Chrisom Roses

Chapter 4

A/N: This was pretty easy to edit, just fixed and added some things. I think the editing progress will go fast, so bear with me.

Disclaimer:

I do not claim the original fairy tale, but CR's plot and characters belong to me. Any famous songs, TV show/movies/books and manga names, and brands that are mentioned in this work belong to their rightful owners.

Willa Field

-.-.-.-.-

Two:

The nighty Deal

-.-.-.-.-

That night after she arrived at the castle and met everyone that would be taking care of her, Willa Rose Fed had the most wonderful night of sleep since she was small and she nuzzled into her mother's warm embrace.

It was like a heavy weight was lifted off her chest and she could breathe without worry. She idly wondered if she was changed from the abused and unsure girl that entered the castle's gates only a day ago to someone else utterly different, seeing how different and free she felt as she stirred from her sleep, but it was too early to be sure. She didn't know how to feel about her new life just yet.

However, she knew that she will be finally loved and well taken care of. Like when her mother was alive and she was rarely left alone with her sisters:

She smiled slightly as her eyes opened to the sun-lit room, feeling that she was finally truly home.

She sat up, stretching her arms over her head, enjoying the feelings of safety and happiness inside of her, and then while leaning back into the head post she took in the room for the first time without her mind being occupied with rushing thoughts.

It was quite huge, like a small apartment without the kitchen; feet away from she was laying was a small living room with a few lounge chairs and one large couch, she thought the Beast had gotten overboard for her room; but she had a feeling that he would be spoiling her to the extreme and Willa would have to get used to being treated like a princess.

She pursed her lips at the thought as she took in the shelves filled with familiar titles of books hanging from the two walls on either side of a door and her personal things were placed on a beautifully crafted desk that made from the redwoods wood of her homeland.

The Beast really wants me to be comfortable, Willa assumed with a sense of wonder as she stood from the bed, shivering from the cold floor as she carefully paddled to the books while her body depended on the chairs in the path for support.

Once Willa was comfortable in a high-set chair, she ran her hand over the bends of the countless books.

She grinned small when she saw her favorite titles, in rare editions and first editions, her heart beat excitedly to read them once again. She was going to read a classic romance while she waited for someone to check in on her and lead her to go see the Beast, the feeling of nervousness sat in her heart to see him again when an old novel caught her eyes: Legend of the Beast engraved into the bending.

Willa hummed her interest, excited to know his story, before grabbing it and pulled her legs up, tucking them under her as she settled the heavy novel onto her lap, opening it and started to read the first page.

But then, the words engraved into the page caused her eyes to wide as her hands moved with nervous shakes. It cannot be real, the ginger thought in disbelief:

-.-.-.-.-.-

This is the legend of a woman who will be the hero of our world, for she will be the one to return our beloved prince to us and he, with her at his side, will raise back to the throne. That will return the kingdom to greatness.

They will fight together in the second most dangerous war of the magical world's history, without them, the world will be lost to us and the lives on this world will soon end.

The woman will be the reincarnation of the long lost princess, who was killed by her own mother, which led her to a curse that bound her to reawaken as an abused girl. But, because of that, she will be more powerful when she reawakens, for she will be with the love of her life and friends once again:

The legend itself is said to be a spell to anyone to read this. The one who reads through will be given the powers and gained a wish just the woman in the legend. For, the story begins and becomes real…..

The moment the first page is read because the book is only to be touched by the long lost princess and it will guide her to the future.

-.-.-.-.-.-

A few minutes later, a novel snapping shut echoed through the room as Willa's breath quickened and her heart beat hard against her ribcage painfully. What the hell? She thought wildly:

"Okay, breathe, maybe it's just a story." She whispered to herself as she read the words once more, but the feelings of anxiously about the truth behind the story were telling her another thing.

Is this really his story? Willa questioned awestruck, running her fingers across the violet cover, her mind going mad with images of the Beast and an unknown prince entwining into one, and a beautiful princess who would be the one to melt away the curse.

She sighed deeply as she returned the book back onto the shelf, wishing she could be the one to cure him while an amused witness walked into the room:

"I guess this is another fairy tale where the princess gets the prince. I shouldn't care about that, I barely know him. At least he was kind enough to take me in, knowing how my sisters treated me, I shouldn't be wanting more." She whispered the last part to herself, shaking her head before a voice made her jump.

"You know, you cannot be so sure with fairy tales, my dearest."

