Chapter Content
Chapter 93: Mating day
The day of the mating ceremony had arrived, and the castle buzzed with lively activity. Belle sat in her chamber, reflecting on the explanation Hezekiah had given the previous afternoon upon his return. She was uncertain whether to feel sympathy for him or anger. His reasoning held merit, yet it did not erase her frustrations. It only seemed to deepen her worry and bring more doubts into her heart.
She needed to release the lingering emotions tethering her heart to the past, and the only way to do so was by giving herself to another. Since she was not yet ready to love, Hezekiah believed mating would seal the distance between them. The Moon Goddess granted mates so that none would endure loneliness, so that everyone would find the one meant for them—a soul to connect with on a profound level, someone to lean on, to confide in, to entrust one’s very being to. Mating had always been the most effective means of forging such a bond, particularly for fated pairs, though even without destiny’s mark, the ritual could still serve its purpose.
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