Chapter 25

Belle's POV

Twice?

Her ears are ringing, her head bent low as she slips through the long corridors.

Twice?

And not only did she let him fuck her twice, but she'd been the one who begged him for it so shamelessly...

"Goodness....what was I thinking!?" She groans, throwing her head back, earning a few side glances from passing maids nearby.

Belle doesn't even spare them a glance, still lost in her own head.

How could she...she's supposed to be finding a way home! Not getting herself tangled up with a man like this.

And not just any man,

One powerful enough to ruin her life in one command.

She presses herself against a wall, dragging a heavy shameful breath, while spontaneously ignoring the looks thrown at her.

The Prince is just too attractive for his own good. And if he was born in her time, he would surely be scouted as a top model instantly. The kind you saw on billboards and fangirls would go crazy over.

So maybe that's it...

Maybe having the attention of someone so powerful is just so enticing.

That's definitely it.

At the same time, she shouldn't be playing such games while she's still stuck here in a world that's not hers. As a lowly maid nonetheless!

She exhales slowly and sinks to the floor, back pressed against the cold wall.

Her body still aches deliciously, a reminder that entails every detail of that dusty room.

It was so intense, much more than anything she's ever experienced. Even James and all those months together, it never felt like this..

She's never felt so utterly claimed, and used like that before.

And his cock...goodness, so big! Hitting all the right spots, all the right angles. Leaving her a moaning and shaking mess.

How could she even move on after being fucked like that?!

She exhales for like the fifth time, forcing herself back up, thighs quivering a bit as she does.

She needs to go clean up now if she wants some privacy, as most of the palace staff are still holding their duties.

So Belle weaves past the small crowd of maids, down into the kitchen, keeping her head lowered as slips past the back door.

Down in the bath, she slips into one of the stalls, pulling her maids dress off in a feverish rush, before she finally sinks into a... much smaller tub than the one in the Prince's bath...letting the cold water press into her skin.

She sits there, drowning in the memories of them.

Of him.

The way he groaned her name, the way his thrusts turned rough and uneven, like he couldn't help him myself.

Even when he'd almost marked her...

Wait!

She jerks up so fast water splashes unto the tiles, rushing to take in her look in the small mirror mounted close to the entrance.

There's a...

There's a teeth mark right over where her scent gland should be.

Belle's eyes widens, shaky fingers coming up to feel the scratch. It's red against the white paleness of her skin.

It's not a mark persay...but close.

Close enough that it makes her heart pound.

Because what if he doesn't hold himself back next time? Marks her before his coronation.

Marks her before he can choose a proper mate?

She shakes the thought off, slapping her cheeks lightly.

What is she even saying? Why would there be a next time?

Her hand brushes over the mark one more time just feeling....before she hears the shuffle of feet just outside.

Wrapping the towel tighter around herself, Belle rushes back to her stall just before a few maids can slide in.

She knows them, Elvira, Clara, Elisa, and Sofhiya....maids often in charge of chamber cleaning.

They always hear the latest gossip because sometimes, some of the royals don't care about talking loosely around 'lowly maids'

And from the sound of their chatter, there's another hot new gossip circulating. Belle strains her ears to listen though she's not really friends with these girls.

"Yeah, they said many of the staff working in the north wing heard it." She hears one say, and her heart instantly begins to pound.

Heard what?

Is it about her?

Is this about her and the Prince?

Her heartbeat is loud as they continue;

"They say it was so intense." One of them chuckles, "the Prince was being so loud."

She bites her lip until she tastes blood, panic already clawing up her throat. This is exactly why she shouldn't have done that!

Shouldn't have let the Prince touch her like that...

Did she think no one would find out? That they were the only one there?

Her tear glands are already acting up, because now she's done for. Totally done for..

"Rumors are circulating among the families selected for the mating ceremony." She hears the first one continue, "they think one of the mates might have jumped the selection process already."

She hears them laugh quietly, and for a moment she's still panicking...until the words slowly sink in.

She clasps a hand over her mouth, leaning over in relief, chest rising and falling as she repeats the words over and over in her head. Dissecting it from every angle.

So they don't know it's her?

They think it's one of the Prince's potential mates?

She's never felt such bone-deep exhilaration as she feels in that moment. She almost laughs out loud, if not that the maids are still talking outside.

"I'm envious of whoever it was though.." one says again, dreamily. "She's so lucky...!"

"That true..." One scoffs in jealousy. "The inner palace is in a frenzy, everyone is trying to figure out which of the maidens the Prince has already chosen. The jealousy is palpable."

They laugh out loud now. "But apparently, from the descriptions we heard...whoever it was must be just as hot. The Prince sounded like he was enjoying so much.."

Belle hates how she turns pink at the indirect compliment, a traitorous grin perching on her lips.

It seems like he really did enjoy it…

Just like she did.

"Yeah, whatever. I hope it's Princess Kayla anyways." One of them mumbles, "It honestly seems like she already has the Prince wrapped around her pinky finger."

Belle's smile instantly drops. Kayla is taking her credit now?

"Yes, that's so true." Another one giggles, "Honestly, I'm shipping them."

Belle rolls her eyes, almost tempted to go out there and show off the faint marks the Prince left on her...shoving it in their faces.

All of them.

But she stays put, even as the silence stretches until one of them breaks it once more.

"But it's funny though...they couldn't wait to get to the privacy of his chamber atleast?!"

The first one chuckles, "I'm not surprised. This is not the first time the Prince has pulled off something like this.."

The pride in Belle's chest shatters into choking splinters. She feels her heart drop.

What does she mean by not the first time?

"What do you mean?"

"Please," the maid huffs, voice dropping. "The Alpha prince is very attractive after all. Women practically throw theirselves at him all the time!"

Her voice turns slightly mocking,

"He's definitely notorious for sleeping with several women, especially those beautiful women who often visit from the south."

Belle looks down, tracing the ripples around her waist.

"And deep down," the maid adds, "I don't really think it was one of the potential mates. I think the Prince is probably just having fun before the coronation."

"Shhhhh." the group shushes her, the silence settling heavily in the space as only the sound of water being filled into cans echoes.

When she finally heard them leave, Belle's hand curls under the water, shoulders dropping so hard it hurt.

She had thought she was special.

That the Prince wanted her...

But hearing this now, is she just another warm body to toy with?

Another one of numerous nights spent?