Beauty and the Beast

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom nestled between towering mountains, there lived a handsome young prince with golden hair and green eyes. This prince had everything anyone could wish for: wealth, power, and beauty. But he was also arrogant and selfish, caring little for the feelings of others. One day, a kind witch decided to teach the prince a lesson. She cast a spell on him, transforming him into a hideous beast with the same green eyes. «You will learn that luxury and money are not everything. To break this spell, you must find someone who loves you for who you are,» she declared before vanishing into the mist.

The prince’s once-grand castle fell into disrepair, hidden away from the world and forgotten by the people. His servants were turned into enchanted objects that could talk. Mrs. Potts, the kind housekeeper, became a teapot, her son Chip turned into a small teacup, Lumière the maître d’ became a candelabrum, and Cogsworth the butler transformed into an old clock. Despite their new forms, they remained loyal to their master, hoping one day the spell would be broken.

In a small village not far from the castle lived a humble man named Maurice. He had a beautiful daughter named Belle, with long brown hair and a kind heart. Belle loved her father dearly and always helped him with his work. One morning, as Maurice prepared to leave for work, he asked Belle if she wanted anything from the market. «Oh, Father, I would love a single red rose,» she replied with a smile.

Maurice set off, promising to bring Belle her rose. He worked hard all day and as the sun began to set, he started his journey back home. However, he soon became disoriented in the thick forest and stumbled upon the hidden castle. Exhausted and thirsty, Maurice ventured inside. He wandered through the grand, empty halls until he reached a beautiful garden. There, amidst the overgrown vines and flowers, he saw a single, perfect red rose.

Remembering Belle’s request, Maurice reached out to pluck the rose. But as soon as he did, a terrifying roar echoed through the garden. The Beast appeared, his green eyes blazing with anger. «How dare you steal from me!» he growled. Maurice trembled in fear, explaining that the rose was for his daughter, Belle.

The Beast’s expression softened slightly at the mention of Belle, but he remained stern. «If you want your freedom, you must send your daughter to take your place,» he demanded. Desperate to return to Belle, Maurice agreed to the Beast’s terms and promised to bring Belle to the castle.

Back in the village, Belle waited anxiously for her father’s return. When Maurice finally arrived, he told Belle everything. Belle’s heart ached at the thought of her father suffering, so she decided to go to the castle in his place. She kissed her father goodbye and set off for the castle, determined to face whatever awaited her.

When Belle arrived at the castle, the enchanted objects greeted her warmly, guiding her to the Beast. Despite his frightening appearance, Belle could see the sadness in his green eyes. She agreed to stay in the castle, and over time, she and the Beast began to spend more time together. They walked through the gardens, read books in the grand library, and talked about their hopes and dreams.

As the days turned into weeks, Belle’s kindness and bravery began to melt the Beast’s heart. He started to change, becoming more gentle and caring. The enchanted objects noticed the change and hoped that Belle’s love could break the spell.

One evening, the Beast decided to surprise Belle with a beautiful dinner. Lumière, Mrs. Potts, and the others worked tirelessly to make everything perfect. As they sat down to eat, the Beast looked at Belle and realized how much he cared for her. «Belle, I want to show you something,» he said, leading her to the library. It was filled with more books than Belle had ever seen.

«This is all for you,» the Beast said softly. Belle’s eyes sparkled with joy. «Thank you, Beast. This means so much to me,» she replied, giving him a warm smile.

Their bond grew stronger each day, but Belle still missed her father. The Beast, seeing her sadness, offered her a magical mirror that allowed her to see Maurice. Through the mirror, Belle saw her father ill and in need of help. Torn between her love for the Beast and her worry for her father, Belle explained her situation to the Beast.

The Beast knew what he had to do. «Go to your father, Belle. He needs you,» he said, his voice full of love and understanding. Belle thanked him and promised to return as soon as her father was well.

Belle left the castle and rushed back to the village to care for Maurice. With her love and attention, he quickly recovered. However, the villagers grew suspicious of Belle’s stories about the Beast and the enchanted castle. They thought the Beast was dangerous and decided to confront him.