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

Chapter 2

She walked through the town square, her book tucked tightly against the skirt of her dress as she made her way back to the village library in hopes of getting there before the entire town was bustling with people as it was every morning.

But, sure enough, the clock struck its usual hour, and Aphmau smiled before rolling her eyes.

The windows to the house beside her flung open. "Bonjour!" A woman cried out in a high pitched tone before readjusting the clothing on her dress.

Another window flung open as well, as well as another, and another, and another. A chorus of the word 'Bonjour!' rang throughout the whole town, making Aphmau giggle at her village's antics.

She walked through the town, humming a small tune as the shops opened their doors and booths spread their curtains apart, all open for business.

She watched with a smile as the town drunkard was once again placed in their small prison, and smiled at the baker like she did every morning.

With a wave, she began to look through her pouch of coins before pulling out three silver pieces and placing them in the cup the man left out for money. Then, she grabbed a bland piece of sour dough bread and left, her humming not stopping even once.

Soon she noticed her favorite horse of all time, and approached it before softly petting his snout with a delicate touch. She smiled, and the horse gave a happy neigh before she walked away to go speak to the very forgetful town stableboy.

"Good morning Aphmau!" He exclaimed, and the ravenette smiled.

"Good morning sir! Are you looking for something again?" She asked with a tone filled with happiness and curiosity.

He only smiled. "I think I am. Problem is, I don't remember what I'm looking for!" He exclaimed before scratching his head.

Aphmau only giggled and gave him another show stopping smile. "Oh well. I'll remember soon." He replied, making her nod before she quickly laid a soft pet on his steed and began to walk away.

"Where are you off to?" He called, and she turned to look at him as she walked. "To return this book to Emmalyn." She replied, and he nodded with a toothy grin, his wrinkles showing off his old age.

"It's about a couple in fair Verona." She finished before turning around to walk normally once more. "Doesn't sound too interesting to me." The man said before shrugging.

After all, this was classic Aphmau.

On her way to her friend's library, she was watched by a a school of boys. "Isn't that Aphmau?" One of them started, before another sighed.

"I heard she's the town bookworm." Another replied with a bored tone. "She reads books willingly?" One asked, and the others nodded.

"How strange." He finished, and the teacher shooed them all inside and up the stairs to reach the classroom. "Now don't go around being as distracted and dazed as her, you hear me?" He asked before smacking the boy upside the head in a authoritative way that wasn't too harsh but it got he point across.

She only smiled before quickly skipping and leaping across the stones that were placed in the town pond to get to the other side.

As she walked, she passed the village well where mothers and their daughters sat doing laundry, all of them sparing no expense to gossip about the beautiful bookworm as she walked by.

"Isn't that Aphmau? I swear that girl always has her head stuck in the clouds." A mother started, the ones around her nodding in agreement.

"I mean, who reads books on their own? Reading isn't important." A child started before moving her clothing so Aphmau could walk by.