[Beauty and the Beast] Rose Castle

The last time I encountered a giant python is still vivid in my memory. At that time, I couldn't escape its pursuit no matter what. In the end, I could only lie on the ground in despair, waiting to be eaten by it.I don't want to experience the chilling feeling of being chased by the god of death a second time in my life.I unconsciously took two steps back and hid behind Lambert.

As if aware of my fear, Lambert took the initiative to walk in front of me, blocking the python's cloudy sight.He is protecting me, or protecting me instinctively.Thinking of this, my face felt like it was on fire, and my heart thumped twice.

The bad thing is, the giant python still seems to have an impression of us, and the white pupil locked on to us immediately, spitting out the snake letter "hissing", the barbs stood up excitedly, the snake tail swung, and slid towards us quickly.

The others quickly realized that the target of the giant python was not them, so they quickly squatted down, shook the person sleeping on the ground awake, and prepared to run out in one go.But I forgot that the giant python has a history of eating people, and the first person to run out became a moving food. I saw the giant python suddenly opened its bloody mouth, sprayed out a cloud of stinky white mist, and grabbed a person like lightning. He tilted his head and swallowed it all.

Seeing this scene, the legs of the people outside the castle weakened, and they let out a heart-piercing scream: "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh——" The people who wanted to escape stopped and stood in front of the door, looking around in fear and hesitation.

As the giant python's huge body got closer, someone looked at Lambert and said in a low voice: "That giant python seems to be coming towards it... just throw it out."

I was a little speechless, thought for a while, and patted Lambert's snake head.Lambert didn't understand why, but he understood my hint, and glanced at them coldly, with a low threatening growl brewing in his throat.Those people were so frightened that they immediately shut their mouths and shrank their necks, not daring to look at us anymore.

The intimidation succeeded.I scratched Lambert's jaw, and scratched the back of his neck, thinking he wasn't too easy to use.

At the same time, the rustling sound of the giant python's barbs rolling over the snow became clearer.Outside the castle, people hugged each other, shivering in despair, and some people broke down and cried bitterly.In fact, they are not in a desperate situation. Lambert can save them, but should they save them?

Whether to save them or not, the power to choose is actually in my hands.Because Lambert only obeys my orders.This is the first time I know that controlling life and death is not something to be happy about.The greater the power, the more things need to be weighed.Maybe some people can give orders in a muddle after gaining power, but I can't close my eyes and decide the life and death of these people in the dark.Some of them may be the pillars of a family, some may be the hope for the old and weak parents to survive, and some may have to go home to take care of their children...

The thing is, I don't want Lambert risking his life to save a bunch of people who have nothing to do with him.I can't let others fulfill my sympathy.The more you think about it, the more chaotic you get, and the more you think about it, the more headaches you get. No wonder Lambert can become the crown prince. His extremely rational mind is like a treasure for a country.My thinking is emotional, I have too many worries, and I can't make a decisive decision...Compared with him, it is really far behind.It was my fault to self-righteously judge his past and tell him what to do.

At this time, exclamations suddenly came from around.I looked up, and a black shadow teleported to the giant python, it was Lambert.While I was still hesitating, his instinct had already made his choice.

The cold wind filled his shirt, and the snowflakes danced wildly. After a while, his head and shoulders were all white.In front of the giant python that was as huge as a mountain, even he who turned into a beast looked a little thin.It may be that I have experienced the embarrassment of weighing the weight of life once, and understood the difficulties of the superiors when making choices. At this moment, I recalled the picture of him standing on the tower in the fantasy. Rolling up and down...Suddenly, I understood why Ophelia regarded him as her faith.This man deserves to be everyone's faith.

Before, I regarded him as an ordinary man who was too good, but now I realized that this impression was wrong.Ordinary men can only protect their own family at most, while heroes will choose to protect everyone.

He is a hero.

The heavy snow was a bag of salt torn apart by dark clouds, and white sandstorms swept across the ground.Lambert's figure became blurred, and he could only be vaguely seen wrestling with the giant python.The people outside the castle were dumbfounded, staring at him blankly, forgetting to run away.I hated the iron and went out, and shouted: "Come in quickly—"

Only then did they realize that they ran towards the castle like frozen ducks.Seeing this scene, the giant python raised its head and howled furiously. The snake's tail flicked violently, and the two statues broke at the middle, and collapsed in front of those people.The snow fog "bang" everywhere, making the field of vision even more blurred. The giant python took the opportunity to get rid of Lambert's attack, and slid towards those people like a shark smelling blood.The blood-red python's mouth broke through the fog, and even if it was so far away, it could still smell the stench.

