Chapter 66: Or a massacre
Belle sat motionless until he was finally gone. Rising from the bed, she walked to the desk, her thoughts swirling. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she sighed, pressing a hand against its surface. What had gotten into her today?
She wasn’t jealous, nor was she angry at him. It was a sense of disgust, a normal reaction to a shameless man like him. Watching a married man indulge in such indecency was irritating, something anyone would find repugnant. Why was she even straining to justify such an obvious response?
The door burst open without warning, and Belle hiccuped, startled. Whipping her head toward the intruder, she glared at the only person bold enough to barge in like that.
"Oops, someone looks angry!" Mia teased, raising her hands in mock surrender as she slipped inside and gently closed the door. Her quiet approach did little to soothe Belle’s irritation.
"What do you want?" Belle asked curtly, turning away. Mia, unfazed, smiled sheepishly and sat on the desk in front of her.
"Would you like to go to town tomorrow? We can use the King’s influence to skip training," Mia proposed cheerfully. Belle sighed, already anticipating her reason for being here. Mia’s excitement was always transparent, easy to decipher.
"And why?" Belle asked, beginning to unfasten her dress.
"There’s a fair in town! It’s been ages since we attended one, thanks to that witch at the Duke’s estate," Mia grumbled, her expression briefly souring before brightening again, prompting a chuckle from Belle.
"You have become more... refined since then. Are you sure you can handle the chaos, noise, and crowds?" Belle inquired, her tone laced with little concern, though she was mindful of Mia’s elevated status.