The Tyrant's Pet

Unlike the wedding ceremony, the event right after took more time than Aries expected. The three ministers who used to hold a great power went through the effort of making it a proper passing of the crown. Joaquin was amazing, especially when some of these noblemen were known to stay in the middle and weighed the problems fairly.

But now, here they were, giving their blessing and swearing their loyalties to the new emperor and empress. While doing so, they wrapped the two new rulers of the land with a royal mantle, tying it in the front delicately. Afterward, they passed them golden batons after chanting what they were for and the weight of holding such power. Many more minutes later, Joaquin lowered his head instead of bending his knees to humble himself in the presence of the crown.

However, Joaquin and Aries had already skipped a lot of steps in their wedding, and this act of impudence surprised no one.

Normally, the new king would have to kneel on one knee while receiving his crown. This was to show he was humble and to express he would keep his feet on the ground while serving his people.

By standing and barely lowering his head, only meant Joaquin didn't plan on humbling himself, nor was he planning to treat the position as humble. Even so, the minister carefully placed the crown over Joaquin's head securely.

Once Joaquin straightened his back, another person came to his side. The latter was holding a small cushion where a tiara was placed on top of it.

Unlike the recognition the emperor needed to ascend the throne, the empress only needed the emperor's recognition. Thus, Joaquin proceeded to take the tiara and held it in between him and Aries.

Aries snorted but said nothing further. Just like how Joaquin already showed what sort of ruler he would become, Aries raised her chin while accepting the crown. It could be interpreted that she would never bow down to the monarch, her husband, or any other that her action could be interpreted.

"Perfect." Joaquin smiled in satisfaction, pleased at how she looked perfect wearing a smaller crown that appeared almost the same as his.

"Hand." He offered his hand for her to clasp, raising his brows knowingly. "Don't make me drag you."

"Sounds enticing. Fortunately, I'm in no mood to look haggard today." She smirked, clasping his hand as they faced the throne. This time, the ministers on the step-up already stepped aside.

Joaquin and Aries walked hand in hand, slowly but steadily. Every time they took a step up sounded heavier to those who were watching them. Most of them held their breaths, balling their hands into a tight fist until they trembled.

Their heart sank when Joaquin finally stepped foot on the final step. It was over. Nothing happened, and no one had stopped this madness. The new emperor had risen and there was no turning back now.

When Joaquin turned around, he smirked in satisfaction. They were all looking up at him while he, on this raised platform, could only look down on them. Fear and helplessness dominated their faces as they imagined their life from hereon.

What a sight to behold.

"Long live Your Majesty!" Javier's voice pierced the thick air as he slowly went down to his one knee. His voice and words caused everyone's heart to shake, which travel down to their bones until it was wobbly.

One by one, everyone succumbed to their wobbly knees and went down to their knees while yelling, "Long live the emperor, long live His Majesty!"

Seeing the scene unfold before his eyes, Joaquin enjoyed every bit of their surrender as power seeped deep into his bones.

'Finally,' he thought, glossing his eyes over the men bowing on their knees while hailing him. He turned his head to his side, smirking at the glare Aries was shooting at him.

All his hard work through the years had now shown result, having this empire at his feet. Next, the world would bow down before him. Her pride and disdain would not get in his way because one way or another, she too would have no other choice but to accept him.

"Come here, my Love." He extended his arm and offered it to her. But when Aries didn't move in the slightest, he sprawled his arm, grabbed her waist, and pulled her against him.

"Why do you always want it the hard way?" he wondered, but he was just in a good mood to let her ruin it. "Can't you see, my love?"

Joaquin squeezed her waist tighter, motioning his hand towards the sight before them. He took a step, untethered by the crowd in front of them as they were bowing and cheering in sync like a choir. They wouldn't stop until he told them to, but Joaquin didn't have a plan to tell them to stop and wanted to hear more of it.

He stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist. He bent over until his chin was touching her shoulder, leaning his head to her ear.

"Look, my love. Just look," he whispered seductively, brushing the apex of his nose against her neck. "Can't you see what I can do and give?"

He inhaled through her skin, letting her realize all the resources she might or might not need were here. All she had to do was acknowledge her power and him, and she could have everything: wealth, power, and influence. There was no shortage of what he could give her.

Her jaw tightened as she kept her eyes on the men who were still hailing, "long live…" without stopping. She glanced up, unable to understand why Joaquin worked hard all this time just to get this little power. The side of her lips curled up, glancing over her shoulder when he finally stop leeching on her.

"Amusing," she remarked, her tone a little vague enough to make him wonder whether it was sarcasm or genuine. But either way, Joaquin shrugged it off since he was already numbed with her defiance. That was all she could do anyway, so he was allowing it to make her a little happy.