This scene is simply a scene from a nightmare: black clouds and haze, lightning is the eye of the sky that appears and disappears, the wind roars, the snow is like fine sand, and the world becomes either black or white.On the snow-capped ground, several people panicked and crawled towards the castle. Behind them was a pale snow mist, with a big bloody mouth protruding from the middle, and the dense fangs on it made the scalp tense.

Not only the people outside the castle, but even the people inside the castle were frightened by this scene. Several people sat on the ground, emitting a strong smell of smell.

Just one second before the giant python was about to swallow those people, there was a deafening low growl, and the next second, snow splashed on the ground, and a lizard claw held the giant python's head with great strength.The giant python bit the air, roared unwillingly, and writhed like an earthworm nailed to the ground.Lambert clasps its seven inches from top to bottom, and rides on its head, like a solid iron nail, firmly clamping it to the ground.

At this moment, he seemed like a majestic warrior who tamed wild horses. Even though his head was like a snake, his body was covered with black scales, and his hands and feet were like lizards, he couldn't conceal his strong and heroic aura.Some people, even if they are assimilated by the dragon, are still warriors.

I don't know if the giant python has intelligence, but suddenly, I saw it turn its white pupils, stretch its head and neck, and opened its mouth to bite off the legs and feet of the people in front.Although it doesn't need to chew to eat people, its mouth is lined with dense fangs, and if it bites down, those people will not die or be disabled.If Lambert wanted to save those people, he had to loosen its neck.This way it can escape smoothly.

However, neither I nor the giant python thought that Lambert was unarmed and decided to insert his hand into the giant python's eyeball without hesitation.A roar resounded through the snowy night, viscous and dirty liquid sprayed out from the giant python's eyes, and stinky rain poured on those people's heads.The injury made the giant python burst out with astonishing strength. It howled convulsively, twisted its body, and the snow mixed with blood and mucus swirled one after another.After dozens of seconds passed, it finally got rid of Lambert's grip and fled to the bushes not far away.

In front of the gate of the castle, there was originally a medium-sized garden planted with various flowers and plants. Although they were not in full bloom, they looked beautiful covered with white snow, but now they all fell to the ground and were razed to the ground by the giant python.Several magnificent statues were smashed to pieces by the snake's tail.The castle already looked dilapidated, but at this moment, it looked more like a cursed place of decay.

Lambert was standing there, but a few seconds later, he suddenly knelt down on one knee with his head lowered.I ran over quickly, and for a moment, my heart beat so violently that my eardrums trembled, and an indescribable hot feeling spread in my heart.I don't know how to describe this feeling.

The top of his head, shoulders, and arms were covered with fishy mucus, and python blood dripped from his jaw.Hearing my footsteps, he raised his head suddenly, his pupils constricted like needles, but the moment he saw me, his pupils suddenly expanded into a circle, and his cold and vigilant gaze gradually became gentle and dependent.

The tip of his nose twitched twice, and there was a "gurgling" sound from his throat, as if he was acting like a baby and wanted me to hug him.

...How can you hug it when it's so dirty?Feeling helpless, I touched his chin anyway.He hummed twice in dissatisfaction, probably knowing that he was dirty, so he didn't force the hug.

At this time, there were rustling footsteps behind him.I turned my head and saw that those people inside and outside the castle wanted to slip away.

"What are you going for?" I helped Lambert and glanced at them, "Go back. I have something to say."

They looked at Lambert timidly and rubbed their hands together.Someone boldly said: "It's very late... If you don't go back, the people in the village will be worried."

"Why weren't you worried by the people in the village before you came here?" I imitated Lambert's tone and said coldly, "Go back to me."

The tone of the superior works well.Shocked by me, those people hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly turned and walked towards the castle.

Walking into the castle, I let Lambert sit down on the sofa first, then patted the cabinet, and woke up the furniture pretending to be asleep.Feather duster woke up slowly, saw the messy hall, and complained: "I said earlier, those villagers are not good people, you still don't believe it, you have to say that they are passers-by who are staying overnight, and prepare food for them... If they are staying overnight Passers-by, how could they come with weapons, don’t you think, Miss Rosa—ah! They’re still here!”

