[Beauty and the Beast] Rose Castle

However, if he knew my thoughts, he would definitely not let me see him as a beast.So on the face of it, I still have to leave the castle.

Thinking of this, I took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and walked downstairs as calmly as possible.The sound of heels hitting the marble floor was loud, echoing in the castle that was too empty.Lambert, however, kept his eyes closed as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.Having been with him for so long, I didn't know that his sense of hearing is as keen as a cat's, and his eyes will open at the slightest movement.He is pretending to sleep.

Walking to his side, he still didn't open his eyes.Reaching out to brush his black hair, caressing his forehead, half of the skin is cold, and the other half is scorched hot by the fireplace.My movements were so outrageous, but he didn't even twitch his eyelashes.Since he decided to pretend to be asleep to the end, then I will not be polite to him.After thinking about it, I bent down and kissed his lips.

The moment the lips met, all voices disappeared.I can't hear the crackling firewood in the fireplace, the howling wind, the snow particles hitting the window from time to time... I can only hear his heartbeat that suddenly became rapid, so strong and so clear.If a heartbeat can convey love, then at this moment, he must love me.Listening to his heartbeat, I even had an illusion that in the next second, he would open his eyes, clasp the back of my head, and kiss me back as hard as before.But until the end of the kiss, he didn't open his eyes to look at me.

After a moment of silence, I turned and walked towards the gate of the castle.The furniture watched my movements silently, and even the talkative clock didn't speak, just sighed lowly.The moment I opened the door and was about to go out, Lambert's deep and cold voice sounded: "Rosalind."

That's funny, now I remember calling me by my full name.I suppressed the rage in my heart, pretending to be indifferent and replied: "What is it?"

He came over and took my hand.For a couple of seconds, my heart almost jumped out of my throat, but soon, he let go of my hand and walked towards the stairs of the castle.

I looked down at my palms.What he just gave me was a huge ruby ​​ring, shining like a red rose.Because the ruby ​​on the face of the ring is too dazzling, at first glance, it looks like a small rose-colored lamp.

I was baffled, walked up to him in two or three steps, shook the ruby ​​ring: "What is this?"

"Compensation." He said concisely, as if he didn't want to say a word to me.

good very good.Even if he has any difficulties, this kind of humiliation is too much.My fingers were shaking with anger.He looked at my hand holding the ruby ​​ring, frowned and ordered: "You must accept it."

Interesting, did he think I was going to throw back this ruby ​​ring as a show of dignity?No... I'll just stare into his downcast eyes and say, "Not enough."

He met my gaze for a second, then quickly looked away: "It's not enough."

"How is a ruby ​​ring enough?" I said coldly, "It's not like you don't know, I'm a poor country girl, what's the use of this ring, can I pawn it in a small town? I'm afraid I haven't walked out of the village yet. It will be ransacked by hooligans. Please give me something practical."

He pondered for a moment, nodded and replied, "You're right. I'll send someone to deliver a few boxes of food and clothes to your house." As if he couldn't stand me standing in front of him, he took two steps forward and asked said, "What more do you want?"

"I only have one old horse in my family. Please send me some fine horses, Your Highness."

"Okay." He answered quickly.

"My father is a carpenter and can't earn much money. Your Highness is so generous, why don't you give me a few more bags of gold coins."

"it is good."

I don't know if I said this to vent my anger, or to make my image more unbearable.With more and more "good things" in him, the anger churning in his chest disappeared, leaving only empty discomfort.I was suddenly tired, and I just wanted to get out of the castle quickly, and wait until dark to see him transformed into a beast.Turning around and walking towards the gate, but looking back at his back, I felt very unwilling.When I walked to his side again, I didn't know what happened, but I stepped into the lowly mud again: "One last request, Your Highness."

"You said."

I slow down my breathing, because it hurts even to breathe: "What I said before...are all angry words. I don't want anything, I just want you to look into my eyes and tell me that you really don't like me .”

Saying this, my heart beat so violently that my temples were throbbing with pain.He changed his previous quick answer style, and after a while, he didn't give me an answer.As the time of his silence became longer, a trace of anticipation rose uncontrollably in his heart, did he not have to wait until night...the misunderstanding between each other could be resolved?

The next moment, he turned around and walked up to me.The distance between each other is getting closer, the breath is close at hand, but there is never a moment when he feels that he is so far away.Lambert lowered his head and met my eyes. His golden pupils were indifferent and distant, looking at the eyes of strangers: "I really don't like you, sorry."

There was a "click" in my heart.So good, so good, yet another self-inflicted humiliation.Fortunately, I was mentally prepared this time, my expression was not as ugly as last time, and there was even a smile on my lips: "Thank you for telling me. I'm leaving."

"Whether you need it or not, the compensation will be delivered to your home." He whispered, like a responsible businessman, "Goodbye, Rosa."

The smile could no longer be maintained, I walked towards the door, took two steps, and stood still: "I hope His Highness will not regret today's decision."

"I never regret a decision I made."

"Okay." I had nothing to say, "Then, take care."

Stepping on the deep red carpet in front of the gate, Mrs. Teapot called me, several small teacups wearing a thick cloak, and ran over bouncingly.Mrs Teapot sighed, "It's too cold out, Miss Rosa. Put on your cloak and go."

Lambert did a good job, there is no need to anger them.I took the cloak and thanked me softly.

