The Tyrant's Pet

The hunting season approached in a flash, burying the matters regarding the eighth prince faster than anyone could grasp. People moved on quickly as new rumors rose in every gathering and the preparation for one of the most important seasons in the empire kept everyone in the high society preoccupied.

Aries was not an exception. She had been preparing for the matters in the east ninth district because the inevitable winter would come right after the season ended. Filling up the food storage so everyone under her jurisdiction would stay warm and had food to eat was her priority.

Before she knew it, it was already the night of the season.

In the Maganti Empire, the season before winter, everyone from across the empire would gather in the capital and celebrate such an auspicious occasion. And the best way to start it and set up the tone was a grand banquet held in the imperial palace.

It was Aries's first official public appearance, but unlike all the ladies who prepared the best of the bests attires, Aries barely gave the minimum attention to it. Not because she was confident she would stand out; standing out wasn't her plan.

"Your Highness…"

Aries's brows rose as soon as she went out of her boudoir while Minerva and the maids were waiting for her. Their eyes were glittering like those stars in the night sky, holding their hands, admiring the beautiful Aries. Although she purposely didn't prepare, her ethereal beauty was enough to catch anyone's heart and eyes.

With a tiara atop her golden hair braided loosely and wrapped around her head like a crown, her slender neck showcased its allure. Her face, which bore a natural and enchanting beauty, was powdered thin, keeping her makeup to a minimum of faint pink blush, but with bright red lips so one could read her mouth every time it moved.

She was dressed in a sheer top, beaded cap sleeve royal purple dress with a boho tulle A-line that reached to the floor; a simple yet elegant which matched her enchanting demure and made her already fair complexion stand out.

"Pick up your jaws and help me." She chuckled arrogantly, shaking her head as she marched to the full-body mirror in the middle of her chambers to look at herself. The moment she stood in front of the mirror, she finally understood why Minerva and the maidservants' reactions were like that.

She was effortlessly beautiful.

Aries glanced to her left and set her eyes back to Gertrude. The latter offered her a smile as she bowed.

"You did a great job, Gertrude." She then set her eyes on the person the mirror was reflecting. "I hope anyone in the banquet will look better than I do."

"Your Highness! How can that be?!" Minerva, the unsuspecting maid, who had been busy taking care of Curtis and befriending all the maids in the Sapphire Palace, and unaware of many things unlike Gertrude, chimed in enthusiastically. She stood beside Gertrude, holding her fist in front of her chest, looking at Aries reassuringly.

"I'm certain Your Royal Highness will stand out!" she cheered, glancing at the other maids, which nodded profusely to back her up.

'Thing is, Minerva, I don't want to stand out,' was what Aries wanted to reply, but bit her tongue as she chuckled.

"The crown prince is quite a jealous man." Aries set her eyes back to the mirror and smiled subtly. "And at the same time, arrogant. I don't want him to be torn between displaying his wife to everyone or keeping her to a place where he can only see."

Minerva and the rest giggled at the crown princess's humor as they were all in her good graces. Aries was only terrifying if rubbed in the wrong way, and every single one in the Sapphire Palace was aware of that. The only one who wasn't giggling as they sang praises and do final touches to her dress was Gertrude.

Gertrude knew things these servants didn't know. And she understood Aries was referring to those times in her past.

"Right." She snapped out of her trance when Aries turned her attention to her. "How about Curtis? Although he won't be joining the banquet hall, he can still enjoy the foods prepared and the music."

"He was in his chambers, waiting for you, Your Highness."

Aries smiled in satisfaction. Curtis had been recovering and could now walk for a short distance. Although the distance from the Sapphire Palace to the Lazuli Palace — where the banquet would be held — was great. They would ride a carriage.

"Gertrude, will you get my jewelry box?" Aries ordered, which Gertrude executed almost immediately. When the latter returned, she held it beside Aries while the crown princess open it.

She had kept her accessories to a minimum because her dress was already heavy compared to how it appeared. She only wore a pair of studded diamond earrings, her wedding ring and the jade ring on the same finger, and a layered arm chain bracelet.

'I don't have a necklace,' she thought, picking up her treasured accessory among all. Her lips curled up, raising the necklace with a small bottle as a pendant. It was the gift Abel gave her back in Haimirich, which she had to wear off on multiple occasions when she arrived in the Maganti Empire.

Aries had already modified it by changing the simple string to gold plated alloys and wrapped the small jar with simple decor so she could wear it at all times to match all her dresses. This was because a person like her, wearing something so simple which doesn't match her elegant style, would be out of character. She didn't want to deal with questions once someone — Joaquin, to be precise — noticed.

"Your Highness, let me —"

​ "It's fine, Gertrude." Aries smiled as she wore the necklace herself. "I like this necklace so much and I prefer if I wear it myself." — or Abel put it around her neck.

Once the servants were finished doing the final touches to her dress, Aries also finished linking the necklace around her. Staring at herself, the side of her lips curled up into a bright smile. The glint that flashed across her eyes for a split second wasn't noticed.

"Let's go and see Curtis." She turned around and glanced at everyone, who returned her energy twice.

"Yes, Your Highness."

With that being said, Aries marched towards the door while the servants followed, fixing the hem of her dress as it slightly swept the floor. While everyone was busy behind her, no one saw the smirk on her face.

'Tonight… we'll attract the moth to the flame.'