Heidi's eyes widened in shock as the tea cup hit the ground, she hadn't realized when it slipped off her hands. Heidi's instincts as a slave kicked in, and she swiftly bent to pick up the shattered tea cup, her hands moving on autopilot. But as she reached for a sharp fragment, she felt a stinging pain and saw blood welling up from a cut on her finger.
Niyassa's sharp gaze fell on the cut in Heidi's finger. "Good lord! You've cut yourself." She said, her voice filled with mock sympathy. She didn't really like Heidi as she had caught sight of her dancing with Viktor who had earlier rejected her.
"Are you okay?" Amara asked, a little worried.
Heidi felt the pain of the cut shoot through from her fingers to her senses. "It's fine, I'll just pick the pieces up." She said, trying to keep a smile on her face despite the pain from the cut.
Gazelle's voice cut through the moment, firm but not unkind. "Leave it, Lady Adelheid. The maids will clean it up."
Heidi hesitated, still crouched beside the broken glass, but Gazelle's words reminded her of her place. She wasn't a slave here, at least not openly. She slowly rose to her feet, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to stem the bleeding.
"I'll...I'll just go clean my hands," Heidi stammered, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks.
Amara's gaze lingered on her, a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, but Gazelle nodded graciously. "Yes, do take care of yourself, Lady Adelheid. We wouldn't want you to injure yourself further."
As Heidi turned to leave, Viktor's eyes met hers, his head slightly tilted in question. Heidi felt even worse, knowing that Viktor had seen what happened. She quickly looked away, not wanting to attract more attention, and walked out from there.
Viktor's gaze followed her until she disappeared in the crowd. "How clumsy." He muttered under his breath. His gaze drifted back to the tea cup in his hands, placing it on the table with a subtle clink.
"Tell me, brother, what does a battlefield look like?" Wilson asked, his eyes wide with excitement. "I'd love to be a commander just like you!"
Viktor's lips pulled into a sidelong smile, his voice taking on a hint of morbid fascination. "It's really fascinating, Wil. Tearing flesh from bones and severing heads from irritating necks." He paused, his eyes glinting with a dark intensity. "Not to mention the feel of the enemy's blood on your hands... Truly exhilarating."
Genevieve and Vivian, seated on the same table, felt their jaws drop in unison. The other guests who sat around were also taken aback by his words.
Vivian recovered first, her voice laced with concern. "You shouldn't say that to a little boy, Viktor." She glanced at Wilson, who looked both captivated and unsettled by Viktor's words.
A low chuckle escaped Viktor's lips as he leaned back in his chair. "Why not, Lady Vivian? I'm sure it's something Wilson would come to love, as much as I do." His gaze drifted back to Wilson, who looked up at him with a mix of trepidation and admiration. "Right?"
Wilson swallowed hard, his eyes darting between Viktor and Genevieve. "I'm not sure I want to sever heads right now. But I'll think about it."
Viktor offered him a warm, reassuring smile. "Of course, Wil. We'll go through the basics when you're ready." His gaze lingered on Wilson, then shifted to Genevieve, his expression turning glacial.
Genevieve raised an eyebrow, her voice laced with malice. "You shouldn't associate with cursed people, Wil."
A low, husky chuckle escaped Viktor's lips, his eyes glinting with amusement. "That's right," he spoke, his voice dripping with sweetness. "Especially those cursed with lagging senses. I'm afraid they'll make you dull."
Genevieve's face flushed, a nerve twitching in her temple as she shot Viktor a venomous glance. "And what would that mean, Viktor?" she asked, her voice trembling with restrained anger.
Viktor's smile grew wider, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "Oh, merely that some people's perceptions are... limited. But I'm sure you wouldn't know anything about that, dearest stepmother."
Vivian, sensing the escalating tension, clapped her hands together. "Ah, speaking of which, Lady Genevieve, I heard you're hosting a tournament tomorrow?"
