The Tyrant's Pet

Abel crossed his arms, a coat was draped over his shoulders. Standing in front of the window in the hallway, his eyes fell on the carriage moving away through the driveway. The side of his lips curled up, knowing the carriage passengers were none other than Sunny and Dexter.

"Dexter…" he whispered, chuckling weakly. "... you should just continue loathing me. Do not falter or show the slightest concern. It\'s more reassuring that way."

His eyelids drooped and, at the same time, a glint flickered across his eyes. They were softer than usual, but no one could tell what exactly was in his mind.

Abel kept his eyes on the carriage slowly approaching the wide gates of the imperial palace. "That child…" he trailed off, recalling everything Sunny had spewed carelessly. "... somehow makes me sorrowful."

And yet, what followed his remarks was a short laugh. He was aware Sunny was being sincere, and everything she had said was nothing but facts. Abel wasn\'t sure what to expect in the coven tomorrow.

Abel had never thought of the coven that much in the past, knowing it was nothing but a failure. However, his gut feeling told him tomorrow\'s feast would be different. He could feel it; not just by his gut feeling, but the atmosphere across the empire.

Many powerful vampires and witches had arrived in the Haimirich Empire to take part in Abel\'s execution. He wasn\'t pleased about it, but he had no power to stop it; Abel had surrendered any authority of each coven away.

This was just another consequence of his conquest to meet death. He couldn\'t drag Aries into it, especially if his plans were to eradicate this coven entirely.

"I will fetch her after the coven," he mumbled to remind himself he had to survive tomorrow. "She better reward me with loads of kisses and affection, and a wild night of passion."

"Your Majesty."

Suddenly, Conan\'s voice came from behind Abel. He kept his distance from Abel, staring at the emperor\'s broad back. But instead of showing sadness, Conan\'s eyes glinted as a fire blazed within them.

When Abel turned on his heel to face Conan, he arched a brow. He gazed at Conan from head to toe in amusement. The latter was still in his formal suit, but he was holding a sheath that sheltered a sword that had a golden handle.

"You picked up your sword again," Abel mused, but Conan\'s expression remained solemn.

"I will massacre them all," Conan remarked without batting an eye. "And end this coven once and for all."

"How cute."

"Your Majesty, allow me to kill Isaiah."

Abel chuckled and shook his head sideways. "Isaiah simply fulfilled my request. There is no need for my people to shed blood." Abel turned on his heel, sauntering off ever so leisurely.

"The coven was my responsibility. Therefore, I\'ll end it myself." Abel\'s eyes glinted dangerously, showing only the ruthlessness he had always carried. "Summon the nigh council to my chancery… and close the imperial palace."

"Haimirich… will no longer protect just anyone, especially with my wife living in his very land," he added, and Conan bowed.

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

********

Meanwhile…

Dexter would constantly cast Sunny, who was sitting across from him in the carriage, a look. The little girl had a bowl of grapes on her lap, a bribe she got from Abel so she would follow Dexter.

"You know about the coven?" he blurted out, biting his tongue a second late upon realizing he allowed his curiosity to get the better of him.

Sunny looked back at him, still chewing. She didn\'t reply immediately, savoring the sweetness with a tinge of sourness of the grape.

"Sunny had heard about it," she answered right after swallowing the grape.

"I see…" Dexter rocked his head in understanding, before furrowing his brows when she spoke once again.

"Uncle, do you like my grandpa?" she asked innocently, warranting a snort from him.

"My hatred towards him runs deep. He doesn\'t deserve to die. That is too easy for him."

"But Uncle, your eyes and actions told Sunny otherwise," she pointed out bluntly, picking up another piece of grape with her tiny fingers. "You don\'t want grandpa to die because you like grandpa, right?"

"No."

"Why? Because he killed your sister?"

"What?" His breath hitched, eyes dilated in shock. "How did you know that?"

"Sunny was reading the royal records while grandpa was away," she explained, keeping it short and simple. "But grandpa killed Daniella because she was scheming with the witches and vampires to end my grandpa. She used you."

"Shut up.." His voice shook, finger trembling as he pointed it at her. "You know nothing."

"I think Sunny knows enough." She blinked once again. "To save her from an incurable disease, my grandpa turned her into a vampire. However, your sister was very different when she was sick and when she got cured. Her greed is insatiable, willing to take down the person who saved her and use you as a scapegoat to manipulate the purity of her blood?"

"Didn\'t she put a wedge between you and my grandpa, making you lose your trust in the man you pledge your loyalty to?" Sunny continued, tilting her head as the grape hovered before her lips. "Even so, grandpa sullied his hands just so you don\'t live with the guilt of taking your sister\'s life."

The innocence in her eyes was still there, however, the hair-raising glint across her eyes vanquished the innocence in them.

"If something bad happened to my grandpa, Sunny will take my grandmama with me," she added. This time, her adorable voice sounded firmer with full of conviction. "And this empire will melt just like chocolate."

The side of her lips stretched from ear to ear until her eyes were squinting. Meanwhile, Dexter held his breath, seeing Sunny in a different light. He had seen this child multiple times when he visited the imperial palace. But only now did Dexter confirm his suspicion.

This child was simply a menace. Not that he believed she was purely innocent, knowing the blood running deep in her veins.

"Nothing bad will happen to him." He breathed out. "I trust him."

"Sunny didn\'t say Uncle doesn\'t trust Grandpa." She turned her attention to the window. "What Sunny doesn\'t trust are the people that fill the night council. They bullied the sleeping grandpa, and now, they will bully my handsome grandpa. Sunny will not forgive anyone who torments her family. That is the rule of our family."