Divorce The Duke, Marry The King!
Chapter 121: baby-eaters

Chapter 121: baby-eaters

"Get everyone food and pack enough for another day’s journey," Quinn ordered. Kay nodded and immediately led a group of warriors into the village to carry out the task.

Turning back, Quinn’s gaze landed on Belle. "You can take a proper bath here. You might not get another chance once we arrive," he remarked, smirking.

Belle frowned at the expression. What was that smirk for? Did he think she couldn’t endure the hardships awaiting them?

"I don’t need a bath. I am fine," she replied curtly and walked away, heading into the village.

Meanwhile, Mia, determined to keep her thoughts away from Ray, immersed herself in conversation with the warriors, laughing and chatting with ease. Thankfully, Ray had been avoiding her, and she was grateful. As long as he stayed away, she didn’t have to fight herself.

Quinn followed after Belle, but she ignored him completely, acting as though he wasn’t beside her.

"Quinn!"

A familiar voice called from behind, and they both turned their heads toward it. Michelle approached them, smiling as if everything was perfectly fine. She sure knew how to be beautiful at the worst moments.

"Let’s go together. I am tired of sitting still," she said as she reached them, but her expression darkened the moment she noticed Belle.

"You seem to be in a good mood. Makes me wonder why," Belle remarked, unable to hold back her curiosity. It wasn’t her fault Michelle had chosen to appear just as she was trying to let things go.

"Ah! After losing my mate, I finally have a man to call mine. Isn’t that something worth celebrating?" Michelle announced cheerfully.

Mia scoffed, crossing her arms. "I am happy for you," she said with obvious sarcasm before turning and walking away.

As Belle ventured deeper into the village, a sudden cry caught her attention. A baby’s wail echoed from a nearby alley, and without hesitation, she rushed toward the sound.

"Oh no!" She gasped, her eyes landing on a small infant lying abandoned on the ground. Hurrying over, she carefully lifted the baby into her arms.

"Who could have left such a cutie like you?" She murmured, swaying gently to soothe the child. Making soft, playful sounds, she attempted to calm the infant. The very idea of a mother abandoning her baby in such a small village unsettled her.

Examining the child closely, she searched for signs of illness or deformity but found none. The baby appeared perfectly healthy. Why, then, had it been left here?

"You have no fear. It could be a possessed child," Quinn’s voice interrupted, and she turned to see him standing at the alley’s entrance. Michelle was no longer with him.

"A child is a child, and we are going to find his parents," Belle declared firmly.

Quinn chuckled. "If the parents wanted it, would you have found it?"

Belle’s movements stilled as she raised her head to meet his gaze. "Just because you gave up on yours doesn’t mean others will," she spat.

Quinn’s expression turned blank.

She never failed to remind him of the child they had lost because of him. Watching her now, so concerned over a stranger’s baby, he realized he had never truly known how much she loved children.

"Fine. Let’s find the parents," Quinn agreed and began walking, prompting Belle to follow after him.

After several minutes, Belle grew tired and started suspecting that he had no real intention of helping her. It felt as though he was simply leading her around.

"Where exactly are we headed?" She asked, frustration creeping into her voice.

"To find the baby’s parents," he replied. Just as she opened her mouth to argue, he suddenly stopped in front of a house, cutting her off.

Quinn knocked twice before the door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man who eyed them carefully.

"How can I help you?" He asked, sizing them up. Their attire was noticeably different from that of the villagers.

"My wife and I were traveling and decided to take refuge here," Quinn began smoothly. "We found this baby abandoned in the alley and would like to help find its parents."

Belle shot him a sharp glare. Wife? Of all titles he could use?

"Oh, another one again?" The man’s gaze shifted to the baby in Belle’s arms as he stepped closer.

Belle frowned. "Again? What do you mean, sire?"

"Though our village may seem small, we have people from all walks of life—war survivors, runaways, the abandoned," the man explained. "No one here is truly family. Many years ago, we decided to elect a leader to bring order, and that is how my ancestors became village heads. I am the seventh in line and have lived here my entire life. Abandoned babies are common. People form relationships and mistakenly conceive but cannot be together due to their backgrounds, so the mothers often leave their children behind."

Belle’s eyes softened as some of her questions found answers.

"If this happens often, how do you care for the abandoned babies?" She asked.

"Sometimes, they don’t survive before anyone finds them," he admitted. "Those we manage to save are sent to the neighboring kingdom, where they are adopted."

Belle’s brows knitted together. "The neighboring kingdom? You mean the witches?"

The village head gave a slow nod.

Quinn scoffed, folding his arms. "So you hand over your children to be eaten by those baby-eaters?"

The man fell silent, his expression unreadable.

"It’s better than watching them perish here," he finally said. "As I told you, no one here is truly a family. Everyone fends for themselves, and no one is willing to take in a child. We could not think of a better solution."

Belle could hear the guilt in his voice. He may have justified his actions, but deep down, she sensed that if he had a choice, he would have done things differently.

"And that’s why you became the witches’ supplier?" Quinn remarked coldly. "Sounds convincing."

Belle’s eyes flashed with anger. "Why do you think he’s lying?" She challenged.

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