The words hung in the air like a blade.

Mira's eyes widened, her grip tightening instinctively around Toby. "Wait—are there bandits? Where are you—" Her voice cracked with genuine fear, memories flooding back. The slap. The mocking laughter. The way those men had looked at her like she was nothing but meat.

Viktor pushed the door open, stepping down onto the dirt path. The cool air hit his face, sharpening his focus.

Inside the carriage, Kaida raised an eyebrow, her red eyes tracking his movements with sharp curiosity. "What does he mean?"

Bella just watched silently, her cat ears twitching as she tried to make sense of the sudden tension.

Mira shifted Toby onto Helena's lap, the older woman accepting the boy with gentle hands. Then Mira moved—scrambling toward the door with a desperation that made her movements clumsy.

"What are you doing? Lord, let's go!" Mira's voice wavered as she climbed down after him, her dress catching on the carriage step before she yanked it free.

She grabbed his arm, her fingers digging into the fabric of his sleeve. "Please, we need to leave. Now."

Viktor turned to face her fully, his expression calm. Too calm.

"I intentionally told Aldrin to take us toward that mountain," he said, his voice steady and matter-of-fact. "I want to deal with those bandits there. I saw one of them—that rat-faced guy hiding among the villagers. He'll bring the rest of them to us soon enough."

Mira's face went pale. Her grip on his arm tightened until her knuckles turned white.

"No," she breathed, shaking her head. "No, no, no—"

Memories crashed over her. The old man's hut burning. The slap across her face. The threat in their eyes. The way they'd touched her, mocked her, made her feel small and worthless.

She threw herself forward, wrapping both arms around Viktor's torso and clinging to him like he was the only solid thing in a tilting world.

"I won't let you go!"

Her voice broke on the words, tears already forming in her eyes. "Please, please don't—"

"We need to deal with those people," Viktor said quietly, his hand coming up to rest on her back.

"No!" Mira's voice cracked into a sob. "I won't leave you—I won't—"

Tears spilled down her cheeks, hot and fast, soaking into Viktor's shirt as she pressed her face against his chest.

Behind them, Kaida stepped down from the carriage with fluid grace, followed by Bella's more hesitant movements. Helena appeared at the door as well, Toby still cradled in her arms.

"No, young master, you cannot go alone," Helena said firmly, her maternal instincts overriding any sense of propriety.

But it was Kaida's voice that cut through the chaos—low, amused, almost mocking.

"It's fine. Let him go."

Everyone froze.

'Haha, go die somewhere, you perverted asshole!'

Mira pulled back just enough to stare at Kaida, her tear-streaked face a mask of disbelief.

Kaida shrugged, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned casually against the carriage.

"Ahem, s-sister... You can't always stop him. He's a man, after all." Her red eyes glinted with something dark and satisfied, like she was enjoying this.

Viktor's mouth twitched. This woman.

She was throwing him straight into hell, and she knew it.

"Um, e-excuse me, I... can accompany him."

The quiet voice came from Bella. She stood there, small and meek, her cat ears flat against her head and her eyes downcast. But there was steel beneath the softness.

Mira blinked, turning toward Bella with wide, desperate eyes. "You... you can?"

Bella nodded, her tail curling nervously around her leg. "Yes, Lady Mira."

Viktor looked at her—really looked at her—and something warm flickered in his chest despite the chaos.

'Oof, my Bella.'

Mira's grip on Viktor loosened slightly as hope sparked in her expression, but it was more a realization that no matter what she did, if Viktor had made up his mind, she couldn't stop him. So rather than standing in his way as a wife, she should support him.

She turned toward Kaida, tears still streaming down her face, but now, in her heart and mind, something else began to form.

"Kaida," Mira said, her voice trembling but determined. "You have to protect him too, then."

Kaida's smirk vanished. Her eyes widened in genuine surprise. "What?"

Mira grabbed Kaida's hand, pressing it between both of hers. Her green eyes—wet, pleading, desperate—locked onto Kaida's face.

