Evermore [The Beast/The Prince x Reader]

chapter nine

She was reluctant to go back, but she did receive an invitation from the Prince himself.

She doubted he would apologize. He didn't see any wrong in what he did, no doubt. But could she blame him? He was a Prince. It was practically his job to dance with maidens. She just wasn't the one he would chose for life like she'd hoped.

Should she hope? Was she ready to settle down, or did she just relish in the thought, the very image of being a princess? Of dancing nightly, of wearing the finest gowns, of being loved by the most beautiful man in France? The very thought of a life like that made her sigh deep with longing.

She approached the castle with dignity, and instead of going straight to the Prince to introduce herself, she hooked arms with the beautiful maiden she had met the first time she came. They danced together, and she finally allowed herself to smile.

"I didn't see you yesterday," the maiden said in a soft voice. "Did you not come?"

"No," she said proudly. "I don't want to fall for his games any longer, my friend."

The maiden furrowed her thin, dark brows. "Game? What do you mean, game?"

"He plays us for fools," she hissed, watching the girl's eyes go wide. "He thinks we will wait at his feet for him to look at us, and we will just let him act as he wishes."

She laughed. "Because we will! That's just how it is here."

"I refuse," she said.

"I'm not surprised. You refuse every Prince that throws himself your way. I don't know who you're trying to impress, but you'll not impress me. I actually wish to gain at least a little bit of the Prince's affection."

She stepped away from ___ and found a new partner. ___ scoffed lightly and crossed her arms as she sauntered over to the where the servants stood. A man with a white wig and gold clothes stepped forward.

"Bonjour, mademoiselle," he said.

"Bonjour," she said.

"What can I do for you, Miss-?"

"___," she answered, "and I am just looking for a drink. Do you have wine today, Monsieur-?"

"We have any and every drink your heart desires," he said. He reached for her hand and delicately lifted it to his lips. With a wink, he introduced himself. "Monsieur Lumiere, my beautiful mademoiselle."

"It's a pleasure," she said, pulling her hand back after he kissed above her knuckles.

She tucked her curled hair behind her ears and looked around her. Lumiere chuckled as he got a full view of her face.