Feather Duster shyly covered his face and retreated into the cupboard.The others looked at him with their mouths open.After a while, the young man was the first to ask: "...I read that right, the feather duster is talking?"

"What we ate before... was prepared by this castle?"

"This, this castle is alive!" Someone showed fear.

This statement caused a lot of panic.People whispered and looked at me and Lambert like monsters.Some people took two steps back, patted their heads, trying to wake up from the dream, and some looked desperate, as if they would be swallowed by the castle in the next second.

I put them aside, took the hot towel from Mrs. Teapot, walked to Lambert's side, and gently wiped the blood that was about to dry on his head.After Lambert turned into a beast, it was difficult to concentrate, and his head always turned up and down with my movements.What makes me laugh is that those people are like him, with eyes as big as copper bells, watching me dumbfounded as I help Lambert wipe his face, hands and soles of feet.

Half an hour later, after changing three towels and five buckets of water, the dirt on his body was finally wiped clean.Seeing that there were still some small wounds on his hands from the python's barbs, I took the bandages and lowered my head to help him bandage them.

After all this was done, someone couldn't help asking: "Rosalind... What is your relationship with this, this thing?"

"Is it a beast you tamed?"

"This castle...why can it talk?"

"Why is there a python outside? Could it be that the python that ate people around the village was that one, not..." The speaker cast a careful glance at Lambert.

After deliberating, I answered the last question: "That's right, it's not him."

"You haven't told us what the thing beside you is..."

A middle-aged man hesitated and said: "Rosa, I have been with your father for a while... Your father is a nice person, but his temper is a bit weird. I hope you don't always do weird things like him. Things. This thing may not be bad now, and it can still obey your orders, but you must know that wild beasts are not human. One day, it will escape your control and bite you back. Listen to the uncles, Go back, and don't get so close to the beast."

At this time, he claimed to be my uncle, but he turned a blind eye when I was humiliated by so many people just now.I don't want to argue with them and call them into the castle, I just want to silence them so they can go back and not talk nonsense, and... they owe Lambert a thank you.

"I just want to tell you that there was indeed a giant python outside the village that hurt people, but it wasn't him." I scratched Lambert's jaw lightly, he squinted his eyes, and obediently put the snake's head into my palm. He couldn't help but gasped, "He is not a beast, nor was I tamed. It is not my order to save you, but his own choice. I hope you can thank it, and then go back and tell the people in the town and village, don't Let’s disturb him again, and try to minimize going out. As you can see, the giant python was only injured, not dead, and there is a danger of death if you go out rashly.”

There was no sound.Some people nodded repeatedly, promising that they would never come here again; some whispered to their companions and looked at me dubiously; some asked bluntly, "How can you guarantee that this thing won't hurt people like that giant python?"

"Without him, you are already dead." I said lightly.

"Maybe it's a conspiracy by the giant pythons to eat more people..." As he spoke, the man's voice weakened. Obviously, he couldn't even convince himself of this reason.

"Okay, Rosa, uncles believe what you say, this thing won't hurt anyone." The middle-aged man said, "You also have to listen to my uncle's advice, don't be with wild beasts, you can't control them. Don't talk about you, Not even the bravest man in the town dares to tame a beast for sure...you are still so close to it, what is the difference from playing with fire and setting yourself on fire?"

I thought about it and said, "Are you in a hurry to leave? If you're not in a hurry, go after dawn. Everything will be revealed after dawn."

When I was young, my father told me several fairy tales.The protagonists of the story are all princes who are cursed. Some princes turn into birds, some princes turn into frogs, and some princes turn into speechless trees. But in the end, the curse is lifted, and people immediately change their views on the prince. The girl was lucky enough to marry the prince and lived happily ever after, even though they never really knew each other.

Reality is certainly not like a fairy tale, people's ideas can be changed in an instant.But again, I don't want to think too badly of people.Lambert saved their lives. They are now afraid of Lambert, just because Lambert's appearance is too scary. If morning comes and Lambert turns back into a human form, they should be able to have goodwill towards Lambert Bar.

He has become a hero and should not be feared as a monster.

