The Tyrant's Pet

Aries smiled warmly while watching Sunny sitting across from her. She couldn't help but giggle every time the girls' chubby cheeks bounce along with the movements of the carriage. Her morning was one of the strangest mornings she woke up to, but nonetheless, in a good way. Abel might not be the first person she saw, but Sunny was too adorable.

'I can't believe she's just three,' she thought, recalling Alaric wasn't this mature when she was at this age. Even Aries's father often told her it took Aries some time to pick things up. 'I guess it has something to do with their kind. I guess vampires have more geniuses.'

Her eyes squinted in amusement at the thought that crossed her head. Throughout their journey, Aries had seen quite a few things that fascinated her. If she hadn't seen it herself, she wouldn't even believe such speed was possible.

"She'll melt if you keep looking at her." Aries snapped her eyes when Abel bumped his shoulder against her side to get her attention. "She's made of chocolates."

She chuckled. "Be a little nicer to her."

"I am being nice, darling. I could've left her in the inn, but she clung to you like gum."

"Hmm... you're right. My husband is so nice." She hooked her arm around his, resting her chin on his shoulder. "Super nice. You returned."

Abel arched a brow, eyes on her. "I keep my word."

"You do, and I think you're so handsome because of it."

"Even if I don't, my face will be the same."

"The appeal will be different."

"Good point."

While Aries coaxed Abel, Sunny darted her eyes between the two of them. She then slipped her hand into her dress's secret pocket to take out a bar of unwrapped chocolate, munching it in delight.

"Tsk." Aries drew her head back when Abel lowered his head to claim her lips. "There's a child present."

"It's fine. My father always steals my mother from Sunny to kiss her and make our family big," Sunny explained as if she was already numbed with such a scenario unfolding right before her. "Sunny understands Grandpa."

"I like you now." Abel pointed at the little girl and then cast his wife a knowing look. "If her parents weren't ashamed of parading their indecency, why should we?"

"They're not parading it. Mother and Father are careful but Sunny always follows Tilly."

"You don't have to explain, Glutton."

"Sunny." Aries pinched his leg, correcting him through her gritted teeth. "Sunny has a name, and it's Sunny, not Glutton."

"But look at her." Abel looked at the little girl from head to toe, catching some speck of dirt on the chocolate she was eating. "She's insatiable."

"Children likes sweet, so it's normal."

"Grandma is right. Sunny likes sweet and it's normal. Grandpa likes bitter things, that's why she likes Grandma."

"Pardon?" Aries furrowed her brows, unable to discern if that was meant as an insult or a harmless thought of a child.

"Grandma's blood isn't..." Sunny trailed off when she noticed the deadly look in Abel's eyes.

"Isn't, what?" Aries cocked her head to the side and then glanced at Abel. "Don't scare her."

"I'm not scaring her, I'm warning her."

"That's the same."

"Darling, if you think this little devil is a normal child, you're entirely wrong." Abel cocked his head back and tenderly snapped his eyes to Aries. "She's, indeed, three years old, but she can snap your neck without batting an eye."

Horror instantly filled Aries's eyes, looking back at Sunny, only to see the little girl grin brightly. Up until this point, Aries believed this little girl was just as adorable and innocent as she appeared. She had almost forgotten Sunny was a vampire, and what sort of nature they had.

"I'm not Grandpa, so Grandma shouldn't worry," Sunny reassured with a sweet smile, munching the bar of chocolate delightfully.

"I think she's closer to Mathilda more than her parents," Abel crooned, studying Sunny one more time.

"Tilly taught us alchemy and spells. I think Grandma should learn how to do spells since it'll be a waste to let it lie dormant," the little girl casually remarked, causing Aries to furrow her brows.

"I can...?"

"Of course you can. I told you, didn't I? You can know those things."

Aries stared at Abel's indifferent countenance, recalling the time she asked Abel about his curse and his reply was a question. Her throat bobbed as the lines between her brow deepened.

"What do you mean...?"

"That... inside you." Aries twisted her neck, and her eyes instantly fell on Sunny's adorable eyes. "Grandpa will add charges to my crime if I say anything further."

"Abel, what is she saying?" Aries refocused her attention on Abel, but the latter shrugged. Abel adjusted his position until he was facing her squarely.

"Honestly, I don't want you learning these kinds of stuff, darling. However, if you want, then you have to remember what's inside you."

"How can I do that?"

"Beats me." Abel shrugged indifferently. "You have to know first before you ask for my help. This isn't as simple as destroying an empire."

He leaned back, resting his leg over the other, eyes still on Aries. "I will not destroy you by forcing you to remember the things you yourself force to forget."

"What...?" Aries whispered, drowning in a river of confusion at his remarks. Looking at him, it seemed Abel was adamant about keeping his mouth shut, just like Sunny.

'Something inside me?' she wondered, lowering her eyes to ponder about it. 'Things I forced myself to forget?'

For Aries, Abel's words were akin to a riddle. There were times Aries forced herself to forget certain memories, but alas, no matter how hard she tried, it never worked. Was there a time she succeeded in those things? If so, what was it? Aries glanced at Abel, who was watching Sunny eating in dismay, and then at Sunny, who didn't care about the look in her grandfather's eyes.

Obviously, the two of them already knew the answers to the myriads of questions in her head. But knowing Abel, he must've had a deep reason for not clarifying it. In that case, Aries had no choice but to listen to his advice.

'I had to remember it myself and decide if I will take Sunny's advice.' Aries mentally nodded in understanding, keeping her silence throughout the long ride back to the Vandran Residence.