The Tyrant's Pet

"That this face… is the last thing you'll see before death?"

The knight's eyes dilated as he held his breath while realization dawned on him. His mouth opened and closed, but he had lost the voice to speak.

She scoffed. "I know. It's shocked you to silence. Don't worry, it's still a beautiful sight to behold before your impending doom. You're welcome."

A smile replaced her smirk, pushing herself up to stand and face everyone. She glanced at everyone, keeping her chin up.

"I hope no one forgets this incident and will stand as a reminder of who is in charge of this place," she remarked slowly so everyone could follow. "Everything that is mine should be taken care of, even if it's a mere pebble. Mine is mine and no one else touches it without care. Be thankful this incident would only be known as the crown princess disciplining her people, and not as the night of the massacre in the Sapphire palace."

She smirked when their breath hitched at her last sentence. She glanced at the knight, who wielded a sword for her.

"From now on, you'll be in charge of the knights in the Sapphire Palace. After locking these two, make sure to follow the procedure of being the captain," she muttered without a second hesitation, causing the knight to look at her in shock, but this time not out of dread. "Do not disappoint me."

It only took a few seconds before the knight bowed, placing his fist across his chest at the opportunity that opened up for him. This sacrifice… his lips curled up for a split second as his eyes shimmered with wicked ambition.

"Yes, Your Highness. I will make sure you will never regret this decision."

"I hope you don't." She smirked, sensing the change of tone of the knight, which was enough to turn anyone's stomach. With the reward within his reach, he seemed more thrilled to dismember his colleague to benefit himself. It had always been this way in this place.

"As for the head butler… stay kneeling there until I said so." She shifted her attention to the kowtowing butler before she looked around. She almost laughed when all the other butlers looked at her in anticipation, suppressing their desire to raise their hands to volunteer for the vacant position.

"I'll decide tomorrow." She smirked, ignoring the slight disappointment in their eyes. "Remember, I, the crown princess, take care of her people. However, never touch my bottom line for I can be the cruelest person you'll ever meet in your life. I hope today's incident will be the proof of that."

Aries looked across the crowd before she rocked her head. "That's all for today. Return to your post." She waved indifferently before facing the knight.

"Finish him somewhere else," were the words he told the knight before pivoting on her heel and walking away. Her eyes glinted as she left the garden, and when she was by the entrance of the palace, she heard the piercing scream of the knight as he came face to face with death.

'This is just the beginning, Joaquin. I'll hunt you all down one by one… starting from the bottom.'

As Aries walked away, everyone could only stare at her back blankly. Until they were summoned to this beautiful garden of the palace, every single one of them was living normally. They didn't have any idea things would escalate to this extent.

Now, aside from the newfound fear they bore for Aries, everyone came to one conclusion. Aries was someone they shouldn't offend. She fit perfectly in the palace. Worse, even. Her mood was essential and with one word from her, they might lose their life.

"Ahhh!!!" the sudden scream of the knight as the newly appointed captain mercilessly dragged him out of the cage brought everyone back to the trance. When their eyes fell on the knight, now a captain, they swallowed, seeing the vicious sneer on his face.

"Men!" the knight straightened his back and glanced at the other knights. "Your heard her highness. Drag him somewhere else so we can preserve the beauty of the garden."

"Yes, sir!"

His lips stretched from ear to ear at his new position brought this confidence. He glanced at the knights, who used to gloat in front of them, and smirk.

"That's what you get for not knowing where you stand." He spat at his face, but the latter was already too shocked that he didn't even retaliate when they dragged him to his death.

Seeing this, the servants forced their trembling knees to also depart the garden. No one even cast the kowtowing butler a glance as they all left. Although the majority were still affected with their knees almost giving away, there were others who went on as if nothing happened, chatting about who could be the next butler.

Their conversation slowly affected others and it didn't take long when the fear in their eyes was replaced with fire. Another realization struck everyone, especially those who were underdogs.

They had the chance to rise to power. All they needed to do was make the crown princess happy.

Meanwhile, those who already held the little power the others were drooling for could not help but feel the anxiety prickle under their skin. In a way, their fear gradually shifted in competing with one another. As mentioned, Aries knew the people in this place quite too well, which made it easy for her.

Just like now, the attention to her shifted to this new 'priority.' They wouldn't turn their back on her. Aries simply established her position, whilst giving them a reason to get busy since not a single one of them couldn't let their guards down.

It was almost fascinating how the crown princess made it look like it was about her. When no one even noticed that it was about them becoming greedy and distracted by the power and position placed right within their reach.

<strong>***</strong>

Abel, who was sitting on the roof of the palace situated near the Sapphire palace, and watching from beginning to end, smirked.

"Human greed is always fascinating. Just show them the cake, and everyone wants a piece." He laughed with his lips closed, proud of how Aries handled the situation well, and how she had begun using her power as the crown princess. He then cocked his head to the side, and his eyes landed on the young man sitting right next to him.

"What do you think about the show, Morro?" he asked, waiting for the young man to look back at him.

"They had it coming." The young man, whose razor teeth showed, answered, sporting an empty expression. His deep voice didn't match his youthful face. "You're having fun, Your Majesty."

"Of course." Abel nodded as he set his eyes back on the garden, far away from his vantage point. "If she didn't do it, I will do it. Although it'll be better to watch every single one of them dig their own grave and voluntarily lie in it."

"Your Majesty, why did you send Lady Aries to this place?"

Abel hummed a tune with his lips closed. "To make peace with the past. They won't stop hunting her down if all those who wronged her still exist under the same sky."

"I think… it's you who want to make peace with her past." He smiled when Morro pointed out without a second hesitation. "They bothered you."

"Of course." Abel didn't deny it and cast the young man a glance. "I want Aries, and I can't stand that this place had a piece of her. I am angry, Morro. I practically forgot what anger feels until I watched Aries' recurring nightmares."

"You love her?" asked Morro, out of nowhere with the same tone, staring at Abel's smirk.

"You better hide before Isaiah catches you and turns you into a bird. He's close."

Morro frowned at Abel's reply and stayed silent, sensing Isaiah's approaching presence. "I'll eat that person's eye."

"Eat well and take care of your deteriorating eyesight." Abel smiled as he watched Morro stand up, keeping his attention to the garden where the cage was still in sight and the butler still kowtowing. When Morro jumped out of the roof, Abel whispered.

"This place is... disturbingly fascinating. That crown prince... it's such a shame you touched my darling. You could've been a great addition to my forever frenemies."