"You have less than six hours to vacate my estate, unless, of course, you would prefer my men to assist you in departing *politely,*" Quinn commanded coldly before turning on his heel and leaving the room.
Belle barely paid his threat any mind. Her attention remained fixed on the divorce papers in her possession. She cared not for his attempts to humiliate her, she had already anticipated his every move. The king and she had long since arranged her departure, knowing Quinn's impulsive nature. That he would resort to expelling her from the estate was a foregone conclusion.
But, alas for him, she was more than prepared. She would leave without hesitation, never to return.
Staring at the door through which Quinn had exited, a small, satisfied smile crept across her face. "You shall pay for everything soon," she whispered to herself before turning to gather her belongings.
"My lady!" Came a sudden cry, and as Belle turned, she saw Mia rushing toward her, wrapping her in a tight embrace.
Relief washed over Belle upon seeing her faithful maid. She had been planning to confront Izabella to demand Mia's release, but it appeared she had no need. If Quinn knew of Mia's absence, he showed no sign of it, and his lack of interference made Belle suspect Mia's disappearance had been orchestrated by Izabella alone.
"Did she harm you? What happened?" Belle asked urgently, pulling back from the embrace to inspect Mia for injuries. Her eyes darted over the maid's figure, searching for any signs of abuse. Knowing Izabella's love for cruelty, Belle feared the worst. The only reason Mia had avoided Izabella's full wrath in the past was because she was smart and knew how to take care of herself. If only Belle possessed Mia's intelligence, she might not have endured so much suffering.
"She wouldn't dare," Mia replied, dismissing Belle's concern with a wave of her hand. "She merely had me running errands and waiting on her."
"That wretched woman!" Belle spat, her anger flaring at the thought of Mia serving Izabella. It infuriated her that the vile woman never ceased her attempts to sway Mia to her side, oblivious to the loyalty that bound the two women together. Mia had been her sole confidante, the only person she could trust implicitly. No matter the circumstance, Belle knew Mia would never betray her.
"Let it be," Mia said gently, steering the conversation elsewhere. "Did you obtain the divorce papers?"
At the mention of the papers, Belle's irritation melted into a triumphant smile as she held them up for Mia to see.
"Ah!" Mia exclaimed in delight, drawing Belle into another enthusiastic hug.
"I know you will be thrilled. Now all we need is for the king's man to…" Belle began, but her words were interrupted by a knock at the door. Both women turned their gaze toward the entrance.
"My lady," a voice called respectfully from the doorway. The speaker, standing just outside with his head bowed, had not crossed the threshold, given the door remained open.
"Well, that was swift!" Mia exclaimed, recognizing the man as one of the guards who had been assigned to protect Belle since her return from the castle. She beamed at him, her joy evident.
"Is the carriage prepared?" Belle inquired, her tone steady and composed.
The guard nodded promptly, affirming that all was in readiness.
"My lady, please follow me. We shall have men gather your belongings and load them into the carriage," the guard urged. Belle and Mia exchanged astonished glances. Even upon her initial arrival at the Duke's estate, she had carried her things herself with the help of a few servants, and Quinn had never intervened.
This sudden royal treatment felt surreal, leaving them both skeptical.
"We can manage it oursel…" Belle began, but the guard interrupted her politely yet firmly. "My lady, forgive my boldness, but it is not a matter of choice. We either carry out this duty or face grave consequences."
Belle swallowed hard, unease creeping in at the thought. Could the King have issued such a severe threat to ensure she was treated with the utmost respect? Not wishing to complicate matters, she gave a slight nod and said, "Very well, lead the way." Taking Mia's hand, she gently pulled her along. No one, not even the Duke, would force Mia to remain behind, especially since Mia was never truly a servant of this household.
"I need to gather my clothing…" Mia interjected, remembering she hadn't packed.
"Leave them," Belle replied swiftly, her grip on Mia tightening. "Those garments belong to the Duke. I will ensure you have new ones when we reach the castle."
"Oh, you are right. I hadn't thought of that," Mia said, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She chuckled nervously, recalling how Belle had refused to take a single item tied to the Duke's estate.
"It is of no consequence," Belle reassured her. "We shall have finer dresses, ones befitting a new life. Not maid's uniforms." Her tone carried a subtle implication that piqued Mia's curiosity.
"What do you mean?" Mia inquired, but Belle merely smiled and quickened their pace toward the mansion's entrance.
Once outside, Belle paused to glance back at the estate. With quiet resolve, she murmured, "In one year, each of you shall beg for your lives." She exhaled softly, then turned away, leading Mia toward the waiting carriage.
---
Upon arriving at the castle, they were met with an unexpected sight. A long row of people standing at the entrance, as though awaiting their arrival.
As Belle and Mia stepped out of the carriage, they instinctively moved closer together, surveying the crowd cautiously. Why were they being greeted by such a gathering? Could it be for another guest? And yet, the smiles on the faces of those assembled seemed directed squarely at them.
"My lady, I believe they are looking at us," Mia whispered, masking her unease with a forced smile.
"No, it cannot be," Belle replied in a low voice. "Let us maintain our composure." She was about to step forward when a spirited young woman, about Mia's age, broke from the line and rushed toward them, enveloping Mia in an enthusiastic embrace.
"Welcome home, Belle! I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival. You seem absolutely perfect for my brother," the young woman exclaimed, her grip on Mia tightening to near suffocation.
"I…I think…there is some misunderstanding," Mia managed to gasp, struggling to free herself. "I am not Belle."
At this revelation, the young woman released her hold abruptly, her eyes widening in surprise. "What? You are not? Then where is she?"
"I apologize if I have fallen short of your expectations," Belle interjected, stepping forward with a composed smile. "But I am the Belle you are seeking."