Belle is a maid living in service of a handsome prince who she falls madly in love with. Jealous of all the other women and angry at his refusal to notice her she curses him and turns him into a hideous beast. For years they remain together in the c...
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The hallways echo with the rhythmic sound of my footsteps as I walk to my study. The hallway comes to an end where I am met with a beautifully carved wooden doorway. I push against the rusty handle and the door swings open with an eerie creak. With my hand firmly pressed against the stone walls that now surround me, I take slow and calculated steps up the narrow and winding staircase which opens up at the top revealing a small room that I have spent many decades crafting into a private study where I can do my work in peace.
I briskly pace over to the worn-out chair placed in front of a large mahogany table littered with books, some closed and covered in cobwebs while others are open giving anyone full access to the nearly written words crammed inside each in languages other than French.
I lean forward resting my elbows on the table, my face pressing into my hands as I stare at the open book closest to me.
After eighty years of researching witchcraft, spells and curses I have gotten nowhere in finding a cure for the prince. At first, I was like everyone else in the castle, anxiously waiting for this infliction to naturally wear off and for all of us to be normal again. When ten years had gone by I could not wait any longer. Watching the prince (who I will admit wasn't perfect when he was cursed) slip further and further into his dark spot was killing me. I simply could not idly sit In one of those blasted chairs downstairs and watch as rage and sadness took over his body. I didn't know how I was going to fix the prince, hell at that point I didn't even know what happened to him. So, I went to the only place that had a high chance of containing the answer I wanted- the library.
Combing through the masses of books in there was not an easy task to do. That alone took me nearly eight months, and in all that time I only found one book related to witchcraft. As that book told me no answers I went back to my search and now eighty years later I have answered only a few of the many questions I have. I know that our prince was cursed, but who did it and why I am still not sure. But, for now, my focus is on changing him back. The only issue I have is that our library despite being as vast as it is does not contain the book that holds the possible cure. That book was stolen a long time ago when a hunter broke into the castle.
"If you keep your face in that scrunched position you will develop wrinkles, mon cher." I can not help the wide smile forming on my lips as the sweet sound of her voice fills the air.
Turning around in the chair I see Fabienne's slim figure casually leaning against the doorframe.
"Luckily for me, I don't age so wrinkles are no longer my concern."
Giggling she walked over to me and took a seat in my lap. "You need to take a break from this. I know you want to help him but this is consuming you."
Sighing I lean my head against her chest. "I know I know. I just can't stand seeing him like this and I fear things will only get worse with time."
She lovingly strokes her long nails through my hair allowing a sense of calmness to wash over me.
"Come now, mon cher, we don't want to keep the other waiting. You know how Miss Potts hates people not being punctual."
