The sound was low, almost affectionate, vibrating through his chest into hers.
Then he leaned down and pressed a small, soft kiss to her forehead.
Mira's entire body went still.
Her mind blanked.
'What...?'
"I'm sorry," Viktor murmured, his lips still close to her skin, "for what Helena told you."
Her breath hitched behind his palm.
"It's the first time she's ever acted like that."
Mira blinked, confusion flooding her along with everything else.
Helena's harsh words from earlier—'know your boundaries, you're not suited to stand beside a nobleman'—suddenly made sense. She'd been 'jealous'. And now Viktor was... apologizing?
Slowly, carefully, Viktor removed his hand from her mouth.
Mira gasped, sucking in air, her lips trembling. She turned her face away, unable to meet his eyes, cheeks burning with embarrassment.
"It's... it's fine, Young Lord," she whispered, her voice barely audible. She gave a small, shaky nod. "I understand."
