A/N: Part 2 of Bait. Some of you were requesting for one, so I delivered!

P.S: Apologies for the sudden hiatus on all my works. I was busy focusing on school, so I haven't really been updating any new chapters this past month.

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'Right. I forgot this woman was a complete sadist.'

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"Princess Y/N, Lady Signora is refusing to cooperate."

Your quill almost snapped from the mention of her name.

"...And why is that?"

The guard reporting her updates nearly wet himself out of fear from your tone. Sharp, cold, calculating. The words threatening to slit at his neck if he dared phrase his words wrong in front of the princess. It was obvious that the interaction between you and Signora has soured your mood, with the slightest provocation being the spark to your oil.

Carefully, the guard started phrasing his words slowly as to not upset you. The news carrying a burden on his voice as each word became quieter and quieter.

"She...states that she only wants to speak to you, my lady. My apologies..."

At those words, you finally looked up from your paperwork. A brow arching in an irritated manner as you rubbed the temple of your head in pain. "Tell her to wait until the interrogation, guard," you spat out rather rudely. Obviously trying to hide your uneasiness with the topic of Signora. 

"But she can't wait, my lady," the guard's voice trembled, "She's nearly threatened a knight to see you! That woman is mad! Demanding to see your face or else she'd--"

"Guard." 

The man flinched at your now low tone. Seeming to be pissed off the more he spoke of her. "I apologize in advance, but please leave my quarters. I will deal with Lady Signora privately. Thank you."

You dismissed him with the flick of your hand, but the guard just couldn't take the hint. 

"M-My lady! I'm sorry, but it's too dangerous for you to interrogate her by yourself! Allow me to escort you to the dungeons. I will accompany you in case that wretched woman ever lays a hand on you. I will make sure she--"

Grabbing the knife from your thigh strap, you threw it at the door behind him. The blade striking deep into the wood of the door, and sticking just a few mere inches away from the guard's ear. Splinters tickling the back of his neck from the impact.

"Nn--!" the guard froze in place from the perfectly controlled knife throw. The hairs on his neck standing on end as you calmly sat back down in your seat. 

"Guard," you spoke again lowly, twirling another silver knife from your other thigh strap, "You are dismissed."

Without another word, he shakily bowed and scurried off. Leaving you to schedule an early, private interrogation with the fair lady herself. No matter how much you didn't want to.

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The dungeons were cold and frosty when you came down. The tapping of your shoes against cobblestone being an echo to the farthest room. Signora's. It was a sound she was all too familiar with, having loved it ever since she saw you walk up to her with that confident, sly, smile. 

She wonders how confident you are now...

"Ah, finally. Something beautiful to look at in this dreaded dungeon..."

Her voice was as coy as the smirk on her face. Watching you intently to see if her words have affected you. 

It didn't. Or at least, you didn't let it show.

"Hello Signora," you spoke calmly and diligently, "How have these hours of isolation been?"

"Quite terrible without a princess to keep me company," Signora sighed, "The guards are terrible conversationalists, and it is quite drafty in here, don't you think?"

She gestured to your dress. The same dress you had been wearing for the Hallow's Eve ball a few hours prior to her arrest. She was right though, it was quite drafty in here. The open windows making your body shiver every time a breeze flew by.

"My, is the princess getting chilly?" Signora teased after seeing you flinch, "How about you come join me for some body warmth, hm?"

"Enough." You bit your tongue to keep yourself from lashing out. The mere nerve of this woman nearly making you lose control. "I came down here to bring you to interrogation. Not to flirt."

The corners of the fair lady's mouth crooked upwards. "Can we not do both, my love?"

"No." You narrowed your eyes and gestured for her to come closer towards the door. The suggestive look in her eyes making shivers go down your back in wariness. "Don't even think about it, Lady Signora," you mumbled, pulling out a set of handcuffs from your thigh strap, "I'm just restraining you."

Holding her wrists out calmly, Signora chuckled. "How sexy," she commented. Feeling the cold metal clasp around her wrists in an electrifyingly satisfying way. 

"Tch," you quickly unlocked the door to her cell and dragged her out by her cuffs, tired of her annoying taunts, "Unlike you."

You felt yourself grin at her reaction. The small burn you made on her being the only thing she could think about as you dragged her upstairs. Confidence now blooming back into your chest.

'I see...' Signora found herself pondering as she climbed up the steps behind you, 'So the little princess is fighting back now...'

Watching you in silence from behind, Signora felt herself smirk behind your back. 'Well in that case, I'll just have to fight back even harder...'

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"Sit down." You ordered rather coldly. The hours of sleep wasted last night being the reason for your now tired-looking appearance. 

"You should sit down too, my lady," Signora responded as she sat, "You look quite exhausted."

