Romance With My Dragon Prince

Captured

STELLA

A crowd of armored men. Their helmets obscured their faces, but I could see the glint of their weapons, the poised stance of warriors prepared for a fight.

I barely had time to react when rough hands grabbed me, yanking me forward with a force that sent me stumbling onto the cold ground. My breath caught in my throat as I looked up at my captors—men clad in armor, their faces shadowed by their helmets. Their eyes, however, gleamed with something sinister.

“There’s no mistake,” one of them said, tightening his grip on my wrist. “The dragon’s scent was strong here. She must be connected to it.”

I struggled, kicking out in desperation, but they only laughed. My heart pounded as panic set in. Kieran was gone. I was alone.

“Let me go!” I yelled, but my voice trembled.

One of them grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up. “Pretty thing, aren’t you?” he mused. “You’ll be useful.”

Fear clawed at my throat. I wanted to scream, to fight back harder, but there were too many of them. Before I could react, they shoved a cloth over my mouth. A sickly-sweet scent filled my nose, and the world blurred into darkness.

**********

The first thing I registered upon waking was the unfamiliar scent of lavender mixed with something musky and overpowering. My body ached, my wrists sore from where they had been bound before. I shifted, and the sensation of soft fabric against my skin startled me. I wasn’t in the cold, damp cave anymore.

Panic surged through me as I sat up, my heart hammering. I was in a large room, grand but suffocating. Golden curtains framed tall windows, but iron bars glared back at me. Sunlight trickled in, but instead of offering comfort, it only reminded me of how utterly trapped I was. The walls were adorned with elegant paintings, the floor covered with a plush carpet, and the bed I lay on was too luxurious for someone who had been forcefully taken. It wasn’t a prison in appearance—but it was one nonetheless.

I swung my legs off the bed, my movements cautious. My boots were gone, replaced with soft indoor slippers. Even my clothes had been changed—my old dress was gone, and in its place, I wore a silk gown, slightly loose but modest. Had someone changed my clothes while I was unconscious?

A sudden knock at the door made me jump.

The door creaked open, and a maid stepped inside, carrying a tray. She was young, no older than me, her eyes downcast as she approached the small table by the window.

“You should eat, my lady,” she said softly, setting down the meal—fresh fruit, bread, and warm tea.

My lips parted. My lady? Was that what they were calling me now? My hands clenched on my lap, but I forced my voice to remain steady.

“Where am I?”

The maid hesitated. “You are in the residence of Lord Reynard, one of the noblemen of the capital.”

I had never heard the name before. Not that it mattered. I needed to escape, not learn about my captors.

I swallowed, glancing toward the windows again. “And why am I here?”

The maid looked uneasy. “I don’t know the full details. I only do as I’m told.” She gestured to the food. “Please eat.”

I had no appetite. But I needed strength. Slowly, I reached for the bread, tearing off a small piece and nibbling on it. The maid watched me briefly before turning to leave.

I seized the moment.

“Wait,” I blurted. “Could you leave the door open? Just for a moment?”

The maid shook her head hurriedly. “I can’t. The guards will punish me.”

The sound of the lock clicking into place sending a chill down my spine.

For a while, I just sat there, listening. The mansion was eerily silent, except for the occasional distant footsteps. I had no idea where Kieran was. Had he noticed my absence yet? Would he even know where to start looking?

I can’t just sit here and wait.

After finishing a bit more food, I got up and walked to the window, testing the iron bars. They didn’t budge. The door, locked. The only exit was through the hallway, guarded.

I needed another way out. Or at least a place to hide if they came back for me.

I searched the room methodically, opening the wardrobe, looking under the bed—anything that could help me. I found nothing. Just expensive dresses and fine linens. No weapons, no secret doors. Nothing.

As the hours dragged on, my sense of time blurred. I paced the room, occasionally pressing my ear against the door. I caught snippets of conversations, muffled and distant.

Then, as night fell, the door opened again.

Three men entered.

I stiffened immediately, my muscles tensing as I took an involuntary step back. Their gazes roamed over me shamelessly, and my stomach churned. They wore noble attire, but the way they looked at me made my skin crawl.

“She does look a little special,” one of them murmured, stepping closer.

“Yes, and Lord Reynard seems interested,” another chuckled. “And he rarely takes an interest in anything these days.”

My fists clenched. “Stay away from me.”

One of them smirked, lifting his hand as if to touch my face. I slapped it away before he could.

Silence.

Then, laughter.

“She’s got some fire,” the first man remarked. “Reynard won't feel too bored with this new toy.”

They didn’t do anything more—perhaps because they weren’t allowed to. But their mere presence left me rattled. When they finally left, I collapsed onto the mat beside the bed, hugging my knees to my chest.

I didn’t dare to sleep that night. I didn't dare to lie on teh bed which made me feel danger.

I didn't know what the man named Reynard wanted from me, but just this cage-like room made me suffocated enough and it also brought me the fear of unknown.

I knew what the situation of a young girl would be like. No matter which world, women are mostly treated as commodities. Though the situation has changed a lot in her world, I knew it the moment I saw the maid, that the situation is worse in this world. Let alone now, I am alone.