The Tyrant's Pet

When Joaquin opened the curtains, his eyes immediately landed on the cage. The emperor was reaching out, arms slid in between the metal bars, producing animal grunts. The longer he looked, the more the side of his lips curled up into a smirk. A look of delight flickered across his eyes while looking down on his father.

"I had conducted a thorough investigation regarding the incident of the severed head, Your Majesty. We had found the culprit." His eyes glinted once again, reporting formally, despite knowing the emperor was not capable of making decisions anymore. "I requested an audience tonight since I figured if this matter isn't resolved tonight, the unrest will only increase. I asked that you entrust this matter to me and punish those who are causing a disturbance in the peace of our dear Maganti Empire."

All he heard were the continuous grunts which Joaquin expected. It had always been like this for the past years. Joaquin cocked his head to the side before he squatted down to look at him at eye level.

"Father, one of your beloved children will be executed tonight. I hope you will not hold a grudge since this is for the sake of the empire," he remarked. "You don't want that, do you?"

His smirk stretched wider the longer he stared at the monster kept in a cage. This man, in his memory, used to look down on him in disdain, only to smile proudly at his favorite son. Now, he couldn't even look at him with that anymore since he was nothing but a monster waiting for the day Joaquin would announce his death.

"What a beautiful sight to behold, indeed," his eyelids dropped until they were partially closed, still sneering wickedly. "I would never get enough of it."

Evil. That was the word that suit this man. He was pure evil, more wicked than the devil.

Not even a second did he show remorse at the sight of the sovereign of the empire or any filial emotions toward his father. If anything, he enjoyed looking at him with ridicule. The only reason the emperor was still alive was that seeing the emperor in this shameful and damned state was something he took pleasure in.

This was what happened to everyone who looked down on him. They would be met with a fate harsher than death. The emperor, for instance, and 'that' woman in the ruined land of Rikhill. The emperor never bat an eye at Joaquin while growing up, and each time his eyes landed on him, disgust and fear were the only emotions in his eyes.

Although Aries was entirely a different case, she reminded him of his deceased older brother. Loved by all, adored, and respected. Their mistakes were easily forgiven, while there were those people like Joaquin, who couldn't afford to commit even the tiniest mistake. Those types of people were the ones he abhorred the most, for he believed their act of righteousness was sickening.

Therefore, he made sure to drag, not just their name, but their entire existence through the mud until death would be the only thing they would seek.

"Have a good night, Father. I'll send your regards to your beloved Ismael." He sneered, pushing himself up. He cast the monster inside the cage one last look before closing the curtains. "It's a shame I wouldn't get to enjoy your reaction while you gaze at your son's dead body… just like how you lamented at the sight of the corpse of that insufferable firstborn."

Joaquin scorned as he turned around to leave. But alas, just as he took a step, he paused and gazed at the empty bed. His brows knitted as his eyes narrowed, approaching the bed only to see the crease on the sheet, a sign someone laid on it. That very moment, his eyes sharpened as he looked around vigilantly.

Aside from him, no one else was allowed to enter this room. Everyone knew that the emperor's health was "deteriorating" and only a selected few were allowed inside. Joaquin was one of them. Unless someone else intruded on this place, then that explained the crease in the bed.

Who? He wondered as he looked around, holding the sword clung to the side of his hips. Who would dare sneak inside the emperor's room?

While Joaquin looked around, his eyes landed on the balcony. His eyes once again glinted, withdrawing his sword as he approached the balcony with feather-like steps. When he held on to the handle, he instantly figured it was unlocked, heightening his vigilance.

He held the sword, prepared for anything that would surprise him once he opened this door. Joaquin took a deep breath and once he huffed, he flung the door opened and prepared his sword to block or assault. But alas, only the soft gust of the wind welcomed him.

Joaquin furrowed his brows and looked from his left to his right before he stepped outside onto the balcony to the railings. He looked over it, seeing no sign of someone escaping by a rope. To make sure it wasn't just a work of a skilled assassin, he checked all the areas one could use to enter and escape. He saw nothing out of the ordinary.

"Really… did one of the physicians lay on the bed?" he wondered, knowing the physician could be too lazy since he would only attend to this room for formality. There was no way someone could climb up this balcony since the walls were flat, and they would fall even before they could reach halfway to this floor. Unless, of course, they could fly or jump really high.

He put the sword back in its sheath, shaking his head before he returned to the room. Little did he know, just right above the balcony, on the roof to be precise, Abel was peeking his head out while watching him.

"What a scary man, indeed," he remarked in amusement. "Such a keen instinct… makes me want to see his reaction once his meticulous plan is foiled. Oh, darling, I'm looking forward to what you had in store for this person."