My Princess | Fem!readerxLloyd

39. Helplessness.

Pov. No one

The stone hallway stretched before them, its walls damp and glistening in the dim torchlight. Y/n's footsteps echoed faintly as Yukiteru led her deeper into the labyrinthine corridors of his lair. His grip on her arm was firm-not painfully tight, but a solid reminder of her captivity. She glanced sideways at him, catching a flash of his cold, calculating expression. Yukiteru's smirk never wavered; he seemed to relish every step, savoring her helplessness as they moved farther away from any hope of escape.

They came to a stop in front of a heavy iron door, and Y/n's heart sank. She could feel the chill radiating from the solid metal, thick with the weight of confinement. Yukiteru shifted, watching her reaction with a look of barely concealed amusement. "Here we are," he murmured, his voice smooth but mocking.

Y/n clenched her fists, lifting her chin defiantly. "You think locking me up will change anything? You think this will make me give in to you?" she spat, her voice steady, despite the fear gnawing at her insides.

He let out a soft chuckle, pulling a large, old-fashioned iron key from his pocket. The smirk on his face was infuriating, radiating confidence. "It's not about changing anything," he replied, slipping the key into the lock with a quiet click. "It's about teaching you... patience." With a slow, deliberate motion, he pushed the door open, revealing her new prison.

The room was stark and uninviting. Iron bars divided the space, stretching from floor to ceiling to form a cell within a cell. On one side, where Y/n was meant to stay, was a single cot pushed up against the wall, its blanket and lumpy pillow a cruel mockery of comfort. The opposite side, separated by thick bars, was a narrow corridor with the exit door that they came through just beyond reach. The torchlights casting grim shadows across the cold, unyielding iron, making the space feel even more oppressive.

Yukiteru nudged her inside, his eyes glinting with satisfaction as she stepped into the cell. He stood back, watching her take in the sight, his arms crossed over his chest.

"This is... barbaric," she muttered, her voice low but full of contempt. She spun around, meeting his gaze with fiery defiance. "Is this what you call control? Locking me up like some prisoner?"

Yukiteru raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by her accusation. "Call it what you will, but it's necessary," he replied, his tone almost dismissive. "I would have preferred a more... pleasant arrangement, but your stubbornness leaves me no choice." He let his gaze drift over the bars, as if admiring his own handiwork.

"Stubbornness?" Y/n scoffed, crossing her arms tightly. "I'm not here because I was stubborn. I'm here because you think you can force me to do what you want. But I'll tell you right now, Yukiteru-you can lock me up, throw away the key, but you'll never break me."

His smile widened, his amusement turning into something darker. "Such confidence," he said softly, stepping closer to the bars, his eyes cold and penetrating. "But confidence alone won't help you here." He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "You're all alone now, Y/n. And with every passing moment, you'll begin to realize that your precious Lloyd won't be coming for you."

Her heart clenched at his words, but she forced herself to keep her face steady, refusing to show him even a hint of weakness. "I don't care what you say, Yukiteru. Lloyd will find me. He always does. And when he does, you'll regret every moment you tried to keep me away from him."

A flicker of irritation crossed his face, but it quickly vanished, replaced by a look of disdain. "Lloyd," he repeated, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Your knight in shining armor." He scoffed, shaking his head as if the very thought amused him. "Do you honestly believe he's capable of challenging me? The same Lloyd who's barely breathing right now after our last encounter?"