The Tyrant's Pet

All thrones come with a price, and Aries had known that fact before ascending the throne. Her claim for the throne might be easier than when she competed with Davien for the title of the crown princess. Using simple tricks here and there to eliminate Lady Ivory and Princess Agnes and turn them against each other, Aries didn't break a sweat.

The real challenge comes after the coronation. Aside from the adjustments Aries had to do, she had to take note of each member of the night council to use them accordingly. After all, the night's council consisted of capable noble clan leaders and Wiccan leaders.

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Although the members of the night council don't meddle with the empire's affairs that included the emperor's subjects, Aries had to use them to their full extent. Abel's reason for gathering these amazing and capable individuals was so they could kill him. But now that times had changed, and the empire had welcomed an empress, Aries wanted to use the night council to its full potential.

She would start with the witches… and the church.

If Abel split his power between three factions: the imperialist, the aristocrats, and the church, then Aries had planned to unite them all under her thumb. The aristocratic faction had a friendlier relationship with the imperialist with Aries as the empress, but she still had to find the same equilibrium with the church.

Marcia Graves just gave Aries an idea of how she could influence the church. People might call this blasphemy, but Aries had accepted she no longer had a place in the paradise people called Heaven the moment she prayed for the devil's salvation.

"You seemed to be in a good mood today, Your Majesty." Suzanne's soothing voice snapped Aries back to the current lapse, opening her eyes at Suzanne. "Was your meeting with the Reverend Mother worthwhile?"

Aries let out a shallow breath, watching Suzanne prepare her robe while Aries was still dipped in the tub.

"It was," said Aries, leaning back that revealed a bit of her chest, before her breast went under the water again. "Better than I expected."

Suzanne glanced at Aries before heading to light up the rest of the scented candles on the stand. "I'm glad to hear that your hard work is slowly paying off."

"You too, Suzanne." Aries kept her eyes on Suzanne's figure while the latter was lighting up the match. "I wouldn't have such a better outcome if you weren't able to stall me some time until now."

"I'm simply relaying your message, Your Majesty," Suzanne humbled, looking back at Aries after she lighted up the rest of the candle. "It's not like they can force themselves to meet you if you do not want to."

"Marcia is a witch and she could meet me and force me into a situation," argued Aries while Suzanne sauntered towards the low stool near the tub. "Since when did you start discrediting yourself, Suzanne?"
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"I'm simply speaking of the truth, Your Majesty."

"You now sound like Gertrude."

"Gertrude is quite sharp for a maid," said Suzanne as she sat on the low stool, taking Aries's hand to wipe the empress's fingertips. "I'm still learning a lot, Your Majesty. Knowing the woman I served is a wise empress of this land, I do not want a simple accomplishment to make me complacent. Compare to Your Majesty, I believe I still have no rights to deserve such merits."

"Aren't you meticulous, Suzanne?"

"For a wise and intelligent empress, as your lady-in-waiting, I cannot fall behind."

"You've changed." Aries pointed out, watching Suzanne wipe the bit of ink that clung to Aries's hand while working earlier today. "Do you hate me, Suzanne?"

Suzanne slowly looked back at Aries. "No, Your Majesty. How dare I?"

"The spark in your eyes is gone."

"That is because these eyes had seen the flip side of the coin, Your Majesty." Suzanne smiled subtly. "There might be things I cannot unsee anymore, like the coven. However, I learned a lot as your lady-in-waiting. I can no longer go back to that ignorant princess I used to be."

"Oh, Suzanne." Aries let out a faint chuckle, leaning back while Suzanne helped her clean her hands. "You make me feel a little terrible."

"Do not be, Your Majesty. I prefer this version of myself. It gave me purpose."

Aries cocked her head and assessed Suzanne. The latter didn't stop from meticulously cleaning the very corner of Aries's fingertips before walking around the tub to clean her other hand. Suzanne shouldn't have stayed in the empire after the coronation.

However, Aries invited her to be her lady-in-waiting, which Suzanne thoughtlessly accepted. They were friends, after all. Hence, Suzanne didn't have the slightest idea of what Aries could actually do. Fortunately, Aries's calculations were correct.

Suzanne was smart and a wise lady. Aries always thought if Suzanne wanted to become an empress, she would be just as capable as Lady Ivory; princess Agnes was a special case.
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"I can still remember the day you came to know the truth behind the empire." Aries broke the prolonged silence between them, watching Suzanne look back at her. "How was Sybil?"

"The last time I heard, she is getting married."

"How nice…" Aries smiled, remembering her sweetest friend during the selection. "I hope she would be blessed with a good husband."

"I would've been arranged for a marriage if I returned," said Suzanne with a smile. "I know, Your Majesty already knows this, but the reason I accepted the selection was that I wanted to avoid marriage."

"Now that you mention it, I don't remember asking for the reason. Does this have something to do with the reason you do not want to marry a man you don't even know?"

Suzanne glanced at Aries slightly. "No, Your Majesty. I do not want to get married at all."

"And why is that?"

"I just… don't think I am cut out for it." Suzanne gazed down as her hand grew careful in cleaning up Aries's hand. "I have nothing against those who wanted to have a family, but I think that should be the same for those who don't want to have one."

She then lifted her eyes at Aries and smiled. "I've always believed we should salute those who were brave enough to produce a child at the times like this. But I think it was the same for those who chose not to."

"Sometimes… you surprise me, Suzanne." Aries chuckled.

"I am already content being by your side, Your Majesty."

"How reassuring."

"Should I add more warm water, Your Majesty?"

"No need." Aries shook her head.

"But the people from the emperor's palace send a word His Majesty would join you a little late tonight."

"I know." The side of Aries's lips curled up, making Suzanne's brows raise at the slight mischief that flickered across the empress's eyes.