest of her words got stuck in her throat, barely spoke her words of apology. Aries brushed her thumb against his knuckles. Her eyes softened once more. She had been crying and even when Abel told her to rest in their room, Aries insisted on staying beside Dexter. Fortunately, Abel didn't argue with her and allowed her to stay by her brother's side before he left.

"What should I do?" came out a muffled voice, keeping his hand in between her hands, and resting it before her lips. Aries still kept her eyes on his face, and the longer she stared at him, the deeper this pain in her heart was.

Knock Knock

"My lady, it is I, Gustav."

Aries heard Gustav's voice from outside the chambers after two knocks, but she didn't answer him. The next thing she heard after a minute was Gustav's announcement, "I will enter now, my lady," and then followed by the loud creak of the door.

Gustav didn't have to search for them as his eyes instantly landed on the bed, and then on Aries, who was sitting right beside it. He bowed wordlessly before marching closer, stopping a few steps away from the bed.

From his vantage point, Gustav caught a glimpse of Dexter's face. His eyes flashed with anger and bitterness, seeing the marquess in such a state.

"You haven't had dinner, my lady," said Gustav, doing his best to ignore the turmoil within him. "To take care of the Marquess, you need a source of energy and strength."
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Silence was what answered Gustav while he observed Aries's side profile. A tear rolled down from the corner of her eyes, sniffing sharply, but she still didn't give him the slightest attention.

"My lady —"

"The reports said… whoever did this knows how to hurt a vampire." Aries cut him off whilst keeping her attention to Dexter. "His limbs were barely intact, countless stab wounds — each of them were fatal, and they had ruined his core. If Abel and Marsella arrived a second later, he would've died."

Gustav's jaw tightened. "So, I heard," he breathed out, and even if he didn't hear the reports about Dexter's current state, Gustav already knew Dexter was barely breathing at the moment.

"They left him bleeding out in the middle of nowhere… he would've died a slow and painful death," Aries continued, repeating the reports she heard from Abel. "When I heard about it, I feel like someone stabbed me right through my chest — over and over and without mercy. I can't help but wonder… the pain he went through and the angst he endured for hours, holding on to dear life before they found him."

Her lips quivered as her eyes stung once again, squeezing Dexter's slightly chilly hand. She rested his hand on her cheek, hoping they warm up even just a tiny bit.

"After my entire family was ruined, and I was left with nothing but helplessness, I thought it'll just be me until the end. But Abel came and offered his broken heart to fill the missing pieces of mine like a puzzle. Sir Conan gave me a piece of his and the Marquess… I never thought we would have such a strong familial relationship." Aries swallowed the frustrating tension building up in her throat. "He would give me the world despite that the blood sustaining his life and mine aren't related."

"He loved me for who I am and gave me a home I could run to. He would console me if I needed it," she continued. "And listen to my woes, regardless of his personal opinion of the man of my choosing. My brother had always prioritized my happiness, claiming my happiness was his joy, and my sorrow was his as well."

"He loved me," Aries added, barely able to spit those words out at the striking affliction in her chest. "If this was in the past, I would ask myself repeatedly; <strong>what did he do to deserve this?</strong> He was the kindest, most considerate, and most thoughtful person I had known. But… I couldn't ask those words."

"If only I could and left puzzled — that was better. However, I had long realized people don't care about other people." She slowly shifted her eyes to Gustav, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "A person doesn't need to do anything for other people to hurt them. They didn't need any deeper reason for their action; all they need was one reason to use as an excuse for their vileness."

Gustav held Aries's shaking eyes and pressed his lips into a thin line. "This world is filled with cruel and unforgiving people."
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"That's right." Aries rocked her head in agreement, setting her eyes back to Dexter. "This world… is filled with cruelness and ruthlessness. Being kind just proves itself impossible to achieve."

She leaned over, cupping Dexter's face to check his temperature. "Even his biological sister, whom he protected with all his life, only used him. Everyone is just cruel."

"My lady…" Gustav furrowed his brows, staring at Aries, whose attention was on the Marquess. "How…?"

"Sunny mentioned it in passing." She cast the butler a sidelong glance. "She didn't detail everything, but she mentioned the real Daniella was a self-centered, sickly young miss. I pretended not to know since I thought it didn't matter anymore."

"My brother has me now, and his real sister was dead, anyway. Abel killed her, did he?" she cocked her head back, quirking a brow at Gustav. The latter didn't answer as he simply lowered his head.

Aries didn't know the details regarding Daniella and had always been curious. Sunny hinted to her about this Daniella, and even claimed, "grandpa sent her to become the devil's concubine," with an adorable smile. But it didn't matter since Aries pledged to love and treasure Dexter just the way he deserved, not wanting to dwell in the past that would reopen Dexter's scars.

"Gustav," she called, waiting for Gustav to raise his head. "I don't know your history with my brother, but I am aware he trusts you so much. You cared for him, but why didn't you go with Abel?"

Gustav remained silent whilst keeping his eye contact with her.

"He ordered me to protect you at all costs if needed," he answered truthfully.

"And you kept that promise… even though you were worried sick about him?"

"I do not want to disappoint the Marquess, my lady." Gustav lowered his eyes, his expression somber. "Even though I am aware he was barely holding on to the last thread of life, his orders were absolute. He cares for my lady and treats her life far more important than his."