Evermore [The Beast/The Prince x Reader]

chapter twenty-two

"Mademoiselle, eat," begged Lumiere, who gestured to a bowl of brown sugar topped oatmeal. "Your body needs the nourishment!"

"I'm not hungry," she croaked, her voice hoarse and her chest heaving after the words. "Just... tired."

Lumiere dropped his head and sighed. "Take it away," he sadly ordered the cart and the butler, who obeyed immediately. He hopped to her pillow and sat next to her head. "Oh, mademoiselle..."

The bedroom door opened loudly. Lumiere jumped as he saw the Beast stomp inside, panic on his face. He stood up to explain why she was still in his bed when the Beast dropped to his knees at the side of the bed and took the girl's limp hand in his.

"___," the Beast whispered softly.

She slowly lifted her head and looked at him. A smile spread across her face. "Hey, your majesty."

He stroked her fingers. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm... okay," she said.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he admitted, tears in his eyes. "I did not think that I would be fast enough. I thought you had died in my arms before I could even give you a chance to fight."

"But here I am," she whispered.

He nodded. "Here you are. And I'm so sorry, ___. I ruined your night."

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "I had such a wonderful time, your majesty. You are my favorite gentleman to dance with."

He chuckled and reached up to touch her cheek with the back of his fingers. Her cheeks flushed red as he pushed a lock of hair off her face and back on her pillow.

"Are you tired?" he asked.

"More than exhausted," she admitted, smiling in amusement. "But I am so, so glad to see you."

"And I, you," he said, and he smiled.

The doors opened again. In wheeled Mrs. Potts and Chip on a cart. The Beast moved to sit at the side of her bed as the cart moved right up next to ___, who was smiling weakly.

"Good morning!" Chip exclaimed, jumping cheerfully at the same time his mother began to pour tea; some of it sloshed. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," she said.

"I'm so glad you're okay," he said, hopping onto her bedside. "I was worried a little."

She laughed softly. "You needn't worry about me, Chip. I'm fine."

The Beast smiled and took Chip in his hands. Carefully, he lifted the teacup to her lips. She shut her eyes as she sipped on the tea, feeling the hot drink, sweet with honey and creamy with milk, slide down her scratchy throat.

The Beast pulled the cup back. Chip smiled at his friend. "Hey! Let me show you a trick - I know you'll laugh!"

He shut his eyes and shook slightly, and a bubble of tea popped out of his top. ___ giggled quietly and the Beast chuckled. Mrs. Potts scoffed and scolded her son lightly with a, "Oh, Chip!"

"That is quite the trick," the Beast said, glancing at the tiny cup in his hands. "Did you find that out on your own?"

"Uh-huh!" Chip exclaimed proudly, like he had just taken claim of a grand invention or a well written song.

"It is quite the trick," ___ said. Half a second later, she began to cough.

It was a loud, painful sound that rumbled inside of her chest and out of her throat. It carried on for several long seconds, bringing the Beast and all the objects closer to her with worry.

She stopped coughing and dropped her head back against the pillow. With a long sigh, she shut her eyes and winced painfully. The Beast glanced at his servants, who hung their heads.

"Chip," Mrs. Potts said, "why don't you wash up a bit? You don't want to get sticky with the honey in you, my boy."

"Yes, Mama," he said. Mrs. Potts hopped off the tray as her son got on the cart. "I'll see you tonight, mademoiselle. Feel better - Lumiere is having pudding made for you!"

The boy quickly wheeled out of the room. Without him, it was silent for a few long moments as the objects looked at each other helplessly. They seemed to be at a loss for words.

The Beast held his friend's hand until she fell asleep. Only then did he allow himself to stand and walk to the lit fireplace. The objects followed him.

"Your majesty-"

"What is wrong with her?" he asked.

"We do not know," Mrs. Potts admitted in defeat. "But, your majesty, her condition is worsening. Her coughing, the loss of appetite... her inability to go back to her average temperature... none of these things are good."

The Beast clenched his fist. "What does this mean?" he asked.

"We are not doctors," Lumiere said, "but Cogsworth..."

The clock cleared his throat and stepped forward. A brave yet sad expressions touched his eyes as he held up a hand and spoke to the master.

"I think it means that, given the circumstances being what they are in terms of her... condition, and the fact that we do not have access to any doctor or nurse... her condition will only get worse, and I'm afraid... I just don't see her pulling through this."

The Beast felt like the floor had been yanked out from under him. He gaped in shock at the objects for a long, horrible moment. The weight of the news almost brought him to his knees. The objects urged him into an armchair.

"We are so sorry, master," Mrs. Potts cried, tears of her own in her eyes.

"No," he whispered, shutting his eyes. "You all love her, have cared for her... and I... I am the one that should be apologizing. I was not fast enough."

The group of cursed lives faced each other with solemn, broken faces. Lumiere let his arm circle around Plumette as she whimpered softly. At the same time, silent tears slipped down his cheeks. Mrs. Potts shook her head as she thought of her boy losing his friend. Cogsworth shut his eyes and touched Lumiere's back, no longer reluctant to be there for his friend.

The Beast, however, was hurting the worst. He was feeling a thick cloud of black in his heart. He was angry - soon, he would be alone. He would have no one to break the spell or save him from himself.

Worst of all, he was broken.