Trent's jaw tightened. He uncurled his fist to summon what remained of his patience.

"What are you doing here, Jade?" he asked, turning to walk over to his closet, untying his cravat along the way. "Should I start throwing my household staff out on the street now?"

The tension in his voice did not dissuade her. Jade moved from the bed and confidently walked toward him, stark naked. He gritted his teeth as she positioned in front of him, helping him with his cravat. "Your butler is a dear man, Trent, but yes, I do believe he should be replaced. He should not have let a beautiful stranger in. She must have thought I am your fiancé."

His hands caught her wrists in a firm grip, eliciting a gasp of surprise from her lips. She looked up at him, eyes wide with confusion. His, however, relayed a message that made her blink and step back.

"I believe I told you very clearly that my villa is exclusively mine."

She blinked, silent for a moment, before she let out a shaky laugh. "Trent, surely you are jesting. I have been your Belle for years. Perhaps—"

"And perhaps in those three years, you have forgotten our agreement?" he asked, letting go of her hands and with just enough force, pushed her away from him.

She stumbled back, her eyes flickering with anger as he had expected.

He also expected what she would do next. She whirled around and grabbed a robe to wrap around herself. Then she began to shake and cry.

"Stop crying," he said with a sigh. "You know I hate it when you cry," he said, lacing each word with sarcasm. "Get dressed. I will see you when I have the time. For now, I have much to do. You breaking our rules is not putting me at ease."

"I only came here because I miss you," she choked through her tears. "You have not come to see me since you left for Birth weeks ago!" she cried out, her tears slashing through the air as she whirled around to throw him an accusing look.

Trent threw his cravat to the side and faced her fully, his brown eyes boring into hers. "Third rule, Jade. Have you forgotten?"

She pursed her lips and her nose flared. "Did she give you what you want while you were in Birth?" she asked. "Did she satisfy you in bed? Is that why you cannot touch me tonight? Have you been spending each night with her since?"

Trent sighed and broke into a soft smile. "Jade, darling," he said, reaching out to fix the robe around her shoulders. "You know that I do like being with you." He felt her stiffen with alarm because his eyes had suddenly gone dark despite the smile. He paused, imprisoning her gaze with his. "But you have broken two of our rules tonight. Should I also break one?" he asked, hovering the back of his hand against her throat.

If she had anything to do with Caroline's disappearance, Trent was afraid he might break their number one rule and throttle her. And he hated himself because even though he had no proof, he wanted to do it now.

She looked stupefied, but with Jade, Trent could never be sure. And then his smile disappeared and he let go of her fully, taking a step back. "Do not ever come into my villa again," he ordered. "And you know my rules about my future wife, Jade. We do not discuss her at all, do you understand?"

A whimper escaped her throat as she turned to gather her dress from the chair. Trent waited as she dressed, glancing out of the window, his hands in the pockets of his trousers.

She was deliberately taking her time, making certain that he heard her sobs.

Three years ago, he panicked when she first displayed this side of her. But it took merely a few months for him to realize that Jade was not the silly Belle everyone thought she was. She was so cunning she could act like a fool and not be ashamed of it. She could drink an entire bottle and still walk straight on a Monday; and drink a glass of wine and be completely foxed on a Friday; all depending on her mood or mayhap, as Trent suspected, her mission.

And Jade was smart enough to know not to trust him despite seemingly being obsessed with him.

When he realized that Jade may be a dangerous woman, it was already too late. He could no longer ask for another Belle. She was the closest to Ruby, and Ruby was Belle to Aaron Stanway, Earl of Emsworth. He could not have asked for Ruby to be his Belle either, for it might scorn Jade and God knows what the woman was capable of. Of all the bloody good apples in the basket, Trent was given the bad one.

"When are you going to visit my villa?" she asked many moments later, sniffling her nose.

Trent turned, not giving her the apology she wanted. Over the years, Trent believed that he had learned how to manipulate her as much as she tried to do the same to him. His mother, of all women, had given him fair warning about women in the past. "I have things I need to do, Jade. I do not know when I will find the time. At the meantime, I am quite busy."

She blinked. "Why? Is something wrong?"

He smiled at her coldly. "Nothing," he assured her.

"Do you hate me for breaking two rules?"

"I hate the act," he said. "And I am annoyed that you dared test my patience. We have always respected each other's privacy, Jade. I do not understand why you have to change that now."

Her eyes rapidly blinked away more tears. "Please forgive me. I have been overly confident."

"Yes, you were."

She looked around the room. "I will never be a part of this side of you, am I?"

Trent did not reply for he found no reason to. As a Belle, Jade knew the answer to her question, but she was voicing it out to elicit a sympathetic response, one Trent could not find himself to offer.

Her grey eyes searched his. "I know something bothers you, Trent, and whatever it is, I hope that you realize I am always here. I will always be your Belle."

Trent stiffly nodded. "Thank you, Jade, your concern is much appreciated." His hands on his hips, he threw the door a look and added, "Forgive me, but I wish to be alone."

She slowly nodded, taking a step toward him but hesitated. "I will go now."

Trent waited without saying a word.

She gently closed the door behind her and Trent turned to face the window, looking down at the driveway.

The chamber door opened and the butler, a man the same age as him, joined him at the window.

"Did she look anywhere?"

"She spent a few minutes in your library," Orlin replied.

Trent nodded. "Where else did she go prior to the villa?"

They watched Jade climb into her carriage which quickly rounded out of the driveway and back into the busy night streets of Coulway.

"The usual. She spent an afternoon with the other Belle, Ruby, at a café."

He nodded. "And Ruby?" he asked.

"She has not yet been visited by Lord Emsworth."

Trent turned away from the window.

