The Tyrant's Pet

"Education? As far as I remember, men in Maganti look down on education, since all matters to them are whether or not they can kill."

"Funny enough, the members of the royal family were required to learn everything," Aries continued. "I'm not laughing about this ambition. I had always believed knowledge is power."

Climaco said nothing further as he lowered his head. His little brothers wanted to become a knight just like him, but knowing what was happening in this place, he knew his brothers needed to have a different dream. Especially, once the crown prince ascended the throne, things would just become worst. He didn't want his little brothers, who looked up to the knights and considered them heroes, to get disappointed with the harsh reality.

The royal knights were nothing but cowards. They only imposed the law on certain individuals and turned a blind eye to the inhumane methods of the royalty. Becoming a knight wasn't an honor, and that was a harrowing reality for Climaco and all those young, naive men had discovered late.

It was better if his brothers could choose other careers by knowing how to read and write than becoming mindless dogs of the royals. That was his sacrifice, and that alone was his honor — not the badge or the royalty's recognition. He just needed to live long enough by siding with a better master.

"Who would have thought, right?" she mused, studying his demeanor. "That someone like you has quite an admirable reason why you stuck around."

Aries let out a quiet sigh as she couldn't blame Climaco and everyone who had turned a blind eye to the twisted games of the royalties. They all had a reason to survive, and it wasn't just as simple as it made them feel safe when the royalties had their pet to toy with. This only showed how this rotten system divided the people but also unified them because of fear.

"Your little brothers… where are they?" she asked, making him raise his head at her.

His complexion turned pale at her interest in his family. With quivering lips, he gave out their location, wide-eyed. Myriads of questions hovered over his head, wondering Aries's reason for this sudden interest. And his thoughts just grew more and more negative.

Was this her way of having him by the neck? To know his family as an indirect threat? Climaco could just lie to her, but deep in his heart, lying to her would guarantee his death. Worse. It would cost his brother's life as well.

Aries chuckled seeing the dread dominate his face. "If you think I will hurt them, I am quite offended by how vile you perceived me."

"I — how dare I harbor such an insolent thought?" he stuttered and looked down.

"This is the last time you will lie to me," she warned, while he snuck a look at her. To his surprise, a subtle smile was on her face instead of a condescending one. "I understand you are worried that I had shown such interest in your personal life."

Aries drew a breath and pushed herself up. Turning on her heel, she sauntered around the divan while her fingertips caressed it.

"Matter of fact, I was simply asking to get to know my dearest knight. In that case, I can tell myself this man here had a family to go home to." Aries propped her arms over the backrest of the settee and smiled at him. "Because what I was planning might cost you your life, Captain."

"I am willing to die for you, Your Royal Highness," he blurted out, making her laugh heartily.

"Oh, no..." she shook her head mildly. "Don't die for me, Captain. That is not what I want from you."

"Your Highness?" his brows rose, studying the misplaced peace in her eyes.

"I had always wanted to die," she confessed, and he frowned, but she shrugged. "I've been dead inside, anyway, but I don't plan to die... at least, not right now. Not until I finished what they had started."

Aries paused as she drew a breath, seeing the confusion and worry in his eyes. He shouldn't look at her like that.

"Do you know what I want from you?" she asked, ignoring the look in his eyes and focusing on their primary subject. "I want you to... take your little brothers as far away as possible from the capital."

"Pardon?"

She smiled. "You might've sensed it too, Captain. The brewing tension between the royal family and the guerillas in Valiente. You've been a knight for years, so you must've been aware of the standoff relationship between the third prince and the crown prince. After what happened to the eighth prince, I'm certain the third prince had been doing everything he can to drag my husband down."

"Your Royal Highness... you don't mean to say... the third prince might've been conniving with the rebels?"

"Who knows?" she shrugged, maintaining the smile on her face. "I don't meddle with his affairs; I can, but I don't want to. But what I am certain of is it is time to put our metals on for this place... the capital and the neighboring towns will soon flood with red. Take your brothers as far away as possible and return to me at once."

"Your Royal Highness..."

"Take Gertrude with you." She smiled subtly. "I don't want her to get caught in the crossfire."

"Your Royal Highness, what about you? If this is true, then you must --" Climaco halted when she shook her head sideways.

"I am your master." Aries straightened her back, hands on the backrest of the divan. "As your master, you must know I don't ask for my people to become my shield. As your master, I am responsible for your life and thus, protect my people."

Climaco gulped, hearing it loudly in his ears. Staring at her, his heart thudded as he held his breath at her cold and unapologetic gaze. Yet, this woman... was the only person who truly stunned him and showed him what kind of person a knight like him had been dreaming of serving.

A master with values, integrity, and someone worthy of spilling his blood for.

"Alas, that doesn't mean I do not have orders for you." She smiled while he remained silent, but he was listening to every word that would come out of her mouth. Aries smirked wickedly and cast him a knowing look. When her lips parted, his eyes dilated even more at the orders she gave him.

"Can you do it?" she asked with a bright smile. It took him a minute to register the order she gave him, blinking to gather his thoughts, and when he raised his head at her, he nodded.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness. I will not disappoint," he swore with his fist across his chest.

"Good." She rocked her head before signaling him to stand. "Now, do what you must do."

Climaco bowed once again after he stood up. "I will return to your side immediately, Your Royal Highness."

"Come back when you are prepared to fight for the future of your little brothers and not for me, Captain."