[Beauty and the Beast] Rose Castle

"……I can not dance."

He frowned: "You don't know how to dance?"

"Yes." I blushed, "I was born in the countryside, my father was a carpenter, and I haven't studied for a few years. My mother... No one told me who my mother is, but I think her family background is about the same as my father's."

I thought he would mock my family background and ignorance, but who knows, he lowered his head and thought for a moment, raised his eyes and said, "These are not problems. If you can't dance, I can teach you. The question is, are you willing to dance with me?" .”

Only then did I realize that his browbones were high, and his eyebrows were very close to his eye sockets. When he stared intently at a person, he would have a strong aggressiveness that made it impossible to resist his gaze and questioning.

I admit, at this moment, I ignored the terrifying scales on his face, and was attracted by his beautiful and deep eyebrows.

"I do." Just dance.

"Come with me."

He threw the napkin on the plate, stood up, and held out a hand to me.Perhaps it was because of his confession, or because he knew that he was human in nature. This time, I was no longer as disgusted and resistant as before.

I took his hand.

He took me to the hanging garden of the castle. The sky here is still covered with lead clouds, but the surroundings are full of flowers, like stars, full of crimson, bright yellow, light purple, and pure white single-petal small flowers.Overhead is a stone bridge broken in two, the piers of which are covered with wet moss, from which waterfall-like night mist pours down.There is a viewing platform in front of the garden, standing there, you can overlook the hazy mountains in the distance.

"...It's so beautiful." I praised sincerely.

He walked towards the viewing platform, leaning on the railing with both hands, and said lightly: "If you think that the sunset is a kind of beauty."

I didn't expect him to understand so much. I shook my head and wanted to explain, but he pressed a finger to his lips and snapped his other hand at the same time.

Something magical happened, and out of nowhere came the ensemble of harpsichord and violin.Combined with the surrounding scenery, it is like a scene in a fairy tale.I tried my best to distinguish where the music was coming from. I held up my skirt and wanted to go to the depths of the garden. Lambert came over and clasped my wrist.

Probably because he got used to the temperature of his palm, his skin was no longer so abruptly cold.The breath of man and beast surrounds me at the same time.My heart is beating fast.His hoarse and cold voice sounded in my ears: "Rosalind."

Sweat was inexplicably oozing from the palms of his hands, but it wasn't cold sweat.I responded stiffly, "Lambert."

"Hands up like this." He raised one hand, smooth and graceful.Without waiting for me to do so, he took my hand, flattened it one by one, and stuck it to his palm.His movements were graceful, but his hands were hideous and reptilian.Seeing his hand clinging to my palm, a strange feeling came to my heart.

"Watch me," he ordered in a low voice, "circle around me."

Weird, so weird.

It may be because of dancing for the first time, I found that men and women dancing together is more intimate than kissing.

After the rotation, he clasped my two hands and manipulated my movements like a puppet.My mind went blank and I followed his movements completely subconsciously.

Soon, a dance is over.Just at this time, night fell.He looked down into mine, and suddenly said, "I've danced with a lot of women."

This sentence woke me up like a basin of cold water.

What's the meaning?Did he want to tell me how popular he used to be?I still want to tell me how popular and unattainable his status was in the past, which is not something that a country girl like me can imagine...for a while, my head was in a mess.In the end, I thought a little angrily, if I hadn't sympathized with his experience and wanted to help him break the curse, I wouldn't have danced with him at all.

However, he opened his lips lightly and said, "However, nothing compares to this dance with you."

I was stunned, and all the inexplicable, complicated, and chaotic emotions disappeared without a trace in an instant.

...Why would he say such things to me?

Lambert let go of my hand, took two steps back, put one hand behind his back and the other on his right chest, leaned forward tall and straight, and said softly: "I am lucky to know you, Rosa. Whether the curse can be broken or not , I am very grateful to you for reminding me of the memory of being a human being."

This sentence is like a piece of red-hot coal, burning my ears and cheeks.I didn't expect him to say that at all, and I was a little at a loss.He seemed to see my embarrassment, nodded goodbye, turned and left, leaving me alone space.

Until then, I didn't see the shadow of being a prince from him.He is so polite and noble, even though his appearance is no different from that of a monster, he can still imagine his once high-spirited appearance.

That night, I tossed and turned sleeplessly.Lying on the bed, I held my forehead, my mind was full of my father who was seriously ill. After a while, Lambert's golden eyes and fingers covered with black scales appeared in my mind...

That ugly hand once stuck to my palm, clasped my five fingers, and held my lower back... No, I can't think about it anymore, let's think about how to save my father first.But there is a voice in my heart saying: Instead of looking for a way to save your father in the castle like a headless chicken, it is better to ask Lambert directly if he can save your father.

Judging from the past two days of getting along, he doesn't seem like a cold-blooded and ruthless villain. As long as I say it, he will definitely save my father.I don't know where I got the confidence, but I am sure that he will help.It's just... Will he misunderstand my intention to approach him?

My mind is completely confused.Didn't I have other plans when I approached him at first?

Forget it, enough time wasted in the castle, let's have a showdown with him tomorrow.

I hope he can save my father, and I hope he can understand my difficulties, and I hope... no, save my father first.I blew out the candle, closed my eyes, and forced myself to sleep.

The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I heard strange movements from downstairs.The soundproofing effect of this castle is excellent, close the windows, even the sound of thunder and rain cannot be heard.I don't know what happened downstairs to make such a loud noise.I found a cloak and put it on, walked to the door, and opened the door a crack.

A clear and pleasant male voice sounded: "It's rare to see you staying in the hall, brother." After a while, a loud smile came, "Are you actually reading a book? It's a love novel written by a female writer, don't you expect to have it?" A woman came to save you?"

It was Ulysses' voice.Facing his ridicule, Lambert only had one word: "Get lost."

"Your decadent appearance was my greatest joy before I ascended the throne. How could I give up this hobby. Besides, I have to watch you, in case you feel overwhelmed and commit suicide one day."

I took off my shoes, pushed open the door, walked barefoot to a place where I could not be seen by them, and looked downstairs.Ulysses was still all in white, even the saber around his waist was white.He sat at the long table with his arms folded and one leg resting on a chair.In contrast, Lambert's sitting posture is much more elegant.He was leaning on the recliner by the fireplace from the beginning to the end, with his legs crossed, a pair of gold-framed single mirror on the bridge of his nose, and he was looking at the book in his hand indifferently.If one ignores his sharp nails and black snake scales, he is definitely a more educated man than Ulysses.

"You can go. I'm not going to kill myself," Lambert said.

Ulysses snorted, "When you become more and more like a wild beast, I don't believe you won't have the idea of ​​suicide..." He frowned suddenly when he said this, "No, someone has been here, yes no?"

The author has something to say: Second update, please continue to spoil me with comments!

Change the update time, update at nine o'clock every night.