"(Sigh) Because of you," you spoke with a groan. Signora finding herself a dirty loophole to your sentence, and using it to her advantage. "Well, I'm glad I can make you exhausted, Princess Y/N. Last night surely was a rough night for you, don't you think?"

It took you a moment to catch on to her suggestive implications, but your face flared up once you realized.

"How immature of you, Lady Signora," you found yourself mumbling, "Honestly, I don't get how a general of Snezhnaya can be so..."

"Attractive?" Signora interjected. Chuckling as you showed signs of frustration. 

"Annoying." You finished with a scowl. Taking your seat at the opposite end of the table. "Now, back to the reason of this meeting. Lady Signora, you were arrested after assassinating my kingdom's best knight and you even admitted it to me as I was taking you away to the dungeons. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"...Well, for starters, that 'top knight' of yours, isn't truly your best."

"My Gods..."

You pinched your brow in annoyance when Signora simply responded with a unserious answer. Your heart beating quicker out of anger for this infuriating woman! 

'If she keeps this up I'm going to execute her right now I swear to the Gods--'

"Please try to answer seriously, my lady," you felt your finger twitch while trying to compose yourself, "It would help us both for your trial when it comes to deciding your fate."

Signora paused at your now solemn and calm voice. Well, your attempt at one. She held back her teasing for a moment and nodded in a small sign of respect. "Apologies, Princess Y/N, I will be honest and direct in my answers for now on. I swear on it."

The sincerity in her eyes made your heart skip a beat. A side of Signora you never quite saw before. "Thank you, my lady. I accept your apology."

However, that apology did not stop the small, subtle, touching Signora did as you continued on with the interrogation. Her cold hands innocently covering your own as you spoke, causing you to flinch at her nonchalant and carefree hand-holding.

"Wh-What was the reason for your murder?" you spoke with a choke. The feeling of her hands on top of yours causing you to feel strange and unfocused. 

"Haven't I stated this before, princess?" Signora hummed, "It was because I wanted your attention. Killing off your supposed 'top knight' was just one of the ways I could've done it."

"And you chose the most violent option?" you rose a brow in disbelief. 

"It was the most fun one," Signora smirked.

'Right. I forgot this woman was a complete sadist.'

"I see..." you replied, "Are there any other reasons, as to why you killed him? Other than just 'gaining my attention?' So to speak."

"Hm? Oh yes, quite an abundant of a reason actually..." Signora let her cuffed hands slide off your own, making you secretly wish she hadn't have done that. "You see, your 'top knight' was actually one of the worst knights I've ever encountered. After stalking around your castle for a bit, I--"

"You were stalking my castle?"

"Yes, but that isn't important."

Quickly glossing over that small leak, Signora continued, "I had stumbled upon your top knight sparring with a training dummy in the middle of a field. He wasn't exactly the best, as the poor man couldn't even strike properly for the head."

You grimaced at the thought of it. You admit, despite how proudly your father spoke of your kingdom, there were a few good share of lies he came up with to make the kingdom of Regalia sound stronger. And one of those lies were your best knights. One of the worst fighters you've ever seen in your time as a princess. Hell, even you were better than most of them. And all you carried on you were two silver throwing knives, and high heel shoes.

"You...are right about that," you cringed, "Please, continue." 

The fair lady nodded and continued on with her story. Humming a bit in thought before finally remembering her place, "Yes...well when I saw him, I immediately thought up a plan to finally gain your attention, princess. I knew that if I had eliminated this idiotic knight, I would be arrested by your hands at your next social gathering. Not only getting close to you, but killing off a man who couldn't even protect the prettiest woman of the palace."

You felt your cheeks grow a bit warm. 'Back to the compliments are we?'

"So, you killed him not only for my attention, but also to eliminate him for his stupidity?" you summarized, looking more confused than ever. 

"Of course! Anyone who can't even take care of you properly must die for their foolishness," Signora chuckled a bit darkly before suddenly standing up. "They must pay for their idiocy if they can't even treat you right."

"Ah...my lady...?" you felt yourself grow nervous as her tall figure loomed over the table in an intimidating manner. Suddenly walking around the table with intentions of getting closer to you. It was when she started getting within arm's distance did you start to panic and stand. Backing up with each closing step.

"H-Hey! Sit back down this instant! Don't you take another step, Lady Signora! Don't--"

And she had you backed up against the wall. Pressing you into a vulnerable position with no other witnesses to see what she was doing. 

"Signora!"

Your face was burning with shame and embarrassment as the woman you were just interrogating had now taken matters into her own hands. Seeming to be interrogating you instead.

"Don't you ever feel unsafe with those knights, princess? How weak they are compared to you...they were just ordered bodies paid by your father to stay by your side. Wasn't it always frustrating?"

The fair lady pressed herself closer to you and you felt your breath hitch. 'I hate that she's right...' you thought, cursing yourself for thinking that. 'I also hate how hot she is...goddamn...'

