The Tyrant's Pet

Sunny had been watching Aries pace back and forth from the divan inside one of the sitting rooms in the forbidden mansion. She was munching her snacks she had taken from the inner palace to kill time, but watching Aries nervously walk around in circles was making her dizzy.

"Grandmama, you're making Sunny dizzy," Sunny voiced out after another minute of watching Aries.

Aries halted, looking back at the little girl sitting on the long divan. She let out a sharp breath, marched towards Sunny, and plopped her butt down beside the little girl.

"I feel like I'll lose my mind, Sunny," Aries expressed with a deep breath, running her fingers through her hair. "How can this happen? I gave him a trinket that would protect him. He should be fine."

"Grandmama, are you not confident with your own spell?" asked Sunny out of plain curiosity.

"I…" Aries looked back at the little girl, eyes full of bitterness and uncertainty. "... Marsella said it would be effective."

"Then, rest assured."

"But —"

"Grandmama, beating yourself will help no one." Sunny cut her off, holding Aries's gaze with clear resolve in her doe eyes. "If your family is having a hard time, the only thing you can help them with is to make sure you control your emotions and mind and not become a part of their burden. Get yourself together, so when they come, you can welcome them with a smile."

Aries held her breath as Sunny sounded like scolding her. Sunny's words didn't fit a three-year-old girl, but the look in her eyes told Aries she had a full understanding of her remarks. Considering Sunny came into the empire all alone, without any guidance from the adults, it would be silly to always think she was as innocent as she appeared to be.

"How can I do that?" Aries's voice shook, forgetting the age difference and succumbing to helplessness. "What if it's their dead body that I would have to welcome back? Sunny, the marquess, might not share the same blood as I do, but in my heart, he is the only existing brother I have. I can't afford to lose another family."

Sunny let out a shallow breath. "Life… is full of twists and turns. Not because you don't want things to happen, it will not happen."

"Are you saying I should prepare for the worst?"

"Yes, you should, but hold on to the sliver of hope the worst won't happen." Sunny slowly looked away, looking down at her snacks. "Just like Sunny, pray that those who were not with us will stay safe and reunite with us."

"Sunny is also scared that watching my mama and papa leave our house will be the last time I will see them," she continued in a somber mood, completely different from her usual bearing. "But Sunny trusts her mama and papa, and I know they will want Sunny to not worry. So Sunny chooses to have fun with my pretty grandma and handsome grandpa, and all the uncles in here, so Sunny won't feel sad anymore."

Aries bit her inner lower lips, ashamed that she was confiding in this little girl. Sunny might've always been so bubbly and mischievous, but surely, this little girl had many worries that weren't suited for a little girl to carry. And yet, Sunny never showed her weakness to anyone. If anything, people were forced to walk on eggshells around her lest they catch her eyes.

"Thank you." Aries hugged herself as she slightly calmed down after a few exchanges with Sunny. "And I'm sorry. I know I am the adult, but I needed your help to get a grip."

"It's fine. Age is just a number… that's what my papa always tells my mama whenever someone brings up their age difference."

Aries chuckled and cast Sunny a look. "I have a vast age difference with your grandpa as well."

"He's ancient."

"I know. He's older than my ancestor." Aries's eyes softened, turning to the window. "But I think you are right. Age is just a number and not an indicator of maturity."

"Do not be discouraged. I am a Grimsbanne and I have already developed critical thinking even before I learned how to speak."

Aries smiled at Sunny and didn't question the little girl's claim. Sunny was too mature for her age, and sometimes, just like right now, Aries couldn't help but doubt Sunny was not being truthful about her age. But well, with everything that had happened to her, Aries was aware questioning things just because they sounded ridiculous was stupid.

"By the way, grandmama." Sunny cleared her throat, pausing as she waited for Aries to give her her full attention. "What does Maleficent feels like?"

"Pardon?"

"Grandma Marsella said you hold Maleficent powers, so I'm curious."

"Well, it feels… nothing much," Aries answered with a bit of uncertainty. "It was a little strange, honestly. Whenever I use witchcraft, I feel a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. It's like drinking poisoned tea, but I'm already used to the taste by now."

Aries cocked her head to the side, focusing on this conversation as it somehow soothed the restlessness in her heart.

"Why are you curious about my witch?" she asked out of plain curiosity. "Do you want to see me use it?"

Sunny shook her head mildly. "It's just that I know someone who wields a dark spear."

"A dark spear?"

"Mhm. The weapon is called Maleficent," Sunny said. "But that dark spear cannot be wielded just by anyone because it is a double-edged sword. Wielding it without proper knowledge of it might end tragically. It can consume its holder."

"Hah…" Aries furrowed her brows, looking at Sunny incredulously. "It sounds like a dangerous weapon."

"Mister Fabian is the only person who can have full control of it." The corner of Sunny's lips stretched from ear to ear until her teeth were showing. "Mister Fabian is our family's butler, but he's really cool. I wonder if Grandmama's witch and his Maleficent had some sort of connection."

Aries tilted her head to the side, pondering about Sunny's remarks, but couldn't think of anything useful. However, some parts were automatically etched in her mind. For instance, having proper knowledge of her witch to control it since her spells could go out of hand if Aries used more mana than she could control.

"He sounds like an interesting man." Aries smiled subtly. "It'll be nice to meet Sunny's parents and this holder of Maleficent."

Sunny giggled almost evilly. "You might think otherwise once you meet him."