章節 11: The Knight, The Moon

"So how long were you going to hide that handsome knight of yours?" Brielle asked, taking a sip of her tea, not batting a eyelash, even when Victor flinches when he takes a sip of his tea.

"What nonsense are you spewing now?" Victor said, clearing his throat, eyeing the clock with pleading eyes. After Kaiser came in, this time wearing a lovely dark navy blouse and black slacks that complemented his dark skin completion well and highlighted his handsome feature even more than usual, Brielle came storming in Victor's office, whining about not seeing Kaiser for the past few days. She must have spotted Kaiser on her way in and his way out, and Victor knows Kaiser is a man that stands out to the point where it can be too much, as Kaiser is as handsome and humble as he is kind and serving, which probably means the poor man greeted her on her way in, not knowing he'd be a small piece of ambition for Brielle to note.

"Since when did you need a knight guard?" Brielle asked, eyeing the door Kaiser walked out of. "And since when was I going to find about this?"

"You didn't need to know." Victor said, surprised at how annoyed he sounded. "He isn't your guard, he is mine. End it."

Brielle blinks at Victor in surprise, grumbling as she sips her tea and complains about it being too hot. Shit, Victor could give two fucks at this point, and a small part of him wishes she'd burn her tongue enough to never utter a word to Victor again.

"I wonder who pissed in your tea today." Brielle said. Victor rolls his eyes, barely saying anything else until finally, she leaves.

...

"Have you heard news from Koven?" Victor asked Ron, sweeping his eyes through more documents, rolling his eyes every time he stumbles about a stupid request, and heavily focuses on actual important royal documents to consider.

"Not as of yet, Your Highness." Ron said, letting out a soft sigh as he fixes his sleeves. "I believe you may hear from him soon, seemingly as if-oh, speak of the devil."

There's a loud knock on Victor's window, causing him to turn around and meet face to face with a large, bald eagle. The large bird squawks, cracking its neck to showcase a red string with a small note attached to it.

"He couldn't have sent a magical letter?" Victor mutters, opening the window to reach for the letter, slip it through its string, and close the window behind him, waving off the bird as it squawks once more before flying off. "Why must he complicate the smallest of things?"

"Because he is Koven, Your Highness." Ron said, rolling his eyes, Victor copies the motion.

Victor opens the letter, his eyes skim through it's contents before he lets out a sigh, standing up and throwing his coat onto his shoulders.

"Tell Kaiser when he comes back to meet me in the garden." Victor mutters, his tone iced and even more annoyed than before.

...

When Kaiser arrives to the secluded garden with a large rolling cart in his hands, Victor is already there with his trench coat hanging on his shoulders, a tea cup in one hand, and a stack of papers in the other.

"Greetings, My Master." Kaiser said, smiling at Victor, but Victor barely acknowledges it, focused hazily on his task in front of him. Kaiser sneaks a few glances Victor's way, but he quietly places some dishes on the round table and pours more tea for Victor, who nods his head in thanks.

"I apologize for disobeying orders and making you lunch, My Master." Kaiser said, slowly watching as Victor flinches before he quickly recovers, taking a long sip of tea, "But I...Ron said it would make you feel better."

"I feel fine." Victor snaps, flinching at his own tone, and doding Kaiser's soft gaze. "Why does everyone think I'm in a sour mood today?"

Kaiser doesn't say anything at first, he just watches as Victor sips more of his tea and forcibly focus his eyes on his paper work to avoid Kaiser's eyes, mainly because he knows he's ruder than usual and he feels a bit bad for snapping at Kaiser, which is insane, mainly because Victor has never felt bad about being cold, just as much as he's never felt so surprised to see Kaiser bend down to his knees, taking Victor's hand in his and look up, his soft, kind gaze melting whatever walls Victor forces up in his fit of distasteful moods.

"My dear Master," Kaiser softly said, "Is there something that irks you?"

Victor swallows, hunching his shoulders before he averts his eyes. There is silence between Victor and Kaiser before Victor sights, pinching the bridge of his nose as he speaks.

"My brother, Prince Koven arrives between tonight and the morning." Victor said, feeling Kaiser's rough, callous hands slightly tremor. Victor looks at Kaiser's face with a emotionless expression, but he feels just as nervous as Kaiser looks, and that makes him more nervous because Victor doesn't know why.

"O-Oh, I see." Kaiser said. "W-well, I-I knew I'd have to meet him sooner than later, but I'm surprised it isn't in a cell. That's at least a bit comforting for me."

Kaiser smiles, but Victor clenches his fist, feeling more annoyed and nervous than before.

"What would help to ease your heart, My Master?" Kaiser asked, his soft, kind eyes filling Victor with need, with want, with desire, with something that brews nemonic pleasure and ache, and it confuses Victor as much as it, in some ways, scares him, makes him shiver with greed but still with confusion, and Victor hates it.

"If you run into him," Victor said, swallowing while meeting eye with Kaiser, his ruby eyes wholly eyeing Kaiser's lips. "You will not engage, and you will tell me. That's an order."

"Yes, My Master." Kaiser said, bowing his head. "I will do what you desire."

Victor swallows, attempting to swallow his desires down.