Evermore

Chapter 11

Beau nearly jumped at the voice that just came beside him as he almost dropped his plate of treats which made the old man laugh. "Apology for my sudden entrance" Beau quickly forgave him, seeing that the old man beside him did not mean what he did, and stared at the painting again, "yea, I agree, the painting is romantic in a sense that is."

The old man raised a brow and asked him what he meant in a sense. "Well... it is romantic in a sense that it was joyful, the ones in the middle were drawn to one another like they were in their world alone yes but together just in love, while the others in the background represent the couple's happiness, it reminds me so much of an important event that celebrated the union of two people forever bonded body and soul for all eternity."

The old man was shocked at what the boy said as it was exactly what he wanted to portray in the painting, he simply smiled in recognition, "I would love to meet the maker of this portrait it's simply beautiful" "well you can thank him yourself" Beau looked at him in confusion trying to make sense about what he meant about thanking the maker now as he did not see anyone beside him until he explained that it was him the old man in front of him as he introduced himself "I'm Maurice, Maurice Lefevre father of the Queen, inventor, artist, and craftsman" and extended a hand.

Beau reluctantly shook the old man as he was shy and embarrassed and began to apologize for his ranting about his art, even though he was evil he still had manners instilled in him and introduced himself which shocked old Maurice but recovered as he knows better than to judge a book by its cover and in this case thus boy as he sensed greatness from him in form of knowledge and Arts just like him and his daughter Belle. "Why aren't you in the ballroom? isn't it you're missing your grandson's birthday? I thought you'll be there to observe?" Beau suddenly asked which made the old man sigh and look at the painting before him, "it's true it is my missing grandson's birthday, but I chose not to mourn with them as it was not my place and I'm grieving myself so I encourage myself to stay happy even in this day as I know my grandson would not like me unhappy and another thing it's stressful and sad in there for my taste so I will rather be near a dining table than to be the most stressful place imaginable even in this day" Beau lightly laugh as Maurice gave him a wink and in turn make a turn around the gallery with him talking about science, technology, and even literature until Beau saw Mal and the rest of the VK's and gave his goodbyes to Maurice and thanking him for occupying him.

As he left Maurice's smile dropped in sadness as he made a quick connection with the boy and he missed him already like Belle before she got married to Adam, or before any trip he had when he had gone to every fair to display his creations to the world, it was simply heartbreaking.

Meanwhile, the D4 including Beau attacked the dining table and took a stroll around the gallery, Mal occasionally commented on the art being dull or boring, Evie commented on how beautiful everything looked but not more than her, and Jay and Carlos rolled their eyes from boredom and continued eating their plates of treats.

As Mal and Evie left the group of boys on their own Evie pressed Mal on telling Beau the truth as she couldn't take the pain anymore and guilt for the young beast prince which Mal brushed off as she felt it too and did not know how to start the conversation about it with Beau.

Moments later, noon became dusk as the sun started to set on the horizon and the procession and offerings were finished, the guests in the gallery began to be escorted to the gardens for the lantern lighting ceremony.

Ben and his parents were on the top of the staircase leading and looking over the whole garden area. As all of the guests were present and all accounted for the King stepped onto the podium and began his speech dedicated to his missing son, "My fellow Auradonians" the King started solemnly as the mic echoed his voice, "today is a horrific day for all, as it was on his day the kingdom lost their next hope and it was also the day my family lost one of our own, my youngest son... as we light up these lanterns and give it to the sky we hope that somewhere out there he is watching this and come back to us his family and his people."