Divorce The Duke, Marry The King!
Chapter 93: Mating day

Chapter 93: Mating day

The day of the mating ceremony had arrived, and the castle buzzed with lively activity. Belle sat in her chamber, reflecting on the explanation Hezekiah had given the previous afternoon upon his return. She was uncertain whether to feel sympathy for him or anger. His reasoning held merit, yet it did not erase her frustrations. It only seemed to deepen her worry and bring more doubts into her heart.

She needed to release the lingering emotions tethering her heart to the past, and the only way to do so was by giving herself to another. Since she was not yet ready to love, Hezekiah believed mating would seal the distance between them. The Moon Goddess granted mates so that none would endure loneliness, so that everyone would find the one meant for them—a soul to connect with on a profound level, someone to lean on, to confide in, to entrust one’s very being to. Mating had always been the most effective means of forging such a bond, particularly for fated pairs, though even without destiny’s mark, the ritual could still serve its purpose.

Would she truly feel connected to Hezekiah after this? If he was right, then it was worth trying. It would happen regardless, Quinn’s return had only delayed the inevitable.

"Mother, watch over me." Gazing into the mirror, she steeled herself, choosing to surrender to fate. She had signed an agreement with Hezekiah, there was no turning back now.

A glance out the window revealed the moon sinking lower in the sky. She took a deep breath. The time was drawing near. The moment she had envisioned for so long was now upon her.

—

"Are the preparations complete?" Hezekiah asked his mother, watching as she directed the servants. He had been restless since dawn, tending even to minor details to ensure everything proceeded without flaw. With war looming, now was the perfect moment to see this through.

Chuckling, Maddie lightly smacked his arm and teased, "One would think she was trying to escape from you." The servants, overhearing, smiled at the remark.

"Sometimes, I believe she might," he admitted. Though spoken in jest, Maddie did not take it as such. Dismissing the servants, she took hold of his wrist and led him away.

"Are you afraid her heart belongs elsewhere?" She asked, her voice gentle yet knowing. She had refrained from meddling too much, not wanting to impose, but some burdens were too heavy to bear alone.

"I do not doubt her, the one I fear is Quinn. You know him, Mother. If he sets his sights on something, he will have it, no matter the cost."

At this, Maddie smiled, confusing Hezekiah. What was amusing about that?

"You two are like schoolboys bickering over the prettiest girl in the village," she mused, her amusement unshaken.

For a moment, he stared at her before breaking into a smile himself. She was right. Belle was worth fighting for, and that alone gave him the strength to persist.

"It could not have been put more perfectly," he agreed.

"But Hezekiah, let me tell you something about your father and me." Maddie’s voice softened as she delved into the past. "I never loved your father, not even for a moment but he was relentless in his pursuit. My mate had a childhood sweetheart long before we met, and when fate brought us together, he rejected me that very day. I was raised under a strict mother and had never chased after men, so I rejected him in return and let him go. But then he came back, claiming to regret his decision. By then, I no longer loved him. That was when I met your father." She paused, a small smile forming as she reminisced.

"Your father would leave scars on any man who so much as looked at me with desire. He did everything to have me, but I had sworn never to marry after being rejected and never gave him a chance. Then, one day, he stopped coming to see me, no more gifts, no more visits, no more attention. And suddenly, I found myself worrying about him, thinking of him. He knew exactly how to play his game, and before I even realized it, I had fallen for him." Maddie let out a lighthearted laugh, remembering how stubborn she had once been.

"You were never mates?" Hezekiah asked, astonished. His parents’ love had always been admired, a bond many envied. The revelation that they were not fated mates left him stunned.

"No," she confirmed. "But I am not telling you this to force your hand, I am telling you so that you understand love is not always about fate. You can make a woman love you, but only if you do the right things. If she needs space, give it to her. Do not let Quinn scare you. If she is meant to be yours, she will come running to you. Love cannot be forced, it will only drive her away rather than draw her in."

For some reason, her words struck a chord within him.

Her advice could be the right path, yet his situation differed from hers. Belle had once been married to Quinn, had carried his child, that connection alone could be enough to draw them back together. His mother had never shared anything with her mate before he rejected her; there were no memories, no past to rekindle.

"I will keep your advice in mind, Mother," he said at last.

Maddie smiled.

"It is time, Queen Mother." A servant emerged from the corridor, bowing as they made the announcement.

Maddie turned to Hezekiah, offering an approving nod.

"Well then, I shall see you at the ceremony," she said before leaving with the servant.

—

"It is time, Lady Belle."

The maids attending to her spoke with gentle encouragement, and she smiled at them before rising to her feet. One final glance at the mirror, and she whispered to herself, "You can do this." Smiling.

Then, without hesitation, she led the way out.