Evermore [The Beast/The Prince x Reader]

chapter thirteen

After she was dressed in a brand new gown, beautifully made my Madame de Gardrobe, she braided her hair. She hummed as she did so, shutting her eyes periodically so she could dream of dances and balls that she once attended nightly.

There was a quite tapping at her door. She knew who it was at once. She smiled and opened her eyes. "Come in," she said.

Lumiere pushed the door open and stepped inside. She smiled wider and picked up her brush from the vanity.

"Hello, Lumiere," she said happily.

"Hello," he said, an equally as cheerful tone to his French accent, "and good morning! What a good morning it is."

"You're in a good mood, huh?"

"Very much so," he said. "I heard you and the master spent time together this morning."

"Yes," she said, tying her hair in an artful braid. "He came out to the gardens with me and helped me pick vegetables for dinner."

"And?"

She raised her eyebrows. "And?"

Lumiere shrugged. "Well, certainly you didn't just garden and harvest, mademoiselle!"

She stood up straight. Holding the end of her hair in her hand, she turned towards her friend. He beamed at her, making her tilt her head.

"Lumiere," she said, laughing lightly, "what is going on?"

"Nothing!"

"Lumiere," she said again, shaking her head. "I like to think that I know you well enough to see when something most definitely is going on."

Lumiere sighed. "Oh, mademoiselle, it is just a beautiful sight to see the master win your affection."

"Affection?" she asked. She sat down on the bed. Her smile fell.  "Lumiere. I'm not affectionate to the master. If you're speaking romantically, at least."

"But mademoiselle-"

"And winning my affection? As if he gets a prize if he makes me fall for him again!" she scoffed in disgust.

Lumiere hesitated for a moment. He froze and stumbled on his words. She narrowed her eyes at him and leaned forward.

"Wait," she said, voice soft, "why do you treat it like a contest? Do my feelings mean that little to you, too? Certainly not to you, my friend-"

"No!" he said. "Mademoiselle, you misunderstand. Our... our curse. It will only be broken if someone falls in love with the master... and if he loves her in return."

Her face paled. She felt her stomach hurt and tears in her eyes. All along, she thought that the Beast's kindness meant he cared about her, that she made him happy. But he was just forcing himself so that he could one day become human.

"Mademoiselle..."

She was crying. She wept quietly in her hands and shook her head. She felt the cold brass of Lumiere as he leaned against her arm. She wanted to push him away, but she knew that it wasn't him she should be angry with.

"Lumiere, I love you, trust no one but you," she whispered, a tear sliding down her cheek, "but why would you keep this from me?"

After wiping away warm droplets of saltwater from her face, she dropped her hands. Her friend looked so sad, so heartbroken by her words. He dropped his head in defeat and shrugged.

"I do not know, mademoiselle," he said, his voice honest. "It was just a hopeless dream we had that you would one day fall back in love with him."

"He hurt me," she said, shaking her head, "and I forgave him, but I am not ready to love him again."

"Then you must forgive him for this," Lumiere said. She scoffed. "Hear me out. Our master is indeed selfish and sometimes cruel, but think of what he has gone through. Losing his mother, being raised by that horrible father of his... turning into a monster and forced into a pitiful life."

She looked down at her lap. Lumiere knelt beside her leg and sighed. He shook his head.

"I don't know if he'll change," he admitted, "and I don't know if we will ever be human again, but I do know that we will not give up."

She looked at him. "Good," she said, a smile inching get across her face. "Don't give up. I may not love him now, but perhaps in time. I might be the girl you need. But if I'm not... Lumiere, I only ask for you to be patient with me. Love cannot be rushed." 

"We will be patient," Lumiere promised.

"Thank you," she said.

"But you must forgive Chip, no matter what the little lad says or does," he said. "He is just... so hopeful. He's a bigger dreamer than even you are, mademoiselle."

She laughed. "I don't doubt it."

Lumiere hopped off of the bed. He landed gracefully and spun in a full circle. She slid off the bed and knelt before him. He took her hand and kissed it.

"I shall call you for dinner," he said.

"Please," she replied, smiling.

"Any requests for dessert?"

"Can I request anything?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"But of course," he said. "Anything for you, mademoiselle."

"Pudding again," she said, smiling. "If you don't mind... and the Grey Stuff."

"Both?" he asked. "Mademoiselle, of course, of course! Anything for you, like I said. At your request, there will be two desserts on the menu."

She laughed. "Thank you." He kissed her hand again. She blushed scarlet. "Lumiere!"

"What?" he said, "I cannot help it! You are beautiful!"

She rolled her eyes. He winked and danced out of the room. She laughed under her breath and shook her head at him.

No matter what he did, he never failed to make her laugh. She often found herself grateful for Lumiere, who was such a kind and gentle soul with a strong love for his friends. She, too, was grateful for her friends. They never faltered in kindness and were so selfless despite the little they had.

They had each other, and that was enough for them.

Perhaps, one day, it would be enough for her, too.