[DISCONTINUED] A Beauty and A Beast (Garmau AU)

Chapter 1

~Once Upon A Time~

There lived a prince. He was known far and wide as one of the most handsome men in the kingdom, from his shining blonde locks to his exuberant blue eyes, he was the definition of beauty and perfection.

Knowing full well about how handsome he was, he spared no expense to make sure he received only the best.

Because of his selfish desires, it led him to tax his people mercilessly and made his kingdom fall into an economic depression. Civil war was brewing for him, but he paid no heed to it.

He turned away from his oppressed citizens and ignored their cries and pleas, making sure that as long as he had what he desired, nothing else mattered.

Being the way that he was, he would always throw the most extravagant and elegant parties in his enormous castle. Only the richest, most beautiful, and talented people in all the land were ever invited. Even then, it was almost as if he couldn't take his eyes off of himself.

So one night, as he danced the night away with his harem and other beautiful women of the court, a woman crept up the stairs of his castle and laid three soft, weak knocks upon his massive doors.

After opening the door to see who had disturbed him, he was both surprised and disgusted to see an old hag dressed in nothing but old rags.

After laughing at her poverty for a few moments, he stared at her and asked why she had so rudely interrupted his night.

Through the pouring rain, she softly asked if it would be acceptable for her to stay the night in order to escape the torrent of raindrops.

He only laughed again. By then, he had realized she was just another ugly, insignificant villager, and his interest in her had decreased dramatically.

Then, once he had properly composed himself, he merely shooed her away, as if she was nothing more than a rat sniffing at his boots.

But she did not heed his command. This caused the prince to get even angrier, but the woman only weakly lifted a shaky finger and pointed into his castle.

"You have so much space," she began, and he grit his teeth. "Is it really too much trouble for little old me to stay the night?" Then, she held up the rose she had been holding.

"I offer a gift in return." She said in her old, shaky voice. He plucked the flower from her grasp and made a 'hmph' sound before smirking.

Then, he threw to the tile floor, not caring about something lifeless and insignificant.

But still, she didn't leave like he demanded.

This made him furious. How dare this insignificant, hideous hag even think for 1 minute that he would allow her to stay in his castle, the place where he deserved only the creme of the crop.

After refusing once more, the woman lifted her head the slightest bit, and he noticed how her eyes sparkled with youth and beauty.

"Well then. Such selfishness deserves to be punished." She replied, and he realized how her voice wasn't old and grainy anymore, but clear and graceful.

Then, she lifted her hood. Expecting to see the old, ugly face of an old woman, he was met with the face of a beautiful girl with purple eyes and white hair.