The Tyrant's Pet

"Your Highness!"

Gertrude perked up the second Aries came into the lodging room where Curtis was enjoying the garden with various snacks. Worry instantly resurfaced in her eyes as she hurriedly welcomed Aries, who was wiping her tears.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" asked Gertrude to Aries while offering her a handkerchief. Aries didn't respond as she accepted the handkerchief to wipe her tears.

"Hah…" Aries sniffled while wiping the corner of her eyes. "Hah… haha… hahaha!"

Alarmed, Gertrude took a step back on instinct, eyes shaking on Aries. The latter's sniffles just developed into waves of laughter. It grew louder and sinister resonating across the entire lodging room that Curtis, who was staring at the garden, also turned his head in Aries's direction.

"Oh, goodness…!" Aries wheezed, trying to suppress her laughter, but to no avail. She wiped the corner of her eyes, clearing her throat in between her chuckles.

"Your Highness, did you drink more than you should have?" Gertrude inquired as she got a whiff of wine from Aries. The latter chuckled as she gazed at Gertrude and smiled brightly.

"No, Gertrude. Of course not." Aries leaped and threw herself at Gertrude, ignoring how Gertrude's back stiffened under her embrace. "Oh, Gertrude. You remind me of my dear Nana. She's also like you — very cute."

"Your Highness…"

"It's fine. No one is here aside from you and…" Aries turned her head in Curtis' direction. Her face instantly brightened the second she locked eyes with him.

"Curtis!" she exclaimed, letting go of Gertrude as she dramatically skipped her steps to Curtis. "Curtis, dearest friendship!"

As usual, Curtis' face was blank, blinking at her when Aries stood beside his chair. Her cheek was painted with faint red, eyes glimmering as they squinted, adoring Curtis as he looked very different now than when they first met in this place. Gertrude and the servants took good care of him, covering his scarred body with a fine formal suit.

Although Curtis was still petite, he wasn't malnourished and ragged anymore. He just looked like a sickly nobleman, but his charm had significantly resurfaced once again.

"Curtis," she called, slumping on the floor, ignoring Gertrude's gasp. "Curtis…"

Aries chuckled as she moved closer to his seat, placing a hand over his knees, then rested her chin over the back of her hand. She was looking up at Curtis, while the latter gazed down at her.

"Curtis." Aries kept repeating his name with a smug grin on her face. "Heh… you look so cute."

Her cheek squished as she rested it on the back of her hand, eyes still on Curtis. "Did you enjoy the food tonight?" she asked, but like usual, she received no response from him.

"I enjoyed it so much," she hiccuped, chuckling as if she thought of something funny. "Gertrude is right. I think I drank more than I should have."

"Your Highness…" Gertrude called worriedly as she squatted down next to Aries. "Why — alright, I will tell the knights to prepare your carriage to go back home."

"Home…" Aries's weak laugh had a touch of sarcasm. "My home… Curtis, our home is ruined. How are we supposed to go back home when it's just a vast cemetery?"

"My lady…" Gertrude sighed deeply as it seemed Aries surely had too much to drink. She didn't know the reason, but this was dangerous as Aries wasn't being cautious like usual.

Aries frowned, and her face crumpled. "I want to go home too…" came out a muffled voice, lips quivering as tears swam in her eyes. "Curtis… I want to go home. I missed everyone so much…"

"My lady…"

As Aries began weeping, the soft-hearted Gertrude couldn't also help but tear up. Aries was always imposing, especially when she stepped foot in the Maganti Empire. Although she appeared bright and happy on the surface in Haimirich, Gertrude always felt like Aries was someone who was close yet so far.

Never once did Aries cry or expressed her feelings regarding her sentiments at Rikhill. It had always been anger, but now… she looked like a lost little girl who simply wanted to go home.

"I missed Davien… Alaric… I want to hear her play the piano again. I missed everyone's smile and Father's nagging. Take me back there. I want to see them again.

Curtis kept his eyes on her as she wept without caring about her appearance. He pursed his lips and planted a hand on her head, ruffling her hair mildly to console her.

As Aries was weeping and Gertrude wept with her, the latter's breath hitched when the entrance slowly creaked open. In an instant, Gertrude broke out in sweats as her blood ran cold because Aries was still expressing her sentiments about Rikhill.

It was as though for that split second as the door opened, her heart stopped beating. Aries continued, not noticing that a person was entering the room.

"What a piece of work." Gertrude only heaved a sigh of relief when Abel turned up at the door.

"Your Majesty." She hurriedly picked up herself as she bowed, taking a step back as he marched to where Aries and Curtis were.

"I should've stopped her earlier," he muttered, planting his hand on his hip as he stood behind Aries.

Just minutes ago, Aries returned to the banquet hall and drank wine since it was only natural for her to drink after 'witnessing her husband's infidelity.' However, what she didn't expect was that the wine had a strong alcohol level and its effect would only kick in minutes after consumption.

"Gertrude, I will take her with me," he announced before Abel bent over to carry the weeping Aries. But before he could touch her, Curtis moved his hand forward until his entire palm was over Aries's head.

"Huh?" Abel cocked his head to the side as he raised his eyes to meet Curtis's gaze. "Well, who do we have here?"

"Your Majesty, that's Her Highness' friend," Gertrude hurriedly explained before casting Curtis a look. "Sir Curtis, that is His Majesty, the person who is helping Lady Aries. She'll be safe with him."

But to no avail. Curtis kept his eyes locked with Abel's. The latter arched a brow before he leaned in until his face was a palm length away from his.

Abel narrowed his eyes, and after several seconds, the side of his lips curled up.

"How interesting," he crooned. "He's coming with me as well."