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Meanwhile…

"So that\'s what happened…?" Joaquin nodded after hearing the report about the incident in the Sapphire Palace. Word was fast to travel, and it had only been minutes since the incident ended, but it already reached the crown prince\'s ears.

"Your Highness, you can\'t let the crown princess do what she wants. Although it was no surprise she would pull off something like this, the knights might have second thoughts about your authority," said Hernan, Joaquin\'s aide, while the crown prince was sitting on the armchair in his chancery.

Joaquin was leaning back leisurely, elbow on the armrest, fingers curling. He glanced at Hernan, who stood to the side indifferently.

"I believe I gained my soldier\'s respect that this situation is not enough to strain my reputation," he argued, making Hernan frown and sigh. "As you\'ve mentioned, the knights blatantly refused the crown princess\'s orders. She had all the reason to punish them even if their sentence was far graver than their offense."

"After all, it is their fault that they didn\'t use their heads and fell into her trap," he added in a knowing tone, not showing even the slightest concern. "I am not siding with Circe. All I\'m saying is, at the end of the day, she\'s still my wife and the crown princess of the empire. Our marriage is bound by the Maganti and Haimirich imperial law. Although her actions raised more questions about her birthright, they also made things more confusing. If she was Aries, she wouldn\'t do something as big as this, especially for that dog. She\'d be more discreet."

Joaquin cast Hernan a knowing look, pointing out the obvious. Everything he had said was things his aide was already aware of. All the matters regarding Aries must be taken seriously and they couldn\'t approach it recklessly. She got the Haimirich Empire on her back.

Aries\'s attitude that kept going back and forth also put everyone who was questioning her origins at a dead end. So, with one wrong move, things would go south. The damages would surely be irreparable, and Joaquin couldn\'t risk a war against the Haimirich Empire just yet.

"For now, let her be. If this makes her happy, let her establish her position." The crown prince\'s silver eyes glinted as he tapped his fingers against the armrest lightly. "It\'s even more fun to watch someone fly up high. The higher she flies, the more painful her crash would be."

Hernan pressed his lips into a tight slash as he lowered his head. "I understand, Your Highness."

"For now, we\'ll focus on Ismael." This time, Joaquin\'s eyes darkened as he moved on from the incident in the Sapphire Palace as if it was none of his concern anymore. "Tonight… he will go down."

"Yes. Everyone and everything is prepared for the operations."

Joaquin smirked at the thought of taking out the thorn that had been stuck in his throat for a long time. Little did he know, he wasn\'t the only one who was preparing for something big tonight. Everyone… who had their eyes on the throne, and also those who wanted that same throne razed down to smithereens, took the opportunity for today\'s incident in the inner palace.

<strong>*******</strong>

<strong>[Sapphire Palace]</strong>

"I heard you\'ve eaten well."

Unlike her fierce treatment of everyone, Aries was like an entirely different person as soon as she joined Curtis in the room next to her. Curtis was already bathed and fed; Gertrude made sure he was taken care of while Aries was busy bringing terror to everyone in the palace.

Curtis just lowered his head and his eyes fell on his bandaged hands on his lap. Aries smiled as she stroked his hair gently, raising her head at Gertrude, who was smiling subtly near the settee.

"Gertrude, prepare me outdoor clothes so that I can move around freely." Gertrude\'s brows furrowed at Aries\'s sudden request. "Don\'t let anyone see it."

"Your Highness, are you planning on sneaking outside?" She inquired with worry. "What happened in the inner palace today raises the security of the imperial palace. It\'s reckless, Your Highness."

Aries simply smiled before she set her eyes back to Curtis. "What happened today in the inner palace brought terror to everyone. However, it was an opportunity and a clear message to everyone, Gertrude." She tucked Curtis\'s stray hair behind his ear.

"An important figure that apparently gives balance to power among the royals is about to go down. People need to make a decision tonight, Gertrude. It is either they go down with him, or… shake hands with the person who will rise in power," she continued and paused, smiling at Curtis when he looked at her after holding his hand gently. "What do you think of the people\'s decision, Curtis?"

Curtis blinked but didn\'t answer. Still, Aries nodded in agreement.

"That\'s right. It\'s a split decision." Her smile remained as she leaned back, still holding his hand to give him some warmth in contrast to the tone of her voice. "Some of the people of this important piece will retaliate. However, when a dog is cornered, they tend to resort to stupid violence. That\'s what his enemy wants — for him to commit even the tiniest mistake."

Gertrude pursed her lips while listening to Aries\'s statements. She was a mere maid, tasked with taking care of her master. So, the talks of politics and its complications were something she understood, but at the same time, give her a painful headache. So, listening to Aries and staring at her unbothered demeanor was something that amused her.

No wonder she had Abel wrapped around her hand. Aries, in this sort of mood, was beautiful in a different way. A fatal beauty: fierce, hot, and deadly.

"In the games for the throne, even the slightest mistake can cripple a giant. A step ahead is akin to heaven and hell." Aries let out a shallow breath as she smiled sweetly at Curtis. "Sleep deeply tonight, Curtis. Didn\'t you tell me in the past? That having a harsh option is brutal, but it\'s deadlier if one is unaware of the third one?"

"If one had no option, then create one. Their greed got themselves a bad apple." Her lips stretched as her eyes glinted, patting his cheek gently. "I\'ll see you tomorrow and I will surely bring good news."