The Tyrant's Pet

Curtis pressed his lips into a thin line and retracted his back from the wall. He slowly advanced in Ismael's direction, taking a seat on the other armchair near him. He quirked a brow at the book on the coffee table, bending over to pick it up.

"Do what you must," Curtis advised, as he opened the book and skimmed through it. "But just so you know, not everyone who does trade keeps the end of their bargain. They were those who are fair and then crooks. Aime is surely not the former — at least, not anymore."

Ismael furrowed his brows and glanced at the calm Curtis. "What do you mean by that?"

"What I mean by that is the literal meaning." Curtis shot the third prince a knowing look. "The seventh prince is a good piece to lose that easily. I won't keep feeding you answers since she trusted you and gave you the power you hold right now. It's all on you to use them at your own disposal."

Curtis leaned back comfortably. "I like this book," he added. "Think, Prince. What step do you need to do? Mind you. Aime doesn't even know the other secrets you already knew. It will be very disappointing if you still don't get a grip and keep losing it every time your enemy did something that is out of their usual pattern."

"You are in a real world," Curtis continued and set his indifferent eyes on him. "You are dealing with people with differing views and opinions. Stop playing by the book and learn how to improvise when things turned into a situation that isn't in your favor. Keep yourself level-headed because, at the end of the day, your wits will save you, not just your brute strength."

He tapped his temple and shrugged. "Brain. It's there for a reason. If it's useless, just invite that human bird and ask him to take you to the mountaintop and sacrifice it to the vultures. That way, you did a good deed by preventing the birds from starving."

"Stop talking shit now," Ismael grumbled and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm himself. Although most of what Curtis said made sense, there were certain things that were meant to diss the third prince. But Ismael didn't want to get riled up at this insolence.

Curtis had exerted an effort to come to the Jade Palace to stop him from doing foolish actions. Ismael, although hadn't voiced that out, was a little grateful for this man. If Curtis was a little late, Ismael would've foiled everything they worked so hard for.

His jaw tightened at the thought. Still, Roman suffered every passing second, while Ismael was sitting comfortably in his study room. But reacting now was what Joaquin wanted.

"Now that I think about it…" Ismael's eyes cracked open and set them at Curtis, who was reading a book leisurely. "How did you get in here without being noticed?"

"I might not be as fierce as Aime or as skilled as Davien, but I'm still a warrior from the small yet great Rikhill." Curtis glanced at him nonchalantly. "Despite being small, it persisted for centuries until your brother set his eyes on it. Why did you think the crown prince brought that large troop with him just to conquer such a small kingdom?"

Ismael rocked his head because that made sense.

"Moreover, being a crippled mute had its perks," Curtis added with a shrug. "Who would suspect that someone like me can talk, think, and walk? Even the crown prince wouldn't suspect me since he was confident with the curse he put on me.."

"Still, I had my limitations," he continued. "This is as far as I can go; to talk to you until you get yourself together and impart a little bit of my wisdom that I am willing to give to someone whose blood shelters the blood of an Imperial. As for what could happen afterward… it's all on you."

"After all, even if this Maganti falls into someone else hands is not of my concern. So long as the crown prince dies, I don't care how this empire will turn out." Curtis blinked twice while studying the third prince. "It would be better if the emperor of Haimirich destroy it since he had been repeating not to do it like a broken record every time he counts how many times Joaquin touched Aime."

Ismael let out another sharp exhale as he nearly forgot about that tyrant. Abel had been behaving and never showed up to him, but well, it seemed he was spending more time with Curtis nowadays. He didn't even question Curtis' remarks, as it sounded like something Abel would do.

That guy was crazy and capable.

Destroying the Maganti Empire was a piece of cake for that monster, but he was holding back just because he respected that this was Aries' fight and could only cheer for her with pom-poms from the sidelines.

In other words, it wouldn't be a surprise if Abel was going crazy to keep his urges and demons at bay. That tyrant was exerting effort to keep his hands off of this matter.

"I know now. Thanks," Ismael expressed without taking his eyes off the ceiling. "You don't have to stay here."

"I didn't plan to, but I have to." The third prince's brow arched as he glanced at Curtis, only to see the man reading the book leisurely. "People are watching this place when I snuck in and barely went past their noses. More people and eyes are now in here, so going out now and getting unnoticed is impossible."

Curtis smiled almost innocently at him. "It seems we have to spend a night together. Fret not. I only plan to beat all common sense into you until you get out of this room as a brand new person."

"Don't spend so much time with him." Ismael shook his head, unsettled by that innocent smile. "You sound that emperor now."

"I'm not spending time with him. He just comes in my room and sings his woes in a loop." Curtis shrugged. "Anyway, if I were you, if you've calmed down now, you need to start working and write letters to be sent first thing in the morning. Every bird that will leave and come to this palace tonight will surely get shot down. Be creative in how they will be delivered to the rightful recipient."

Ismael remained silent and pondered about it. "Of course… they will shoot down all letters that will approach this place." He then slapped his thigh and headed toward his desk.

"Once they shoot them down, they will reach the crown prince. Let me send him a love letter, then."

Curtis glanced at Ismael, who was now sitting behind his desk with a cunning smirk as he write a letter. He shook his head mildly before the side of his lips curled up. He then glanced at the window far away from him.

'You shouldn't be worried about him anymore, Aime. Now, it's all on you on how you make this thing in your favor.' His eyes softened with worry. 'I have this feeling, though… that this trust you seek from the crown prince will shake you to the core… for there were more things you didn't know just yet.'