The Tyrant's Pet

[WARNING: THE CHAPTER CONTAINS DISTURBING CONTENT. READERS' DISCRETION IS ADVISED.]

While Abel, Conan, Dexter, and Isaiah talked about their plans for the Maganti Empire, Aries remained silent. Obviously, none of the three opposed Abel's plans, since it was pointless to talk him out of it. Just like he claimed, he took whatever they had done to Aries personally. 

Although Abel's usual light tone had always been there, every single one of them in this dining hall was aware of one thing. He meant it and they wouldn't like him getting angry that might push Abel to march to the said empire himself. 

And that... his determination to get even for Aries moved her. No one said sorry to her when the Kingdom of Rikhill had fallen from its grace. Nor there was anyone who expressed their disgust, anger, and hatred in her stead. 

Only Abel... only the devil and a tyrant like him.

Aries lowered her eyes at the plate in front of her. The longer she stared at it, the more she felt detached as her mind drifted to the past...

*

Staring at the plate, unlike what she was currently having in the current lapse, the food on her plate was just a mix of leftovers. Even pigs had better food than her, as the pungent smell of the food in front of her permeated across this small room where she was currently being locked.

This was one of those days where she was being 'disciplined.' Locked in a small room where there was only one small gap where light could penetrate. Her lifeless eyes had already adjusted to the dimness. Hence, she could see clearly even with that tiny source of light.

The side of her lips curled up as she grabbed the pig's slop and shoved it inside her mouth. She laughed while stuffing her mouth with nothing but dirt; not caring if there was added piss or feces in it — if there was even added in it.

Aries gobbled it up to keep herself alive. 'Discipline?' she mocked internally, forcing herself to swallow it even when the food made her stomach turn. She held it in, eyes burning with hatred. 

Like a madwoman, hungrier than a peasant, Aries ate everything until she couldn't anymore. Her eyes, full of utter hatred, shifted to the glass.

The water in it was barely enough to keep her from dehydrating. Even so, she didn't complain and chugged it down till the last drop.

She wiped her mouth with her arm, scoffing in ridicule. "Did he think feeding me with this is enough for me to submit?" she laughed maniacally, running her dirty fingers through her hair.

"Over my dead body." 

Since the crown prince, who so adored her to the point he ruined her home, deeply wanted to tame her, Aries's determination to retaliate just kept on growing. When he realized forcing himself to her every single night was not enough, he dragged her into this place to kill her spirit. 

It didn't matter to him if she just become an empty shell. All he needed was a lovely doll he could adore.

However, Aries... lived for those who died fighting alongside her. She wasn't surviving and thriving all for herself. She was living, carrying her entire fallen nation on her back.

This wouldn't kill her. This manure facade as the food didn't even graze her spirit.

Instead, it set her determination for vengeance aflame. She didn't know how or when, but Aries promised she wouldn't die without dragging down that detestable man and this wretched kingdom with her. 

Although she was on the brink of insanity. Thanks to her raging heart, she was simply toeing on the line. 

CREAK...

Just then, the door creaked open. The torches from the outside forced her to shut her one eye. Three shadows from three men by the door stretched towards her. Even without physical contact, she already felt disgusted with their shadows reaching her.

Aries raised her head, eyes landing on the three men by the door. The man in the middle was someone she already knew, tilting her head to the side without saying a word. 

The man's lips curled up. "Did you snap already?" came out a deep voice, whilst studying the unblinking pair of emeralds staring directly at him.

"I brought some friends with me." The man held his hand behind him, helping himself inside despite the pungent scent dominating the small room. He squatted in front of her, fluttering his long curled lashes while staring at her.

"What a lively sight to behold, Princess," he remarked as his wicked smirk remained. He raised his hand to touch her, but her sharp eyes glinted. 

"I am thirsty," came out an unapologetic voice. "So thirsty I might bite you and drink your blood. Careful."

"Hah!" the man, the crown prince of the Maganti Empire, laughed in delight. "You're so hard to break. That is why my friends are so interested in meeting you."

He snapped his fingers to the side, causing the two men by the door to enter this small room. Aries glanced at them calmly before two men stood on her side, lifting her by her shoulders. 

"They want to get to know you, Princess." He pinched her chin while she was being lifted by two grown men like a doll. "I didn't want to, but then, I was thinking of your well-being. I thought you might be lonely that you do not have friends here, so I invited them over. Do you mind?" 

Aries stared at his pair of wicked eyes squarely. "Do I mind?" she whispered, knowing what this man had already planned to do. He wanted her to beg him to save her; to make her crawl to his feet and submit to him. 

"Hah…" she laughed mockingly, cocking her head to the man holding her right shoulder. "Please be gentle, Sir. I just had a meal and we don't want me vomiting all over you, do we?" her voice was seductive, a tone she never used to the man standing before her. 

She carefully peeled her eyes from the man to the crown prince. His expression was grim and expressionless, making her smirk happily. 

"Your Highness, if I get to choose to get fucked by a town of men or you alone, it's definitely the former," she teased dauntingly, enjoying how she hurt his inflated ego. "Now… that is a sight to behold." 

"Break a few of her bones, but don't kill her," he ordered and with that, Aries was stripped naked to receive two men at once while he watched her disgrace her.

"Just what will it take you to submit… Aries?"

***

"Aries." 

Aries flinched as she snapped back to reality with Abel's voice. She raised her brows, watching Abel's hand massage her hand that had turned white, gripping the cutlery. 

"Uh, sorry for zoning out," she muttered, glancing at him only to see Abel smile, which didn't reach his eye. 

"It's alright, darling." 

Abel removed the cutlery from her grip, slipping his fingers to hold her hand. His other hand caressed her cheek affectionately before peeling his eyes away from her. 

When he set his eyes back to Conan and Isaiah across the table, they glinted dangerously. 

"No mercy," he said in a quiet voice but made it clearly heard.. "The Maganti Empire… must fall."