After Belle & Charles’ lovemaking, when the afterglow had faded and the stark reality of her impending departure was unavoidable, the old feeling began to settle upon Belle and, she was sure, upon him as well. Lifting her head, she looked at the prince in the eyes and said, “It will be alone when I’m away. I don’t know why my father and mother want me to come instead of Ariel.”

Charles stroked her head, his voice rough with emotion, “My lady, I shall miss you dearly every second you’re away from me.”

Belle would not let the darkness of loneliness envelop her again. It was time for the young princess to bring something up she had been considering for the last few weeks. Belle replied, “As will I miss you…but I’ve been thinking. Remember the story I told you about my little sister?”

Charles arched a brow. Of course, he remembered! His darling princess confessed sharing affections in her bed before she came to him with her younger sister, Ariel. They spent years making love to each other often role-playing after dark when their parents, the King and Queen left their quarters. Whilst her mother was dead-set against them being courted by a spoiled royal prince as Belle put it, she had never sensed that their daughters would be involved in such explicit behavior. Belle reassured Charles that the relationship was purely physical and over, that she held no romantic notions and never would towards her little sister.

The left side of her mouth curved up playfully and said, “I am not jealous, my love. Were you to want my sister whilst I’m gone, I would not deny you this…if you would not deny me such pleasures if I ever needed them.” Belle rested her head back down on Charles’s chest, giving him time to think.

He lowered his eyebrow and thought. “You say this, but once done, it cannot be undone, and feelings can change. Unless you are asking my permission to stray? Do we not share love? Is our bond not sacred?”

Belle’s head snapped up. “Yes, my love, our bond, and our love are most sacred to me. I speak not of these items, for there is no question in my mind that you are my prince, my dearest love, whom I respect more than any other…I merely speak of your sexual desire. I can grant you that luxury if you grant it to me as your equal while I’m gone if I need it. We must have rules.”

Charles cupped Belle’s face and said, “I make no such agreements, but speak them, my lady.” His heart was twisted. Was this woman truly the daughter of the noblest of the land? Belle’s words were those a daughter of a temptress would utter.

Belle covered his hand on her face and leaned into it briefly, closing her eyes. Then, opening them, she said, “You may not replace me⁠—”

“Never would I!” Charles said, his hand dropping to his side.

“You may have my sister to satisfy your carnal desires, but you may not love her. You may not provide her with gifts or promises. You may not seek her friendship, her counsel, or let her sit upon my throne. She is your lover and nothing more. She can never be me.” Belle paused, waiting for Charles’ response.

“Is that it?” Charles asked, still unconvinced.

“No, I will tell her. Don’t worry, I crave the same things in a partner that any man could want. One last thing: you may not take her to our bed…unless I am present.”

Charles stared at her mouth agape. “Are you implying?”

Belle smiled and said, “Yes. How say you to this: two nights before I am to depart – and it must be two nights, for I will have you all to myself the night before I leave – I bring Ariel to our bed. I will make love to her in front of you and then you will make love to both of us, neither you nor I will leave this bed until we are all satisfied. This is the only time that I will do this, otherwise, when I am here, I am yours alone and you are mine alone. Ariel must leave our rooms when I am present.”

Surely Belle’s blatant eroticism was more than any prince could ever desire, yet his fear that they would lose their love in the process nagged in the back of his mind. Belle licked her lips and watched the tumult of emotions in Charles’ eyes, guessing his fears. She sat up and leaned forward, framing his scruffy face in her hands. “Do not fear. You are the only one I will ever love.”

“And what of you, my princess?” Charles asked, arching an eyebrow again. “What rules should bind you while you are away?”