A quiet evening

The evening settled in gently, the soft hum of the night making everything feel still and peaceful. Dinner had been delicious, the food prepared by the maids, and Emily had felt a warmth fill her as they ate together. Viktor’s presence was commanding, yet there was a tenderness in his eyes when he looked at her. Emily found herself growing more comfortable in the strange, new world she had entered, even as the reality of her situation continued to hover in the background.

Once dinner was finished, Viktor excused himself, leaving Emily to quietly enjoy the calm of the evening. The house was grand and full of corners she had yet to explore, but for now, the peace of the garden outside called to her. She needed a moment to clear her mind and enjoy the cool, fresh air.

She slipped outside through the back door, her footsteps light on the cool stone pathway. The garden was beautiful, a hidden oasis of flowers in full bloom and delicate plants that had been carefully arranged and tended to. Emily knelt down by a flowerbed, her fingers gently brushing the soft petals of the flowers as she felt a connection to them. The soil felt comforting, grounding her in a world that was still unfamiliar.

As she worked, her hands began to grow muddy, but she didn’t mind. There was something soothing about tending to the flowers, about having this space to herself, far away from the noise of her new life inside the mansion. She took in a deep breath, relishing the serenity of the garden.

Back inside, Viktor had finished showering, his mind still preoccupied with thoughts of Emily. When he entered the living room, he paused for a moment, looking around for her. He frowned when he didn’t see her immediately, a hint of worry creeping into his chest. He called for the maids and bodyguards, his voice sharp and urgent. "Where is Emily?"

The maids and bodyguards scrambled to answer, but there was a sense of unease in the air. Viktor’s eyes darkened as panic started to take hold of him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He rushed down the stairs, his heart pounding in his chest.

As he stepped outside, the cool night air hit him, but it did little to quell his growing anxiety. His mind raced—had something happened to her? Had she tried to escape or gotten hurt? Viktor clenched his fists, his towel slipping slightly from his waist as he ran through the garden, calling her name.

"Emily!" His voice carried through the night, desperation lacing his tone.

The soft sound of her humming finally reached him. His heart eased slightly, though he still felt the pressure of worry pressing on him. He turned the corner of the house and spotted her in the garden, her hands caked in mud as she carefully planted flowers, completely unaware of his frantic search for her.

Viktor’s breath caught in his throat as he approached her, his body tense with the aftershock of panic. Without a word, he rushed forward, his arms sweeping around her, pulling her into his embrace.

"Emily!" His voice was strained, his chest rising and falling quickly with his heavy breaths. "Where did you go? I... I didn’t know where you were. You shouldn’t just wander off like that."

Emily was startled by his sudden appearance, her body stiffening for a moment, but when she recognized him, her body relaxed, and she let out a soft breath. His arms felt like a shield around her, and despite his earlier panic, she could feel the gentleness in his hold.

"I—I’m sorry, Viktor," she said quietly, looking down at her hands, still covered in dirt from the flowers. "I just wanted to be outside. It’s... nice out here."

Viktor’s hand gently cupped her chin, lifting her face to look at him. His expression softened, though there was still a tinge of concern in his eyes. "If you want to go out, you need to tell me first. You can’t just disappear like that, especially when I don’t know where you are." His voice was low and full of protectiveness, the edge of worry still evident.

Emily nodded, her eyes softening as she looked up at him. "I didn’t mean to worry you. I’m sorry."

Viktor sighed, his grip loosening but still holding her gently. "It’s alright, my dear," he said, his voice shifting to something more tender. "But promise me you won’t do it again without telling me, okay?"

Emily smiled softly, a small blush coloring her cheeks at the term of endearment. "I promise."

Viktor leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to the space between her eyes, his lips lingering for a moment before he pulled back. "Let’s go inside now. It’s getting late."

With a gentle tug, he led her inside, his strong hand resting on the small of her back as they walked through the grand halls of the mansion. When they entered the living room, Viktor led her to a hallway she hadn’t noticed before, one that was lined with bookshelves and large windows. He opened a door to reveal a spacious, quiet room, filled with even more books.

"This is my private library," he said, his voice low and inviting. "You can come in here anytime you want to read. I know it’s not much, but it’s one of the few places in this house where I can escape to silence."

Emily’s eyes lit up at the sight of all the books. "It’s beautiful," she whispered, her fingers trailing along the spines of the books, feeling the smooth leather and textured pages. She was an avid reader, but the orphanage didn’t have many books, so she hadn’t been able to indulge her love for reading. To be surrounded by so many books was like a dream come true.

Viktor watched her with a soft smile, though his expression remained somewhat unreadable. "Feel free to read as much as you like," he said. "I’ll be working for a while, but you’re free to stay here."

Emily turned to him, her excitement palpable as she picked up a book from the shelf. "Thank you," she said, her voice full of sincerity. She opened the book, her eyes scanning the first few lines with growing eagerness.

As Viktor settled down at his desk, papers and files spread out before him, he glanced over at her occasionally. His gaze softened every time he saw her, her small smile as she read tugging at something deep inside of him. He didn’t waste a moment.

Getting up from his desk, he walked over to her, a look of determination in his eyes. He didn’t say a word, only gently lifted her from the chair and placed her on his lap, his strong arms wrapping around her waist as she sat there, her back pressed to his chest. Emily gasped slightly, feeling the heat of his body so close to hers, but she didn’t protest. It felt safe, comfortable, in a way she couldn’t explain.

"Read to me," Viktor murmured softly, his voice a quiet command. "I want to hear your voice."

Emily blinked, her heart racing as she held the book in her hands, unsure of what to do. But when she felt the warmth of his body against hers, the comfort of his embrace, she found herself doing as he asked, her voice trembling slightly at first but growing steadier as she read aloud the words from the page.

Viktor listened quietly, his gaze fixed on her, his chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm. And for that moment, everything else in the world faded away. It was just them—quiet, simple, and strangely intimate.