The Tyrant's Pet

Just like any other trial, Carlos was put in the middle with chains that bound his hands and feet locked on the floor. He kept his head hung low while everyone was looking down on him, listening to the list of crimes he was involved with.

"Do you acknowledge these crimes…" Aries covered her lips as she yawned, feeling a little bored at the lost list of crimes they had been reading. She glanced at Joaquin, only to see him smiling at her playfully.

"Hah…" she rolled her eyes, shaking her head, before setting her gaze over the railing to see if there was something interesting. The side of her lips stretched slightly as she caught a figure entering and sitting on the chairs on the side near the stand in the middle.

"Will you look at that, Your Highness?" she jerked her chin in Ismael's direction with a smirk. "Your real target is sitting over there. How amusing, don't you think? He should be the person kneeling on that stand and being persecuted for those long list of crimes you prepared for him."

Aries pressed her lips as she faced Joaquin. "What happened, my husband? I presume it's a total failure, huh?"

"Haha. Circe, my love, trying to press my nerves is something you do not want."

"Oh no, Crown Prince. I didn't intend to spite you. All I'm saying is it seemed you had grown complacent. I'm worried since your plans must be full of holes for the third prince to come out of this debacle unscathed." She shrugged, smiling even broader when his eyes glinted. "I'm not that disappointed, just a little surprised. That is why it's better to stay on the sidelines since there were things people who aren't involved see that those in the situation cannot."

Aries leaned forward and flashed Ismael a smile when the latter glanced up. Ismael smirked slyly and winked, letting Joaquin see it without a care in the world.

"My… how charming," she praised and then shot Joaquin a look. "Don't worry. The third prince isn't my type, although he had expressed his… attraction towards me. Do you want to hear his corny lines, my husband?"

Joaquin laughed with his lips closed as he endeavored her expression. "Choosing Ismael isn't the best choice, my crown princess."

"And you think you're the best option?" her brow raised as she scoffed, sensing his mood going south. "Well, you're right. Between you and the third prince, my husband had the upper hand. If I'm going to use my heart, I will stubbornly choose the man I married. However, since he kept insisting on questioning my origins and wounding my pride… I don't know anymore."

"It's not like I don't have the means to choose and don't have the capability to make a mountain out of a molehill," she continued indifferently, casting him a knowing look. "But well, since you've hurt my pride… I'll let you know why the Vandrans are revered highly in Haimirich, my husband."

"I'll show you, my prince," she added as she set her attention back to the court hall. "That I, a Vandran, will never be a slave, for I am capable and not as foolish as to end up becoming someone else's dog. I can't be tamed, I'm the one who tames."

Aries smirked as her eyes glinted with contempt, not even concealing it despite feeling Joaquin's penetrating gaze on her side. Her lips stretched when Carlos finally raised his head and looked around, only to see Ismael. Even though she couldn't see his expression, the way his shoulders tensed up was enough for her to know his shock.

Ismael kept his expression in check, holding Carlos's eyes coldly. The latter's mouth opened and closed, studying Ismael, and noticing how Ismael looked just like usual while he was dirty, beaten, exhausted, and just in distress.

'How…?' Carlos wondered only to notice Ismael glance in a direction. He looked back up out of instinct, only to see Aries on the top floor smiling at him. His eyes veered to the man sitting beside her. Unlike her expression, Joaquin's expression was unreadable.

It was obvious, he thought. That while everyone was booing at him and expressing their dismay at his 'unforgivable' actions, calling him names, and just petitioning for his execution, those two future monarchs weren't particularly invested in this trial.

One look… was all it took for Carlos to notice that both the crown prince and the crown princess see the end of this trial differently.

'Should I really trust her?' he wondered, watching Aries face Joaquin and speak words that made the latter frown. 'Ismael somehow emerged from this unscathed… dying…'

Carlos hung his head low and looked at his dirty body. Aries was correct. Being banished was better than dying instantly. He was capable and skilled enough. The only thing that was deterring him from retaliating was the chains that bound his movements.

"Hang him!"

"He had caused so much angst to our Maganti! He should receive the gravest punishment to quench the anger of the public!"

"He had abused his power and put the royal family into a bad light!"

The angry voices filled the courtroom and no amount of apprehension had stopped them from voicing out their thoughts. Everyone in this room was waiting for his doom and acknowledging the crimes could have the opposite effect of what he expected. But then again, it would be the same if he denied everything and stubbornly claim his innocence.

"Eighth Prince, do you —"

"I'm guilty as of charged." Silence instantly fell upon his confirmation, raising his head at the chief justice and looking at Modesto straight in the eye. "I acknowledge all the crimes and gravely regret my actions. The power I held is something that got into my head, losing sight of what's important, and consequently, losing my wife and children."

"I deserved to be punished," he added, taking everyone off guard by the confession they all didn't expect. As they processed his words, Carlos snuck a look in Aries's direction only to see her smile in satisfaction. The latter then faced Joaquin, whose frown grew worse.

"It seems I won the bet, my husband," said Aries playfully, giggling when he returned her gaze. "The best is yet to come. Just watch."