"Promise me," Mira whispered. "Promise me you won't let anything happen to him."

Kaida's mouth opened, then closed. She glanced toward Viktor, who was watching her with the most infuriating smirk she'd ever seen.

'You fool,' his expression said. 'You walked right into this.'

He was mocking her. Telling her she'd been an idiot to get out of the carriage and try to set him up. Now she'd have to go too.

Kaida clenched her fist, her jaw tightening.

But then she looked back at Mira—at those green eyes filled with such raw, genuine fear—and something inside her cracked.

"Fine," Kaida muttered, exhaling sharply. She turned her glare toward Viktor. "But I can't guarantee he won't lose a limb or two."

Viktor's smirk widened. He leaned down, his face level with Mira's, and without breaking eye contact with Kaida, he pressed a soft kiss to Mira's right eyelid.

Then her left.

Gentle. Tender. Wiping away her tears with his lips.

"Did you hear that, wife?" Viktor murmured against her skin, his voice low and intimate. "Your sister is promising to take care of me, but I might lose my limbs—like a leg, a hand, or... your 'favorite'."

Mira's breath hitched.

'N-no, not that—!' She turned toward Kaida, her expression shifting from fear to desperate hope, accompanied by a sharp glare as if her priorities were already set and she felt threatened for her antidepressant agent.

Kaida flinched under that gaze. She clicked her tongue, looking away. "Fine! I'll bring him back without any harm. I promise."

Mira's hands tightened around Kaida's. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice breaking with relief. "Thank you, Kaida. Please... take care of him."

Kaida just nodded stiffly, refusing to meet anyone's eyes.

Bella stepped forward, her small hand resting on the hilt of a dagger she'd tucked into her belt. She said nothing, but her presence was clear.

Viktor glanced at Mira one last time. She was still holding Kaida's hand, her eyes red and swollen but filled with trust.

'Darling~' Mira winked.

He realized what she was doing.

Subtly. Just the faintest flicker of her eyelid, hidden behind the tears and desperation.

His brilliant, manipulative wife was setting this whole thing up even while reluctant to let him go.

She was using her panic to force Kaida and Bella into going with him—securing points for him with both women under the guise of protecting him.

Viktor shook his head, a low chuckle escaping him.

He'd grown up hearing in his past world that a wife helps a man claim the throne, but a girlfriend waits to share it.

'Haah, damn this—'

Then he moved.

He grabbed Mira by the waist, pulling her flush against him. His hands slid down, gripping her ass with shameless possession as he yanked her up onto her toes.

"Ah—!" Mira gasped, her eyes going wide.

And then his mouth was on hers.

Hard. Deep. Hungry.

His tongue pushed past her lips, claiming her mouth in a kiss that was anything but chaste. He sucked on her lower lip, his teeth grazing the soft flesh as she moaned into his mouth.

"Mmmph—!"

Her hands fisted in his shirt, her body melting against his as he devoured her.

When he finally pulled back, a thin string of saliva connected their lips. Mira's face was flushed, her breathing ragged, her eyes glazed with lust and surprise.

Viktor leaned in close, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered:

"I promise. I'll definitely bring a gift for you, my wife."

Mira shivered, her nails digging into his chest.

Then Viktor released her, stepping back with that same infuriating smirk.

He turned toward Kaida and Bella, both of whom were staring at him with varying expressions of shock and discomfort.

"Let's go," Viktor said simply.

And without waiting for a response, he started walking toward the mountain pass.

Kaida stood there for a moment, her face burning red, her fists clenched at her sides. 'That perverted bastard.'

Bella's ears were flat against her head, her tail rigid with embarrassment.

But despite everything, they both followed.

Because they'd promised.

And somehow, against all logic, they didn't want to break that promise—not to Mira. Bella was already treated better than she ever expected, and Kaida had just made a promise to Mira.

"What will you do if I flirt with you, Kaida?"

"Your ass will be dead."

"But didn't you promise not to let me die?"

"Tch."

"Haha, so what if I grope—"

To be continued—

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