Chapter 29

They hold a meeting

Queen is skeptical about accepting and wants to see witness first

Dorian orders a quiet lock down.

Miss Stella is back,notices the almost mark on her neck .

She gives a curt advice, but tells her that the king had officially demanded for her as his personal maid.

The Prince gets overly possessive, and on edge.

Belle works in on him and Kayla

Dorian's POV

The council room feels too large for just three people. Quiet, tense, the tension is palpable.

The guards are pushed far away not the overhear, the doors closed behind them.

Dorian stands at the head of the long table, hands braced against its edge, gaze fixed ahead while the weight of his words still lingers in the air.

"And you're sure about the authenticity?!" Queen Skyler says in a sharp vooce, lips pressed in a thin line.

"I am." Dorian says confidently. He could tell Belle was telling him the truth last night. There had been no calculation in her eyes, to manipulation.

She'd looked like she genuinely...cared.

Queen Skyler studies him for a long moment, "And you refuse to discolse your source?!"

"I do." His voice is curt.

"That's not how it works..."

"That's not the matter on ground, mother!" He glares at her, voice warning.

"Your highness," David who'd been quietly watching earlier cuts in before the tension would escalate. "The Crown Prince is not one to act on baseless claims."

Dorian gaze flickers to him for a beat, before they land back on his mother.

"Besides, the story adds up." Dorian adds, "The missing weapons... special silver blades. I already had suspicions."

"But this.... source claims it involves one of the selected mates?" David asks skeptically, "Your majesty did proper screening of every candida..."

"I don't care about that!" Dorian cuts in firmly, "I was informed, and I'm going to order due diligence until my suspicious are cleared."

Queen Skyler exhales loudly, already frustrated.

"And what if this is a plot?" She presses, "If they're trying to create panic...? It's so close to your coronation for crying out loud!"

"And that's exactly why we need to root them out now!" He looks at the both of them, "Everyone is a suspect right now."

"Then that's exactly why I need to meet this..." The queen is apparently not done arguing. "...I need to meet your source."

"No!"

"Dorian..."

His expression is hard like she'd asked for his life, "You're not to look into it, and that is not a suggestion!"

Across the table, despite the tension, David's brows lift in amusement. Dorian is being too.. possessive of whoever this source is. Makes him wonder.

Dorian catches the question in his expression, but doesn't give him the satisfaction of a reply.

Meanwhile, Queen Skyler stares at him in disbelief on the other side.

"You just can't...I'm your mother!"

"And I am the King-to-be!" Dorian repeats, voice firm. And finally the older woman quiets, though not without a loud huff.

Dorian doesn't comment in it, gaze dropping to the blueprint of moonveil palace, laid neatly on the table.

"Alright, we need to move quickly and quietly," he pivots. "We lock down these parts..." His fingers crush across different sections, "and these parts."

"Won't the guests ask questions?"

"We'll tell them there's a breakout in those sections. Nothing stops a royal faster than the fear of catching a disease."

David grins.

"Guards should also be rotated discreetly." Dorian continues, "Entry and exit points monitored. All important guests and royals should have atleast two guards stationed to them at all times."

"And what about the potential mates? There's supposed to be another ball with them tonight."

"Call it off." Dorian says firmly, this time glancing at his mother. Her expression is still sunken, "We'll come up with a rouse to search them. No contact with me until they're cleared."

"Even Noble Astor's daughter, Kayla...?" The queen once again cuts in with her nonsense.

Dorian doesn't even bother to respond.

Belle's POV

The moment the doors close behind her, Belle finally exhales. She's in the middle of their shared room but it's quieter now without Miss Stella.

She hardly sees her these days in fact. And with the coronation drawing nearer, she seems to be on more out of town assignments.

She sighs loudly, cranking her neck. Today's work had been so hectic, washing so many dishes until her skin wrinkled.

She slips out of the dress, already prepared to head for the baths, when the door opens behind her.

Miss Stella walks in, calm in the way a mother would, a tired smile on her face.

She closes the door behind her, click echoing louder than it should.

Belle can instantly tell something is up...

For a minute neither of them speaks, then Miss Stella breaks the silence.

Her voice is low, "I heard his Highness is requesting for you."

The moment the words will out of her lips, Belle stiffens.

She looks down, fingers curling into the small short. "I...I don't know."

The lie doesn't sound convincing even to her own ears.

Stella hums, stepping closer. "The Prince doesn't not just randomly ask for a personal maid..." She narrows her eyes, "I told you to be careful.."

Belle opens her mouth and closes it again. Because what is she supposed to say?

That the Prince can't keep his hands off her? That he says she belongs to him now?

"I-I don't know what you mean.." Belle instinctively takes a small step back.

The movement makes Miss stellaseyes drop, right on Belle's neck.

Right on the small fang graze from the second time the Prince's wolf had nearly marked her.

Belle's breath catches, hand flying up to cover the spot instinctively....but it's too late.

Miss Stella reaches out, fingers a little rough, and pulls her hand away.

"Let me see..."

Belle hesitates, but slowly lowers her hand until the scratch is completely visible.

The silence is uncomfortable.

Miss Stella leans in slightly, eyes narrowing as she examines the faint mark.

It's barely there, just a shallow graze....but unmistakably a wolf's fang. An almost claim.

Stella exhales softly, more disappointed than angry.

"He almost marked you..."

Belle's cheeks burn and she looks away.

"I...it wasn't. He didn't.."

"I can see that.." Miss Stella replies, straightening. "If he had, you wouldn't be standing here having this conversation."

Belle makes a small noise, fingers brushing over it unconsciously.

Stella watches the movement closely, then sighs.

"Listen to me carefully, Isabella." Her tone is serious, "The moment people find out, you'll become a target, Belle."

Belle's chest tightens. "I know..." She blinks,"but I didn't ask for this..."

"It doesn't matter to him." Stella's face holds a slight grimace,