The Tyrant's Pet

The story went like this:

After the "terrorist" attack, which resulted in a few deaths of noblemen while some inflicted injuries, Ismael found the crown princess lying unconscious deep in the hunting ground. He brought the crown princess back and thankfully, her injuries were immediately treated.

Because of this unprecedented accident, they canceled the hunting competition to take measures and take a proper course of action. An incident such as this with the deaths of multiple noblemen needed to be dealt with immediately and ruthlessly.

The people who did it needed to pay.

Ismael remained silent while everyone in the royal court was singing about their furious hearts as if they truly cared about other people's lives than theirs. If this was any other day, he would be smirking and enjoying how this royal court would unfold.

But, no. He couldn't do that. He knew what happened... not just what occurred on the hunting grounds, but also behind the scenes for years.

His expression was solemn and dark, eyes were as sharp as metal blades. Across the table was Joaquin, who was likewise oddly silent, letting everyone speak.

'Joaquin...' Ismael's eyes glinted as his fist under the table trembled in anger. 'I will bring you down.'

Ismael's sharp glare eventually caught Joaquin's attention as the latter raised his eyes to him. The latter's brows arched slightly, noticing the strange look on the third prince's face. The third prince had always shown hostility towards Joaquin, but only this time did Joaquin see this expression on his brother's face.

It wasn't an unreadable look. It was the opposite.

Ismael's eyes bore murderous intent, and he wasn't even concealing it. Right now, Ismael wanted the crown prince dead, and he purposely wanted Joaquin to know that.

'Hah...' Joaquin smirked as his eye dropped until they were partially closed. 'Does this mean he was affiliated with the Valiente Guerrillas, after all?'

There was no other way Ismael would give off this stare if not for the fact that the main point in this court meeting was how to deal with the culprits. After all, Joaquin made sure that the resistance group would be razed to the ground. It didn't matter if the other forces were the resistance group or another one. He already created a separate team to investigate the truth.

Still, his agenda remained the same, and that was to put an end to that rebel group.

"Silence." Joaquin snapped his eyes ever so tenderly as he raised them to everyone around the table. However, they didn't stop their argument and instead raised their voices.

SLAM!

"Enough!" Silence instantly fell as the crown prince's voice echoed across every corner of the courtroom. He nodded in satisfaction when everyone seemed ready to hear his sentiments.

"The attack during the hunting competition had caused grief for many aristocrats. Even I am still trembling in anger for my crown princess. I share your sentiments. I would've lost my wife as well." Joaquin scanned everyone's faces because some of them had lost their sons or brother, but still attended the court meeting to seek justice for their loss. "That is why... to stop this from occurring in the future, we need to put an end to the Valiente resistance group."

His expression grew dark and studied the fire in everyone's eyes. "We are not doing this simply for vengeance. Remember, our law and values aren't as barbaric as those who would simply take lives for personal interest. The Valiente were still citizens of our Maganti Empire, but their twisted and bigoted beliefs had crossed the line."

Joaquin planted his palms on the surface of the table and pushed himself up. He remained silent, giving everyone equal attention before his lips parted.

"The Empire had been lenient to these people, and we had practiced maximum tolerance. But what they had done... is unspeakable and unforgivable. I will never... condone them." He stressed each word, raising everyone's morale and anger with his solid tone. "I will lead my people and march to the Valiente. This group... must cease to exist!"

An uproar supporting the crown prince's decision exploded in the courtroom, offering help by sending their own knights and even themselves. A glint flickered across Joaquin's eyes, pleased that everything was in motion. His eyes then fell on Ismael for a moment.

The third prince kept his straight face, exchanging eye contact with him.

'Ismael... what are you going to do now?' Joaquin wondered as he now believed Ismael had some affiliation with the Valiente rebel group. If the third prince would be smart, he wouldn't do anything and let things unfold like always. But if he had become emotional, it would be better for the crown prince.

Ismael was someone who would commit a mistake when he let his emotion take over him. Joaquin would surely pin him down and burn him along with that rebel group, this time for sure. The third prince just needed to give Joaquin even the slightest reason.

The meeting ended with 'unity' to destroy the thorn in the empire. Throughout the meeting, Ismael remained silent. He watched everyone leave the courtroom until he was all alone, sitting in the same spot.

'A war will break out...' he whispered to himself, as he already guessed what Joaquin would do to this country. 'Once the resistance group falls, he will ascend the throne.'

His jaw tightened as he grip his hand until it trembled. 'The throne...' a glint flickered across his eyes once more at the thought of the throne.

Joaquin had always set his eyes on the throne and had done everything to secure his position. Even if it means disgracing the emperor, their father, for turning him into a mindless monster. Now, he was aiming at that rebel group, who weren't even rebels originally, but a group of farmers who were simply fighting for their rights.

'How embarrassing...' Ismael lowered his eyes as he remembered Aries's people and the emperor of Haimirich, who was in disguise to enjoy the show. 'He made us all a part of this circus for others to enjoy. Unbelievable!'