That night, the heavy snow outside the castle never stopped.It may be my illusion, I feel that the sky outside is not so cloudy anymore.Snow grains rustled against the glass windows.

At first, the villagers kept huddling together like frightened birds, and when there was any movement, they would bow their bodies and look around nervously.But seeing that Lambert and the furniture showed no signs of harming them, they gradually relaxed.Mrs. Teapot poured them hot tea without hesitation.The clock jumped down with a "bang", walked up to them with two slender arms akimbo, and lectured them at length, telling them that stealing was wrong.

Most of these people have never read a book, and the words of the clock are long, long-winded, and somewhat awkward, making them drowsy.After seeing the clock, I was extremely dissatisfied, and the minute and hour hands were tightly wrinkled together.It jumped up to the snub-nosed old man, ordered him to sit up, and played the accordion to wake them up.

The old man with the flat nose was startled, and tremblingly played the accordion. It was clearly a cheerful melody, but he played it like weeping.

It is worth mentioning that with the music, people's nerves are relaxed a lot.They held hot tea, accompanied by music, and listened to the chatter of the clock.One person might be too relaxed and couldn't help but refute the clock.In the next second, his face turned pale, and he shivered into the blanket, probably thinking that the clock would go crazy and eat him.People around also looked at the clock in panic, wary of its sudden attack.But the clock just snorted coldly: "You are the one who talks too much."

Facts speak louder than words. No matter how many words I can say, they can’t compare with their personal experience.These people are not bad in nature, but they are lost in their minds by money, coupled with the instinct of fear of beasts, it is normal to show malice towards Lambert.

After finding that the furniture in the castle did not pose a threat to them, these people gradually let go. Someone picked up the clock curiously, observed its structure, and was so angry that the clock kicked its arms and legs.Someone walked up to the feather duster and praised its sound.The feather duster shyly swept the floor.Its lover's spoon came running with a clang, and flicked the man away.Some people discussed cooking skills with the kitchen knife.The kitchen knife has always been the chef in the castle, and it has been a long time since I saw a living person, and it was so excited that the blade was oozing saliva.

Maybe I know that after dawn, the rational Lambert will appear, and the animalized him is very dependent on me, pestering me to feed him.I had no choice but to pick up a roast chicken, and the people around watched him swallow it in cold sweat without spitting out the bones.

After he was full, he narrowed his eyes in enjoyment, burped a little, and pointed at the ball of wool in the basket with his giant paw.I looked at the noisy villagers and said in a low voice, "Will it be bad if you do this..."

Hearing this, although he didn't show obvious dissatisfaction, his pupils gradually constricted, his Adam's apple vibrated, and he let out a low growl that only I could hear.

I can only bite the bullet and play with him.

So, a group of old men of different heights, fat and thin, who were chatting in rough voices, suddenly quieted down, turned their heads, looked at me with big eyes...throwing wool balls.That night, it was just me and Lambert, and it was nothing to play with throwing the ball. Now there are so many people, it's really shameful. Shame.

I covered my face, stood by the fireplace, and threw the ball hard.Almost at the same time, a black shadow flew out, and Lambert was quick to catch the ball before it hit the ground.It's okay, it's okay, he didn't pick it up like a puppy, and he still has a bit of self-consciousness as a prince.He picked up the ball, teleported to me like lightning, handed it to me, and raised his chin high, motioning for me to throw it farther away.

I had no choice but to take a deep breath and throw him to the second floor.Just like this, coming and going, coming and going... We played for a long time, and the others kept looking at us blankly.I don't want that either, I'm really forced to serve.

I don't know how long I played until my arms were so sore that I couldn't lift them up, he finally let me go and lay on my lap willing to sleep.Looking at his relaxed round pupils, I suddenly remembered that in the illusion, he was only six or seven years old, quietly peeping at the children playing on the lawn.Have all the instincts he suppressed on purpose been added to the beast?

The longer he spent with the beast, the more he felt that he was more than Lambert's instinct.He is more like Lambert's forbidden impulses and emotions-the nature of wanting to play with his companions when he was young, the heroic dream of saving everyone...and, the fiery and straightforward feelings.

Rationality and emotion, restraint and impulsiveness, indifference and fervor, ruthlessness when sacrificing his mother, selflessness when saving people who slander him... Which one is the real him?

