The Tyrant's Pet

"I… I know something happened to the Marquess, your brother."

As soon as those words rolled out of Lady Ivory's tongue, Aries's entire body froze. She gazed back at the lady blankly.

"I may not know the details, but I'm certain they were the people who did it." Lady Ivory nodded with certainty. "If they could harm the esteemed Marquess Vandran, they would easily silence me. Please, my lady — Your Majesty, help me."

This time, Aries's countenance slowly turned hard, looking at the lady across from her.

Her conversation with Lady Ivory kept replaying in her head, sitting on the same seat in the sitting room even after Lady Ivory left minutes ago.

"Lady Ivory…" Aries slowly gazed down at the notebook on the table. She carefully picked it up, opening it carefully. Aries took her time as she prepared her heart for what she would find out from this little gift from Lady Ivory.

Until now, Conan and Isaiah were still investigating what happened to Dexter. Apparently, Morro wouldn't wake up, and they had figured out Morro was under a powerful spell that forces him to stay in his slumber. It would take a bit of time for Isaiah to dispel it since it was a delicate spell.

The knights who escorted Dexter were wiped out, so the investigation was taking its time. Dexter's condition was much more grave as his core blood was damaged. So, it would truly take time for the marquess to wake up.

p Aries skimmed through the handwritten letters, flipping from page to page. What she found out in these letters was that they were written vaguely. The content didn't have any direct orders aside from telling Lady Ivory to keep everyone busy.

In other words, the reason Lady Ivory kept picking on the candidates. Without Lady Ivory, this entire selection would be a lot more peaceful. That was all they needed from Lady Ivory, and they would make sure she would ascend the throne.

Aries stopped in the middle as her eyes went up and down, rereading a short letter on one page. It says;

"Your toughest opponent will have the surprise of her life. Use this opportunity to stand out."

Aries re-read it again and again. This letter was too vague, but since this was almost the last page of the notebook, Aries assumed the official candidates around this time were just Lady Ivory, Princess Agnes, and Aries.

"Toughest opponent…" she whispered, reluctant to assume it was referring to Aries. After all, if she would be the judge, the toughest opponent would be Princess Agnes.

But considering all other factors such as Aries's relationship with Abel and so on, Aries would be the toughest candidate. Her jaw tightened. Before the competition ended, something happened to Dexter too. Therefore, that letter only made more sense.

Aries did have the shock of her life, but…

"Stand out?" she whispered, cocking her head to the side. "Did they say this because they haven't figured out what I can do when someone touched my bottom line? Or did they purposely say this because… they knew exactly what I can do?"

Aries kept her eyes on the same page and kept rereading that short letter. When she was on the dead end, she leaned back and cocked her head back, eyes up.

"I hope they can hide well," she whispered, closing her eyes to rest them ever so tenderly. "Mercy… is the last thing I will grant them."

*******

[ The wedding night ]

"Ugh…"

Aries glared back at Abel as he grunted. Abel rolled his eyes, holding a shovel that was resting over his shoulder. Standing beside Abel on the large expanse of the forbidden mansion were Sunny, and then Conan, who bore the same ugly countenance as Abel. Isaiah was silent as ever, but he stood the farthest from Aries since she was still upset at him for what happened to Dexter.

"Lady Aries…" Conan breathed out, exasperated. "I am utterly exhausted, alright? Who do you think is the person in charge of today's coronation and wedding? Me! I didn't get a night of sleep for days — for goodness' sake! Leave me alone!"

Aries folded her arms under her chest. Her expression was plain, her eyes dull.

"Darling, aren't you sorry for our dearest Conan?" Abel let out a deep exhale, making Conan look back at him with dismay. "My heart is torn, knowing he had been busy without a moment to breathe and now he has to dig — in my wedding night of all night."

Isaiah opened his mouth, only to shut them again when Aries and Conan glared daggers at him. He hadn't said a word yet, but the way the two looked at him as if he just said the most ridiculous argument they could think of.

"Grandpa, are you just reluctant because it's your wedding night, but then you have to dig?" asked Sunny innocently, looking up at Abel with an adorable expression.

"Shh." Abel placed a finger in front of his lips. "She can't know, but no. Digging is not the problem, the hole is. This isn't the hole I desire to dig tonight."

"I can hear you, Abel," Aries stressed, casting him a look. "And even if I didn't, I know why you are reluctant. No need to spell it out to Sunny."

"This is his fault! Why am I asked to do this?! Isn't it just fair if he digs up his sister since he's the one who buried her alive?!" Conan harrumphed, pointing a finger at Abel. The latter placed his pinky inside his ear, twisting it around leisurely.

"But uncle, aren't you handsome?" Sunny chimed in.

Conan gasped. "What's that got to do with digging up the problematic and lunatic Marsella?! Everything was at peace when she wasn't around!"

"Are you saying you are this reluctant because you honestly think this is for the better?" Aries frowned.

"She deserved it!" Conan argued strongly, while Abel nodded in agreement.

"She kept saying nonsense," muttered Abel, remembering all nonsense Marsella spewed that would play in his head.

"And she's just plain malicious!" Conan crossed his arms to cover his chest. "I always felt defiled whenever she looks at me!"

"Handsome Uncle, once my pretty grandma gets out of here, she will surely strip you down and parade you around the empire."

"That is why! We! Should! Leave! Her! Alone!"