Tamed || Wriothesley x Reader

Chapter 51

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"I'll kill him."

The desert tavern was pretty much vacant as of now. Though it was a popular stop for tourist, dwellers, erimites, and other groups, it was just you and your fellow friends there late in the hours of the night. It was cooler outside than usual, but that was normal-- whenever the sun was away, only the howling winds of the skies and the light of the moon could occupy the silent darkness.

"So he really framed you?" Dehya sat next to you, downing her third drink from a wooden cup. "Points for creativity, I suppose."

You balled your fist, seething silently as you stared into your own cup. "If I hadn't recognized that damn symbol that those guards wore, I would have done worse than leave them with a few bruises..."

Dehya chuckled wryly, fully believing your statement. "So, where's the ring now?"

"Hidden." You grumbled. "I'm seriously debating pawning it."

"It looks real. You may make a fortune." Dehya nodded, flagging down the bartender for another drink. "But what are you going to do about him?"

Letting out a slow sigh, you pinch the bridge of your nose, trying to drown out the laughter and drunken slurs from your group. "Knowing him, he probably sent those guards right back here. But he doesn't know what he's doing... they're going to get themselves killed out here."

Your words were true, yet again. The desert wasn't kind to outsiders, especially if they claimed to be on the hunt for someone who is well known amongst the sandy hills. But what concerned you the most is that there may be a potential bounty on your head. If the guards were to come back and announce that to anyone, you could easily be betrayed and targeted.

"Laying low, huh?" Dehya commented, examining your expression. "Where did you scuff them up at?"

"Near the Dune of Elusion. I was trying to find those scarabs for a client, but low and behold, three strangers rush up to me, claiming that I'm under arrest for thievery."

"At least it's far out." Dehya replied. "More than likely, if they come back, they'll return to that area."

You nod. "Still, they're the least of my worries. I don't mind tag teaming them or fighting off anyone who tries to help them, I'm just worried about him. Just... why?"

Dehya chuckled, grabbing the refill that the bartender poured her. "He's batshit crazy. Did we not already establish this?"

You groaned. "That's besides the point. It's just... a letter would have sufficed."

"It's been what, three, four, five months? I'm not defending him, but you haven't reached out to him either."

You scowled, shooting a small glare at her. "You try being down in that dark and cold hell for three months. Did you see how pale I was when I came back?"

She chuckled at your retort. "Fair point. But why haven't you wrote? Maybe then he wouldn't have signed off on this little search party for you."

That statement shut you up. You took a violent swig from your cup, trying to ignore and bypass her question. "I'll go when I go."

There was a brief moment of silence between the two of you, saving from the ongoing banter of the group. You tried to bury the stirring emotions within you, keeping your cool facade plastered on your face.

But you knew Dehya could see right through you, and her words proved exactly that.

"You're feeling guilty, aren't you?"

You knew it was coming, but it still hit you like a punch to the gut. Your breathing stopped momentarily, and you stared off into the distance, acknowledging the shame and guilt you tried to suppress.

"...It just feels wrong." You finally said, your tone quieter than before. "I forgot the one thing I was there for..."

She examined you, almost as if she was looking for something. You hated how perceptive she was at times, especially when it involved sensitive topics such as this.

"...How long are you going to keep dwelling in self pity and guilt?" She finally spoke. "You know how it can be resolved."

Your grip around your cup tightens, almost the point where you were going to get splinters from the unpolished texture. "...It's not that. What kind of daughter am I to just... forget something like that..."

"It's your mom." She said. "She knows you better than I do. There's no point in delaying it."

Your resistance crumbled under her words. She always was one to read you like an open book, no matter how much you tried to escape your inner turmoil. "...I hate you."

She laughed. "I hate you too."

With a weak scoff, you continued sipping from your drink, joining in on the banter that soon turned into an argument with everyone else.

The night went by quickly, until eventually, everyone was either too drunk or too exhausted from the bickering to linger any longer. You called it a night, tipping the bartender and preparing to leave after Dehya carried one of your friends out of the tavern.

"Hey, Y/N?" You heard the bartender call out to you. "You got a moment?"

You turned around, looking back at him. "What is it?"

He walked around the counter, holding a strange parcel in his hands. Your muscles tensed a bit, especially since you were the only one left. You knew him well, but you also tended to have trust issues whenever you were alone-- thanks to your father's lessons, that is.

"It always slipped my mind whenever you stopped by with your friends. These kept coming in for you." He handed the parcel out to you, gesturing for you to take it.

"...These?" You repeat, cautiously taking the parcel.

He nodded. slinging a towel around his shoulder. "Yeah. I just put them away inside of there. Glad I finally remembered. You know how old timers like me get."

"You're far from old." You remarked. "But thanks."

He nodded you off, and with one final goodbye, you stepped out of the tavern and into the night, the sign on the door turning to "closed".

Your curiosity was now piqued as you felt the weight of the parcel. However, that also came with a feeling of caution. The plural use of "these" was ringing in the back of your mind, and you didn't know how long you could wait until you opened the parcel.

You stopped by a nearby bench, your guard completely up as you slowly sliced at the thin rope that held the parcel together.

Was it a trick? Maybe a distraction?

Whatever it was, it certainly had your heart racing.

But once you peeled the top off and your eyes landed on the familiar insignia of the underwater sanctuary, all of the color in your face disappeared.

Thirteen sealed envelopes were inside, all of them from Wriothesley.