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Days later...

It was true that a wise and compassionate king with his warm heart influenced his people to govern the fallen Rikhill with mercy. However, that didn\'t mean people born with insatiable greed didn\'t exist even in such a place. One of the downfalls of the kingdom of green was that those people with little power connived with the crown prince of the Maganti Empire.

They sold their land, their people\'s lives, and everything just for power and a little bit of wealth. Tragic how evil seemed to always prevail, but… karma existed for a reason. Karma was neither good nor bad. It simply served you the same tea, albeit cold.

"Your Highness, Countess Lloyd had arrived."

Aries fluttered her eyelashes as she carefully put down the tea back on the saucer. It was the first day of her in her office as the crown princess, so her lady-in-waiting arrived right on time. As expected from Joaquin\'s power.

"Let her in." Aries waved as she leaned back on the divan, propping her elbow over the armrest with her curled hand up. As ordered by the crown princess, the doors opened carefully and soon the sound of light footsteps caressed her ears.

Countess Lloyd, the wife of the Earl of Carballo, Oscar Lloyd. She used to go by the name Cherry Borges, a daughter of a baron in Rikhill. Although she came from a lower noble house, because the king acknowledged the House Borges for their contribution to the empire, especially in commerce, she became Aries\'s acquaintance.

Acquittance… turned to friends and also her third brother\'s lover. If only Aries knew that this young lady and her damned family were people whose greed could reach the depths of hell, she would\'ve slain them when she had a chance.

There was no point in dwelling in the past, though. She could settle the score with them now, anyway.

"I pay my respect to the crown princess of the empire," greeted the woman, whose locks were the color of a plum. "I am honored to be in your presence."

"Raise your head, Countess Lloyd."

Cherry\'s back stiffened at hearing a familiar voice, but she managed to control it well as she raised her head. No matter how good she was in keeping her composure, the second she locked eyes with those pair of opalescent eyes, her breath hitched as her eyes slightly went round.

"I am pleased that you had accepted my request to be my lady-in-waiting…" Aries expressed kindly, sporting a friendly smile, ignoring the strange look in the countess\'s eyes. "Why don\'t you… Countess? Is there something wrong with my face? You\'re looking at me as if you\'re looking at a ghost… or was it my beauty again?"

"Uh, apologies, Your Highness." Cherry cleared her throat as she tilted her head down once again.

Aries chuckled and waved. "It\'s alright. I understand you went straight to meet me after your arduous journey to the palace. Why don\'t you take a seat and enjoy some tea I brewed myself?" she motioned her hand towards the chair across her.

"It is better to get to know each other since… you\'ll be serving me from now on." She stressed her latter sentence, establishing their relationship without sounding too overbearing.

"Well, it is my honor."

Aries watched Cherry take the armchair across from her. She was hundred percent certain Joaquin briefed Cherry about Aries\'s resemblance to the person they called <strong>\'that woman.\'</strong> However, it was understandable that Cherry was still surprised because who wouldn\'t?

Cherry had seen Aries in that pathetic state multiple times and each time their eyes met back then, the former would always sneer at her. A triumphant sneer as if telling Aries she was now above her and Aries was nothing anymore. So, for them to meet again with Aries as Daniella Circe Vandran and the crown princess, it would surely throw this woman off.

"I was also surprised when I heard you had arrived in the capital. Hence, to show my sincerity, I thought of brewing you tea personally," Aries spoke as she poured the empty cup some tea. When she slid the saucer with the cup on it, she raised her head and smiled.

"I hope you will like it."

Cherry cleared her throat faintly as she forced a smile onto her face. "Thank you, Your Highness." She then reached for the teacup, only to stop midway when she noticed that Aries was watching her reach for the cup.

"Yes?" Aries tilted her head to the side when their eyes locked with each other once again. "Are you, perhaps, thinking it is poisoned?"

"Of course not, Your Highness," came out an awkward denial, but still hesitant to drink the tea Aries prepared. It was just their first meeting, but the sense of dread filling Cherry\'s heart thickened by the second.

Just like everybody else who had seen Aries\'s face for the first time, she was wary. She knew what she did to that face, and also how Aries could be merciless to those who were proven guilty of a crime. A poison that would instantly kill her wouldn\'t be impossible, but then again, everyone in this palace wronged her.

Cherry was smart, although the presence of the woman sitting across from her was enough to make her blood run cold.

"Then, drink." Aries urged in a soothing tone, keeping her warm smile. "It will help you ease your fatigue. I personally brewed it to make you relax."

\'Make me relax…?\' Cherry\'s fingers hovering near the tea handle, trembled. \'Did she mean to make me relax… permanently? Am I reading too much?\'

Many pros and cons crossed Cherry\'s head, gravitating the chances that the tea was poisoned. When she convinced herself that it was very unlikely that Aries would poison her in this place, Cherry gulped down and held the teacup.

Her hand still trembled. Although she tried to control it, Aries could still see the vibration of the teacup while Cherry guided it to her lips.

Aries\'s eyes glinted for a split second as she smiled amicably.

\'What a sight to behold,\' she thought, enjoying the anxiety dominating Cherry\'s face even though the tea wasn\'t poisoned. \'It\'s too early for you to die, Cherry. I\'ll make you enjoy the life of constantly looking over your shoulder and losing sleep because I will haunt you wherever you go.\'

"It\'s good," Cherry expressed in relief as if a thorn was pluck out of her throat.

Aries picked up the teacup, keeping her smile, eyes fixed on her lady-in-waiting. "I\'m glad you liked it," she said, staring at Cherry over the rim of the cup.

Little did she know, while Aries had started setting up her cobwebs somewhere under the same sky, a particular tyrant was on his way to reward her with thousand kisses.