The Tyrant's Pet

"Violet, welcome!"

Aries welcomed Violet with a bright smile as soon as Roman assisted Violet down the carriage. The latter smiled back just as brightly, before helping her sons get down. When Violet straightened her back, Aries had already jogged her way down the stairs.

"Greetings, my lady." Violet curtsied. Beside her were her two sons bowing to pay respect to Aries, who stood in front of them.

"Greetings to you, my lady." Roman also bowed with his arms across his abdomen, standing behind Violet.

"Please raise your head. No need to be so formal." Aries chuckled happily, pleased to see them in the estate safe and sound. As they raised their heads, she finally noticed Roman. The latter lowered his eyes, seeing Aries narrow her eyes while looking at him. However, Aries said nothing about it as she shifted her attention to the people who approached behind them.

"Gertrude!" Aries clapped her hands, seeing Gertrude holding two boys with both her hands.

"Have you been well, my lady?" Gertrude politely bowed, casting the two boys a look. The boys smiled and bowed, applying what they had learned from Gertrude throughout their long journey.

Aries smiled subtly, staring at the boys Climaco had talked so much about. Before she could open her mouth, she caught someone's figure from the corner of her eyes. Aries glanced at the figure and chuckled, seeing Climaco panting after rushing into the entrance of the mansion to see his little brothers.

"I'm glad that you all safely made it into the empire," Aries remarked sincerely, looking at her guests' faces with equal attention.

"It's all thanks to you and the Marquess, my lady. The knights he sent helped us journey without a problem," Violet returned politely. "We're sincerely indebted to your help."

Aries waved. "No need for that. Why don't we head inside? You had a long journey and a cup of tea might help. You too, Gertrude."

Violet's smile stretched wider as she nodded, casting Roman a look and then her children. As Aries turned around and sauntered off; Roman, Violet, and her children followed Aries while the servants on standby offered help to unload their luggage.

Meanwhile, Climaco had already rushed to Gertrude's side, only to stop several steps away from them. As soon as his little brothers saw him, their eyes lit up and their smiles grew brighter.

"Big Brother!" the two boys yelled in unison, letting Gertrude's hands go, and rushed to Climaco. The knight squatted down, welcoming his brothers to his embrace.

"Ah... goodness..." Climaco's voice shook, tightening his embrace around the two boys. "I'm so glad you're safe."

Aries smiled subtly, pausing in her steps, eyes on Climaco and his little brothers. Her eyes shone with relief, glancing over her shoulder to see Violet and Roman smiling at those little boys who were finally reunited with their big brother.

"My lady." Aries snapped her eyes when Gustav called, seeing him move his arm towards the entrance of the manor.

"Make sure they were fed and relieve Climaco from his duties for now so he could have time with them," she ordered, receiving a nod from Gustav.

Aries resumed in her steps with her guests following behind her. Gustav led them to one of the sitting rooms, offering to take Violet's children to rest and eat in a different room so the adults could talk freely.

"My lady." Tears immediately shone in Violet's eyes just one minute after she sat down across from Aries. "I'm genuinely relieved you are well."

"Violet... did you expect me to die?" Aries humored, glancing at Roman, who was sitting next to Violet's chair. "How have you been, Your Highness?"

"I am no longer royalty, my lady." As usual, Roman's tone was distant, despite that his face doesn't back up his naturally grumpy mood. "You can just call me Roman."

Aries raised her brows, shifting her gaze back to Violet. The latter smiled back awkwardly, making Aries chuckle. She leaned forward, cupping her cheek, darting her eyes between the two of them.

"So..." Aries tapped her index against the surface of the table mildly. "Did he propose?"

Her question instantly dyed Violet's face red while Roman coughed, causing Aries's lips to stretch from ear to ear. She had always wished for these two to be happy, after knowing Violet's kind nature and Roman's hopelessness in confessing his feelings.

"My lady..." Violet cleared her throat, trying to conceal her flustered face with a brave front, but to no avail.

"Haha. I'm kidding. I'm certain Rome will ask me to refrain from asking about his personal affairs," Aries laughed while waving mildly. "However, I'm certain I'm not the only person who will ask about that."

"Pardon?" Violet's brows rose in puzzlement while Roman furrowed his brows. They watched Aries's already bright smile turn into a grin until her eyes were squinting into mere slits.

"Those goners made a bet, apparently," Aries remarked after several seconds of contemplation. "My brother, Sir Conan, Ismael, Abel, His Grace Darkmore, and even Curtis. They betted on whether or not Roman will propose."

Roman's already stoic expression died while Violet tilted her head to the side.

"The third prince?" Violet inquired.

"Mhm. The third prince had sent a word to the Haimirich Empire to apologize for what happened. From what I heard, both empires were in the talks of continuing to build a diplomatic relation," Aries explained in a knowing tone. "And since Curtis is proclaimed the grand duke of Rikhill, they still have some connections one way or another."

"And they made a bet?" Roman blurted out under his breath, biting his tongue, in disbelief how could those wicked men bet on his love life.

"Indeed, and as such, the relation between the Maganti and Haimirich relies on your answer. If Ismael won, Abel wouldn't give him a hard time in the negotiations." She chuckled. "So? What is it?"

Violet pursed her lip into a thin line. When she glanced at Roman, the latter also looked back at Violet. As soon as their eyes met, they looked away with the tip of their ears looking as red as a tomato.

How cute.