The Tyrant's Pet

"I'm tired, Aime. I'm exhausted from everything. Being the crown prince, these strenuous duties, the unrealistic expectations, the weight I have to carry, and everything. It's crippling me."

Aries clenched her teeth, keeping her eyes on his soft ones. Silence followed Davien's remarks as neither of them talked for minutes, just staring at each other silently.

"Are you giving up now because of her?" she whispered incredulously, unable to believe how he could say all this just after a heartache. Sure. Aries understood his pain, but she had no idea of the depths of it because she never fell in love with anyone — she never had a plan; she never needed one.

"No." Davien shook his head. "I've always felt exhausted. Being the heir isn't all about the glamour and the power, along with the title of the crown prince. All lives were in my hands and each was heavy, their deaths heavier. One wrong decision and everyone can die. I can't even cry because I cannot be weak, Aime. But I am weak; I'm not always strong and fearless and selfless. I… for once, also wanted to run, to breathe, to live. Even for a moment. But I'm scared; I've always been."

His lips curled up bitterly. He knew he shouldn't be telling her this right now, but he couldn't stop himself anymore. As a crown prince, he was responsible for many things, and he was required to keep things such as personal woes to himself. However, he would explode if he didn't let out these frustrations.

Davien had smiled and partied throughout the banquet with everyone, but inside, he was dying a slow and painful death. The betrayal was simply the last straw. He had endured everything, knowing it would be rewarded, only to find out that his efforts were thrown into the gutter — Davien was lost.

He was confused; he was demotivated. He didn't know what to do anymore and all he could feel was the crippling affliction and paralyzing exhaustion. He didn't know how to start over. He was utterly drained.

And Aries felt him. She felt that helplessness and his silent cry for help in his sentiments. The fury in her heart gradually subsided as her heart softened. The anger she felt slowly dissolved into sympathy. Her brother was suffering and she never once noticed it. No one did.

"My offer…" she whispered, brushing his hair gently. "... do you still remember it?"

"Hm?"

"Back then, under that linden tree…"

"Aime."

"Marry me, Davien," Aries requested sincerely, looking down at him while his head was still on her lap. "It might become a huge scandal, but our people know you and me. They adored us and we had served them with good hearts and intentions. It might be hard at first, but they would eventually accept our union."

"Aime," Davien called her again to stop her nonsense.

"I meant it, Davien. Back then… and until now, I still mean it. Let's get married."

"Aries Aime Heathcliffe," Davien's voice grew serious and hard, pushing himself to sit up. He faced her and shook his head, letting out a sharp breath. "You… do not have to pity me."

"I don't pity you, Davien."

"Then, should I say you do not know the depths of what you are talking about so lightly?"

"I definitely know what I am talking about, Davien." This time, her countenance grew firm, just like her voice. "I'll become your wife, your crown princess, your queen. I am aware I cannot be with another man other than you, but I never want to be with another man. Being someone's wife was never in my plans."

Aries drew a deep breath. "But if it's you, I don't mind. I know I can trust you."

Davien opened and closed his mouth, looking back at her in disbelief. Her stubbornness never ceased to render him speechless. He knew she would press on this matter from this moment on to cut him some slack, but Davien didn't have the heart to let her carry this heavy burden.

"Do you… really want to be my wife?" he asked under his breath while holding her gaze.

"Yes."

"Can you prove it?" he immediately threw his follow-up question, causing her brows to furrow.

"How?" she returned.

Davien looked at her silently and sensually, giving her the look a man would cast on a woman. He slowly leaned his face forward, tilting his head. Seeing his action, Aries's entire body stiffened while clutching her skirt.

When both of them could breathe each other's breath, Davien stopped.

"Being my wife… doesn't only mean sharing my burden in state affairs, Aime. We will also have marital duties to perform, and you also need to carry our child. I will need to father an heir, and we'll have to do it over and over until we produce at least a few sons. You do understand what we need to do for that to happen, correct?" Davien slowly drew his head back to look at her mortified expression. He didn't want to do this, but the only thing that could stop her stubbornness was if he scared her a bit.

"Your heart, your mind, and your body will be mine, Aime. I can do whatever I want to do with it, have it at any time of the day," he continued, stressing every syllable of his sentence. "Men are beasts, and I'm not an exception. If that didn't disgust you, then be my guest. Take off my clothes and I'll take your dignity, so I do not have an excuse not to marry you and make you my crown princess."

A shallow breath slipped past his lips as he smiled weakly, waiting for her to look back at him. "But frankly, I cannot do that to you, Aime. I adore you and value you so much that I cannot let you do that for me."

His eyes softened, raising a hand to pat her head. "I'm just glad that you are here to comfort your pathetic brother and I appreciate your heart for desiring to help me with everything you can. That alone made me feel a lot better. Thank you."