EXO TALES

{6} Beauty and the Beast

Once upon a time a merchant set off for market,

Lay appeared looking extremely confused as ever.

"What am I doing here?"

Omo! You're so cute!

"Thank you." Lay bowed politely after saying thank you to whoever that voice is.

he asked each of his daughters what she would like as a present on his return.

"Father, I want new eyeliners!"

"New eyeliners for you Baekhyun."

"Father, I want you to bring me books about a manly man!"

"Anything for you Luhan gege."

"Father, I want a book that gives me tips how to kill Baekhyun at Chanyeol without anyone seeing and suspecting me..."

"Anything for my kindest and sweetest daughter."

"..." Luhan and Baekhyun stared at Lay and D.O blankly.

The first daughter wanted a brocade dress, the second a pearl necklace, but the third, whose name was Beauty,

"It looks like that Kyungsoo's the main character."

"Oh thank god it's not me..." Luhan said greatfully.

the youngest, prettiest and sweetest of them all, said to her father:

"All I'd like is a rose you've picked specially for me!"

"And make sure it has sharp thorns..."

When the merchant had finished his business, he set off for home. However, a sudden storm blew up, and his horse could hardly make headway in the howling gale. Cold and weary, the merchant had lost all hope of reaching an inn when he suddenly noticed a bright light shining in the middle of a wood. As he drew near, he saw that it was a castle, bathe in light.

"I hope I'll find a shelter there for the night," he said to himself. When he reached the door, he saw it was open, but though he shouted, nobody came to greet him. Plucking up courage, he went inside, still calling out to attract attention.

"Maybe nobody is home..."

On a table in the main hall, a splendid dinner lay already served. The merchant lingered, still shouting for the owner of the castle. But no one came, and so the starving merchant sat down to a hearty meal.

"Wow! They're so nice! Preparing a meal for me."

Overcome by curiousity, he ventured upstairs, where the corridor led into magnificent rooms and halls. A fire crackled in the first room and a soft bed looked very inviting. It was now late, and the merchant could not resist. He lay down on the bed and fell fast asleep. When he woke next morning, an unknown hand had placed a mug of steaming coffee and some fruit by his bedside.

"Whoever the person who gave me this thank you very much for being nice to me."

The merchant had breakfast and after tidying himself up, went downstairs to thank his generous host. But, as on the evening before, there was nobody in sight. Shaking his head in wonder at the strangeness of it all, he went towards the garden where he had left his horse, tethered to a tree. Suddenly, a large rose bush caught his eye.

"Wow that's pretty!"

Remembering his promise to Beauty, he bent down to pick a rose. Instantly, out of the rose garden, sprang a horrible beast, wearing splendid clothes.