A high feminine mature-sounding voice cut through her self-musings s and brought the ginger to turn to the old woman in a shape of a grant duster, only turning slowly in a shy manner to see Annalisa smiling reassuringly at her as she carefully strode forward to where Willa sat, a beautiful dress laid in her wooden arms.

Willa blushed heatedly, embarrassed that someone heard her saying that, but she giggled to hide her embarrassment, shaking her head once more while her legs unfolded to touch the floor:

"You're probably right about the fairy tale thing, Madam Annalisa. But, I know that I'm not a beautiful princess, I'm not even pretty. I'm just Willa, I need to learn how to be confident and strong like the princesses from the stories." She admitted softly, putting her hands in her lap while her head was hanging in shame.

Annalisa blew out a sad sigh and she placed the yellow dress on the bed, before slowly and carefully walking to her new charge and she then knelt in front of her, tucking her wooden, smooth finger underneath her chin:

"Oh, sweet Willa, you are so much more than a mere weak girl. You faced so much than a normal teenage girl, sweetie. Anyone would be wary and fearful while living with your monstrous sisters. You are stronger than anyone and you have us on your side to teach you how to become more comfortable in your own skin. All you need is to believe in us and yourself."

"I like you, madam. You always seem to be high-spirited." The crippled woman giggled while she wiped her eyes free of tears, causing her tutor to chuckle as she stood.

"Yes, that's one of the perks of being trapped in this wary castle, we keep our personalities untainted from the outside. We have a lot time to think and we don't really have guests often. So when we heard of your arrival, I knew that I needed to be a mother figure to you. I am the mother here and I might have been more mature than the others, yes, but I always will be a spit-fire. Now, you have some classes today and the Beast wants to spend time with you. So, my dear, you have quite a busy day, let's get you ready. The master wanted you to wear this." She stated as she giddily slide to the bed, grabbing the dress from the bed before she turned to show Willa with a grin spread over her painted red lips:

She giggled as Annalisa slipped her nightie from her and begun dressing her as if she was a doll. Yes, she will be a great friend, Willa mused amusingly as she watched her tutor swayed gracefully forward back to her chair.

"I was wondering, madam, is the Legend of the Beast really the master's story? It seems so sad." The ginger-headed crippled young woman questioned while whispering the last part, watching as the giant feather duster tied the dress's ribbon in place. The question made the elder's icy blue eyes go wide, surprised that the master let her read it so soon.

"Well, uh, yes dearest. I'm quite surprised that he let it in with your other books. It is a touchy subject for him." She admitted as she carefully curled her hair, pursing her lips in thought as she wondered how to explain it to the small ginger:

"The master wasn't beastly and mean, quite the opposite. The reason for the curse was that he was punished for his parents' and the beloved princess's mother's sins by a kind fairy princess. She was going to kill the cruel rulers for forcing young women to marry him against both their and the young prince's will until the master begged to the fairy to let him take their places." Omitting the half-truth, the duster continued her work, careful to not slip too early.

"But why would he take their places when they forced him to do something so horrible?" The teen asked, a frown placed on her lips, not liking that the master had to pay for something his parents did. Annalisa smiled at her sweet charge and continued her work as she answered the question.

"Why my dear girl, the same reason that you came here in your father's stead, he loved them no matter they did to him. The fairy saw that and took mercy on him, but the princess, or just a girl, can free him from his punishment." The other girl hinted with a wink, making the teen blush deeply.

Then, with a giggle, the feather duster slide back from the girl and beamed proudly at her artwork as she placed the makeup back on the counter, pulling her to the full length mirror over the bathroom sink, revealing a lovely sight:

Beauty gasped at the girl staring wide-eyed back at her, she was gorgeous. Her dark red hair was sliding down her back in tight curls with the ringlets falling down like reddish gold to frame her face perfectly, like a heaven-sent angel. Her full lips were painted a blood red color and her eyes as smoky blue as the beautiful clouds of the blue skies were turned even bluer from the smoky blue eyeshadow, it highlighted her features like a true fairy. And finally the dress, oh the dress:

She was wearing a plain yellow dress, but the dress was still fancier than the girl ever wore. And against her tan skin, the yellow made the girl look as if she was a desert flower in the mists of the French garden.

It was so beautiful, so beautiful that the girl wondered if it was a dream again.

She smiled at that thought as she let her eyes roam down her frame. The skirt brushed her feet, which were stuffed into yellow flats, and then, her gray orbs moved back to see that the dress was designed in an old-fashioned, giving her a more mature shine. And finally, her arms were covered with bright yellow sleeves.

