Evermore [The Beast/The Prince x Reader]

chapter five

She jolted herself awake. Her eyes opened, golden memories of the first ball she ever attended at the now enchanted castle fluttering out of her reach. She woke up to see the morning sun. She didn't feel any better.

She lifted her head off of the plush pillows and swung her legs off the side of the bed. She dropped her face into her hands.

"How good it is to see your eyes!"

She jumped at the booming sound of the woman's voice. She turned around, half expecting a person to be behind her. However, the wardrobe rocked back and forth on its short legs, and suddenly she could make out a face in the furniture.

She gasped lightly. "Madame de Gardrobe? Is that you?"

"Yes, yes," she cried. "Isn't it awful? Doomed! I am doomed!"

Her heart squeezed in her chest. "Oh, you mustn't cry. We will figure this all out!"

She sniffed. "Do you truly believe that, mademoiselle?"

"I do," she lied. She brushed her hands through her matted curls. Her stomach growled and she hung her head. "I don't suppose you would know who has managed to be turned into an oven, do you?"

"No," she replied, "but Missus Potts informed me just a few minutes ago that I must send you straight down to breakfast when you awoke."

"Oh." She stood up and stretched.

"Let me prepare a gown for you," she insisted, "yes, yes, get out of that old thing. It is filthy now!"

She frowned and began to shrug out of the straps. She stared at the new appearance of her friend with confused eyes. "You can make dresses?"

"I believe so," she said. "Well. I can try, can't I?"

"I suppose."

She dropped the dress and let it fall to her feet. She stepped out of the heap and stood before the wardrobe. Madame de Gardrobe opened her middle drawer. Immediately, a flash of blue ribbon and sheets of fabric shot out.

She gasped as she felt the pieces wrap around her. It took some adjusting, but before long, ___ was wearing a blue, floor length gown and had a ribbon tying her hair back.

"Such beauty you are, my dear," she cooed, turning the young girl around.

"Thank you," she said.

"Breakfast!" she suddenly burst out, "you must go, mademoiselle."

"Okay," she said. "I'll... see you, Madame."

"Yes, yes," she sighed, as if she had just remembered that she could not follow the girl. She settled back down on her brass legs and leaned her wooden back against the wall. "I shall be here."

It was bittersweet to be human, ___ thought.

She was thankful, on one hand, to be able to keep her body. But there was also a hurt deep in her heart. Her friends. Madame de Gardrobe could not see her husband. Plumette could not embrace Lumiere with a kiss. Chip, who still had the personality and glee of a young boy, could not play.

She walked to the dining room. Lumiere greeted her with a bow, of which he responded with a grateful smile. As she approached the table, she saw the Prince - the Beast - at one end of the table.

She glanced nervously at him and sat down at the other end. He grumbled under his breath, his striking blue eyes following her every movement. She focused on the napkin that she was unfolding and placing on her lap.

"One lump of sugar or two, dear?" Mrs. Potts asked, rolling over on a cart.

"One," she said. "And a bit of milk, please, if you don't mind."

As Mrs. Potts stirred her tea, ___ risked a glance upwards. The Beast looked away quickly, staring at his own cup of tea. He looked up again, assuming she would have glanced away already, but she hadn't.

"Good morning, your majesty," she said cautiously.

"Morning," he huffed. He waited a moment before speaking again. "I... hope you slept well."

"I did," she said, taking her cup from Mrs. Potts. "I slept very well. I have taken residence of a bedroom on the first floor, if that is quite alright with you."

He nodded. "Yes. Yes, that is fine. This... this is your home now. Any room you wish - it's yours."

She raised her eyebrows and sipped her tea. "Any room at all?"

"Yes," he answered. "Any room not used, of course-"

"The garden?" she requested without thinking. She lowered her cup on the table. "The rose garden."

"What?"

"It's just that I've always admired it," she said sheepishly. "And it is not used, exactly. I just thought... it would be nice to have something to care for while I'm here."

He thought for a moment. For a moment, he thought unselfishly, and imagined how empty her life would be. She would be perfectly capable of leaving, if not for the curse binding her to the palace.

However, she had no room to complain, in his eyes. She was average - beyond average, if he thought about it. She was beautiful. People wouldn't shy away at the sight of her walking into a village as they would him.

His face hardened and he stared into his tea. He was building up barriers. He wouldn't be anything but selfish - he had every right to be cold to her and everyone else.

"If I may, your majesty," Lumiere murmured in his ear, "I would consider the... solution to our problem."

He turned his head towards the candlestick. "What solution?" he growled.

"True love," he answered. "If you get the girl to love you..."

He huffed loudly at the thought. However, the girl was still staring at him with wondering eyes, and he thought that was beautiful. She was lovely, and she was his friend, and it wasn't a coincidence that she was not changed to an object, was it? Perhaps it's what the Enchantress wanted.

Girls want things. That's how he bought all of his lovers before - they wanted things, he gave them what they desired. Jewelry. Dances. Kisses. Dresses. Fame. Fortune. The prize of having their arm hooked with his. All of these priceless treasures for a chance of love.

"Yes," he replied, desperation for her approval in his voice, "yes, the rose garden is yours."

She gasped lightly. "Really? You're giving it to me?"

"Yes," he breathed. "It is yours to keep."

She smiled. "I... thank you, your majesty."

He hummed in satisfaction. "You're welcome."

That was it for conversation. The bit of happiness in the Beast's chest went away. That's all he got? A thank you, and nothing more? He was disgusted. What was the point of being kind of no one would give him what he wanted - no. What he needed?

He needed her to fall in love with him. Which wouldn't be difficult if she could remember what he looked like before the curse. Certainly, she would love him fast.