Instead, he reached down and grabbed the white sheet that had been tangled at the foot of the bed. Slowly, carefully, he pulled it up over both of them, draping it across their bodies like a veil.

Kaida's mouth parted in confusion. "What are you—"

"Shh," Viktor murmured, settling himself beside her rather than on top of her.

The sheet covered them both now, cocooning them in warmth. And beneath it, Kaida was still fully clothed—her tunic, her skirt, even her boots still on.

He hadn't removed a single piece of fabric.

Viktor shifted closer, his body pressing against hers from the side. His arm slid beneath her head, cradling it like a pillow, while his other hand moved to her hair.

His fingers combed through the red strands slowly, gently, as if she were something fragile.

Kaida's breath hitched.

"W-what are you doing?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Viktor leaned in, his face close enough that she could feel his breath against her lips. His dark eyes met hers, and for the first time since she'd met him, there was no teasing in them. No arrogance. No games.

Just warmth.

"I want to love you," he said softly, his voice barely above a murmur. "Let's take it slow... like real lovers, my master."

"Haah..."

Something snapped inside Kaida.

The transition—from watching him become a beast earlier, pounding into Mira like an animal, to this soft, tender version of him now—short-circuited something in her brain that had been prepared to fight a war on this bed.

But there was no war.

Just him, lying beside her, his fingers running through her hair, his warmth seeping into her skin through the thin fabric of her clothes.

Her face turned toward his chest, burying itself against the softness there as her lips trembled uncontrollably. Her hands, which had been stiff and defensive, slowly relaxed and curled against his side.

She heard him settling in, his breathing evening out as if he was about to drift off to sleep.

Her eyes closed.

For a long moment, she just lay there, feeling the rise and fall of his chest beneath her cheek, the steady thump of his heartbeat in her ear.

It was... warm.

Safe.

Confusing.

Her voice came out muffled against his chest, cracked and raw with emotions she didn't know how to name.

"I-I already told you, don't call me that... V-Viktor."

Viktor's chest rumbled with a quiet laugh, the sound vibrating through her entire body.

"Haha," he murmured, his hand still stroking her hair gently. "As you say, my lady."

Time passed in that warm, quiet cocoon of sheets and candlelight.

Kaida wasn't sure how long they lay there—minutes, maybe an hour. Her mind had gone strangely blank, lulled by the steady rhythm of Viktor's breathing and the gentle stroking of his fingers through her hair.

She'd expected him to pounce. Expected those hands to start wandering, expected that cock she'd seen throbbing earlier to press against her, demanding entry.

But none of that happened.

He just... held her.

Like she was something precious.

Her eyes had drifted closed at some point, her body relaxing into his warmth despite every instinct screaming that she shouldn't trust this, shouldn't let her guard down.

But she was so tired.

Tired of being tense. Tired of fighting. Tired of pretending she wasn't confused by this perverted bastard who somehow made her feel safe and terrified at the same time.

Just as her breathing began to even out, just as sleep started to pull her under—

Knock knock knock

Kaida's eyes snapped open.

Viktor stirred beside her, his arm tightening slightly around her before he blinked slowly, his dark eyes focusing on the door.

"Young Master Viktor?" A meek voice came from the other side, trembling slightly. "Lady Mira is calling... for dinner. The food is ready."

Bella.

Kaida recognized the voice immediately—the young slave girl with those striking yellow eyes who always seemed one breath away from crying.

Viktor sighed, a long exhale that ruffled Kaida's hair where it lay against his chest. "Understood," he called out, his voice still rough with whatever emotion had been between them moments ago. "We'll be down shortly."

There was a pause, then the sound of hurried footsteps retreating down the hallway.

Viktor slowly sat up, the sheet sliding down his torso as he stretched his arms above his head. The candlelight caught on the soft curves of his body, the gentle swell of his belly, the way his muscles moved beneath that unmarred skin.

Kaida remained lying there for a moment, staring up at him as he stood and moved toward where his clothes had been discarded earlier.

As he moved, Viktor couldn't help but smirk slightly.

'So Mira sent Bella,' he thought, amusement flickering through his mind. 'She really is going to become my harem manager, isn't she?'

The realization should have surprised him, but it didn't. Mira was far too calculating, far too observant not to have figured out exactly what role she wanted to play in this strange arrangement they were building.

And honestly? He didn't mind.

Kaida slowly pushed herself up, her face flushed as she watched Viktor pull the towel around his waist. Her hands moved to smooth down her tunic, which had gotten wrinkled from lying against him.

"At least wear some clothes," she muttered, her voice still soft—too soft.

Viktor paused, turning to look at her with raised eyebrows. A grin spread across his face.

"Hey," he said, genuine surprise coloring his tone. "Aren't you going to yell at me?"

Kaida's eyes widened slightly before she glared at him, her lips pressing together. She bit her lower lip, clicked her tongue sharply, and turned her gaze away, folding her arms across her chest as she stood and walked toward the door.

Viktor chuckled, securing the towel around his waist before following her.

As they reached the door, Kaida tried to protest again. "You can't just—"

"Come on," Viktor interrupted, his tone playful as he reached for the door handle. "Aren't we going to do it?"

Kaida trembled, her head snapping toward him. "What?"

Her red eyes were wide, confused.

"But didn't you say—" she started, her voice rising slightly in panic.

Viktor chuckled, opening the door as he glanced back at her over his shoulder. "Did you really think I was going to just sleep like that?" His grin widened, mischievous and entirely shameless. "After getting all aroused and not letting myself finish?"

Kaida's mouth twitched. Her hands clenched at her sides as she muttered under her breath, "You pervert..."

But Viktor had already opened the door.

Bella stood there, her face completely flushed, her yellow eyes wide and trembling as they darted between Viktor's half-naked form and Kaida standing behind him.

Her pale skin had gone even paler, if that was possible, and her hands were clasped tightly in front of her chest as if trying to hold herself together.

"I-I didn't mean to come on my own!" Bella stammered, her words tumbling over each other in a rush. "It was Lady Mira who sent me! I told her that if I disturbed—"

Her voice broke off, her eyes whitening slightly as panic overwhelmed her.

Viktor moved forward, his expression softening as he reached out and gently patted Bella's head.

"It's fine, Bella," he said, his voice genuinely kind. "You didn't disturb anyone."

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