The Tyrant's Pet

"It's now or never, Prince."

For someone who barely survived last night, Roman pressed his lips into a thin line. His pale and scarred cheek was painted in light red with the sheer thought of confessing to Violet.

'Confess…' he gulped, hearing his own swallow echo in his ear. 'Such an insolent thought.'

While Roman was suddenly having a crisis in the heart, Dexter opened one eye. Seeing Roman stare blankly at the ceiling, he couldn't help but shake his head mildly.

'Even if I don't hear his thoughts, I already knew what he is thinking.' Dexter nearly scrunched his nose up in dismay. 'He really likes that princess. Did he think she is stupid not to notice?'

His eyes narrowed while staring at Roman, allowing himself to get distracted by something trivial instead of wallowing in Aries's stubbornness.

'How do I make Conan propose to that Princess?' he wondered, knowing Conan was breaking records in proposing to ladies just after exchanging three words with them. 'That might help this person to gain some courage.., but then again, he allowed his brother to snatch his woman and even have children.'

Dexter shook his head mildly, closing his eyes once again. He realized this matter was not worth his time, but even so, in his head, he still thought of ways for this cowardly seventh prince to confess to the lady who captured his heart at first glance.

'Love…' his eyes cracked open once more at the thought of that word. '… is an unstoppable force one shouldn't fight. How scary… to even think Abel fell for that.'

******

[ Crown Prince's chancery ]

Joaquin stood in front of the window with his hands behind him. His eyes narrowed, seeing more and more people flock to the entrance of the imperial palace, screaming whatever the hell they were shouting.

"They're asking for an explanation." Javier, who was sitting leisurely on the futon with his feet up on the coffee table, broke the silence. He was swirling the exquisite wine mildly while gazing at the little whirlpool it created.

"Any minute now, the chief of justice will barge in here with his forces to invite you for questioning," he added with a smirk, setting his squinting eyes on the crown prince's back. "Once the investigation starts, if Modesto Vida followed the protocol, he will uncover more, Your Majesty."

Joaquin smirked as he slowly turned on his heel, marching towards the armchair around the set of chairs in the chancery. "What a fool," he remarked, bending over to pick up the decanter and pouring himself a glass.

"Did he think smearing my reputation is my weakness?" he chuckled, making Javier laugh as well. When Joaquin picked up his glass, he leaned back while his eyes fell on Javier.

"I worked on it since I do not want a hindrance with my plan…" The glass in his hand hovered over his smirk. "… but I don't need it anymore."

Joaquin chugged the wine in one go, hissing in satisfaction. "My great Maganti won't need people like Modesto Vida or Ismael Imperial."

"How about Rome, Your Majesty?" Javier quirked a brow. "He's still out there."

"What can Rome do in that state? He's probably busy grunting and fighting for his dear life."

Javier chuckled. "But… what if Ismael had been truly affiliated with any witch?" he inquired, knowing he already planted more of his people in Ismael's shadow after Joaquin's concerns last night.

"Then the witches can all go." Joaquin cocked his head to the side indifferently. "I worked with them for mutual benefits. They killed that insufferable Manuel and made me the crown prince, but how I got this far is all due to my own efforts. On the other hand, I gave them the freedom to settle in my land."

"If they can't keep their word, then I don't need to keep mine. After all, they benefited from me and I, likewise," he continued with the same nonchalance, as the witches' existence didn't pose a threat to him anymore. "We do not need to put up with each other any longer."

Javier rocked his head and raised his glass. "I offer this glass to your success, Your Majesty." When Joaquin smirked at him, Javier downed the wine in one go and hissed in satisfaction.

"Anyway, I need you to do something for me," Joaquin uttered, making Javier raise a brow while wiping his lips with the back of his hand. "Circe. Draw her blood sample and work on it."

"Pardon?"

"A king needs a queen, and she will be my queen." Joaquin leaned back, looking up. The wickedness dominating his face slowly softened with the thought of marrying his wife just as the two of them planned.

Javier went silent while studying Joaquin's side profile. He pressed his lips into a thin line, stopping himself from opposing Joaquin.

"Alright." The fifth prince rocked his head in understanding, pouring himself another glass. "The crown princess is wise and cunning. Even though her body seemed to be covered with body paint, it's amazing. What do they mean, anyway?"

Joaquin set his eyes on Javier. "You mean her body paint?"

"Mhm." Javier nodded and then leaned back with the glass of wine in his hand. "I noticed them when I bumped into her the other day. It piqued my curiosity since I heard the emperor of Haimirich is also covered with permanent ink. I never heard of it as a tradition."

"It's not a tradition, but it isn't a new practice for the people in Haimirich to paint their body." Joaquin chuckled as he peeled his eyes from his brother. "It suits her."

"Is that so?" Javier nodded once more before he shrugged. "Well, there's no way I will ever get to see the complete artwork. I still value my life."

Joaquin laughed as he thought of his wife's body paint. "It's actually just…" he trailed off, narrowing his eyes.

'It's actually just…' he repeated in his head, recalling his first night with Aries. He had seen the body paint on her thigh, around her upper breast, which snaked around her upper arms.

However… now that he thought about it, Joaquin couldn't help but meet a dead end. He couldn't remember what Aries's body paint looks like as a whole.

"Hah…" Javier raised his brows when Joaquin let out a short, menacing chuckle.

"Your Majesty?" the fifth prince called curiously. When Joaquin returned his gaze, a chill ran up Javier's spine. That second, Javier was certain whatever thought that crossed the crown prince angered and amused Joaquin to the core.

But alas, the side of Joaquin's lips curled up. "I will tell you what her body paints look like in the future…" he then downed a mouthful of wine and hissed.

"That's for sure." His eyes glinted.

*******

Meanwhile, in the Sapphire Palace…

"Your Royal Highness, it is prepared." A servant welcomed Aries with a bow as soon as she returned to her room. The side of Aries's lips curled up as she gazed at the servant.

"Very well…" Aries rocked her head. "Help me get over with it."

"Yes."

With that being said, Aries pushed the door wide open while the servant followed closely behind her. Her smirk remained as they headed to the bathroom to fulfill Joaquin's wishes.

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