𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐤𝐞'𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓|| 𝐀𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦

The trial had been long and arduous, but Wriothesley had successfully brought back the infamous Tartaglia to the Fortrice of Meropide. As they entered the fortress, Childe's eyes landed on Y/n, and a mischievous smirk tugged at his lips.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Childe sauntered over to where Y/n stood, his gaze lingering on her. "A new face in the fortress? You must be one of Wriothesley's new recruits."

Y/n shifted uncomfortably under Childe's intense gaze, her instincts telling her to be cautious around him. "Yes, I'm Y/n. I've been assigned here to assist Wriothesley," she replied, trying to keep her tone neutral.

Childe chuckled, taking a step closer to her. "You know, you're far too pretty to be stuck in a place like this. How about you and I—"

"Enough, Childe," Wriothesley's voice cut through the air like a whip, his eyes blazing with anger. He stepped between Childe and Y/n, his posture tense. "Quit flirting with my staff you scum. Especially her, this one's mine."

Childe raised an eyebrow, unfazed by Wriothesley's words. "Oh? Is that so? My apologies, I didn't realize she was already claimed." With a smirk, he turned and walked away, leaving Y/n and Wriothesley alone in the hallway.

Y/n let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, grateful for Wriothesley's intervention. She glanced up at him, her eyes meeting his for a brief moment before he turned away, his expression unreadable. 

As Y/n watched Childe walk away, a flurry of emotions stirred within her. She couldn't deny the thrill of Wriothesley's words, the possessive edge in his voice sending a shiver down her spine. She had always thought of him as arrogant and insufferable, but in that moment, she saw a different side of him—one that intrigued her.

Wriothesley, on the other hand, cursed himself for losing his composure in front of Y/n. He knew he had acted impulsively, but he couldn't help the surge of jealousy that had consumed him at the sight of Childe flirting with her. He had never been so protective of his staff, but with Y/n, it was different. He didn't want her anywhere near Tartaglia's cell, not just for her safety, but because he wanted her close to him.

Later that evening, as Y/n prepared to retire to her quarters, she found herself lost in thought. Wriothesley's words echoed in her mind, and she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to their interaction than met the eye. Was it possible that Wriothesley harbored feelings for her? And if so, how did she feel about him?

Meanwhile, Wriothesley paced in his office, his thoughts consumed by Y/n. He knew he had to keep his distance, to maintain a professional demeanor, but he couldn't deny the pull he felt towards her. He made a mental note to speak to Neuvillette about changing Y/n's assignment, ensuring that she would be stationed far away from Tartaglia's cell. He wanted Y/n to himself, and he would do whatever it took to make that happen.

Notes: Ok, so I know that Wriothesley is technically in charge of how things operate in the Fortrice, but pls just go along with the fact that Wriothesley is going to have a "chat" with Neuvillette. I flowed better in that sense. That's all. 

Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed!