Divorce The Duke, Marry The King!
Chapter 101: Fancy men

Chapter 101: Fancy men

"What?" Bewildered, he turned to face her, his gaze fixed upon her in disbelief.

"I am in accord with the twelve elders. I shall go to war," she repeated, lifting her head to meet his gaze, her resolve unshaken. If she were to be truthful, she wanted to scream and refuse the offer. But a Queen, no, a Luna could not afford to be weak. If she sought to secure her standing, perhaps proving the rumors false upon the battlefield was the only way.

Without a word, Hezekiah strode toward Belle, seizing her wrist, intent on leading her away when Quinn’s hand suddenly fell upon his own, halting him in place.

"Release me at once!" Hezekiah commanded, his voice sharp with anger. Yet Quinn remained unfazed, a smirk gracing his lips as he drawled, "Shall we allow the rumors to linger, or shall we grant her the chance to earn her respect?"

Hezekiah’s free hand clenched at Quinn’s words, frustration surging within him. He despised how right the man was and worse, that he was powerless to correct him. He had always believed himself to be in command, yet time and again, he found himself at the mercy of others. What kind of king was he, if even his ministers wielded greater influence? The very thought sickened him.

"He is right. You must let me go, I must do this myself," Belle urged, placing a gentle hand upon his wrist, forcing a smile to reassure him. Yet it did little to soothe the storm within him. His expression was taut with pain, his rage simmering beneath the surface.

Lowering his head, Hezekiah closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply before relinquishing his hold on her. Then, turning to face the twelve elders, he declared, "Lady Belle shall go to war, but I have a condition."

A murmur passed through the gathered elders as they exchanged wary glances.

"A condition?" The elder woman from before inquired. "Pray, tell us what it is, Your Majesty."

All eyes rested upon Hezekiah, each awaiting his decree with trepidation. Some feared he would insist on accompanying Belle into battle, while others dreaded that it involved the Duke.

"If this is to safeguard her reputation, then I shall send my most trusted knight to watch over her. He alone shall be permitted to guide her and not the Duke," he pronounced.

At this, Quinn let out a quiet chuckle, as though he had foreseen the very words before they were spoken.

"Are you certain your knight is capable of protecting her?" Quinn mused, folding his arms across his chest.

"That is none of your concern," Hezekiah retorted sharply.

Belle turned to Quinn, suspicion flickering in her eyes. Had he played a part in her being sent to war? It was unlike Hezekiah to deny Quinn the right to protect her. Why, then, was he so adamant that Steve be the one at her side? And more importantly, Quinn appeared unfazed by the unfolding events. In fact, he seemed almost... pleased, as though he had anticipated this very outcome from the moment she arrived.

Suddenly, a memory from the previous night surfaced in her mind, and she parted her lips, scoffing at the realization. Quinn had asked her if she could endure hardship for two months, and now, as the pieces fell into place, it all made sense. He must have been the one who suggested the idea to the twelve elders. And, truth be told, it was a brilliant move, if she returned triumphant, it would do much to convince the kingdom of her worth.

"What?" Quinn mouthed, feigning ignorance as he met her piercing gaze. Then, with a wink, he only further provoked her ire, prompting her to glare before looking away. That cunning man! She should have known something was amiss the moment she found him in her chambers. Why had he been there in her absence? And his tone when they spoke last night was as though he had already foreseen that the mating would fail.

"If the Duke agrees to an extra hand, then we shall not oppose your decision," the elder woman declared, and at once, all eyes turned to Quinn, awaiting his response.

"If the extra hand proves capable of surviving," Quinn replied mischievously, grinning from ear to ear, an expression that made Hezekiah clench his jaw in irritation.

Stepping closer, Hezekiah lowered his voice and said, "I trust the Duke shall refrain from playing any tricks and shall see to it that both my knight and the future Queen, my woman, are well protected." He placed deliberate emphasis on the last words, intent on provoking Quinn.

"Alas, I don’t fancy men, so I cannot vow to protect your knight," Quinn replied smoothly. "But as for your woman, she shall be well-guarded, Your Majesty." Though his tone remained polite, it was clear to all that there lay a hidden meaning behind their words. Their exchange was not mere conversation, it was a veiled warning, a battle of wills unfolding before the court’s very eyes.

Hezekiah’s expression darkened as he turned from Quinn. "I would have a word with my Queen, leave us," he commanded.

The elders and ministers exchanged brief glances before silently departing. As Belle’s father, Clifford, passed, he inclined his head and said, "Your Grace, I have matters to discuss with you. I shall wait in your garden." With that, he offered Belle a small smile before exiting the hall.

Now, only she and Hezekiah remained.

"If you seek to offer me an apology, I have no wish to hear it," Belle said at once, her voice steady. "I demand an explanation, and unless that is what you intend to give, I shall take my leave."

Hezekiah exhaled heavily, uncertain how to explain himself without revealing too much. He knew himself to be a coward for withholding the truth of his past mistakes, yet he feared losing Belle more than anything. But even if he were to tell her only part of it, she would not believe him—for she would need to hear everything to truly understand.

"I... I know you dislike when I keep secrets from you," he admitted, his voice low. "But some truths are best left unspoken."

Belle scoffed, stepping closer. "I shall decide what is best left unspoken. That is not for you to determine." Her gaze burned into his, unrelenting.