Mirella stepped closer to Belle, her heels clicking softly on the floor. The other girls held their breath, watching. Mirella tilted Belle's chin up with two fingers, her touch cold and controlling.
"How did you feel watching them?" she asked softly, almost sweetly. "Seeing the guards take Rina like that... did it make your heart race?"
Belle swallowed hard, her lips pressed tightly together. She didn't answer.
Mirella smiled. "No words? Interesting."
She looked around at the silent girls. "Back to your rooms. Now."
The girls hurried off without a word. Belle followed behind, her mind spinning. But just as she reached the corner near the hallway leading to her room, she stopped. Alessandro was there, leaning casually against the wall with a grin on his face.
"Well, well," he said, straightening up. "Didn't think I'd see you alone so soon."
Belle froze. The other maids, seeing him, immediately picked up their pace and hurried away, leaving the two of them alone in the dim hallway.
Alessandro stepped closer. "Tell me, Belle... how did it feel watching all that earlier?" His voice was low, teasing. "Don't lie to me now. I saw your face."
Belle tensed. "I didn't feel anything," she said sharply.
He laughed. "Really? I'm a hundred percent sure you felt something. Your eyes were wide, your lips parted. You were... curious."
She tried to step around him, but he suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the wall, pinning her gently but firmly.
"Why are you resisting, Belle?" he whispered, his face close. "Stop pretending. I saw how you reacted. You may not say it, but your body did."
"Let me go," she hissed, struggling against his grip.
But he didn't move. And then, without warning, he leaned in and kissed her.
Belle froze, her body going stiff. The kiss wasn't rough—it was surprisingly soft—but that didn't make it any better.
What neither of them noticed was the figure standing at the far end of the hallway, half in shadow. Luciano watched, his arms crossed, his head slightly tilted. At the sight of Belle's reaction, he grinned... then smirked.
Back at the wall, Belle finally found her strength. She shoved Alessandro hard and slapped him across the face with all the force she had.
SLAP!
He stumbled back, one hand on his cheek, staring at her in shock. His lips parted, but no words came out.
Belle's eyes blazed with anger. She glared at him. As she turned to leave, he reached for her hand, but she slapped it away.
"Don't touch me," she snapped.
She stormed off, not looking back. Alessandro stood there, stunned, still holding his cheek.
Luciano chuckled softly to himself. "Interesting," he muttered, watching her disappear down the hallway.
Belle slammed her door shut and leaned against it, heart pounding. She walked over to the bed and sat down heavily.
"That bastard," she whispered. "This was my first kiss... and he just stole it."
She fell back onto the bed, lying still for a moment, staring at the ceiling. Then her hand moved to her lips, gently brushing them.
"But... his lips were soft," she said quietly.
"No!" she sat up quickly and gave herself a light slap on the cheek. "Stop thinking about nonsense."
She took a deep breath and stood, pacing her small room.
"I have to escape this place. I can't be like Rina. I won't be."
Her eyes moved to the small window above her bed. The sky was darkening, but her thoughts were sharp.
"There's a feast in three days. That's my chance."
She sat down again and pressed her palms together.
"But I can't do it alone. I need someone who knows the place—someone who's been here long enough to know the secret ways."
She looked around the room, thinking hard.
"I have to make a friend. Starting tomorrow. Someone smart... quiet... maybe one of the older girls."
Her gaze turned serious.
"I only have three days. That's all I need."
She lay back on the bed again, this time with purpose in her eyes. The fear was still there, but now it was mixed with fire.
***********************************
Belle lay on her bed, still in her dress. The events of the night swirled in her mind, but her body was exhausted. Slowly, her eyes fluttered shut. The room was silent except for her soft breathing as sleep finally claimed her.
Meanwhile, in a room lit by golden lanterns and thick with the scent of sandalwood, Luciano sat by the window, a half-filled wine goblet in his hand. The night outside was dark, the stars barely visible through the mist-covered glass.
A knock came at the door.
"Enter," he said calmly.
Mirella walked in, her head bowed slightly in respect, her posture graceful.
"You called for me, my lord?"
Luciano swirled the wine in his goblet, then looked at her with a faint smirk.
"Yes, I did." He leaned back in his chair. "Tell me, Mirella… what do you think about Isla?"
Mirella lifted her head slightly, a knowing smile spreading on her lips. She took a few steps closer before answering.
"My lord," she said with a small grin, "I think she'll be very capable. She's quite pretty, no doubt. But also very petite for her age. Eighteen, and yet she carries herself like she's older." She paused and added with a soft chuckle, "And she has those wide hips... I'm sure you'll enjoy every bit of her."
Luciano turned his gaze to the window, staring at the night sky for a moment. A thoughtful expression rested on his face.
"You see," he began, "I think you're right. There's a fire in that girl, Mirella. For someone her age, she's... intriguing."
He raised the goblet to his lips and took a slow sip before setting it down.
"I noticed her the day I bought Mira," he continued, his voice softer now, like he was remembering a vivid image. "She wasn't the one I came for, but she caught my eye immediately. I didn't even know her mother would sell her too. What a greedy woman."
Mirella nodded. "Sometimes it's circumstances, my lord. People do what they don't want to do when life forces them to." She hesitated, then spoke again with a nostalgic tone. "I've known Rosa for a long time. Of course, Isla doesn't know me... but me and her mother were once good friends."
Luciano raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You and Rosa?"
"Yes," Mirella said with a sad smile. "Before all this... before life happened."
"I didn't expect she'd sell her daughter too," he muttered.
Mirella's eyes darkened slightly. "Neither did I. But..." she added slowly, "Isla will make a good... sex tool. In time."
Luciano turned his face towards her, his expression unreadable.
"Do you think she can match Calista?"
The room fell quiet for a second.
"She's the same age, after all," he went on. "But no other maiden has ever been able to satisfy me... except Calista."
Mirella tilted her head and smiled gently. "I'm not sure, my lord. Calista is... special. But Isla has something. It's hidden for now, but it's there. Just... please, take it easy on her. She's still fragile."
Luciano let out a low chuckle. "Fragile?" he repeated. "She looks like someone who could kill, Mirella."
That made Mirella laugh softly.
"She's just like her mother when she was young," she said, her eyes twinkling. "Fiery... stubborn... but full of strength."
Luciano leaned back in his seat again, watching the flames flicker in the lanterns.
"You're my trusted maid, Mirella," he said after a pause. "I'll take your word for it."
Mirella bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, my lord."
The room fell into a comfortable silence, broken only by the faint sound of the wind brushing against the window.