The Tyrant's Pet

Forbidden things were satisfying. It was also the same for those who hated being restricted. The more you warned them, the more they wanted to cross that line.

One of those people was Cherry, Aries's lady-in-waiting.

'I had known her shenanigans that she will not like or maybe she will like this attention for a bit,' Aries thought, ignoring all the unwanted attention from the crowd as her eyes searched for Cherry.

Although Aries's main agenda for giving her that dress was to establish her position, there was another reason Aries had in mind. The dress was extravagant, and anyone who was wearing it would stand out. Well, it was a design from the best seamstress in Haimirich who pour all their heart and soul and even their tears in fear of getting their hands severed if it didn't please Abel.

That was why, despite this crowd, Aries immediately saw where Cherry was. She smirked internally as she watched Cherry discreetly exit the banquet hall all alone.

'Oh, Cherry…' Aries laughed in amusement as she kept her eyes on Cherry's figure. 'Your greed and insecurity will be the death of you.'

It didn't take long when Cherry, the star of tonight's banquet, was no longer in sight. But Aries remained in her seat and kept her demure in check.

The time Aries warned Cherry days before the start of the season, she felt that Cherry had been overly friendly. Aries fell for this in the past, thinking how humble and kind and lovely Cherry was.

However, this woman was simply manipulative, insecure, and spiteful.

Cherry hated it when someone was above her and believed she was always better than anyone. She had always thought her low birth, being the daughter of a Baron was a stain. A person like her had bottomless greed.

The reason Aries had been caressing her triggers was so this woman would hate her to the point she would make a mistake. And that mistake… would be tonight.

'I guess it's time to fetch my husband.'

Aries planted her hands on the armrest and pushed herself up. Keeping her chin up, she elegantly and silently walked away to see her husband. As soon as she turned around, she smirked as she felt this distinct gaze from the crowd, which had never left her since the beginning.

Inez.

*******

Joaquin was on his way to the banquet hall after checking the last preparation for the hunting season. Walking through the silent and barely lit hallway, he stopped when he was about to make a turn to avoid bumping into someone. But the lady who suddenly turned up still bumped against his chest.

He quirked a brow as he gazed down, recognizing the woman, who hurriedly took a step back.

"Your Royal Highness!" Cherry gasped as if their meeting wasn't intentional, clutching her hand close to her chest as she bowed. "Please forgive me. I wasn't looking!"

"You weren't looking?" he tilted his head to the side. "Lady Lloyd, what is it that you want from me now?"

She raised her head only to see him smile amicably. Her eyes shook as she swallowed down a mouthful of saliva, figuring out there was no point in lying.

"This place is off-limits. You won't be here if you didn't follow me, am I wrong?" His friendly tone laced his voice, scrutinizing her from head to toe. Now that he was seeing her up close, Aries was right.

​ Cherry was beautiful, and her dress tonight gave her a fresh look. Joaquin didn't notice it until now since he was being discreet to not upset his wife.

"Your Royal Highness." She cleared her throat as she took a deep breath, raising her chin up, chest out. "I want to speak with you regarding the crown princess."

"About my wife?" he cocked his head to the side.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness."

Joaquin was quick to notice her reluctance to talk now since they were in the hallway. Thinking it was a piece of important information, he rocked his head.

"Follow me." He turned around to find a room where they could talk privately. As soon as he did, her eyes glinted as she looked at his back with determination.

Cherry kept her poise, straightening her back to follow his tracks silently. With that being said, the two of them reached the nearest sitting room not far away from where they 'bumped' into each other.

As they were entering the room, Aries was standing in the dark corner of the hallway. Her back was against the wall, hiding from her husband and her lady-in-waiting.

In the dark, her excited grin was unseen.

'Oh, my… what did I just witness?' she bit her tongue to stop herself from bursting out in laughter. 'I knew my heart will break tonight. Oh, poor me.'

Aries hung her head low when she heard feather-like footsteps that had been following her since she left the banquet hall. When she raised her head, her grin and contempt in her eyes were replaced with nothing but the pain of betrayal.

It didn't matter if something would happen between Joaquin and Cherry because the second they entered that room secretly, anyone would only have one conclusion.

An affair. 

"Why are you here?" she asked the person standing several feet away from her, trying to hide the sadness in her teary eyes.

"I…" Inez trailed off as she studied Aries's melancholic front. It was as though Aries was on a brink of having an emotional breakdown, but she was keeping her false bravado since that was her character.

"Please don't tell anyone I was here, ninth sister." Aries tilted her head down slightly. "I had a pleasant night. The banquet was a success, thanks to you, but I don't feel well and will resign early."

That was all Aries said before she pivoted on her heel to walk away. But the second she did, a tear rolled down her cheek, which didn't go unnoticed by Inez. The latter stayed in her spot, wondering why was she crying without making a sound?

'You…' Inez took a step to follow her, but halted for reasons she couldn't understand. She didn't know how long she stayed there in the dark, and she only snapped from her trance when she caught a figure from the corner of her eyes.

Inez turned her head, only to see Cherry walking out of the sitting room. Her brows furrowed as Cherry walked away in the opposite direction from where Inez stood. Minutes later, she finally realized why the crown princess was crying when Joaquin exited the same room where Cherry came from.

'That woman…' Her body suddenly trembled as the surge of anger and disgust swelled in her chest as realization dawned on her. 'How dare she…!'