Divorce The Duke, Marry The King!
Chapter 99: Follow your heart

Chapter 99: Follow your heart

The following morning, Quinn woke to the most beautiful sight he had seen in a long time. Stroking Belle’s hair, he watched as she slept, blissfully unaware of his gaze.

’If only I had believed her...’ he thought.

If he had trusted her back then, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. She wouldn’t have had to carry their child alone, wouldn’t have had to endure the suffering that came with it. Their child would be over a year old by now, if not for him.

Reaching out, he traced his fingers gently along her cheek, fully aware that he did not deserve her. None of them did. But he was too selfish to let her go.

Just then, a mind-link interrupted his thoughts, forcing his hand to still.

’Duke, the twelve elders have arrived at the palace gates. Should we stall them?’ Ray’s voice echoed in his mind.

Quinn’s expression darkened. Why were they in a hurry? Those annoying things always chose the worst timing to do things, if only they could be gotten rid of.

With a frustrated sigh, he turned his gaze back to Belle. He leaned in and placed a lingering kiss on her forehead before silently slipping out of bed.

Carefully, he pulled the duvet over her, making sure she was properly covered. Then, with one last glance at her sleeping form, he made his way to the window.

A final look. A silent hesitation. Then he was gone.

The moment he left, Belle opened her eyes. Sitting up, she ran her fingers through her hair, exhaling heavily. Doubt clouded her thoughts. She had been awake before him but had kept her eyes shut, pretending to sleep. She wasn’t ready to face him, not after everything that had happened.

Last night had been... overwhelming. There had been no time to process anything. She had simply let go, allowing the night to carry her along.

Pushing the thoughts aside, she rose from bed and walked toward the mirror. Tilting her head, she brushed her fingers over the tender skin of her neck, only to find the wound replaced with a deep hickey.

Her heart sank. How was she supposed to walk around with such a hickey? Even if her hair could cover it, any rough movement could expose it.

Hickeys would fade, but this one stood out starkly against her skin. Still, it was not a permanent mark, not like a mate’s mark. That thought alone brought a strange sense of relief.

She tilted her head to the right, checking on Quinn’s old mark. It was already fading. How ironic. One mark on each side of her neck, one fading, the other fresh from the same man.

Just then, the door creaked open.

Belle stiffened, hastily pulling her hair over the hickey.

"Good morning," came Mia’s voice as she stepped inside.

Belle sighed in relief upon seeing her. "Good morning." Her tone was indifferent, almost distant.

Mia hesitated, guilt washing over her. Without warning, she pulled Belle into a tight embrace.

"I am sorry," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I should have been there for you. I should have put your feelings first... I just..." She could not utter the words seh truly wanted to say.

Belle, caught off guard, smiled and hugged her back. "Mia, it’s fine," she reassured her, gently patting her back. "You are here now, and I am fine. I am also sorry too...for keeping things from you."

They both knew about her feelings for Quinn, it was of no use hiding it even if she was denying it. Things had already gone far beyond that.

"Tell me, did he hurt you?" Mia asked, pulling away from the hug. Her sharp eyes scanned Belle’s body, halting when they landed on the hickey.

Belle followed her gaze and sighed. "Oh, this? He healed the injury and... replaced it with a hickey," she admitted, lowering her head in embarrassment.

Mia gently lifted Belle’s chin, forcing her to meet her gaze. "There is nothing to be ashamed of. Follow your heart," she reassured her. "You deserve to be selfish for once. This time, I will support whatever decision you make. But if he hurts you again, I will kill him myself."

The sincerity in her words made Belle’s eyes water. These were the words I needed to hear. Now that she had heard them, the guilt eased—just a little. ’Should she give him another chance?’ She thought.

"Thank you, Mia," she murmured, her lips forming a small, playful pout.

The expression was so unexpected that both women burst into laughter.

"I have some news for you, but first, you need to eat something," Mia said, shaking her head in amusement. "Freshen up and come to the dining hall, alright? Everything will be fine."

Belle nodded, her expression brightening. She looked almost childlike in her obedience. "Alright, I will be down in a jiffy."

With that, she turned toward the bathroom, leaving Mia standing by the door. As soon as Belle was gone, Mia exhaled deeply. The tension between them had finally lifted.

Whatever came next, she would face it alongside Belle, no matter what.

And as for Hezekiah... he owed them an explanation.

Without another thought, she turned on her heels and headed toward his chambers, determined to get the answers he had denied her the night before.

—

After bathing, Belle stepped out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around her body, only to find a small group of maids stationed in her room.

She froze. A frown settled on her face. She hadn’t summoned anyone, and there was no major occasion. Why were they here?

"Your Grace, we are here to help you dress," the lead maid announced, bowing politely.

Belle blinked, still puzzled. "I didn’t call for assistance. Is something important happening?"

The maid took a step closer, lifting her head to meet Belle’s gaze.

"We are your assigned maids and will be serving you from now on," she explained. "Especially me."

Belle’s confusion only deepened.

She had rejected the idea of personal maids upon arriving at the castle, allowing exceptions only for royal orders or special occasions. So why was she suddenly being assigned attendants?

"I turned down the offer for personal maids," Belle reminded her, raising a questioning brow. "There must be a mistake."

The maid, however, remained composed. "Now that you are mated to the king, you are officially the Luna and Queen," she stated. "A queen does not walk the palace halls without attendants. It has always been this way."

Belle fell silent. The logic was sound. A queen did walk with maids. How did she not think of this before?

Still... their mating had not yet been fully sealed. Did the ceremony alone truly make her his queen?

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