Mrs. Teapot looked at Lambert's back, then looked at the icy and snowy scenery outside, seemed to hesitate to speak, and finally shook her head: "Safe journey, take care."

I stared at it and those small teacups, and asked abruptly, "Don't you want to break the curse and turn back into a human?"

Mrs. Teapot was about to say something when she was interrupted by the clock: "Come on, country girl, you have been here for so long and the curse has not been broken. Isn't the result obvious?"

"That's right." Mrs. Teapot breathed out, "We were mistaken before, the master doesn't like you. It's a waste of time for you to stay in the castle any longer. Come on, Miss Rosa, it's getting late."

Even if they knew the truth, they wouldn't be able to tell me in front of Lambert.Don't embarrass them anymore.Putting on the cloak, I put on the hood and stepped out of the castle.

The cold air suddenly hit, and the cold wind bulged the hood and hem of the cloak.I tightened the tie of my cloak, and walked forward with difficulty against the furious wind and snow.I remember before, I thought the weather in the castle had something to do with his mood.If the weather can really represent his emotions, then he must be suffering more than me right now... Forget it, why do you need to find a reason for him, maybe the worse the weather is, the happier he will be.

Walking out of the range of the castle, the temperature rises sharply, and the sun is as bright as a golden tulle, covering the endless rose fields.I looked at the sky, it was almost evening, I just waited here for the sun to set.

However, as soon as he calmed down, his mind was filled with memories related to him.From the first dance, being rescued by him from the mouth of the giant python, the unconscious closeness after becoming a beast, the kiss in front of Ophelia, the chasing and hugging in the rainy night...every scene is vivid in my mind, even Recall his heartbeat, breathing and body temperature at that time.

It's only been less than 10 minutes since we separated, and I've already started to miss him.

Looking down at the ruby ​​ring in his hand, anger filled his chest again, and he really wanted to throw it into the rose field and let it be with those roses forever.But I raised my hand several times, but I couldn't make up my mind to throw it out.It must be because this thing is too expensive to get rid of it. I can change it to something cheap, and I can throw it away while it is still in the castle.

At this time, I suddenly heard the sound of the clock: "Go over there and have a look, it's getting dark soon, you can't let her stay here."

"Don't just stand there and direct me," Shao Shao said in a dissatisfied voice, "The master said it was the two of us who came out to check."

The clock snorted coldly: "If I had feet, would I still need you?"

"I only have one foot!"

The clock was silent, looking around the flower field, and suddenly said: "Forget it, that girl looks mediocre and simple-minded, but in fact she is quite independent. She is so humiliated by the master. Stay here again. Let's go back."

The spoon jumped up in anger, which startled me. It jumped so high that I was almost seen by it.It said angrily: "You just want to be lazy!"

The clock was already swinging back: "You are diligent, you are not lazy. Then quickly search around the castle, don't let her stay here."

Shaozi chased after him angrily, and cursed: "You think I'm stupid? I'm going to sue my master!"

Hearing their conversation, I wiped the cold sweat from my brow. Fortunately, the clock was lazy, otherwise they would have discovered it.Lambert's thinking is so meticulous that he even thought that I would stay secretly.If there is no beast, I am afraid I will never have the chance to know whether he is telling the truth or a lie.

Time passed by every minute and every second, and when I figured out what letters were engraved on the inner ring of the ruby ​​ring and what kind of craftsmanship was used, the sun was finally about to set.The orange-red sunset, the purple-blue sky, the crimson flower field... everything in front of me is so beautiful that I can't breathe, but it's a pity that passing through this flower field is lightning, thunder, howling wind, ice and snow.

I put on the hood and headed back towards the castle.This time I definitely can't go in through the main entrance. Fortunately, when I came here for the first time, I didn't go through the main entrance.

Halfway through, a pair of black boots suddenly appeared out of the corner of my eye.Turning my head, I saw a tall woman in a black cloak standing in front of me, with the wide brim of her hat hanging down to cover her features.She held a cane made of spruce in one hand, and a skull in the other. Wisps of black air shot out from the eyeholes of the skull, a standard witch appearance.The pair of black boots I saw before should also be hers.

I took a step back: "Are you a witch in a dream?"

Her voice is thick, not as thin as most women: "For the sake of our relationship, I will give you a piece of advice, don't go forward."

"We don't know each other."

"I didn't say we knew each other." She turned around and wanted to leave, "I just want to give you a piece of advice. If you insist on courting death, that's your business."

"Wait!" I chased after her and pressed her shoulder, "You haven't told me whether you are the witch in your dream... Are the pictures I saw before all about you—ah!" As if it was about to be torn apart, her cloak had cast some kind of witchcraft, just a light touch, and countless small holes were corroded in the palm of her hand, and blood mixed with pus flowed out.

The woman stood still and whispered a spell.A black light flashed, and the wound on the palm healed instantly.Seeing that I was fine, she continued to walk forward, and soon disappeared into the flower field.

Looking at the palm that didn't even leave a scar, it seemed that the severe pain just now was just a momentary illusion.That woman is undoubtedly a witch, but why did she heal my wounds and warned me not to go forward because of my relationship with her?

Why can't we move forward?What is my relationship with her?Is she really the witch in the dream?

My head is full of questions.At this time, the sky had completely darkened, and Lambert should have turned into a beast.In any case, Lambert is safer than the unidentified witch.I took one last look in the direction she had left and continued walking towards the castle.