The Tyrant's Pet

Aries had promised to put the things in the past into the past where they belong. She promised she would move forward, holding Abel's hand, and cherish the people who love and value her the same way she does. It was not like she wanted to forget Aries Aime Heathcliffe. Aries would always be thankful and proud for that young Aries, who didn't give up until she got the peace she deserved.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean she wouldn't deal with the past if they came to the present. Just like Agnes, Aries didn't hate her. If she did, she would've ruthlessly killed her instead of taking everything from the princess.

Princess Agnes wanted to look for this wounded Aries in hopes she could help her because she felt guilty for what she had done to Davien. She didn't want to find Aries simply out of the goodness of her heart, but because she was aware of the pain she had inflicted upon Davien. Hearing his death and the downfall of Rikhill… the princess' conscience never let her sleep, knowing Aries survived and must be suffering.

In a way, the princess wanted to repay everything by helping Aries, not knowing Aries didn't need her help anymore. Maybe, if Princess Agnes was fierce enough to step foot in the Maganti Empire, she could've helped Aries.

But the princess had so many things she couldn't afford to lose. Princess Agnes couldn't sacrifice her life for another, no matter how determined she was to help. And that only meant she might have felt guilty, but this guilt wasn't enough for her to let go of everything.

Aries couldn't blame her, though. They didn't know each other, and Princess Agnes was just also trying to survive in her own way. If Aries couldn't blame herself for sullying her hands, how could she blame another for wanting to survive by wanting to lessen the guilt in their hearts?

"My lady, are you alright?"

Aries blinked ever so slowly to the current lapse, moving her eyes from the window of the carriage to the woman sitting across from her. Veronika's eyes displayed genuine worry, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Did Princess Agnes tell you anything that bothered you?" asked Veronika when Aries didn't answer. "Should I give her a piece of me?"

"Haha. Veronika, I am alright." Aries chuckled, hearing the former's suggestion.
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Veronika had been assisting her ever since that day she revealed her relationship with Abel. She was the one who arranged Princess Agnes' escape route and even accompanied Aries in her secret meeting with Princess Agnes. Of course, the Marquess and a few elite royal knights had escorted them. Aries would be crowned in a couple of days, and they couldn't let anything terrible happen to her while she was out of the imperial palace.

"I'm just thinking about Princess Agnes," Aries added, setting her eyes back to the window. "She was crying so much when I left."

"Do you feel bad for her?"

"No." Aries's answer was quick, yet calm. "And that makes me feel bad. I feel bad for not feeling bad for her. Do you think I am heartless?"

"Definitely not."

"How come?"

"Because I think they deserve it."

Aries slowly looked back at Veronika with a delicately arched brow. "You think so?"

"My lady is someone who is ruthless to those who earned it, and kind to those who deserved kindness," explained Veronika. "By carrying the crown, there will be decisions you will have to make that will test you and your beliefs many times. But I believe this quality is what an empress should have. Being too kind, and people will abuse you. Being too ruthless will make you a tyrant."

"Although a part of me believes Princess Agnes is innocent, I can't fully say she isn't also responsible. There were many things she could've done to take out Lady Ivory from the competition, but she chose to endanger the lives of the people. Even if she was confident no one will get harmed, she didn't consider other underlying factors," she continued solemnly. "Wanting freedom and fighting for it half-heartedly was an insult to those who desperately want to break free from this cage."

"She wished for freedom, and you granted it to her. Her sentence can be a lifetime curse or a blessing. Depends from which perspective one is looking at it." Veronika offered Aries a subtle smile. "If she truly wished for freedom, then I believe she will eventually see the value of this sentence. Not now, perhaps. But eventually. It'll be a shame, though, if her desire for freedom isn't as strong as what she claimed. She'll live a miserable life to the end."
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Aries kept her eyes on Veronika and smiled at this wise young maiden. Among her handmaidens, Veronika was the one Aries could talk to regarding this kind of matter. Maybe because Veronika lived a different life, unlike the other princesses.

"How reassuring to hear your take on this." Aries rocked her head mildly. "It somehow made me feel better."

"It's good that Princess Agnes still had Lady Wendell. Although I cannot understand why Lady Wendell can give up everything just to accompany Princess Agnes."

"Because that's life." Aries kept her eyes at the window with a smile. "Each one of us has a story to tell. I might not like the princess, but Lady Wendell might have a different reason she adored Princess Agnes. People are different to different people. I might be a hero of my own story, but a wicked witch from someone else's story. It's the same for His Majesty. He might be a vile tyrant in someone else's story, but a loving husband in mine."

Veronika pursed her lips into a thin line and let out a shallow breath. "So, where are we heading now, my lady? You said we'll drop by to some place before returning to the imperial palace."

"Mhm." Aries looked back at her and her smile this time stretched even wider. "I want to reward you with something."

"Me…?" Veronika pointed at herself while cocking her head to the side.

Veronika didn't find out what Aries meant by this reward until they reached a particular luxury boutique in the heart of the capital. The moment Aries and Veronika went inside, and Violet welcomed them, the two (Veronika and Violet) looked at each other wide-eyed, before squealing in happiness as they jumped, holding each other's hands, pleased to reunite after so many years.

Meanwhile, Aries stood in the same spot, watching Veronika and Violet happily embrace each other with tears of happiness in their eyes.

This was the current Aries.

The current Aries would make someone cry out of guilt or pain or out of happiness. She could be awful or wonderful. Depends on which perspective one was looking from.