"Your Majesty, that is highly inappropriate of you to ask!" Belle exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock at the King's audacious request. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she fanned her face, desperately trying to cool the heat that overtook her. It was utterly shameless of him to pose such a question. It was the most immoral thing anyone had ever dared to ask her.
Hezekiah merely stood there, observing her with a mixture of amusement and incredulity. Her reaction was so innocent, so unguarded, that he momentarily forgot she was a married woman. Had he not known of her union with Quinn, he might have believed her to be untouched by any man. The naivety with which she chastised him was endearing, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly. It was refreshing to encounter such unfeigned modesty. But then again, hadn't she and Quinn already experienced such intimacies?
"Oh, my lady, you speak as though you are not a wife. It makes me wonder about your... married life," he teased, his chuckle deepening as Belle's face turned an even brighter shade of red.
Smiling nervously, she stammered, "O-Of course, I do have such a life! I just... I simply wasn't expecting such a question." She avoided meeting his gaze, knowing all too well how good he was at detecting her feelings. If she dared look into his eyes, he would see through her lies in an instant.
"How very convincing," he said, his voice laced with mockery as he shook his head, clearly unconvinced.
"I really must be going now, Your Majesty," Belle said, steering the conversation away from her embarrassment. "I have little time before my absence from the mansion is noticed."
"Ah, of course. We have plenty of time ahead of us to converse. I wouldn't want to be the one to shorten it," he replied, understanding her situation and yielding without further argument.
"Allow me to escort you home," he offered graciously, but Belle's quick and panicked response interrupted him. "No!" Her breath caught as she shook her head emphatically.
"You cannot do that, Your Majesty. I am still a married woman. If I am seen riding in a carriage with another man, the consequences would be dire. Rumors are far more dangerous than swords," she explained, her voice steady but her heart pounding. Hezekiah, of course, was already aware of this but had merely wanted to test her courage.
"Very well," he conceded easily, a small smirk playing at his lips. "I shall take my leave first and entrust my knight to escort you home safely." Without waiting for her reply, he turned toward his carriage.
"I am truly grateful for your understanding, Your Majesty," Belle said earnestly, bowing her head in thanks. For a fleeting moment, she marveled at how considerate he seemed. But deep down, her insecurities lingered. After the betrayal she had endured from Quinn, trusting another man felt as dangerous as walking through flames. She vowed to guard her heart fiercely and not let herself fall for such illusions again.
"I will treat you better than he ever did, Belle," Hezekiah said suddenly, halting mid-step and glancing back at her. His words, spoken with quiet conviction, sent an unbidden shiver through her.
Before she could form a response, he turned and strode away, leaving her rooted to the spot, her heart racing. Shocked and perplexed, she replayed his words in her mind. Yet, no matter how genuine he might appear, she resolved not to be swayed. She knew all too well the masks men could wear, and she refused to let herself believe in promises so easily.
Steadying her racing heart, Belle turned away and took a deep breath. The mission at hand was far more significant, and she resolved to let no distraction steer her from it.
"My lady, shall we?" The knight assigned by the King inquired, stepping to her side. Belle gave him a brisk nod, and together they began their silent journey back to the mansion.
---
To her relief, returning to the estate proved less scary than she had anticipated. Quinn's vigilance in recent days had her fearing he might have discovered her absence and would erupt in fury upon her return. Yet, it seemed fortune had favored her, she had slipped away and returned unnoticed.
Entering her chamber, she found the room cloaked in darkness. The faint glow of moonlight streamed through a crack in the curtain, offering just enough illumination for her to navigate to the candle stand. Quietly, she lit the candle and turned away, only to be startled out of her wits.
"Ahhh! Away with you, ghost!" She cried, seizing anything within reach and hurling it at the figure seated on her bed. In her panic, she didn't stop to look properly, her mind already conjuring the ghostly tales her mother had loved to recount. Belle believed in ghosts, much to her own terror, and she had no intention of falling victim to one tonight.
"Leave!" She shouted, flinging more items with increased desperation. She was just about to flee the room when the "ghost" abruptly grabbed her by the waist, lifting her as though she weighed nothing, and placed her firmly on the nearby table.
"Ahh! What do you want?!" She wailed, keeping her eyes tightly shut, her body thrashing in fear.
"Will you stop this nonsense?" A sharp but low voice commanded, cutting through her panic like a blade. Belle froze, her eyes snapping open to find herself face-to-face with none other than Quinn.
"Quinn!" She exclaimed, relief quickly giving way to annoyance. Her brow furrowed as she realized the absurdity of the scare. Was this his idea of death? To frighten her into a heart attack rather than kill her directly? It would indeed be a better way to avoid suspicion, as no one could accuse him of murder if the doctors deemed it a heart attack.
"What are you…" she began, but his cold tone silenced her.
"I ask the questions. Where have you been?" He questioned, his gaze dark and possessive, the intensity of it causing her to falter for a moment.
"Why does it matter to you?" She retorted, her chin lifting defiantly.
"Oh, Belle," he growled, his voice thick with warning, "I swear you will regret your insolence if you don't tell me where you have been. And…" he leaned closer, his nose wrinkling in disdain, "why you reek of a man's scent." His raised voice echoed in the room, making her flinch involuntarily.
"I don't question your comings and goings, nor do I care where you lay your head," she shot back, her voice trembling with both anger and courage. "Do not presume we share that kind of relationship anymore. I no longer feel anything for you, Quinn. Quit meddling and give me the divorce papers so I can leave…"
Before she could finish, Quinn cut her off, his lips crashing down onto hers in a forceful, possessive kiss. His mouth captured hers, his lips moving against hers with an intensity that took her breath away. Belle's stomach churned, a storm of confusion and unwanted sensation rising within her as he claimed her upper lip with a sensual fervor that left her momentarily paralyzed.