The Ventriloquist of Emptiness, His Angelic Knight (BL)

Kaiser wakes up, the feeling of a cool wet cloth of his head and a soft blanket sitting on his lap.

Kaiser slowly sits up, still feeling his muscles tense and shiver, but he summons enough strength to turn his head, seeing Victor read through and sign more documents on his desk.

"How do you feel?" Victor asked, not looking up from his task. Kaiser blinks, clearing his throat as he watches Victor's effortlessly continue his task, taking a second to lift his teacup to his lips and sip his tea.

"Much better, My Master." Kaiser said, his shimmering eyes still focus on Victor. "Have you rested at all?"

"You have a horrid habit of worrying about others and not yourself." Victor said. "I function just fine without one."

"If I only worry about myself," Kaiser said, a playful tone to his voice, "Who will worry about My Master?"

Victor jolts up, his wide eyes meeting Kaiser's warm ones, and Victor lets out a shaky breath, hurriedly forcing his eyes back to his task, but feeling his cheeks burn without his control.

"I needn't anyone's worry or thoughts." Victor mumbles, yet his heart quickens its hammering in his chest.

"Master is wise and strong." Kaiser said, "But I cannot help but worry. Maybe it's because of my sibling."

Victor is never a man who enjoys small talk or conversations, but it's something about Kaiser that draws him in, forces him out of his secluded shell and into a realm where he feels most comfortable in his presence, with his kind smile on his handsome face, his green eyes that shimmer with adoration for a man who's suppose to be his abuser and master; who's suppose to hate Kaiser with all his being, yet cannot bring himself to.

"You mentioned you have one." Victor said. "A brother?"

"Yes! He's my older brother." Kaiser said, his voice warm. "Although sometimes he may be misunderstood, I love him as much as my heart can."

Victor nods, clearing his throat, a hint of flares of jealous hit him, which surprised him, than annoys him, confusing him in so many ways.

"Koven and I are mutual." Victor said. "Not exactly close, but there's enough respect. Maybe it's because of the throne my father seems to gift me and not him."

"Is that something you want?" Kaiser said. "The throne?"

Victor shrugs, flipping through another page and signing it.

"It doesn't matter necessarily what I want." Victor said. "It matters what's best."

Kaiser stops, freezing before he smiles at Victor, but this smile is gentle and pained.

"You sound far beyond your years, My Master." Kaiser said. "You're so wise for you age."

"I'm 22," Victor said, arching an eyebrow, "I'm grown enough to know the importance of responsibility. You yourself seem to know of such things, so maybe it does comes with age."

"Well, I heard a lot of 20 year-olds can be a bit immature still," Kaiser said, "I hope I'm less of the status quos when regards to this."

Victor stills, slowly looking up from his papers to stare at Kaiser's face with a daunting expression.

"You're…younger than me?" Victor said, hearing the surprise come from his lips. "Really…?"

Kaiser nods his head, a soft flush of red on his cheeks.

"I didn't mean to keep it a secret or anything, My Master." Kaiser said. "I hope it doesn't bother you."

Victor clears his throat, rubbing the back of his neck as the newfound knowledge fills him with mixed emotions, mostly of surprised, some of a odd sense of protectiveness.

"And Master?" Kaiser said, playing with his hands as he speaks up further. "May I also say another thing?"

Victor nods, his eyes focused on Kaiser's.

"I understood the notion of responsibility and duty." Kaiser said. "Maybe it's because I'm still a bit younger than My Master, but I'd only wish for sometimes you do things you enjoy to. It's okay to enjoy other things from responsibility, yes?"

Victor stares at Kaiser with wide eyes, gripping the papers in his hands as his next words leave his mouth without him knowing.

"How does one know," Victor said, "when they enjoy something? How do you figure?"

Kaiser blinks, opens his mouth to speak, but then he smiles, looking at Victor with unlimited kindness, something Victor has never been use to, but is beginning to cherish.

"If you allow me during my time serving you," Kaiser said, "We can discover those things together, My Master."

…

"I believe this is the last meal the three of us will have before the king and queen arrive." Koven said, playing with a medium rare piece of steak on his plate. "It's been amusing while it last."

"I'd wish you'd spend time with me and Victor more often." Brielle said. "If you aren't here, it's like drawing a card trying to get him out his office."

"That cannot be, Victor." Koven said, tilting his head over to Victor, who's picking his salty steak, but making no moves to eat it. From the corner of Victor's eye, he noticed Kaiser watch Victor play with his food, a dissatisfied look on his face.

"She is annoying." Victor said. "You're annoying too. Why must you both continue to bother me when I prefer solitude?"

"You see! He's horrible!" Brielle said, a heavy whine to her voice. "He's so cruel! How can I love a man that continues to berate me? Oh Koven, how will I survive this marriage?"

"You still want to do that?" Victor mumbles, playing further with his food. "Marry…?"

There's a cold silence that filled the room, the silence enough to even cause Victor to react, absorbing the surprised face of Koven and nervous face of Brielle.

"Y-you mustn't joke like that, my darling." Brielle said, her voice the softest it's ever been. "We're in love, p-plus it is our duty for the kingdom, right?"

"Love." Victor debates, dropping his fork and abandoning his food. "Duty. Right, that."

There's another wave of silence before Victor rises from his seat, turning his head and beckoning Kaiser to follow behind.

"I'm headed to my study." Victor said. "Good night."

"I will be there momentarily, My Master." Kaise said, bowing his head. "I'd be only a few minutes."