"Well, didn't you miss me, why don't you give your partner a hug?" My voice failed, I didn't want to talk to him, let alone hug him. I tried to push past him, he stood in my way. "Oh Maybelle, you are so effeminate, where has your sharp tongue gone?", his face was even more frightening than in my dreams. He was wearing a servant's robe, he must have organised it. After all, he said he had contacts scattered across the country. A red rose was pinned to his lapel, it stared at me so menacingly: "Please let me go, Leopold, I have to..." He grinned: "You have to go to him, don't you? He needs to hear from you that you love him." He grabbed me and pressed me against the wall. My upper arm banged against the wooden panelling, luckily it only hurt a little. He was close to my ear and whispered: "Too bad for you, I have to talk to you. I thought we agreed that as soon as the prince fell in love with you, you'd kill him, but it's taking me too long already." He pushed himself towards me. It was hard to breathe, my chest had to strain to get oxygen. "I already have a plan...", my voice was thin. He screwed up his face and wrinkled it: "I don't believe you, Maybelle." I swallowed stricken. Damn. He moved closer to me and pressed his lips against mine. I tried to resist, but he was stronger. With the last of my strength I pushed him off me, he staggered backwards slightly and I slumped to the floor. My head slammed into the door frame. Everything buzzed around me like a bees' nest. I held my forehead and tried to see clearly, but it was very difficult. A throbbing pain followed. "How dare you!" I was jolted out of my daze. After balancing himself again he came to me firmly, pulling me by my hair. I cried out, a single tear running down my face. He pushed my chin up and brought his nose close to mine: "You must obey me, don't forget your family, I can destroy them at any time." His hiss scared me. I could not escape him, I was trapped. I closed my eyes hoping I was dreaming it all. His hand pressed against my mouth and I bit down. For a few seconds he let go of me and I was able to move away from him, but I didn't make it to the door. He grabbed me by my legs and dragged me away from my only means of escape. I cried out again. He turned me onto my back and shifted his weight so that I could not get up. I tried to fight back with my legs and kicked him in the stomach. But nothing happened except that he grimaced and continued to hold me.
I shouted for help, hoping that someone would hear me, but I knew that my chances were relatively slim. Most of the people were at the garden party. He lashed out and gave me a quick slap: "Don't do that, it's only hurting both of us." I was already desperate and begged: "Please..., please let me go, I will do anything you want." A small stream of tears trickled down onto the wooden floor. I cried bitterly. What had I done to deserve this? Couldn't anyone help me? Suddenly the light went on and Leopold has torn away from me. I was breathing heavily, I could only see dots, the ceiling was spinning in circles. I heard something or someone bang against a shelf. I turned my head in that direction and saw a guard struggling with Leopold. The stranger had saved me, I was safe. I closed my eyes and sank into blackness. At some point, I woke up again and realised that the fight had continued. I tried to help calmly defeat my attacker once and for all, but I could only get up in vain. Every detail blurred before my eyes. While the men were fighting I could partly make out their faces, one was Leo's and the other was... Martin's. For some reason, he was always there. For some reason, he was always there when I was in need. They were now standing and the old globe slammed to the floor, discordant noises followed. I think it broke, also I heard a rustling of papers and opened books. I collapsed to the side and sank into blackness again.