Genevieve's expression brightened, her eyes sparkling with interest. "Yes, Lady Vivian. It promises to be an exciting event."
Vivian nodded thoughtfully. "I'm sure the knights are eager to participate."
Genevieve's gaze drifted to Viktor, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Oh, I think we can do better than just the knights. After all, we have the infamous Commander Viktor right here."
Vivian's confusion was evident. "What do you mean, Lady Genevieve?"
Genevieve's smile grew wider, her voice dripping with malice. "I'm suggesting that Viktor participate in the tournament. It would be a wonderful opportunity for him to demonstrate his... unique skills to the people." Her eyes locked onto Viktor, challenging him. "Don't you agree, Commander?"
Viktor smiled slyly, taking a sip from his tea before placing it back on the table. "How could I decline your request, Lady Genevieve? That would be extremely ill-mannered. I look forward to the tournament."
Genevieve clapped her hands in excitement, her eyes shining with anticipation. "That's great! I was going to tell you your opponent by morning, but I just can't hold myself back." She paused for dramatic effect, her smile growing wider. "Markus, he accepted the offer without hesitation."
Viktor's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he set his tea down. He knew Genevieve's tactics all too well, and this move didn't surprise him.
Vivian's eyes widened, her voice tinged with concern. "A duel between the princes? Lady Genevieve, are you certain this is wise?"
Genevieve's smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. "Oh, Vivian, don't worry. It's just a friendly match. Besides, I'm sure the guests will be thrilled to see our princes in action."
Viktor yawned, as if bored by the conversation. "All this long talk must be making me sleepy. If you'd excuse me, I'll take a short walk." He said, standing up from his chair. He offered them a bow before walking out.
As he Walked along the garden floors, he felt familiar footsteps walk up close to him. He turned slightly to see Levi who followed him closely.
"Did you find out anything, Levi." He asked, his gaze fixed forward as he walked.
"Nothing relevant, milord. Only that lady Genevieve intends for you to duel with Markus tomorrow." Levi replied, his blue eyes closely watching Viktor.
Viktor smiled, "I'm aware of that Levi, it will be quite spectacular." Viktor said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Levi was not in the least worried about the tournament. He knew that even though Markus had his essence to back him up, he was still no match for Viktor. He only hoped Viktor would not go all in while fighting, cause he doubted Markus would survive it.
"You may leave now, Levi." Viktor said, his tone low and dismissive.
Levi hesitated, he wanted to stay beside Viktor and protect him for as long as he could. But then, he thought with a smile, Viktor didn't really require protection.
"Yes, milord." He bowed, and left, leaving Viktor alone.
As viktor turned a corner in the garden, he spotted Heidi sitting on a bench, her fingers wrapped in a handkerchief. she was staring at her injured finger with a mixture of frustration and concern. viktor's eyes lit in amusement as he approached her.
"Ah, lady Adelheid, I see you've managed to injure yourself. How....quaint." He said, a small smile playing on his lips.
Heidi's gaze drifted towards Viktor, her eyes narrowing slightly as he approached her. She hadn't noticed him walk towards her, and his sudden presence made her feel uneasy. "It's just a small cut," she whispered, her gaze falling on her gown as she tried to downplay the injury.
Viktor's eyes regarded her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he hummed a low, husky sound that sent a shiver down Heidi's spine. It wasn't quite a laugh, but it wasn't concern either. It was something in between, something that made Heidi's nerves prickle with unease.
Before she could react, Viktor sat down beside her, his movements fluid and graceful. Heidi's heart skipped a beat as he reached out and gently took her injured hand from her lap. His fingers brushed against hers, sending a spark of electricity through her body.
Heidi's jaws dropped as Viktor's gaze lingered on her injured finger. She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it firm, his grip surprisingly gentle. "I'll take a look," he said, his voice low and smooth.
Heidi's pulse raced as Viktor's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze burning with an intensity that made her feel like he could see right through her. She tried to look away, but couldn't, trapped by the piercing depths of his eyes.