The grand ballroom glittered under golden chandeliers, the soft hum of music filling the air. Guests, dressed in the finest silks and suits, swirled across the dance floor, their laughter blending seamlessly with the clinking of crystal glasses.
To them, this was a night of elegance, of wealth and power.
To Yuzuha, it was another beautifully decorated cage.
Dametri led her through the room, his grip on her wrist light but unyielding. To the world, they looked like the perfect couple—her delicate beauty complimenting his cold, aristocratic charm. But beneath the surface, an ugly truth festered.
"Smile,"he murmured in her ear, his voice laced with quiet warning.
Yuzuha forced her lips to curve upward, the practiced expression hollow. She felt the weight of curious stares, admiration from those who envied her position at Dametri's side. If only they knew.
"Ah, Dametri!" A man in a tailored navy suit approached, his eyes flickering toward Yuzuha with interest. "And this must be the infamous fiancée I've heard so much about."
"Yuzuha," Dametri introduced, his fingers brushing her cheek in a mockery of affection. "Isn't she breathtaking?"
The man chuckled, sipping his wine. "She looks… obedient."
Yuzuha's stomach twisted, but she remained silent, her nails digging into her palm.
Dametri smirked. "She is."
The man chuckled, clearly amused, before turning his attention elsewhere. As soon as he walked away, Yuzuha exhaled, her body stiff with barely contained rage.
"Relax,"Dametri murmured, his fingers tracing the delicate line of her neck, a cruel contrast to his next words. "Or should I remind you how to behave?"
Yuzuha clenched her jaw, her heart pounding. She wanted to fight, to rip away from his grip, to scream at the world that she was not his.
But she couldn't. Not yet.
So instead, she let him guide her into the dance.
And as Dametri spun her across the ballroom, his breath ghosting against her ear, she whispered so low only he could hear—
"One day, I will destroy you."
Dametri chuckled, unfazed, his grip tightening as he pulled her closer. "I'd like to see you try, my love."
The orchestra swelled, violins and cellos weaving a melody so enchanting it almost felt cruel. Yuzuha moved in perfect synchrony with Dametri, her body following his lead like a well-trained puppet. The world watched them—admiring, envying—completely blind to the suffocating chains wrapped around her wrists, invisible to all but her.
Dametri's hand slid down to the small of her back, pressing her closer. His lips curled into a whisper against her ear.
"You said you'd destroy me." His voice was laced with amusement, but beneath it lay something sharper—something dangerous. "Tell me, Yuzuha… How exactly do you plan to do that?"
Yuzuha kept her expression blank, her body moving as if his words had no effect. But inside, a fire burned.
She let the ghost of a smile grace her lips. "A magician never reveals their tricks."
Dametri's chuckle was low, approving. "Clever girl."
The dance ended, and applause echoed through the ballroom. Dametri lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss against her bruised knuckles. It was an act for the audience, but to Yuzuha, it felt like a claim—a reminder of her place beneath his control.
Her heart pounded as he led her through the sea of guests, stopping only when they reached a quiet, dimly lit balcony overlooking the garden. The cold night air bit at her skin, but it was nothing compared to the chill that ran down her spine when Dametri turned to face her, his expression darkening.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Yuzuha,"he murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "But that's what I love about you."
Yuzuha swallowed, her pulse hammering.
"Love?" she echoed, her voice hollow. "Do you even know what that means?"
Dametri tilted his head, amusement flickering in his piercing eyes. "Love is ownership, darling. Love is control." His fingers trailed down her arm, sending a shiver through her. "And you… belong to me."
Yuzuha jerked away, her chest rising and falling with the force of her fury. "Iwill never belong to you."
Dametri sighed, almost disappointed. "You keep saying that," he murmured, his voice a dangerous lullaby. "Yet here you are, dressed in the gown I chose, dancing to the music I paid for, breathing in air I allow you to have."
His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist, pulling her close until their faces were inches apart.
"Tell me again that you don't belong to me,"he whispered, his lips brushing against her trembling ones, his voice drenched in wicked satisfaction.
Yuzuha glared at him, her rage burning through the fear.
One day.
One day, she would make him regret ever touching her.
But for now, she would smile. Play her part. Pretend to bend, only to strike when he least expected it.
So she tilted her head, her lips curving into a mocking smirk.
"Enjoy your illusion while it lasts, Dametri."
For the first time that night, Dametri's expression shifted—just slightly. The amusement in his eyes dulled for a brief second before returning, sharper than ever.
He laughed, releasing her wrist. "Oh, darling…"He stepped back, offering his hand once more. "Shall we return? Our audience is waiting."
Yuzuha hesitated, then placed her hand in his.
And as he led her back into the golden-lit ballroom, she whispered under her breath—
"This is not your story, Dametri. It's mine."