"Has he gone mad?" Mia exclaimed irritably, her gaze fixed in a sharp glare at Quinn.
"Is that his new lover?"
"He can't seem to get enough of them. I wonder how his wife feels."
"She's quite beautiful, though."
Murmurs rippled through the arena as onlookers turned their scrutiny toward Belle. She sat frozen, as though paralyzed, unable to muster words or actions. The suddenness of Quinn's declaration left her reeling, and now the weight of countless stares pinned her in place like a rare, prized artifact.
"I… I am not his woman," she stammered, her voice trembling and barely audible. Even Mia and Aurora, seated right beside her, failed to catch her words over the crowd's noise.
"Why does it even matter? We are here for the fight, not your woman!" A frustrated woman from the audience shouted. Her outburst quickly garnered roaring approval from others.
Belle exhaled shakily, clutching Mia's arm for support as relief washed over her. The momentary reprieve allowed her racing heart to settle, though she remained mortified. How much longer could she endure Quinn's torment, both in public and private? These past two days, she has done everything to avoid him after their ill-fated meeting on his balcony, an encounter blurred by too much wine and unspoken tension.
Surely, this was punishment for disobeying his summons to the passageway. She should have known better than to think he will let her defiance go unanswered. How was she ever going to sneak out of the King's chambers without drawing attention? It was an impossible task.
"Should you see her with another man, inform me at once," Quinn's commanding voice boomed over the crowd. "That woman is mine, mark her face and remember it." His finger pointed directly at Belle, drawing all eyes back to her.
"He's absolutely insane," Aurora muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. She stared at Quinn, a mixture of shock and disappointment clouding her expression. Once, she had admired him, perhaps even loved him more than her own brother. But Belle's presence had unraveled everything, leaving Aurora to struggle with the reality of Quinn's real self. Whatever had driven him to this, she was determined to uncover it.
"I think we should leave," Belle whispered desperately, her anxiety mounting.
"No way!" Mia snapped, gripping Belle's arm firmly. "If he wants to put on a show, let him. We are not running."
"But I—"
"Exactly what he wants," Mia interrupted, her tone firm. "He wants you disturbed and afraid, Belle. He feeds on your helplessness, on your compliance. Don't give him that satisfaction. Match his energy. If he's going to play games, don't back down, fight back."
Mia's words struck a chord, echoing truths Belle already suspected but struggled to confront. She knew Quinn rejoiced in her discomfort, bending her will to suit his schemes. But Mia's defiance stirred something within her, a resolve she hadn't realized she still possessed.
"What if he doesn't relent?" Belle asked, her concern evident.
"That's precisely where you come in," Mia replied with a knowing smile. "The more you withdraw, the more determined he becomes to shatter your resolve. But if you stop letting him get to you, if you play along with his schemes, he will get tired of the game and move on. Fake it till you make it," she added, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"I hadn't thought of it that way," Belle admitted, her mind already spinning with ideas. "So, I should match his energy?"
"Not just match it, surpass it," Mia suggested confidently, winking at Belle. "Trust me, he won't last more than a month, maybe two weeks at most."
Belle couldn't help but smile, her spirits lifted by Mia's boldness.
"Ahh!" A loud cry from the crowd drew their attention back to the arena. To their surprise, Quinn was sprawled on the ground, knocked down by the bull.
"This is going to be entertaining!" Aurora exclaimed, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Watching him get his ass handed to him might just make my day."
"Get up!" someone from the crowd shouted.
"I bet a fortune on you—don't let me down!"
"Told you he wouldn't last! Bulls aren't like humans."
"You better win, you bastard!"
As jeers and anxious cries filled the air, Quinn pushed himself to his feet, brushing dust from his clothes. But instead of focusing on the charging bull, his gaze shifted, locking onto Belle.
'What is he doing?!' Belle thought, her chest tightening as anxiety gripped her. Her palms grew sweaty, and she fought the urge to shout for him to move. 'This is exactly what Mia warned me about—don't react,' she reminded herself. Forcing herself to stay calm, she kept her expression indifferent, even as her heart raced.
Quinn smirked, waiting until the last possible moment before sidestepping the bull's charge with ease.
"That's unexpected. You have passed the test," he muttered under his breath, a faint smile tugging at his lips. What has changed? In just two days of not seeing her, she seemed different, colder, more composed. It was unsettling.
Shaking off his distraction, Quinn refocused on the game, throwing himself into the mood. Though he took several blows from the bull, each seemed to fuel his determination.
Belle watched in silence, her heart racing each time he was struck. She would shudder at his injuries but quickly forced herself to regain composure before Mia or Aurora could notice her concern. The tension of the fight stretched on for twenty long minutes.
"Are you all right?" Mia finally asked, noticing the somber expression on Belle's face. Her voice was tinged with curiosity and concern.
Belle didn't immediately answer, her thoughts a tangled mess.
Mia studied her closely, an inkling forming in her mind. She knew Belle despised Quinn, largely because of the pain he caused her. But if Belle's feelings were starting to resurface, Mia wouldn't be entirely surprised. She only hoped the King had already managed to secure her loyalty in the most permanent way possible, through another child. Anything to prevent whatever lingering affection Belle might have for Quinn from growing stronger.