Orlin was amongst the people Trent trusted the most. The man's father had been their family's butler until his death and Orlin's older brother replaced him. Orlin himself grew up with Trent and apart from Caroline, the man was perhaps the only person who knew him well. Many times, Orlin had said that he was not working for a master. He was working for a friend.

"Lord Emsworth has been invited to a ball," Orlin told him. "He will be bringing his Belle with him."

Trent let out a long breath. He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, his eyes closed. "I am not certain if I can be there, but still, acquire an invitation for Jade and I. For now, limit the eyes on Ruby and Emsworth. Other Royals have now been assigned on him."

Orlin nodded but stayed rooted in his spot. "Do you need anything else?"

"Rest," he said, sitting on the side of the bed. "But I cannot, can I?"

"No, not until we have Lady Caroline back."

Brushing his fingers through his hair, Trent fell back on the cushions and suddenly Jade's perfume invaded his nostrils.

"She is getting worse, is she not?" he absently asked.

"But you expected this," Orlin replied. "She is bloody insane. You should have seen her earlier. She asked me if I have prepared supper for you after she picked flowers in the garden and arranged them in your study. And I believe she also tried to order for a bath."

The more Orlin thought, the more Trent felt his stomach churn. "And Carol's in Belcourt, just within her reach."

"Can I say it's your fault?" Orlin asked. "Or perhaps you are simply unlucky to have landed the crazy one."

"I've been blaming myself since the day I had to take her to bed, Orlin."

"Do you feel disgusted of yourself? Never felt that with your past lover, did you? Ah, but then, that past lover was sane. She knew she did not own your heart. Very nice one, that Lady Harlowe. This one, however, is absolutely out of touch with reality."

"Bloody tarnation, you ought to be consoling me."

Orlin simply laughed. "I am afraid to say this, Trent, but I cannot fathom how you can do the act."

"Bloody close my eyes and imagine someone else then pray my imagination can last me long enough."

"At the very least, Lady Caroline has been fine with it, but I believe she liked Lady Harlowe more."

His eyes snapped open and he glared at Orlin. "That is the bloody problem, isn't it? She was—is—fine with it."

Orlin shrugged. "If she knows how crazy this Belle of yours is, Trent, how do you think she will react?"

Trent scoffed. "She might consider marrying me after all to save me, but I dug my own grave and shall get out of it on my own," he replied, and with a groan and pushed away from the bed. Standing to his feet, he said, "I will find another bedchamber. Strip my bed of everything."

Orlin sniffed the air as Trent opened the door. "Does she always wear this much perfume!" Orlin asked in horror.

"No, that is why she is getting worse," Trent murmured as he slammed the door behind him to find another room to rest.

⠒♣◆♣⠒

"Help us find this rat, Caroline, and we can find who is behind all this."

Arielle's words rang around Caroline's mind. She winced, feeling the pain intensify.

What should she do?

"You said that I can freely go home."

Arielle nodded. "Of course. You are not a lady of Belcourt. We do not expect that you repay us for saving your life for that is our purpose here; we give everyone a second chance."

She believed that, Caroline thought. Arielle believed what she just said.

"But if I go home to my family, I may be endangering their life."

"We do not know how strong the Royal Circus is, or how wide their connections are. But they have done some horrible things in the past, Caroline. But please, do not take it as a threat. I only mean to tell you the truth."

"When this person, this rat, learns that I am in Belcourt, that person may find ways to kill me in fear that I will remember."

"That is, of course, if you have seen this person's face. This rat does not even have to be near you for they could simply inform the Royal Circus who will undoubtedly, without hesitation, complete what they had failed to do."

"What you are suggesting then is that I become a bait."

Arielle nodded. "But as a Belle, you shall have your own protection provided by Belcourt. You will not be required to have your own flower, Caroline, so fret not."

"Flower?"

"A gentleman of Belcourt. They pay to be one and are paired to the Belle who matches them and their needs the best."

Caroline blinked. "What needs?"

"That shall depend on the flower, but the Belle always has the last word. She cannot be forced. Belles have very important roles for Belcourt."

It took a while for Caroline to realize that Arielle was expecting her to figure out what she was trying to say. "You mean they do more than just service men."

The Maiden nodded.

"They spy on these men?"

"It does not always have to be their gentleman."

Caroline nodded. "It can be anyone." Caroline sighed, looking around the room absently. "But why is Belcourt doing this?"

"Belcourt has always been loyal to the current monarchy, Caroline, for we believe that King Louis has spared the kingdom the very tragic future that Reginald's reign was leading it to. So long as the kingdom is in the hands of the king and in the future, the crown prince, Belcourt and its children shall have a better chance."

"But you train these women to be spies."

"And doctors, and farmers, researchers, and many more. We train them to be someone, Caroline. They are no longer the orphans that they once were, abandoned and unwanted. They have a purpose and that is to maintain the safety and security Belcourt provides for the future of the children and the ones who will come after."

Caroline warily blinked.

Her thoughts drifted to the possibility that she may still end up dead.

"What of my family?"

"They shall be notified of your choice."

She nodded. "Tell them the truth, that I have lost my memory, that it is my choice to stay while I recover and come into terms with my condition. I may not remember them, but if they are family, then they shall have to be kept safe."

The satisfaction in Arielle's smile was undeniable. "That shall be arranged."

Caroline's eyes fixed on Arielle's. "Once this is over and I have found your rat for you, you shall continue to provide us security until you capture everyone responsible?"

"You are part of the royal family, Caroline. Belcourt has always vowed to protect this monarchy, even the princess herself. She may very well be a victim of the Circus."

She slowly nodded. "Then I agree."

The Maiden took her hand and squeezed it. "Are you ready to be a Belle, Caroline?"

Caroline could not help but smile. "Yes."