Viktor's jaws clenched as his gaze remained fixed on the embroidered letters. This could only mean that whoever killed the king was someone he considered a family. This slightly narrowed viktor's options down to the royal family. They were all directly related to the king but that didn't mean it was the royal family. It could be anyone whom the king regarded as a family.
Viktor let out a sigh, feeling a little exhausted as the clue didn't really make the investigation easier. He folded the clothing and placed it in his pocket, his gaze drifting back to the king.
Viktor's gaze shifted to the sound of the door being opened. It fell on Markus who walked into the room, his expression sullen.
Viktor raised his brows, surprised to see Markus. "I wasn't expecting you here." His voice was low and quizzical.
Markus walked towards the glass cubicle, his gaze on the king. "I have come to pay my respects, he was my father after all."
Viktor nodded, his face void of any expression. "Of course. it was getting a bit lonely in here."
Markus traced the glass edges, his gaze lingering on the his father. He had always wanted to prove himself to his father but he was gone now. "He looks so peaceful, he's probably happier wherever he is."
Viktor hummed in agreement, his gaze following Markus's movements.
Markus shifted his gaze back to Viktor, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I don't trust you viktor, you show up after ten years and this happens."
A chuckle escaped viktor's lips, before his expression turned serious. "I don't trust you either, little brother. It's quite funny that you would blame me for this unfortunate incident." His voice was low and sharp.
Markus's brows arched, his gaze locked onto Viktor's. "You have every reason to kill Father... after all, you're the illegitimate son here."
Viktor's smile was laced with amusement, but his eyes flashed with warning. "Humor me, Markus. What could those reasons be?" His tone was low and sharp.
Markus counted off on his fingers, his voice rising. "First, your deep-rooted grudges against the king concerning your slave mother. You also know the throne can never be yours, since your essence is dormant—"
Viktor's expression darkened, his jaw ticking. "And?" he prompted, his voice low and menacing.
Markus's eyes sparkled with malice. "—and because you were born out of the legs of a whore."
Viktor's eyes flashed with anger, but his voice remained controlled. "You can accuse me all you want, Markus. But if you say one more word about my mother, I won't hold back anymore."
Markus's smile grew, pleased that he'd struck a nerve. "Then you do admit that I'm right?"
Viktor clicked his tongue in disapproval. "You can think whatever you wish, Markie. Your opinions don't exactly matter to me, but I'm sure you are aware of that."
Markus felt a nerve pop up in his head, "do not call me that." He said, his fist clenching at the word. It was a name he had long forgotten, one that viktor used to address him by as kids. But they weren't kids now, neither were they friends.
Viktor raised an eyebrow, his smile taunting. "Why? I'm sure most brothers give themselves pet names. I don't mind getting one from you, Markie."
Markus felt his anger rise even more at Viktor's taunting response. He felt even more irked by the smile on viktor's lips.
Viktor stepped close to Markus, patting him on the shoulder. "I'll leave now, and let you talk with him. Be careful on your way back, you never know what lurks around."
Markus's fists clenched even more, angrier that Viktor was showing concern towards him. What made him even more upset was that he knew that viktor was being sincere.
"I can take care of myself, I'm not a child." He mumbled, his gaze drifting to the designs on the walls.
Viktor nodded, "good to know, I'll see you tomorrow then, Markie." Offering Markus a small smile, he walked out of the room.
The smile on viktor's face melted away as he walked down the dark corridor. He let out a small sigh as his mind went back to the embroidered letters. His thoughts drifted back to Markus, who was obviously family to the late king.
Viktor knew that Markus wasn't entirely a clean person, but he also knew that Markus would never kill the king. Then who was it? He wondered to himself.
Viktor's thoughts were momentarily distracted, by the sight of those troublesome ginger brown hair. His eyes narrowed as he watched her stand at the corner of the corridor, peeping into the next corridor.
His gaze moved down to her hands which held a small pile of bedsheets. "Interesting, isn't it? Spying at the middle of the night."
Heidi's eyes widened in surprise at the sound of viktor's voice, the bedsheets almost dropping from her hands. She slowly turned to face him, her gaze lowering along with her movements.
Her grip on the bedsheets tightened, feeling his piercing gaze on her. "I-I thought I heard strange sounds coming from the other corridor."
Viktor's voice was taunting, as he closed the distance between them. "Ah! You've become quite the little investigator, Heidi."
Heidi stepped back from viktor, sighing in disappointment as her back hit against the cold wall. "I only wanted to take these sheets back to be washed."
Viktor raised a brow, closing up the distance with one stride. "Stop trying to create a distance between us, Heidi. You should know by now that I'll always close whatever distance you make." He paused, his gaze tracing her features before he said;
"Although I quite enjoy the cat and mouse game, you seem to love playing."
Heidi raised her gaze to meet his copper green eyes, which stared back at her. The only light available was the one offered by the torches at the side of the walls. His eyes glowed in the light, making Heidi feel the intensity of his gaze even more.
"C-cat and mouse?" Heidi asked, her voice barely audible.
Viktor hummed, a subtle smile spreading across his lips. "Yes Heidi, and I don't plan to let this mouse out of sight."
Heidi bit on her lips, unsure of how to feel after being likened to a mouse. Viktor's sense of humor was quite different from what most people considered normal.
Viktor's gaze darkened as it fell on her full lips she nibbled at. It looked really luscious and inviting. Viktor found himself wondering how they would feel on his fingers.
He placed his hand on the wall beside her head, trapping her under him. "Don't bite on them." He said, pushing his thoughts aside.
Heidi's tongue slightly peeked out of her mouth, wetting her lips before disappearing into her mouth. "W-what---"
She couldn't finish her statement, as she was suddenly interrupted by the feel of viktor's free hand on her face. His thumb slowly moved, resting on her lower lips.
Viktor traced her lower lip, feeling the softness underneath his finger. It was extremely smooth, making him wonder what it would taste like. His finger moved to her upper lips, his gaze fixated on her brown eyes which had widened in surprise.
Heidi's cheeks flushed a deep crimson, feeling viktor's finger on her lips. Did she say something wrong? She wondered to herself. She felt even more embarrassed as viktor's eyes never left hers.
She was about to say something when Viktor retracted his finger from her lips. He stepped back from her, his eyes flickering with an emotion Heidi couldn't describe.
"You should return to your quarters, it's dangerous walking around by this time of the night." Viktor said, his expression returning to the usual void one. He had not realized when his fingers had gone to her lips earlier.
Heidi managed to nod, still feeling the lingering feel of his thumb on her lips. "Y-yes milord, I'd leave now."
She offered a bow, her nails threatening to tear into the bedsheets as she walked away from him.