The Tyrant's Pet

"Your Highness, we can't fit in here!"

Aries looked at the two knights with a dull expression, trying to talk their way out when everyone in the garden had already decided. Even the other knights had urged the two to acknowledge their punishment.

"If you can't fit, what are we going to do? Should we cut your limbs and keep your torso just so the two of you can fit?" she cocked her head to the side, batting her eyes ever so tenderly.

Her cruel suggestion instantly caused their complexion to turn ashen, gazing at her in disbelief.  But she never showed the slightest pity for them. Of course, Aries was aware they wouldn't fit. Even someone like her had to struggle when kept in a cage that was almost had the same size as this. Let alone lock the two perfectly healthy men.

"You." She glanced at the knight her first laid on. "Help these two so they stop wasting my time."

"Ye — yes." The knight bowed slightly before marching toward his colleague. Using the handle of his sword, he poked the knight's back, while saying, "get in and stop wasting everyone's time!"

The knight ground his teeth, eyes bloodshot, as he glared at everyone. With his colleague's compulsion, the two knights dragged their feet towards the cage of humiliation.

They wouldn't fit; it was impossible. However, since Aries was adamant, they had no choice but to do the impossible.

Everyone held their breath as they watched the first knight reluctantly get into the cage with great difficulty. His feet were still outside, and he had to crawl and curl his body just to fit in. When he managed, everyone already knew there was no way that the other one would fit. There was no space left.

However, when they glanced at Aries, her brows rose as she jerked her chin. A hint that the other person must find his way to fit in. Some of the servants and knights were relieved that this wasn't happening to them. Others could only think of how cruel, brutal, and unreasonable the crown princess was.

"Your Highness…" the knight who should also get in the cage looked at her with dread plastered across his face. "… I can't…"

He trailed off when Aries glanced at the other knight and beckoned. "Help him fit in."

"Your Highness!" yelled the knight, but the second he did, the screeching sound of metal being drawn resounded behind him. He froze, and before he knew it, a shriek escaped his mouth at the striking pain in his ankle.

THUD!

"Ahhh!!" the dreadful scream of the knight as he rolled on the grass brought nothing but terror to those who had witnessed how the other knight mercilessly slit his ankle. And yet, Aries simply looked at him coldly.

"He's too loud. Drag him in," she commanded without remorse, glancing at the knight who held his bloodstained sword while gazing down at his colleague. The latter looked at her, revealing his crumpled face before clenching his teeth and dragging the knight inside the cage. But alas, only the head fit in while the rest of his body was outside the cage.

"Your Highness." The knight who was dragging the man inside the cage gazed up at the crown princess, only to see her unsmiling countenance. "It's impossible for him to…"

He trailed off when she quirked a brow. That second, everyone understood what she truly meant in her previous remarks.

"He can." Her voice was still soft and elegant, which sounded pleasant in the ear, but the chill that sent to everyone's spine overwhelmed the tone of her voice. "I didn't say he should get in alive. If you dismembered him, he should fit right in, correct?"

"Your Highness!" this time, the man who was gritting his teeth after getting his ankle severed turned his head in her direction. Not just him, but also the knight who assaulted him moments ago.

Just how cruel could she even get? Was that her plan all along? That was why she was adamant the two of them get in the cage? Wasn't this too much venting? Just because the sight of her new pet sullied her mood?

Everyone gazed at her with terror, slacked jaw. The head butler, who was still kowtowing, even felt relieved that this was the only punishment he received.

A shallow breath slipped past her lips as she shook her head lightly. Aries then sauntered in their direction, squatting down on the side of the cage. As she lowered her head, her unapologetic eyes locked instantly with the knight. She glanced at the other knight who got in first, seeing his blank expression, either relieved he got in first or frightened with just the thought of getting caged with his colleague's dismembered body.

"You…" Her eyes once again fell on the knight while the corner of her lips curled up. There was no mistaking it, she thought.

'Those who were wronged… never forget the face of her offender. No matter how many they were, she will never forget their faces.' Her eyelids dropped until they were partially closed, remembering this man's face now that she looked at him up close. Although she didn't expect it when she came in here at first, she pressed on this matter to get this man punished in the cruelest way possible.

After all, this knight, whose ego inflated so much just because Joaquin favored him, was one of them. He was one of those people who took advantage of Aries without Joaquin's knowledge. Not only the guest Joaquin brought in were the only people who used her. Some knights… just like this one, who used to be in charge of Joaquin's toys, also had his fair share of 'fun,' just because they thought Joaquin was tired of them.

It wouldn't be surprising if this man also had "fun" with Curtis. They were animals clad in human skin, and doing the most despicable deed would surprise no one.

"How does it feel?" Her voice was only above a whisper. "That this face… is the last thing you'll see before death?"