Forgetting to answer, you let a few moments of silence slip by. Causing Signora to notice your behavior and bring it up with a grin. "...You're silent now?" Signora chuckled, "Where was all that bark earlier? Normally you'd be yapping in my face and denying anything I said...but..."

Her right brow lifted into an amused smirk, taunting you even more with her stupid face. "Is it because it's true? You resent those knights just as I do, yes?"

"...Yes, you are correct," you responded defeatedly, "I resent those knights with every fiber of my being. How stupid they are to wear the badge of honorary knights when all they do is bring shame to my kingdom."

Finding relief in your confession, you let it all out. "I despise how reckless they are. Not taking their position as knights seriously when my father is the one paying them. I swear, I'd be better off without those imbeciles."

Signora found herself enjoying your little confession. Twirling a strand of your hair with her finger while the chains from her cuffs rattled in movement. "I'm glad you admit that too, my love," she chuckled, "A lady such as yourself is more than capable of defending herself."

Wow. For the first time since last night, Signora actually said something you liked. Feeding the superior ego you often hid from your subjects and actually making you smile. 

"For such a vile woman, you actually said something worth hearing," you chuckled, causing Signora to grin. "It takes one to know one, princess," she spoke, subtly hinting at your egotistic side. 

"And now I hate you again," you glared, not liking how she tested your limits. "Don't forget Signora, this is my castle you're in."

"Yes, but I'm the one pinning you to the wall, correct?"

As if to further prove her point, she pressed you closer against the wall and made you squirm from the newfound body warmth. The chains rattling above you being a reminder of your provocative position. 

"Tch," you felt your anger burning up inside, "Don't test me Signora! I won't hesitate to slit your throat!"

"...Then do it." She challenged. A curious look in her eyes as she seemed to be testing your reactions. 

'I'll show her!'

You reached for one of your throwing knives and gripped onto the handle with all your might. But, no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't pull it out of its slot. Trembling as you tried fighting against the urge to stop and drop the weapon. 

"My, My..." Signora tutted, glancing down at your shaking hand, "Seems like the cold-blooded princess has some hesitance..."

"Shut up!" you gasped out, nearly screaming when Signora suddenly wrapped her handcuffs around your neck. Tugging you closer with one quick pull, and making you fall forward onto her body. 

"Enough of your temper tantrums, princess," Signora spoke coldly, her voice causing your fire to extinguish immediately, "I want to get my words across before this interrogation is over."

You were about to interject, when Signora pulled you harder with her cuffs and made your lips fall silent onto hers. The surprise kiss catching you off guard while she pulled away quick enough to keep you too stunned to speak. "I have a proposal for you, my princess. It was the very sole reason I let myself get arrested by you in the first place."

You fell silent, too shell-shocked to say anything as you could only let her finish her pitch and listen. "I've always wanted to be closer to you, my love. I've grown infatuated with you more and more each day every time I see you..."

Still holding you against her with her cuffed hands, she continues, "I would do anything to be by your side and eliminate any inconveniences you may face. Whether it be those pesky knights you must deal with, or any enemies you may have now or in the future."

Softly caressing your face, Signora leaned in and pressed a small yet affectionate kiss upon your head. "I only wish for you to clear my sentence and allow me to stay by your side. Whether as a tool, or a lover."

'A tool...or a lover...'

"...You want me to clear your sentence...in exchange for staying by my side and eliminating any and all inconveniences I may face?" you summarized, finding the strength to speak after the woman's sudden kisses. 

"Indeed." Signora hummed. "I just wish to be with you."

'Be with me...hm?' you pondered in your thoughts, 'Justice is telling me that the right thing to do is trial and execute her. She's a murderer, it's right, it's morale...'

Biting your lip at the thought, you suddenly smirked. 

'But I was never morale to begin with...'

"I accept your proposal, Signora." You spoke confidently with your decision. "However, for now you will just be my tool. Carrying out any assassination tasks I ask of you, understood?"

Signora chuckled, stepping away from you and nodding in respect. "As you wish, my princess."

You felt satisfied at her compliance, gripping her cuffs gently and tugging her a bit closer. You couldn't help it, she was growing on you. "I shall announce your innocence tomorrow. Come now, the interrogation is over."

Leading her away from the interrogation room, the ambience between you was quiet as you led her back to her cell. 

"Oh, and Signora?" you spoke, uncuffing her wrists and locking her door. 

"Yes my lady?"

"...If you want to be by my side as my lover, I suggest trying a little harder."

Giving her a small smile, you walked upstairs to your quarters and left Signora all alone. Concocting a new plan to get you to fall in love with her. 

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Fun fact: This Y/N has a bit of a superiority complex. Her ego is the size of Antarctica.