Eloise's POV
The walls of the palace felt suffocating.
Golden chandeliers, marble floors, velvet curtains—it was all meant to look luxurious, but to me, it was nothing more than a gilded cage. The king's personal chambers were large and extravagant, yet no amount of beauty could mask the fact that I was a prisoner here.
I stood by the window, gripping the edge of the sill tightly. The capital city stretched far beyond the palace walls, but no matter how far I looked, I couldn't see Caius.
Caius... where are you?
The door creaked open behind me.
I turned sharply, my breath catching as the king entered, dressed in his royal attire, his expression smug as ever.
"You should eat, Lady Eloise," he said smoothly, gesturing to the untouched meal on the table. "You've been here for hours, yet you refuse even the simplest of courtesies."
I crossed my arms. "I don't need your kindness."
His smirk deepened. "Oh, but you do. This palace is the safest place for you. Out there? You're nothing but prey for those who seek power." He stepped closer, his gaze sharp. "And trust me, there are many who would use you far worse than I."
I glared at him. "You mean like you?"
He chuckled, as if my words were amusing rather than an insult. "I simply know your worth, Eloise. You have something that no one else does—power beyond comprehension. And I intend to ensure that power belongs to me."
I clenched my fists. "I don't belong to anyone."
The king reached out, trailing a gloved finger along a lock of my hair. I flinched, but he didn't stop.
"Defiant." He sighed as if it disappointed him. "But you'll come to understand in time."
I slapped his hand away. "I'll never bow to you."
His expression darkened for a brief second before he let out a slow, dramatic sigh. "How stubborn." Then, his gaze flickered with something far more calculating. "But I wonder... how long will you keep up this resistance when I bring Caius before you? Broken. Helpless."
My breath caught.
The king smirked, leaning in just enough that his words were like poison in my ear. "You think I don't know how much he means to you? The way you looked at him during the duel, the way you defied me for him... it was rather entertaining, really."
My heart pounded in my chest.
He knew.
He knew how much Caius meant to me.
And that meant—he would use it against me.
I refused to give him the reaction he wanted. I lifted my chin, masking my fear with defiance. "If you lay a hand on him—"
"Oh, I won't," the king cut in, his tone mockingly soft. "Not yet, at least. But I will bring him to his knees." His fingers brushed my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. "And when that happens... I wonder—will you surrender to me, Eloise?"
A chill ran down my spine.
But I wouldn't let him win.
I stepped back, forcing myself to stay strong. "Caius won't lose. And I won't break."
The king only smiled, amused by my determination. "We shall see."
Then, he turned and left the room, the heavy doors locking behind him.
I let out a shaky breath, my hands trembling as I clenched them into fists.
Caius...
I had to do something.
I couldn't sit here and wait to be used as a pawn.
I wouldn't let the king control me.
I wouldn't let him hurt Caius.
No matter what it took—I had to find a way to escape.
Eloise's POV
The days blurred together in the palace, each one a suffocating reminder that I was nothing more than a caged bird.
At first, the king was patient. He would visit me every day, attempting to win me over with charm, expensive gifts, and carefully chosen words. But I never wavered. I never gave him what he wanted.
And that was when his patience ran out.
It started subtly—a tighter grip on my wrist when I refused to acknowledge his authority. A forced kiss on the back of my hand that made my skin crawl. A lingering touch on my shoulder when he passed by, as if reminding me that I was under his control.
Then it became worse.
The first slap came when I refused to wear the dress he had sent for me. I had thrown it onto the floor in defiance, and before I could react, his hand struck my cheek, hard enough to send me stumbling.
The sting burned, but I refused to show weakness. I refused to let him win.
"You are trying my patience, Eloise," the king warned, his voice sharp with anger. "Do you not understand the position you're in? I could make your life miserable with a single word."
I glared up at him, the taste of blood on my tongue. "Then do it. I won't be your puppet."
His jaw tightened. "You mistake my mercy for weakness. But let me make one thing clear—you will obey me, one way or another."
He left after that, slamming the door shut behind him.
I fell to my knees, breathing hard, my cheek throbbing from the impact. My entire body trembled, not from fear, but from rage.
I wouldn't break.
No matter how many times he tried to beat obedience into me. No matter how many times he touched me against my will. No matter how many times he tried to strip away my dignity.
I wouldn't break.
Because I still had hope.
Hope that Caius was alive. That he was coming for me.
And when he did...
The king would regret everything.