"I am not protecting him, Your Majesty. I am merely sparing you from future regrets. His fate matters not to me, but I cannot bear to see your hands stained with his blood," Belle said, her tone urgent. "I beg of you, calm yourself, and I shall explain everything in due course." She hoped Hezekiah would grasp the deeper meaning of her words and restrain himself.
It was not that she opposed Quinn's death, he deserved every torment imaginable but if anyone were to end his life, it must be her. She wouldn't need to strike him with a blade, her revenge alone would destroy him utterly.
Quinn, observing the exchange, could not discern whether she sought to protect him or merely to protect Hezekiah. Her words carried an edge of disdain, as though she wished him dead, but not yet, and not like this.
"Just this once," Hezekiah said at last, after a long pause. He signaled his men to stand down.
Glancing briefly at Quinn, though his words were directed to Belle, he commanded, "Let us speak in private," turning his back and walking away without waiting to see if she followed.
Casting a hateful glance at Quinn, Belle exhaled deeply before following Hezekiah.
They walked in silence for several minutes, eventually reaching the King's garden, secluded from the rest of the castle.
"Why did you truly protect him? Speak plainly, Belle, and spare me no honesty," Hezekiah said, his back still turned toward her, his voice steady but firm.
"I came to you seeking revenge, and that revenge includes Quinn," she began, her tone deliberate. "If he were killed now, it would all be for nothing. His family would divide his properties and sell them off, leaving me no chance to reclaim what is mine. It is far too soon."
"You could still take your revenge upon your father and his family. Are they not also responsible for your suffering?" Hezekiah asked, turning to face her, his voice rising slightly, betraying his lingering anger.
"I need no assistance to bring my family to ruin," Belle replied, meeting his gaze. "They require neither wealth nor power to be undone. Once I expose my father's wrongdoings, his downfall will be assured. But the Duke… He is powerful, beloved by all. It will take far more than mere exposure to see him fall."
Her words gave Hezekiah pause. He already understood that Quinn was the central figure in her quest for vengeance, yet part of him wished she might let go of the past and seek happiness with him instead.
"What if he does not stop provoking me…provoking us?" Hezekiah asked, his frustration evident.
"We agreed upon two months. After that time, he will leave the castle. Surely, we can endure his presence until then," Belle said with confidence, though Hezekiah remained doubtful.
"Do you truly feel nothing for him anymore? Not even a shred of affection? Does his presence bring you no unease? Do memories of better times with him not haunt you?" He bombarded her with questions, his voice firm but tinged with curiosity and doubt.
Belle swallowed hard, unable to deny all his questions entirely. Yet, she remained resolute. She would never allow herself to fall for Quinn again—of that, she was certain.
"I do not know. But what I do know is this: that man is the cause of my pain, and I shall never entrust my heart to such a man again," she replied firmly.
"I sincerely hope that is true, Belle. At times, I find myself uncertain of what to believe," Hezekiah said, his voice carrying a trace of doubt.
"Your Majesty, ours is a contract, not a union born of love. You should not concern yourself with my feelings," she reminded him, her tone measured. "We both agreed that love would have no place between us, did we not?" She hoped to ground him in the reality of their arrangement, fearing he might be allowing emotions to cloud his judgment.
"We made no such agreement regarding my feelings, Belle," Hezekiah responded unexpectedly, his gaze steady. "Or am I not permitted to fall in love?" His words caused her heart to skip a beat. Surely, he could not mean it, he must be jesting.
"I will never return such feelings, Your Majesty. Love has no place in my life," she replied, her voice devoid of hesitation. Her rejection struck Hezekiah deeply, though he masked his hurt as best he could.
"Is it truly that you have no time for love, or is it that you cannot release the hold he still has on your heart?" he questioned, his voice laced with quiet frustration. Belle stood silent, her words failing her. She loathed Quinn with every fiber of her being, yet she had not dared ask herself whether love for him lingered, buried beneath her hatred. Did she still harbor affection for the man who had taken everything precious from her?
"As I said before, there is no need for you to concern yourself with my feelings. I shall handle Quinn myself," she replied coldly.
"Tell me honestly," Hezekiah said abruptly, his question catching her off guard. "Would you have allowed me to kiss you if Quinn had not interrupted?" His words struck her like a blow, forcing her to confront the question she had been avoiding.
"You should take your rest now, Your Majesty," she said, evading his inquiry and turning to leave.
"I demand an answer!" Hezekiah's sudden shout halted her in her tracks, and she sighed heavily, realizing she could no longer avoid the truth.
"Since you insist upon honesty, I shall give it to you," she began, her voice steady as she met his gaze. "Kissing was never part of our arrangement. But given intimacy is inevitable, I decided to allow it. To be frank, I did not close my eyes willingly. In truth, I was partly grateful to Quinn for interrupting us." Her tone and expression were sincere, her words cutting him to the core.
"Is there no hope for me at all?" He asked softly, his vulnerability laid bare.
Staring at him blankly, she responded, "I would ask that you refrain from such advances in public, Your Majesty. Whatever moments of intimacy we share should remain strictly within the bounds of what is outlined in our contract."
"Then grant me one promise," he said, his voice, pleading.
"What would you ask of me?" She inquired, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"That neither I nor Quinn shall ever be given the chance to love you," he said earnestly. "Promise me you will remain true to yourself and grant neither of us the right to your heart, nor the privilege to touch you."