La Bella E La Bestia: Could He Be Saved?

The Drink

Leon wanted to get to know Bella better. He had prepared juice for all her hard work. Perhaps she would see it as an award. The point was he knew women like Bella. Innocent on the surface, sensual in bed. Winning the bet was all he cared for. Once he did, Helene would be married to the Baron while he would have Bella in his bed for however long he wished. 

Bella need to be coaxed. He knew he would never regret spiking Bella's drink. Being the well brought up young lady, he knew she wouldn't admittedly fall into bed with him. There was also the possibility she wouldn't recognize when a man had shown interest in her. Nevertheless, he would strive to gain her affections and then she be in his bed. This was an easy challenge, he had to admit.

Maybe the chemical would loosen her emotions or maybe she would lower her guarded behavior in order to for him to find a way into her heart. There was no woman he couldn't have. He learnt his lesson with a hard circumstance. Women were not honest, modest, and trustworthy. They would cheat and cause agony the first chance they got.

From staring at her, Leon could see she was chaste. When Bella arrived in the wine cellar, Leon opened the gate, walking towards her. Bella grew uneasy. She watched him briefly and cast her eyes downward. "My Lord." She said. "You wanted to see me."

She disciplined herself and brought her eyes to look at him again. "Can I do something for you?" She found herself asking Prince Leon Daleville. Leon made a gesture with his hand towards her. "I should ask you that. Thanks to you I should be able to store today's harvest in these ancient barrels and our wine will be extraordinary." He replied, approaching her. When he close to her, he could clearly see how nervous she was.

Bella moved her eyes. He made her feel trepidation. After all, they had only spoke twice before. Bella wasn't sure how to function around him. "I only did what I was told." She told him, forcing herself to meet his eyes once more. After she told him she stopped looking at him as she moved eyes down. Why did he make her so anxious?  Leon continued, "Yes but with a zeal like no one else." He retorted, giving her a side smile as he went to his destination. "Allow me to offer you a taste." He said, hosting up two glasses, already filled. Bella stared at the liquid cautiously. "It's just breast." He explained to her.

Bella was still eyeing the beverage in front of her. "No, thank you. It's better if I don't." Bella replied, with a whispered voice. Leon tried to change her mind. "Oh come on. It's just juice, no alcohol at all." Leon replied, holding out the glass to her. "Not dangerous." He said with a smile, watching her with piercing blue eyes.

Bella smiled widely. "No yet." She announced. With great haste, she grew nervous once more, changing her countenance to a passive one. "But it will be." She told him in a soft voice, lowing her eyes. Leon could tell she wished to be out of his sight.

Leon lowered the glasses. Leon always thought himself to be intelligent sort of man. What was it about this girl that made him change his mind? Leon was glad, in a sense, that she didn't take it. In her own demeanor she had shown him she wouldn't succumb to pressure from him. It was an admirable trait. Wrong and ridiculous but admirable all the same.

He didn't want to see overbearing. That would cause her to have suspicions thoughts. When Bella spoke again he took notice. "Excuse me but they're expecting me in the kitchen." She remarked. Leon made an indicated motion she was being excused. She curtsied and was on her way out of the room when she heard Prince Leon speak.

When Leon swirled around, He called to her. For some reason he didn't want her to leave his company at this particular moment.  "Bella," He said softly, which caused her to stop walking. She was shocked. She didn't think he would have remembered her name.  Bella turned and glanced at him, she couldn't stop herself from being concerned. Leon grinned, "That's your name isn't it?" He inquired as he stared at her. Actually he couldn't stop staring at her for a reason he had not yet understood. He placed the two glasses back on the small round table.

 Bella looked at him, a puzzled expression was written on her face. He continued speaking. His eyes taking in her whole appearance. "Do you know how to read?" He asked her gently.

In this one moment, he understood he would have to change his methods in order to seduce Bella. By the end of the the third week, she would be his. He was certain of that fact. Every time he witnessed Bella lowering or moving her eyes from glancing at him, his determination only grew. What man shouldn't want a shy, decent young woman in his bed? He needed to think this through.

Leon made a mental note to spill out the juice he had poured for her later on in the day. It wouldn't be for anyone else. After all, it was an aphrodisiac chemical.

Bella couldn't understand why she was speechless and reserved when in she was alone with the Prince. Thinking it through, there was no use trying to understand him.