Viktor's voice was steady, cutting through Kaida's spiraling thoughts as he could vividly see what was going on in this woman's mind, "Wait... Did you think something else?"

'!'

"N-no... I... that..." Kaida's red eyes blinked rapidly, her brain stalling like a broken wagon wheel. His smirk and that infuriating gaze looking at her through the valley of her cleavage made her instantly tense.

'What... the hell...?'

Her face, already flushed from the chase and the compromising position, turned a deeper shade of crimson. The heat spread from her cheeks down her neck, making her entire body feel like it was on fire.

She scrambled off him, her thighs releasing his neck as she practically threw herself backward onto the damp grass.

Her hands hit the ground first, catching her weight as she put distance between them.

"Y-You—!" The word came out strangled, half-formed. She couldn't even finish the sentence.

Viktor sat up slowly, deliberately, rubbing the side of his neck where her thighs had been clamped.

Red marks were already forming on his skin—her thighs had squeezed harder than she'd realized.

He watched her with an amused expression, his dark eyes glinting with something between curiosity and satisfaction as she covered her face with the back of her hand, breathing hard through her fingers.

'I... I was about to... oh gods...'

Kaida's mind replayed the moment in excruciating detail.

She had been ready to sacrifice herself—to offer her dignity, even if it was just a kiss—but to this perverted bastard.

It was the biggest sacrifice she could make knowing how trashy these noblemen were... even the thought of a kiss was simply as big for her as anything else.

Yet, she chose it.

Simply because she knew Mira would be hurt again by a man.

Daily beatings, domestic violence, and crude comments were too normal for that neighborhood lady whom Kaida considered her elder sister until that brute husband died.

When she should have been living a peaceful life, trying to survive, suddenly Kaida finds Mira again entangled with a trashy nobleman.

To save Mira, who was just the only light in the house where Kaida's grandmother was also going through the same domestic assault that almost cost her life, Kaida could sacrifice anything.

Even if they were not family, to an extent, she even decided to go as far as to kiss this man.

And he just wanted... training?

"Are you alright?" Viktor's tone was genuinely curious, almost innocent, which somehow made it worse.

"SHUT UP!" she screamed through her hands, refusing to look at him. Her voice cracked on the second word.

~Ten Minutes Later~

Kaida sat on a fallen tree log at the edge of the garden, her face still buried in her hands. Her breathing had slowed, but the embarrassment clung to her like a second skin.

Viktor was running laps around the small clearing, his shirt flapping open with each stride. He wasn't running for escape this time—he was warming up, stretching his muscles.

He paused mid-run, pressing his hand against his ribs. His fingers traced the spot where, just yesterday, two dagger strikes had pierced his flesh—one to his front rib, one to his back—when he'd thrown himself in front of Mira during the attack.

Nothing.

Not even a scar remained, showing the efficiency of his treatment that was mixed with the abilities he had gotten from both of his hot wives.

He picked up a wooden piece from the ground, a simple piece trying to use it as a sword. He held it up, testing the weight, then brought it down in a clean arc, stretching his back as he did so.

The movement was fluid. Graceful. Like a dance but useless as he felt his ability not activating.

He glanced over at Kaida, who was still covering her face. "Master, are you going to train me?"

"DON'T CALL ME MASTER!" she snapped, her hands dropping as she glared at him with those fierce red eyes.

Viktor grinned. "Yes, Master."

She clenched her jaw, her hand twitching toward the dagger on her thigh.

He moved toward a rack of old wooden training swords he had built in his free time, lifting one and giving it a few experimental swings.

Naturally, as he did, his Sword Dance ability didn't activate.

He could feel the skill there, dormant, waiting—the hundred-times-stronger sword technique he had gained from the experience with Mira—but since there was no real sword in his hand, the ability remained locked.

He blinked, then looked toward Kaida. "Do you have a real sword?"

She looked up, confused. "What? What will you do with a real sword?"

"Please, come on, Master."

"I SAID DON'T CALL ME THAT!" she yelled, but even as she protested, she reached into the air beside her.

A faint shimmer of light appeared, and from it, she pulled out a real steel sword—a beautifully crafted blade with a slightly curved edge, perfect for slashing and thrusting.

Viktor's eyes widened. "Whoa, you have something like that?"

Kaida tossed the sword to him, and he caught it by the hilt. "Of course I have. I'm one of the squadron leaders within the royal family. They give each of us such rings made out of mettle element."

"Mettle element..." Viktor repeated, turning the sword over in his hands. His expression, which had been playful and teasing just moments before, suddenly shifted.

He looked at her.

Really looked at her.

Not with lust or hunger, but with genuine admiration.

Her whole image had instantly elevated in his eyes. She wasn't just a guard. She was a 'squadron leader'.

She was not from a noble background and given this village state, it was hardly even considered fit for commoners, so technically it was commendable for a woman to rise.

A position earned through skill, not nepotism. Even if it was a small team, even if it didn't matter to the kingdom, she had clawed her way.

He couldn't imagine what she could achieve if she were from some noble family or had resources.

It made him greedy.

Greedy to have her. Greedy to absorb those abilities. Greedy to love her.

It was strange, but he felt empathetic toward her.

He breathed deeply, then said, "Given you're in this village, you must be in the fifty to sixty squadrons, right?"

Kaida's expression faltered. "...At least you know."

She watched as he lifted the sword, testing its balance. Then, without warning, he threw it into the air.

Her eyes widened.

He caught it mid-spin, the blade rotating perfectly in his hand before settling into a proper grip. He moved—fluid, elegant, precise—using the sword like an extension of his body.

"Is that... swordsmanship?" Kaida whispered, her red eyes reflecting the glint of steel.

Viktor chuckled, bringing the blade down in a clean arc. "Yeah. You thought I was dancing?"

She clenched her jaw, her face flushing again. "Don't mess with me, you trashy bastard. I'm just helping you so that you can fulfill your promise and leave Mira alone."

Viktor stopped. He turned to face her fully, then placed his hand over his chest and gave a deep, professional bow—like a butler addressing royalty. "As you say, my queen."

Kaida folded her arms, bunching up her shoulders as she averted her gaze. "Whatever."

But she was seeing him in a new light. She had thought he was just a lazy nobleman, content to eat and have his way through life. But he knew swordsmanship. Real swordsmanship.

Her eyes took small peeks in his direction as she breathed. Seeing him holding the sword, moving with that fluid grace... it felt good. At least she wouldn't have to teach him from zero.

Viktor secured the sheath to his waist, the sword resting comfortably at his hip. He turned toward the manor, then looked back at Kaida. "So, should we go to the town?"

She shook her head immediately. "That's not what we talked about."

But Viktor moved quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling her to her feet. "Come on, Kaida. Aren't you going to be by my side until you're satisfied?"

She wanted to protest, but her jaw clenched. She looked toward the manor, then back at his broad shoulders as he walked ahead of her.

She muttered, her voice softer, almost caring, "What if that slave attacks someone at home?"

Viktor halted mid-step.

He turned toward her, his expression unreadable. "Now that you mention it..."

He looked back at the manor, his eyes narrowing slightly. Genuinely, without letting his emotions cloud his reasoning, he muttered, "It would be risky."

He changed direction, heading back toward the manor.

Kaida exhaled in relief. "Finally. Now at least we don't have to go to the town—"

"I'll take all of them."

She blinked. "What?"

Viktor glanced over his shoulder, grinning. "Let's do some shopping. All of us. Mira, Helena, Bella. We'll make a day of it."

"—!?"

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