Chapter Text
Here's the cover made by me
Belle started her day with a load of farm work, at least it felt like one after her father was no longer there to help her. She finished and tried to sell her crops, but she didn't make decent enough money. Many were not making decent money because of the effects of the war a few years ago. Especially she didn't make decent money. She knew she needed to marry, but she didn't want to.
However, speaking of, she saw Gaston, her only suitor, which she had no interest in. She tried to leave for home, but he took instant notice of her and annoyed Belle with, “Greetings Mademoiselle!” As he got uncomfortably closer to her- Belle swore she felt his hand on her waist. He grabbed her hand with his large, meaty hands and tried to kiss it, she cringed. “How is your day? I would like to know if you're interested in my proposition?” He gleefully said, but Belle answered with, as she moved slightly farther from him, “You need not inquire the same question, Monsieur.”
Gaston added with, “You know ever since what happened to him,” Belle felt even more furious when he said that; how dare he mention it, especially if he was involved with it! However she tried to maintain her composure “You are in urgent need of security.” “Well, everyone needs security, especially in times we live in right now.” She said, trying to resist the urge to slap him.
Gaston aggressively pursuing Belle
“My dear Belle, it has been almost a year and the times do not look promising for us poor, suffering, common people; it is best if we must remain together and the best way is through a union, specifically the one between man and wife, you know where flesh becomes one and I'd certainly love your flesh.” He said with emphasis on the love part, too much in love, in fact; it also didn't help with his lustful stare at her. She felt offended by this but again she remained courteous and left saying, “You already know the answer, Monsieur.”
She couldn't marry him, he's a libertin, always going laying in whores beds and flirting with many women; how could he make a good husband? Also he always looked down on her interest in reading, and he's also in his thirties, way too old, many girls her age married men who were only a few years older than them. Whereas he was twice her age as she was a child while he, a teenager, was off fighting the war.
Belle came back to her little house; she was starving so she ate the best vegetables she could find in here out of all the food or lack thereof in this season. She ate in silence as she swallowed down the vegetables, not the best ones, they felt a bit dry, but at the very least she was still alive she placed some vegetables inside a basket for someone. When she was done eating she felt her gaunt arm and said, “Par Dieu! I'm tired!” Not caring that she profaned, after all, she would confess to a priest tomorrow.
She brought her basket and placed a cloak on herself and walked through the sleeping village to a nearby brothel. She checked for people nearby other than prostitutes. It was no secret the town knew she was “crazy” but she couldn't be seen around whores; that would be even worse than starving. Though she entered and saw the stern face of the Madam, all in pink she dressed.
“Here with the God-forsaken food again, fille maige?” she snarked
“Yes I figured your girls would like some.”
“We all will like way more than food. Why won't you join us; be a whore among us all Belle? You know for certain you are in need of money, and why not? You're young, pretty, and could charm men into your bed.”
Belle knew after all nobody was making money, prices for goods were up, famine became rampant, everyday many were dying from starvation. One option was marriage, the other: selling herself. Marriage was out of the options, especially with Gaston. Prostitution, it worked with the Bimbette sisters, but at what cost, humiliation? But Belle knew her decision.
“Thank you for the offer but no Madam.” But when she finished her sentence, the door opened as a man came out saying to the giggling whore,
“Thanks for the pleasure Claudette!”
From the name alone she knew a Bimbette pleasured him and quickly put the hood of her cape back on, making way to the door.
Adam and Belle's First encounter.
However, he noticed the cloaked Belle and ordered, “Stay; don't leave!”
In defiance, she rolled her eyes and made way to the door; no one ordered her around.
The man yelled again, “As your prince you must do what I say!”
She stopped; she didn't want to pay with her head.
She gave a curtsey and remained silent, waiting for him to speak.
“Remove your clothes.” He said nonchalantly.
She was shocked and blushed in embarrassment.
“I'm only jesting,” he added with a laugh, “Remove the hood from your cloak.”
Reluctantly she removed it though she avoided eye contact with the prince as it was proper.
He cupped his fingers on her chin and forced her to face him, she felt mildly uneasy. Though, she distracted herself by noticing his fine, beautiful, blue eyes staring at her. She also noticed his auburn hair that wasn't powdered white like how she saw in many portraits. He appeared to be older than her, though not as old as Gaston; he was probably younger than Gaston. The prince appeared around his early twenties.
“What is your name?” He asked.
“Belle, Monseigneur.”
“Beauty.” He responded, stroking her cheek even more.
“Come, Belle.” He said
She followed him into a room.
Inside they were and the prince ordered, “Undress.” This time he meant it.
Though really she couldn't say no so she reluctantly agreed.
She started with her cloak, then she untied her apron, her bonnet was down the floor, her bodice and skirt, also. She was only in her underwear, a chemise and stays to be precise.
He walked nearer towards her, letting his hand rest on her bosom for a while in awkward silence and eventually untying her stays, leaving only a chemise as protection, until he removed it, now totally exposed in front of a man for the first time. Even more embarrassing was that it was with a prince who was now going to deflower her.
“I'm waiting til marriage.” She finally spoke up now.
“You expect that we'll be married?”
“No, Monseigneur. But with all due respect, I don't even know your name.”
“You never bothered to ask.”
“I'm sorry–”
“My name is Adam, now stop lingering.” He said, "The Beast of France" as the kingdom called him, but with his clothes already off the ground and ready to do it with Belle. He went closer and kissed her, no man has ever kissed her but her father, but those were quick and on her forehead. This kiss was on her lips, long, deep, and ardent. Then, he stopped kissing her and did way more than kiss her. He was actually doing it; to relieve herself she thought of how handsome he was, which made her enjoy it at least a bit more. But still thoughts lingered in Belle's mind as he deflowered her:
“What will become of me after this night, especially if I'm no longer pure?”
“Would I be discarded afterwards and he moves on to other women?”
“What if the people find out?”
So many thoughts lingered in her head.