The Tyrant's Pet

Once the public calmed down from the fire incident, everyone had prepared for Carlos’ trial. It took them days to open the trial because of many reasons; mostly because of the debate about whether it should be a public trial or a private one. In the end, since Carlos was a part of the royal family, the trial was only opened to aristocrats.

Still, they also compromised that they would give out consistent updates to the public. Because at the end of the day, the royal family still owed their people an explanation since people were protesting in the streets, questioning the credibility of the royal family.

It was chaotic, but well, this type of response was already expected.

The morning of the trial would be held in the courtroom. As the crown princess, she had a special seat on the top spot on the second floor to watch everything without squeezing herself with everyone. Beside her was the seat for the crown prince.

Aries arrived right on time when the seats in the court hall were slowly being occupied by aristocrats. In front of the court hall, there were three empty seats for Modesto, and a few ministers to judge the trial, who have yet to arrive. There was a stand in the middle where the person being tried would stand, and then seats for every aristocrat who wanted to attend.

She glanced over the railings and smirked. There were tons of familiar faces, both from Joaquin’s supporters and the opposing sides. The rest were simply the curious ones.

The whisperings and murmurings soon reached the floor where Aries was at. She leaned back when she heard footsteps behind her, glancing to her side when Joaquin plopped his butt down to the chair beside her.

“You’re early, my crown princess,” he greeted with an amused smirk, tilting his head and arching a brow.

“I don’t think I am, my crown prince. It’s just everyone in here is tardy and the trial that is supposed to have started is delayed.” Her tone bore the same nonchalance as if the last time she met him ended on a good note. She kept her eyes on the court hall while everyone was settling on their respective seats.

“The people had started whispering. It’ll be terrible if they started voicing out their dismay if the delay is prolonged.”

“You seemed excited for this, which makes me wonder…” Joaquin chuckled faintly as he leaned back, eyes over the railings. “… what sort of plan do you have up your sleeve? Are you perhaps planning to turn things around?”

“Hah… my husband, I do not understand this sudden aggression I am currently receiving. I had told you multiple times if you fall, I would fall as well. Thus, whether or not I like it, I have to choose your side.” Joaquin quirked a brow as he glanced at her, only to see Aries give him an indifferent side-eye. “Although I would be lying if I said it’s for your sake since my true agenda was to keep my title. I do not want to sweep the streets I owned.”

Joaquin chuckled, amused at how she could keep up the act when he already knew. But well, it was not like he expected her to admit her identity verbally.

“How nice,” he muttered, glancing at the court hall, only to see Modesto and the rest of the council arrive and take their seats. “This reminds me of a time in the past when I also sat in a place like this. However, a trial is not what I was watching, but an execution.”

“Executions had somehow become a source of entertainment. Back in Haimirich, people used to flock to the plaza every single time as if there was something in its brutality that is stunning. It’s sickening.” Aries kept her cold facade as she cast him a look. “That is why I couldn’t understand, why my beloved husband decided to put the entire royal family on the spot as if we’re a bunch of clowns in a circus.”

The corners of his lips stretched as he shrugged. “Guess.” His brow arched, glancing at her arms before snapping his eyes up.

“Say, we haven’t spent time with each other, I’m afraid my favorite feels lonely.” Aries glanced at his hand while he caressed her arm with the back of it. “Oh, how I missed my favorite.”

“Huh…” Aries chuckled in ridicule before she leaned back, facing him squarely. “You kept calling me your favorite ever since that time my little Curtis upset you. I wonder… is this about that slave again?”

“No, of course not.” He laughed, leaning his face closer. “I call you my favorite because you are my favorite.”

“How foolish of me to think there’s hope in this marriage.” Her eyelashes fluttered seductively, smirking at him. Aries then leaned her face closer until there was only a palm length gap between them, raising her hand as she caressed his jaw with her fingertips.

“Obviously, my husband is holding onto someone else’s ghost. You’re breaking my heart, Joaquin. I should stop making a fool out of myself.” Aries pressed a finger on his lips as she drew away. Meanwhile, his brows wiggled playfully, smacking his lips as he drew his head back as well.

“You can deny it all you want, my love. However, you’re fooling no one.” Joaquin slowly set his eyes back to the court hall, seeing that Carlos was now being dragged to the stand. “I don’t know what Haimirich’s motive for sending you back, but they seemed to have underestimated me. Either way, it’s futile. If anything, I’m glad they did, since I wasn’t done having fun with you just yet.”

“You keep hurting my pride as a Vandran but say whatever you want, Your Royal Highness. However, keep in mind that I, a Vandran, will never forget being mistaken as a slave over and over. Such insolence is something I can only tolerate once.”

Both of them talked while watching the people in the court hall settle down. Keeping their cold and unaffectionate countenance, their eyes both glinted when the minister announced;

“The trial of the eighth prince will now commence.”