For the first time, I discovered that a person's personality can be so complex and fascinating.

Unknowingly, the sky was dimming, and the mountains in the distance ooze orange light.The earth was gradually submerged in fiery red, only the sky above the castle was still covered with dark clouds, which was frighteningly dark.There was a slight snoring sound in the hall, and someone was already asleep.I was also a little sleepy, rubbed my eyes, and yawned.

Suddenly, someone exclaimed and looked at my lap in shock.I looked down and saw a ray of golden light surrounding Lambert's body like an elf. The head of the triangular snake slowly retracted and turned into a thin and three-dimensional face. The line of the jaw changed from round to sharp, and the bridge of the nose was raised high. The mouth narrows, and the lips absorb the color of the petals, showing a pale pink color.Witnessing his transformation back into a human was almost like witnessing a miracle. If it weren't for the black scales remaining on the back of his neck, collarbone and back of his hands, I would have almost thought that the curse had been broken.

The others reacted similarly to me, looking at each other, seeing disbelief in each other's eyes.

"As I said, everything will be revealed after dawn." I said softly, "He saved you not because of some giant python's conspiracy, but because he is human just like you. Listen to me, go back and tell the town Don’t come out recently, the giant python is still wandering outside. If he can save you this time, it won’t be so next time.”

After a long silence, someone put down the blanket and teacup, dragged his companion and turned to leave.To my surprise, more people chose to stay put, rubbing their hands, not knowing what to do.

I asked them, "Aren't you leaving?"

The middle-aged man said embarrassingly: "You said, we still owe it...he apologized."

"You guys are not unreasonable people. You can tell the good from the bad. This clock, that jug, and that feather duster... are all very good to us. It's really hard not to say thank you."

After finishing speaking, they looked at each other and pushed each other: "Who will go first?" After 1 minute, a freckled boy with a thin figure and straw-like hair stood up and said, "I'll go first." He scratched his head and walked to my room. Beside him, he bowed to Lambert in a standard manner, "My uncle was eaten by a giant python... I came as soon as the leader urged me. That clock is right, stealing is a bad behavior. I won't do it next time, and thank you for saving me. I can't speak, so I don't know how to thank him most sincerely, but I really thank him."

If there is one, there are two. The middle-aged man also came over and said in a low voice: "If it weren't for the recent giant python, the harvest is not good, and there are four mouths waiting to eat at home, I wouldn't do this kind of robbery. Thank you ...saved us, I will definitely persuade the villagers when we go back."

Another person came over: "Whether he is a man or a beast, he should be thanked for saving my life." He laughed loudly, "I am not as miserable as the previous ones. I came here purely out of boredom. I want to see what's so special about this castle! It's a shame that I almost died here, and even peed my pants because of the giant python."

……

I didn't expect them to really thank you. I was astonished, but at the same time I felt a little grateful. Fortunately, I insisted on principles and didn't want to think too badly of people, otherwise this scene would not have happened in all likelihood.

At this time, a deep voice came from my lap: "You're welcome." I was stunned, and I lowered my head. It was Lambert who woke up.Even though he was lying on my lap, he was as imposing as a throne, and his tone was calm: "Go back and tell the people in the town that the origin of the giant python is unknown, and it is most likely made by black magic. Tell them to stay at home and not go out , otherwise life may be in danger."

The same words, coming out of his mouth, feel completely different.The villagers didn't dare to question it at all, they nodded repeatedly, and they were short of writing a guarantee.

After the villagers left, the castle remained absolutely silent for a long time.In the end, it was Lambert who broke the silence first: "Help me up."

After regaining his rationality, his aura was too strong. For a moment, I didn't know how to get along with him normally, and help him sit up in a daze.He frowned, thumped his thigh, and whispered reproachfully: "Stop playing messy games with 'it'."

Realizing he was talking about a game of throwing a ball, I blushed and nodded speechlessly.

His chin was lifted suddenly, he stared at me indifferently, and his voice was cold: "Why are you so gentle when you get along with 'it'..." His face was getting closer and closer, and his breathing was getting closer and closer. close.My heart beats fast, what else can I do, of course it's because... I value you more.

Just as I was about to speak, he suddenly let go of his hand, frowned and pulled off the bandage on his hand, only to see that the small wounds scratched by the barbs all exuded foul-smelling black air.