Chapter IX: Mistake

As they anxiously awaited the Duke's arrival in his chambers, Isabella and the other chosen girls sat huddled together on a rug, their nerves palpable in the air. Time seemed to crawl by until finally, the Duke made his entrance after the feast.

Lady Theda stepped forward with a saccharine smile, gesturing towards the girls. "Your Grace, may I present to you a gift from the King—a night of entertainment provided by his finest concubines."

The Duke settled onto the couch with a calculating gaze, his eyes flickering over the assembled girls. "A generous gift indeed," he remarked, his voice was deep and low. "I shall enjoy it."

With trepidation coursing through her veins, Isabella joined the other girls in a dance, her movements graceful yet tinged with an underlying sense of fear. As they twirled and swayed, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, each step feeling like a desperate bid to avoid the Duke's scrutiny.

As the night progressed, Lady Theda lined the girls up and allowed the Duke’s gaze to linger on each of them. Isabella held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she prayed silently to go unnoticed.

But fate had other plans as the Duke's gaze settled on her, his eyes glinting with something akin to hunger. "You," he said, his voice sending a shiver down her spine as his hand reached out to grasp her wrist. "I like this one."

As Lady Theda escorted the other companions out of the Duke's room, Isabella stood before him, her nerves on edge as she faced the imposing nobleman alone. His scrutinizing gaze bore into her, making her feel as though he could see straight through her.

"What is your name, girl?" the Duke inquired, his voice dripping with honeyed charm.

"Isabella," she replied, her voice trembling slightly.

Recognition flickered in the Duke's eyes as he processed her answer. "Isabella," he repeated, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Princess Isabella of Allendor, am I right? The newest addition to the Dragon King’s collection."

Isabella's heart sank as she realized he knew who she was and seemed delighted with the idea of being with a princess. Before she could respond, the Duke's tone turned lascivious as he began to comment on her appearance in a way that made her skin crawl.

"My, my, what a vision you are," he purred, his eyes raking over her form with unsettling intensity. "Such radiant beauty. Girls that beautiful usually don’t have a pair of nice, large breasts like this. You were blessed."

Isabella fought to suppress a shudder as the Duke's hand reached out to touch her breast, his fingers trailing along her skin in a way that made her stomach churn with revulsion. His words were laced with desire and lust, each one like a dagger aimed straight at her heart.

Trapped in his presence, Isabella felt a sense of helplessness wash over her, her every instinct screaming at her to flee. She dodged one of the Duke's advances, his frustration boiled over into anger. With a swift motion, he seized her by the arms and flung her onto his bed, his grip like iron as he held her down. Panic surged through Isabella as she struggled against his hold, her mind racing with thoughts of escape.

Her eyes darted to the dagger hanging from the Duke's side, a glimmer of hope flickering within her. If she could just reach it, she might have a chance to defend herself. She knew the risks—attacking him would likely result in her death—but the thought of dying with her honor intact gave her a sliver of courage in the face of impending danger.

“I’ll enjoy raping you, princess. And I bet you’ll end up enjoying being raped too,” the Duke said while he tried to open his pants. Isabella's heart hammered in her chest with a mixture of fear and disgust. But before he could carry out his vile intentions, a sudden knock on the door shattered the tension in the room, freezing them both in their tracks.

For a moment, the Duke hesitated, his expression darkening with annoyance at the interruption. Isabella's pulse quickened as she prayed silently for salvation, her breath caught in her throat as she awaited the outcome of the unexpected interruption.

As the Duke rose to answer the knock, Isabella's heart raced with a mix of fear and curiosity, her mind spinning with questions about the unexpected interruption. To her surprise, it was Lady Theda on the other side of the door, her presence both unexpected and unsettling.

"Come in," the Duke commanded, his tone betraying his irritation as he motioned for Lady Theda to enter.

Isabella watched with wide eyes as Lady Theda offered a hurried apology, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush as she explained the situation. "My apologies, Your Grace," she began, her voice tinged with nervousness. "There has been a mistake. Lady Bella is not available to entertain you tonight."

The Duke's brow furrowed in confusion at the news, his frustration evident as he demanded an explanation. "And why, pray tell, is the princess unavailable?" he asked, his voice edged with impatience. “She’s right here, isn’t she?”

Lady Theda's hands trembled slightly as she struggled to find the right words. "It was my mistake, milord," she admitted, her gaze flickering nervously towards Isabella.

"Lady Bella has already been summoned to the King's chambers for the evening."