The Tyrant's Pet

"God... look at him," Aries muttered, clicking her tongue while gazing at the pitiful Conan. She then glanced up at Isaiah, letting out a shallow breath.

"Your Grace, can you lend me a dagger?" she inquired, opening her palms calmly.

"!!!!"

Conan's already dilated eyes widened, even more, when Isaiah handed her a dagger, no question asked. His complexion instantly turned pale as his breathing hitched. When Aries smirked, his eyes shook while darting it between her and the dagger in her hands.

"Thank you, Your Grace," she expressed, narrowing her eyes until they were partially closed. As she moved the dagger towards Conan, the latter let out a louder yet muffled scream as he wiggled on the dusty ground like a worm.

Aries shook her head as she sighed. She never thought she would ever see Conan this pathetic. After all, he was still Abel's legal advisor and he might act like a clown, but he still held power in this empire.

She gazed up and glared at Isaiah. The latter tilted his head, baffled why he deserved her glares.

"I told you to catch him, but not like this." Conan froze as he felt the rope around him loosen. He looked back only to see her somber front, whilst cutting the rope around him.

"Stay still Sir Conan. I might stab you accidentally." A brief smirk appeared on her face that forced him to not move a muscle. When she was done, she let out another sigh and glanced up at Isaiah. Her frown was evident, glancing at the dagger before tossing it to the grand duke.

"Thanks," was all she said before sliding down on the same dusty floor with Conan. "Sir Conan, what do I do? Did he forget about me already?"

Conan jolted when Aries suddenly slumped on the floor, while Isaiah furrowed his brows. Now, the latter was truly relieved he dragged Conan here. He didn't have the energy to be her best friend and give love advice. He'd rather recommend her a sword that could kill Abel in one strike.

"Lady Aries, what are you talking about?" Conan gasped, opening and closing his mouth to massage his jaw. As he did, Isaiah silently left, as this was something he didn't want to listen to.

Aries glanced at where Isaiah stood and when she was sure he left, she bent her knees, arms on top of it, and then her chin over her arms. Her lips curved down even worse, sulking as if she was going through a heartbreak.

"Tell me the truth. Is he with another woman now?" she asked, biting her lower lip as hard as she could while keeping her teary eyes at Conan. Just one 'yes' from him and the ocean of brine would flood her face.

"What..." Conan shook his head, just to recollect his thoughts. "Lady Aries, what are you blabbering about now? After ordering the grand duke to abduct me?! Why are you acting you're more pitiful than I am?"

Her frown grew worse. "I feel awful."

"Huh?"

"His Majesty hasn't sent a word since forever. Is this how he ends his relationships?" she cast him a dejected look.

,m Honestly, she didn't really come to question Conan and go hysterical. A part of her wanted to, but she wasn't really like that. After seeing Conan's pathetic state, she didn't have the heart because they were both pathetic.

Conan scrunched his nose upon hearing her last remarks. Was this how Abel end his relationships? Definitely not! Aries might've brushed it off when Abel told her he only does one-night stands in the past, but he wasn't joking! Abel was a maniac, and no one came out alive after spending the night with him!

"Did you come here because...?"

"I'm sad," she continued the sentence for him, casting him a look of disinterest before burying her lower face in her arms. "I barely slept, wondering if I should start forgetting him or what?"

"Lady Aries, wait. Aren't you going too fast?" he gasped as that was quite a huge skip, clearing his throat as he adjusted so they were facing each other. "Wait, I'm utterly confused! What's going on?"

Aries batted her eyes, staring at his disheveled hair and a few specks of dust on his cheek, which she ignored. "What do you want me to do, then? Sulk? Like what I am doing now? And anger my brother? Who, is in fact, had the power to start a revolt to overthrow him?"

"I mean, you should at least break up properly! For your own dignity! Or just make him know what he lost!"

"So he's really with someone else now?" came out a dead voice, making his face freeze. "Sir Conan, why would you give me such advice if that is not what is happening?"

Oh, my god...

Aghast, Conan held his breath as he nearly choked on his own breathing. He didn't mean it like that!

"No, I mean, I just went with the flow in the matter of "IF" that happened!" he explained, almost out of breath as he continued, "but I can reassure you that is not the case! There was an urgent matter where His Majesty's presence and his undivided attention were needed!"

Aries studied his aghast expression warily. "Really?"

"Really! I promise! Cross my heart!" Conan raised his hand and then planted it on his chest. "I will place my hand in my heart and promise you it's nothing like that! He wants to leave a message, but he can't!"

She frowned before sighing in relief. Even though she barely believed Conan's excuse, it was better than nothing. No one could stop Abel from sending her a letter, but well, perhaps it was truly important and he couldn't waste a second to write a letter for her. That was what Aries wanted to believe, which she did.

A weary smile turned up on her face. "That's good to hear, then."

"Lady Aries, I thought you want to kill me. That's why I ran away." Conan also heaved a sigh of relief, shaking his head sideways.

"How did you become the emperor's legal adviser with that wild imagination?"

"Hey, that's my charm!"

Aries and Conan looked at each other for a second and laughed, realizing they were slumped on the dirty and dusty floor. They look like children, but he somehow calmed her down like a friend. When she recovered, they both dusted off their clothes and walked out of the storeroom.

She didn't have a friend. Aries had people, but only a few were actually her real friends… and they had already passed. But with Conan, who was the first person who came into her mind when her heart and mind couldn't speak the same language, eventually — without them realizing it — became a good friend.

It had been a while… but Aries thanked God for the first time in over two years.