Chapter Text
Once upon a time, there was a prince. He was handsome, his hair a rich gold and his eyes a clear blue, but he was also cruel and cold to all. He was known to have no mercy and he was feared throughout the kingdom, caring only about himself and his own gain.
One day, an old woman came upon his castle. She was weary, clothes worn with the wear and tear that comes with being a vagabond.
“Good prince,” She called, “Please allow me to stay in your castle for the night?”
“What can you give me?”
“I have naught but a single rose.”
The prince scoffed, "A rose? And I suppose you don't have a secret, more... appealing traveling companion?"
"You shouldn't judge someone by their appearance, young man," She began, "True beauty is-"
The prince turned his back on her. “Come back with something of value, wench, and maybe I’ll give you refuge. Be gone from my sight.”
The woman sneered and a bright light surrounded her. When the prince turned back, he was shocked to see a beautiful enchantress in her place. “You fool! I gave you a chance to change your ways, but now you will suffer. I curse you, until you can love and be loved in return, despite your appearance,” She cackled as the prince turned into a hideous beast, tossing her rose at him. “You have until the last petal falls to reverse the curse, or it will become permanent.”
And with that she disappeared. Her spell fell over the entire castle, all its occupants changing from their human forms to something else. Years passed before the petals began to fall from the rose, but by then the castle was overrun by weeds and in disarray. The prince had gave up all hope.
After all, who could learn to love a beast?