Tamed || Wriothesley x Reader

Chapter 55

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"All of your personal belongings go into this bag. You'll be able to get them back once you've served your time."

The Fortress of Meropide was cold, dark, and crawling with the sense of depression. It was hundreds of feet below the surface, making the pressure inside the enclosure heavy. The only sounds that could he heard was the occasional turning of machinery and the ocean waves pounding on the panels.

Right now, you were busy stripping yourself of any belongings you had carried with you.

"The hand things too." The woman at the front desk pointed to your hands.

You handed them over, a blank expression on your face.

"...Very cooperative this time, are you?" The woman said, eyeing you as she placed your things in a box, placing a label on top of it. "We people down here have a saying that once you leave the fortress, we hope to never see you again. But here you are... again."

You gave her a long, cold stare, one that made even her skin crawl. "...Just step over there to have your photo retaken."

You'd been here before. Nearly a year ago, in this exact same position, reliving the past. Except this time you weren't here for three months--no, you were going to be here for nine.

Time no longer had a meaning to you. You didn't care how long the days were going to be, how much time it would take until your release, or how restless your work may get. It didn't matter because you couldn't spend that time with Wriothesley.

And the hatred you were feeling for him was burning brighter than ever.

You personally incriminated yourself to be with him. You left your home to be with him. You wanted to move on from your past, your denials and fears, to be with him. You gave away your life to be with him.

And what did he do? Left you there, broken.

"You know your way around." The woman spoke, adjusting the kamera back to its normal position. "Go ahead and get to work. It's the middle of the day."

Your feet dragged on robotically, your movements slow and steady. Your brain was on autopilot; you knew your way around, you had walked this place more than a hundred times. But instead of heading to the Pankration Ring or the lower level workspace, you walked straight to the dormitories.

Even the same room you stayed in during your time here was the same as you first found it; dirty and unoccupied.

The walls were cold, the same drastic change from the hot heat of the desert shocking your skin. You could even hear the hushed voices of the Gardes at the entrance echoing off them, which was the exact same as before.

You stood there, unmoving, your mind slowing down. There wasn't a single thought that you could properly formulate, the hate still burning bright.

The only thing you could focus on was him, and it sent a sharp stab through your heart all over again as you relived that moment over, and over, and over. It was like mental torture, a mockery of your mind against your heart. It was like you were taunting yourself, telling yourself that you were right in the beginning to stay in your real home, instead of following some fake love that you didn't want in the first place.

But there was... one thought, that crossed your mind.

One.

You remember when you ran into those people who wanted to kill him, right?

You wondered if one of them were still here.

— ... —

"It's just strain, Sigewinne, I promise you."

Wriothesley sat in his office, one hand carrying the weight of his head while the other was being inspected by the fortress's friendly nurse.

Sigewinne gave him a disapproving look, her lips curling into a pout as she shook her head. "It could potentially be fractured with all this swelling. I've told you that you need to be more careful when you're visiting the Pankration Ring!"

Wriothesley sighed, forcing his hand away from her gently. "I know, I know. But the guy put up a good fight, so I had to put him in his place."

She sighed, resignation written all over her face. "I feel like I have treated you more than everyone else here."

He chuckled, leaning back in his seat while grabbing the report he was reading prior to her visitation. "Possibly. But I turn out fine after every treatment."

A huff escaped her nose, but she softened up once she looked at him. "...You've been in a surprisingly good mood lately. And when that happens, you never go to the Pankration Ring. You only visit to relieve stress."

Wriothesley raised a brow, looking down at her. "Really now? You've made that observation?"

"I also know that Y/N has returned. But I have yet to see you and her converse."

His facade broke for a moment, only for a moment. But Sigewinne saw it.

"There's... something wrong between you, isn't there?" She asked, her gaze softening as she observed him.

Of course there was something wrong between you two. Otherwise he would have you face down against his desk, your hips forcefully arched up to his.

But he couldn't let anyone know that. Not even himself. Because these past three days since your return has been hell for him. His body was shaking, trembling with the urge to drag you into his office or to burst into your cell, telling you how much he fucking missed you and how badly he wanted you. Knowing that you were only such a short distance away from him now was killing him inside out, but he had to fight it back.

He had to.

So he's been pretending to be the same man he was before he met you, before you completely changed him, convincing himself that you didn't exist and that you had never came into his life.

"She's just been having some personal trouble." He explained, readjusting himself in his seat. "I'm giving her space."

Sigewinne's ear twitched, the sound of Wriothesley's breathing slightly heavier than before. She frowned at his obvious lie, feeling a pang of sadness. "You know it's better for you to be honest with others to help relieve pressure or stress..." She spoke, "And you can be honest with me."

"I-"

Wriothesley's voice suddenly went out, his words almost dying instantly on his tongue. He knew what he wanted to say, he had practiced these lines over in his head a thousand times.

But it wasn't what he needed to say.

"...I can't do this anymore."

He tossed the paper down onto his desk, covering his face with his hand while shaking his head. "It's been three days, Sigewinne. Three. And I'm dying to go see her." He scoffed, letting out a short huff of dry laughter. "How the hell am I supposed to deal with nine months?"

Sigewinne tilted her head, not fully understanding why Wriothesley was restraining himself from seeing you. "But why have you been avoiding her, then?"

"Because I HAVE to!"

He slammed his fist on the desk, his head drooping as his other hand trembled. "...I have to."

Sigewinne had dealt with Wriothesley's tempers before, but this one was different. She had never seen him so... defeated, despite his attempts at always feigning obliviousness. She knew she had to be careful what she said, but she also wanted to comfort him if she could only understand what he was going on about.

"Can you tell me why you have to?" She asked quietly, her voice calm and controlled.

He was quiet for a moment, before he sighed. "...If I'm around her, she'll kill her."

"She...?"

Wriothesley balled his fist, struggling fight back at his emotions.

"...Chronie."