The Tyrant's Pet

"Marquess Vandran?"

Aries furrowed her brows while staring at the entrance of the study. There, by the door, was Dexter entering instead of Conan!

Dexter chortled, placing a few books on top of the round oak table. "Sir Conan told me to cover for him for the meantime since His Majesty needs his help in another matter."

"Ohh, that's why..." Aries rocked her head in understanding, watching Dexter drag the chair opposite her before he sat down. When Dexter was settled, he raised his brows and cast her a look. 

"You are not this excited during our lessons." He pointed out the obvious. "Does literature bore you? Or was it me?" 

"Marquess Vandran, I'm just surprised. That's all."

"Really?" He nodded, half-convinced by her lame excuse. "Well, anyway, he didn't tell me what topic you are tackling before His Majesty dragged Sir Conan with him. So, please bear with me for a moment."

Aries cupped her cheek. "Actually, I don't know either. Sir Conan and I had been busy on something else."

"Something else... you mean about your replacement?" he asked out of plain curiosity. Aries simply nodded as an answer while Dexter took a deep breath, leaning back against the chair.

"Then shall we do nothing but that?" 

This time, she shook her head. "I actually have some questions. I did some reading last night to refresh my memory and..." she trailed off, hesitant to tell Dexter since this wasn't his major lesson. 

"And?" he tilted his head to the side. "Don't worry, Lady Aries. What Sir Conan knew, I also know them. If it's about the history of the empire, then I think I am more than qualified to teach history as if I witnessed everything. Our family is one of the oldest clans to serve the royal family for generations."

"Then... it's about the previous monarchs." She cleared her throat because his argument made sense. 

"What about them?" 

"According to history, the royal family only bare one child every generation." She spoke the obvious which Dexter immediately grasp. He let out a short laugh while nodding his head. 

"You're wondering if the royal family is stricken by a curse?"

"Well, I thought of that first. But then again, if it's a curse that befell the royal family, why isn't a curse to stop the bloodline entirely? Of course, that is not what I wish. But I just don't understand." she explained and asked at the same time. She kept thinking about it last night, so she was determined to find some answers to regain some peace. 

Dexter arched a brow as the side of his lips stretched slightly. "Hmm... that caught me off guard. How do I explain this?" he crooned, pondering for a believable answer to her question. 

"You can say that the curse isn't about wiping out the monarch but about continuing the punishment through the next generation," Dexter explained vaguely after a minute of silence, watching her brows knit. "There was this old rumor that the first emperor was cursed and all his offspring. That was for them to live the rest of their lives alone. "

"If you think about it, stopping the Bloodworth's bloodline through a curse makes more sense. But if the caster had a different motive, then keeping the bloodline going makes more sense. What I'm saying is, if a person holds a deeper grudge against someone, they want them to suffer and his offspring," he continued in an informative voice. "Death will be too easy. I suppose Lady Aries can understand that if she despised someone to the core."

Aries bit her tongue as his last remarks just backed up everything. If she could curse the crown prince of the Maganti Empire, she wouldn't wish for his demise. In fact, she would keep him alive for as long as possible and make his life a living hell.

But that was just the darker part of her thoughts. Not that she was thinking or planning to go against an entire empire all on her own. She wasn't dumb. 

In other words, she understood Dexter's explanation since he brought up her personal matters in it. Whoever cursed the first emperor surely abhor him. 

"Though I am surprised, Lady Aries. I didn't think you will dwell on this subject or pay more attention to it since it is insignificant."

"Marquess Vandran, how is the matter regarding the previous empress insignificant?" 

Dexter let out a dry laugh. "Because the books said it is insignificant. There are barely any records about the previous empresses."

"But it is still recorded in the books. So there is some value in it." She argued with a shrug, but Dexter didn't argue with her. He also shrugged, since he knew where he stood and some facts weren't needed to mention; he believed.

"Anyway, you shouldn't dwell on such matters. Focus on the customs and progress of the empire, since that is more important than some random people." He smiled while she frowned at his chosen words. "I am saying this not because I didn't want to tell you more. Being curious is a good trait, but sometimes, curiosity kills too."

"You make it sound ominous." 

'Because it is, Lady Aries. The more you know, the more you will understand how distorted the history you knew.' Dexter glanced at the history book in front of him. It was not that this book contains nothing but lies. 

But she was focusing on something she shouldn't. It would work for him either way. He was just warning her just so she wouldn't blame him in the future.

"I simply don't want you to waste your time and energy." His smile remained despite the brief distraction, waiting for her to look at him. "His Majesty announced he won't be taking an empress..." a brief smirk appeared on his face, noticing that her interest increased. 

"... since he already has an heir," he continued.

"Pardon?" her brows furrowed at the bomb he suddenly dropped without prior's notice.

"You don't know?" he feigned ignorant as if he didn't know she was unaware of this. "That His Majesty already had a son out of wedlock?"

Her face was blank, trying to process this news she never heard before. Neither Conan nor Abel mentioned this to her. Not even the maids! How could everyone go on with their lives as if there wasn't a prince in this palace?!

"Ahh... that is because the crown prince is kept in the forbidden palace opposite the Rose Palace," Dexter explained after getting the gist of her confusion. "In there, he was being taught everything he needs to know. No one, aside from the servants His Majesty had handpicked, had ever seen the prince's face. It was because he was his only son and the heir to the throne. So, everyone is protecting him until the time His Majesty leaves this world."

A glint flickered across his eyes for a split second. "No one talks about it, but the crown prince's existence is common knowledge. You can ask His Majesty about that. I'm certain he wouldn't mind if you're the one who is asking."

Aries refocused her eyes on him, mouth opening and closing like a fish, but no words came out. This was a bit surprising. But then again, Abel had a promiscuous lifestyle. It would be even strange if he didn't have a bastard.

'But what is the forbidden palace…? Is that the same as the cold palace?' there were many questions left in her mind… just like what Dexter planned.