I don't know how Martin had managed it, but he overpowered Leopold. He lay unconscious and tied up in a corner. One could only guess that there had been a tremendous struggle. A curtain had been slightly torn away, some scrolls lay scattered on the floor. Here and there, books were no longer on their shelves. Maps were dog-eared or crumpled. Martin examined me expertly: "He can't hurt you anymore Lady Belle." I twitched slightly and sucked in the air sharply when he looked at my hand. "You've sprained your hand, I'll take you to the infirmary," he said worriedly. He confirmed that I would have a black eye and several bruises. I escaped his gaze and bit my lower lip. I felt too vulnerable at that moment. Martin cleared his throat: "I am very sorry Lady Maybelle, I disregarded my duty as a guard and endangered you or another with my negligence. This man should never have entered the palace grounds." I whispered, for my voice was still cracked: "Martin, it's not your fault." and then audibly came, "It's my..." He sucked in an audible breath, I noticed a slight shiner on his left eye. He had taken a beating for me, I felt bad. Leopold woke from his swoon and I froze as he looked into my eyes. They were cold. The laceration on his forehead had stained his white shirt. The red flower was crushed and tattered. An unsightly line traced across his face. I slid backwards, I was afraid. Martin was irritated by my behaviour, then he realised the reason. "Belle..." That was as far as Leo got, the guard gave him a swift kick and he slumped back. Martin covered him by standing in front of him, he looked down at me and remained silent. I could see that something was rattling in his head. His expression became serious and he folded his arms in front of his chest: "You know him, don't you?" There was no point in denying it, but I took my time anyway. I breathed in: "He's an acquaintance." A meagre reply: "You know you can't have an unauthorised visitor, let alone on your own. You have put your reputation on the line. I have the right to report you, but I leave that to the prince." He paced back and forth and I felt like I was in Mrs Kirnmilkbaum's class. "Answer me one question my lady, how did you both manage to let him enter unobserved?" I looked down in embarrassment: "I don't know how he managed it, I didn't expect that..." "How you didn't expect it, you said he was an acquaintance of yours." I swallowed: "Yes, I did, but he threatened me and sought me out, not only in the palace." Granted, to somehow accuse Leopold of being a stalker was not entirely accurate, but he is blackmailing me. I heard a sigh and raised my head: "Why didn't you say anything? You know very well that it can be dangerous to deal with such things alone. If I hadn't been here by chance, but like the others at the garden party, they might not have been here, but kidnapped. That was very irresponsible of you." Guiltily, I clenched my hand in my lap. "How long has he been stalking you?" he turned on his heel and looked at him. "Since I officially took part in the audition.", I confessed. "Well," he replied snappishly, but pulled himself together again, "I promise you he won't be able to hurt you anymore, Mylady, he will get his just deserts. Stalking is a serious offence. Especially as this is a member of the royal family." He turned away for a moment and I heard a crack, then a murmur followed: "It's me, we have a code 451, library." A slurred voice came in reply. A final crackle, the guard glanced over his shoulder and spoke again. He put his radio back in his, whatever. He strode quickly to me and bent over me: "You are safe, as soon as my people arrive I will take you to the infirmary. Your ''acquaintance'' will go to the dungeon first before he gets his sentence in court." He held out a hand to me, I took it hesitantly. He took me to an armchair.
Leopold was soon taken away. I was now in the infirmary, I hated this place, I had had an extended stay here at the beginning of my participation. I was pushed down the stairs and by the man who perhaps finally had no power over me. I was given a bandage to support my arm, Martin waited patiently at my side until the treatment was over. Then the doctor put a lotion on my left eye. She explained it was a new remedy from New West India. It prevented the bruises from dissolving under the skin and the colour from turning green more quickly. Suddenly someone put a hand on my free shoulder and I flinched. "Excuse me," a deep voice explained, "but someone wishes to see you." Just then the curtain opened and Nicolas stood in front of me. "Belle, I'm so sorry, I heard what happened." He rushed to me and grabbed my hand. I squeezed it briefly. "How could you keep this from me. Was that why you were so upset?", he asked. "Martin has already reprimanded me, please don't make me do it again," I replied tiredly. Without announcing himself first, he hugged me. I was completely overwhelmed by this gesture. On the one hand, I felt secure, on the other hand, it crushed me and my arm ached. My eyes became moist, I threatened to cry in front of him, again. He let go of me and looked at me: "I want to hear the truth Belle, you owe it to me." I clenched my hand into a fist and stood up, staggering a little. I explained that I needed some rest, but he insisted. Eventually, I gave in, sank into a visitor's chair and began my story. How I came to meet Leopold, how he blackmailed me, how he threatened my family. I left out the part about the pack, I didn't think he needed to know that I had come here intending to kill him. "Now you know everything." I watched Nicolas get up and kneel to me, he took my hands in his and squeezed them. Belle, I will make sure he does not harm you or your family again. Guards will come to your parents today and take care of them." He approached me and nuzzled my nose with his. I wanted to say that it was too much of a good thing, but he kissed me.