The Tyrant's Pet

<strong>[ WARNING: THE FOLLOWING NARRATIVE CONTAINS DISTURBING, TRIGGERING, AND SENSITIVE CONTENT. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK ]</strong>

"You're with a child?"

Aries's mind went blank with that simple question, but before she could even express her broken heart regarding the thought, she threw up once more. It scared her. The idea never crossed her in the past because she was so busy hating on Joaquin, pressing his nerve, and fighting back.

Deep in her heart, she wished this sickness was just a mere sickness. Something that could kill her, or at least, something that was contagious enough to kill Joaquin as well. But life… wasn't as 'kind' to her. In the end, when Joaquin 'generously' let the royal physician check on her health and it was confirmed.

Aries… was with a child.

Hearing the words, "Your Royal Highness, she's with a child…" the rest of the physician's words sounded distant in her ear until all she could hear was the shattering of her world.

She couldn't accept it. How could she? A life… that was created from sin? And the father was none other than the murderer of her family? The conqueror of her homeland? The man who took everything from her?

It was unbelievable and that second, she loathed the life growing within her just as much as she loathed his father. She didn't want it, she couldn't.

While Aries was staring blankly without listening to the physician's words, Joaquin, who was leisurely sitting on the chair beside the bed, didn't have any particular emotion. He didn't look excited or angry about the news; he kept a straight face, but his eyes never left Aries.

"Your Royal Highness… about this —"

"Don't let anyone know about it." Joaquin blinked calmly and gazed at the physician with sharp eyes. "If a word got out, I can't guarantee your safety."

The physician lowered his head. "Yes, Your Royal Highness."

With that being said, Joaquin waved lightly, dismissing the physician. When there were no other people in the chambers where he kept his war trophy, Joaquin popped his jaw against his knuckles, eyes still on her. His legs casually rested on the other, watching her meltdown at the thought of conceiving the child of the man she despised.

It was not like Joaquin liked or disliked the idea of having a bastard, but it couldn't be helped. If anything, conceiving was to be expected since she'd been with him for months. She shouldn't be surprised as well.

'Should I be nice to her since the physician said with her body condition, it'll be a sensitive pregnancy,' he wondered while studying her blank countenance. 'Well… that is if she allows me to be. If she's a little more submissive, she wouldn't be like this… or maybe not.' — because deep down, Joaquin liked the challenge, he liked the thrill of subduing her, and seeing her tear up every single time he would pin her down.

The side of his lips curled up before he assisted himself up, only to sit on the edge of the mattress. He planted his palm on the bed, leaning to the side until his face was in front of her.

"My favorite, are you alright?" he asked, raising his other hand to tuck a portion of her hair behind her ear carefully. "Weren't you happy that we're having a child? We'll become a family now."

Her eyes shook, moving to meet his, noticing the devious smirk plastered on his face. He was taunting her.

"Isn't that amazing? Who would have thought, right?" he continued, etching the miserable look on her face in his head. "You and I? Having a child? See? I'm not that bad. I slaughtered your family, yes, but I will also give you a new one."

Joaquin caressed her jaw and smiled subtly. "I will be your only family and I will treat you right. You just have to be nice to me and I will too."

"Kill me," came out a dead voice as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Kill me, Joaquin."

His subtle smile stretched into a smirk, but his voice was gentle as he spoke. "Kill you? Why? Are you disgusted that you're carrying the child of a crook?"

"Please…" Aries clutched his sleeve with her trembling hands, eyes still on him. "… please… just kill me."

"How disheartening…" he sighed as he pinched her chin. "Should I do that? End your suffering? You and my child?"

She didn't respond, but her eyes fixed on him. Ever since her defeat, her life had been helpless. But this was just another hell she had to live in, and she couldn't live with this. Hence, for the first time since her captive, she begged him to kill her.

His brows rose as he sported an innocent look. "Aries, my favorite, you know I love you, right?" as soon as those words caressed her ears, her heart clenched because she knew where was this going.

"I love you so much I am willing to take you as my official mistress," he went on as his fingertips slid down to the side of her neck. "Even if you are stubborn and so heartless as to beg me to kill an innocent life, I am crazy about you."

As soon as the last syllable left his lips, his expression grew icy as he wrapped his fingers around her neck. She grabbed his wrist on instinct, lips slightly apart, to gasp for air.

His eyes glinted menacingly. "So, how… can you ask me to kill you? I can't live without you. That's how passionate I am about you." Joaquin chuckled wickedly as he tightened his grip around her neck until her face turned red.

Her grip on his wrist loosened with the lack of air, yet she kept her eyes on him. She deeply wished he would kill her, but her heart sank when he smiled in amusement.

"I wish I can kill you…" he purred as he loosened his grip, only to grab her jaw with his face a palm length away from her. "… but that will be too easy for you. It'll be more fun to watch you wallow in misery as you carry the child of the person who killed everyone dear to you and the man who took everything from you."