Beauty and her Beast (Nokto)

An Untold Story

Leon: Veronica, I want to know your thoughts. 

Veronica: Well, I'm glad someone's finally asking me! 

The words came out in a huff, but Leon only continued to meet my gaze calmly, and it was clear he hadn't taken offense. It felt like he was only looking at me, the person, and that he was the only one there who was. That made me stop and think. 

Leon: I think you have the capability to decide who the next king will be. 

Veronica: What makes  you so sure of that? I'm nobody special. I'm just a commoner. 

Leon: Every single Belle throughout history has been a commoner. 

Veronica: Okay, but... I still don't see what makes me stand out. 

Leon: Do you know why we have this tradition? Why we let Belle decide for us? 

Veronica: ...No, not really. 

Leon gave a small nod, as if appreciating my honesty, and then he grinned at me. 

Leon: Okay, then, do you know how the common people refer to the royal family? 

(It feels awkward saying it to your faces, but-)

Veronica: ...They call you 'noble beasts' right? 

Leon: Right. In the olden days, the royal family did nothing but fight amongst themselves for power. The people considered them as cruel as beasts. Ever since then, anyone with royal blood has been called a 'noble beast' by the people of Rhodolite. 

(When I was a kid, and I first heard that nickname... I used to lie awake at night, wondering if you were all covered with fur.)

Veronica: But you're not beasts anymore, are you? That's all in the past, right? 

Leon: Not really? Everyone here is a beast who possesses the desire to act in their own selfish interests. We'd devour others for the sake of our ambitions and our ideas... and we'd do it without batting an eyelid. 

(I'm really, really hoping you mean 'devour' figuratively and not literally...) I wanted to laugh it off, but I remembered how I'd felt when I'd first walked in, and eight predators had turned their gaze on me. 

Leon: And it's also true that we've all been called beasts for the way we slaughter our enemies on the battlefield. Never mind that we're still on our best behavior with you, for now. 

Veronica: ...For now? 

(But you're right. I don't know any of you. Everyone of you could be hiding a beast inside you. I mean, when we first met-)

Leon: But that's why we need Belle. We need someone with an unusually beautiful heart to show beasts like us how to become human beings. Besides, who else but someone with a pure and righteous heart is going to choose a person to be king, and not a beast? 

Veronica: Okay, I get what you're saying, and you're probably right, but... I'm still struggling to see how I'm that person. 

Sariel: Goodness me, are you saying that you doubt my judgement? 

Veronica: Hey, don't put words in my mouth! 

Sariel: You see? You are Belle-a commoner with a pure, righteous, beautiful heart. My words are final. 

(Every conversation with you feels like hitting my head up against a brick wall.)

Leon: What comes next is up to you. If you really don't like the idea, you can turn us down, but... You said you love books, right? 

Veronica: Yeah, I did, but what does that have to do with it? 

A sudden grin lit up Leon's face at my words, and he looked almost triumphant somehow. 

Leon: Don't you think choosing the next king is going to be more exciting than any book you've read? 

(I'm not going to lie, I've spent the last few hours feeling like I'm in some sort of fairytale, but-)

Leon: And this time, you get to be the star of the story. How often does a chance like that come along? 

(Damn, you're good at this. You're actually making it sound tempting. Especially with that gleam in your eyes.) Ever since I was little, I'd been wishing for something exciting to happen to me, just like it did to the character in my books. But I'd been starting to wonder if I was just clinging to childhood fantasies. Everyone around me had changed, grown up, settled down. It was like I was the only one still dreaming of wilder things. But try as I might, I could never stop dreaming. I'd been waiting and hoping for something to come along and change my life. (And now that's it's here, all I've done is doubt myself, and question everything. I let the panic overshadow the excitement. And I know I can't be half-hearted about this-if I do this, I have to commit to it fully, no matter what happens. But... Will I ever forgive myself if I walk away from this? What if this is the destiny I've been waiting for my whole life?)

Leon: What do you want to do, Veronica? 

(What id this is the thing that will change my life forever?) Suddenly my mind was made up, and I straightened my shoulders, opening my mouth before I lost my courage again. 

Veronica: I want to be Belle. 

My voice trembled a little, but with excitement, and the second I finished speaking, Leon raised his hand into the air. 

Sariel: Then it's decided. 

Chevalier instantly stood up from his chair and turned towards the door. 

Leon: Leaving already? 

Chevalier: My business here is done with. 

Clavis: Don't you think you should at least try and woo Belle a little first? 

Chevalier: It would be a waste of my time. It doesn't matter who Belle chooses. It will not change the fact that I will be the future king. 

Veronica: You what? 

Chevalier's gaze was like ice as it swept around the room, and I shivered as it settled on me. 

Chevalier: If  you get in my way, I will deal with you. Keep that in mind. 

Veronica: ...Right. 

But I hadn't forgotten the feel of his blade against my chin, and I muttered the word under my breath. (If anyone in this room meets the definition of beast, it's you.) I pressed my lips together, watching him leave, and then Clavis moved to follow, pausing to pat me lightly on the shoulder. 

Clavis: Sorry about our Chev. And I've got zero interest in the throne, but I like things that amuse me. So make sure you keep me entertained, young lady.

His smile was vivid and captivating, but he put me on my guard all the same, and I watched warily until both of them had left. 

Sariel: Clearly those two require far more discipline. 

Sariel sighed as he spoke, and I glanced over at him, but then I noticed a lazy hand lifting into the air just past him. 

Nokto: Hey, Sariel? A question? 

Sariel: Go ahead, Prince Nokto. 

Nokto: If Belle's choosing the king, that basically means whoever wins her heart gets to be king, right? 

Sariel: If you must put it so bluntly, then yes. 

Nokto turned to me at once, his full lips curving upwards in a sultry smile, the look in his eyes predatory in a different way. 

Nokto: Well then, it'll be my pleasure to seduce you. 

(You have got to be kidding me!)