Divorce The Duke, Marry The King!
Chapter 59: Stay by my side

Chapter 59: Stay by my side

"Oh, but I will need to inform my trainer," Belle said, closing the box gently.

"I have already taken care of that," Hezekiah replied smoothly. "There won’t be any daytime training tomorrow."

Belle’s eyes narrowed slightly, a knowing expression forming on her face. So that explained the nighttime training. But wouldn’t she be too exhausted from attending a wedding all day?

"I see. Then I will prepare myself for the wedding immediately," she said, smiling warmly. She took a step toward her destination, only to be stopped when Hezekiah gently grabbed her wrist.

"I am not in a hurry for the wedding. Besides, you will have tomorrow morning for preparations. Would you mind sparing me your evening instead?" He asked, his voice soft yet persuasive. Belle raised her eyebrows, intrigued by his request. What did he have planned for them?

Given their recent misunderstandings, perhaps this was an opportunity to mend things. She didn’t want her relationship with Hezekiah to end on a sour note, not like her previous one. Mia’s words echoed in her mind—perhaps opening her heart to the man who might one day be the father of her child wasn’t such a terrible idea.

"All right," she agreed, turning to face him with a brighter smile. Her answer brought a cheerful grin to Hezekiah’s face, and Belle couldn’t help but find it amusing how easily his mood shifted with just one word from her. Was this how foolish she had been with Quinn?

"Take this to her room," Hezekiah ordered one of his guards, who promptly retrieved the box from Belle and departed.

"After you," he said, gesturing politely. Belle started walking in the direction he pointed, and he followed closely behind.

As they continued, Belle began to doubt their destination. She had lived in the castle long enough to believe she knew every corner, yet this path felt unfamiliar. It was near the servants’ quarters, which explained why she might not have ventured here before, but the road seemed almost untouched, with an eerie quietness growing the further they walked.

"Don’t worry. No one is allowed here except me," Hezekiah reassured her, noticing her unease. He moved to walk in front of her, hoping to ease her nerves.

His reassurance worked. Taking a deep breath, Belle reminded herself that Hezekiah wouldn’t harm her. If he wanted to, he wouldn’t do it so close to the castle where he could easily be caught. Not that she believed she was special enough to warrant such an ordeal, but even the most inexperienced murderer wouldn’t act so carelessly.

"We are here," Hezekiah announced, pulling her from her thoughts. Belle raised her head, her lips parting in shock at the sight before her.

Moving closer to the path, now adorned with glowing fireflies hovering above a small water body, she murmured, "Wow." Her voice barely above a whisper, she was utterly mesmerized by the scene. It was breathtakingly beautiful, unlike anything she’d ever seen since arriving in this world.

How could such a wondrous place exist? Was it entirely natural, or had it been enhanced with care?

"This was my father’s favorite spot when he was alive. Beautiful, isn’t it?" Hezekiah’s voice broke the spell, and he extended a hand to her. Belle nodded silently, unable to tear her gaze away from the glimmering fireflies. Nearby, shimmering butterflies danced among the light, leaving her to wonder if butterflies could truly illuminate their surroundings.

She placed her hand in his, allowing Hezekiah to guide her along a narrow path between the shimmering water bodies. They stopped at the very center, where fireflies and butterflies danced in radiant harmony above them, creating an ethereal spectacle.

"Are they like this during the day?" She asked, her voice tinged with wonder. He smiled at her question and playfully flicked her forehead.

"Ah!" She cried out, rubbing the spot where his finger had landed.

"Silly, no," he replied with a chuckle. "Fireflies are a treasure of the night. During the day, this place is nothing more than an ordinary, abandoned water body. But when night falls, it becomes a home to wonders. The butterflies’ unique patterns blend seamlessly with the fireflies’ glow, making it magical."

"Oh, they are so mesmerizing," she breathed, stretching her hand out toward the fireflies, hoping one might come close.

To her surprise, a firefly gently perched on her palm, and she shrieked with delight. "It came!" She exclaimed, her voice a mix of disbelief and excitement as she admired the tiny creature.

"You will scare it off if you keep shouting like that," Hezekiah teased, shaking his head. Despite his words, his eyes softened as he watched her. Her smile was genuine, unguarded—a rarity since Quinn’s return. She had been trying so hard to remain composed, to resist the emotions stirred by her former lover. If only Hezekiah could rid her of Quinn entirely. Yet, he knew Belle wanted to face Quinn on her own terms, and so he held himself back.

"Belle," Hezekiah called, his tone softer now, drawing her attention back to him. She turned, her face alight with curiosity.

"Hm?" She hummed, tilting her head in response.

"I know you don’t love me," he began, his voice steady but filled with an undertone of vulnerability. "And I have no intention of forcing you to. But Belle..." He stepped closer, closing the space between them. Her smile faded as the seriousness in his tone gripped her, and she swallowed, sensing the weight of his words.

"If losing you means watching you return to Quinn, then... I wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate him. It might sound selfish, but from the moment I saved you, I knew I wanted you to be mine." His voice deepened, filled with quiet intensity, and Belle’s breath hitched. His words weren’t friendly, and they carried a force that made her uneasy, unsure of what to expect.

"Don’t take this as a threat," he clarified, sensing her hesitation. "See it as the helpless confession of a man who can’t control his feelings. And that’s why tonight, I am taking a step forward."

Before she could react, his hands gently found her waist, pulling her closer until their faces were just an inch apart.

"Belle," he said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Will you give me the chance to be the man you spend the rest of your life with? I don’t mind if you don’t love me yet. Just stay by my side."

Her heart raced, and she clutched the fabric of her gown, her fingers trembling. She couldn’t speak, her lips parting as if to answer, but the words failed her. His gaze fell to her lips, and hers, almost unwillingly, fell to his. The warmth of his breath brushed against her, the air between them charged with a tension that made her chest tighten.

Before she could decide whether to move closer or pull away, Hezekiah closed the gap, capturing her lips in a sudden, firm kiss.