"I'm…" She breathed, the teen's voice cracked with shock, Annalisa chuckled as she brushed some curls over her shoulder:

"….Beautiful. And now for the icing on this beautiful cake." She finished quietly, lifting a silver diadem down upon her forehead with a beautiful yellow diamond hanging from the middle of the crown.

Willa gasped at her reflection, shocked at how beautiful she looked and how much like a princess she looked, she would never have guessed that she would be in this position, to be treated like a princess after years of being a slave.

Shaking her head to rid of those thoughts, she lifted her hand up to the mirror, sighing deeply in disbelief. How was all this possible? She questioned with a deep frown upon her lips:

"Oh Annalisa, this is not me. This all seems like a surreal fairy tale, madam. I am starting to think that I'm going to wake up and I just got here. I love my father and I will always miss him, but I don't want this to be just a dream." Willa admitted with a sad look in her beautiful eyes as she turned to the duster. Annalisa shook her head, touching the sweet girl's cheek:

"Sweetie, I know it is hard for you to believe this right now, but you belong here with us now and you don't have to leave if you don't want to. You are safe now, you have the greatest warrior prince to ensure that, and he will not let anything happen to you. As time passes, it will be easier for you to believe that, I promise."

The beautiful ginger slowly nodded, hugging her kind tutor before the older woman moved to the middle of the room and looked over her old wheelchair, what she saw she didn't like.

The chair was in a terrible state, tattered and falling apart; it was dangerous for the teen to even sit in, let alone use it to move about. The elder shook her head at that thought, clicking her tongue in disapproval:

"Honestly, your father was truly blind to everything around him. No matter, I will remedy that old wheelchair in a microsecond." And then, with a wave of her hand, she created a beautiful wheelchair, it was made from the mystical redwoods of the west coast of America.

Willa blinked in surprise once more but then she shook her head with a sudden smile. This magic is going to be hard to get used to, the ginger teen mused to herself as Annalisa adjusted pillows on the chair for padding before she moved her in the seat.

Last night, while they ate a lavish dinner, the Beast told her that because of the curse; everything and everyone in the castle have the ability to control magic. So, anything she might need or want, she will have it.

A voice shattered her thoughts, and she looked up to the duster once more:

"Now, let's get going. The master is waiting for you." The duster smiled sweetly at the other princess, before moving to the back of the chair, heading towards the door and down the hall.

The two women strode along together in silence, the silence crushed Willa under its pressure as her hands shook with nerves. She didn't know what to expect when they got to the throne room, where she guessed that they were going, or how she should act when she is left to be alone with the Beast for the first time…

Alone with the Beast, those words heated her to her core, because she realized that she was really never alone with him, they were always in the company of the servants. What if he would change his mind about her and sent her home, back to that hell?

No! Stop thinking that way! She heard a voice in her mind scolding her, he cares for you deeply already; there is no way he will do that to you, silly girl.

The ginger breathed a deep sigh, knowing the voice was right and she was a fool to think that way. This was her chance to a new life and Willa needed to take it.

However, with each second that passed, every single one, only added more fear in the pretty ginger's heart and she almost ripped the skirt of her dress with every beat of her heart:

"What if he realizes that he doesn't like me? What if I'm not what he was expecting?" She whispers into the quiet, causing the elder's head to snap up and confusion was written nearly across her face.

"The master, my dear?" Annalisa questioned, which was answered with a quick nod. This brought a grin to her face, only one thought ran through her mind as the feisty duster knelt to her level: She is too cute for words.

"Of course he will still like you, sweetie. The master was waiting for someone like you to come and to be his friend. You might be a little unsure of yourself right now, but I can reassure you that you will make a difference in the master's life. All the Beast wants from you is for you to be yourself, not the weak girl your sisters made you think you are. And I hope that we can help you understand that, sweetie." Annalisa soothed her charge's worries, lifting her small wooden hand to the other girl's cheek with an assuring smile placed onto her lips just as kindly-looking Alec walked in, smiling at the beautiful princess as his tanned hand waved her forward.

Before going to the older man/clock, Willa squeezed the duster's hand one more and then wheeled to him, feeling more and more nervous by the minute.

They walked until they reached a double door, which was bordered with bright white roses and on it were pictures of beautiful angels:

The bigger one covered the middle with the wings stretched over the top, as if it were protecting the others. Willa turned her head to the clock beside her.

The clock was made with a very pretty reddish wood and his face was beautifully crafted, Willa was shocked to see giant household objects running around, but they soon showed her that they only wanted the best for her and she became fast friends with each of the unique household items.

She turned her eyes to the young clock, smiling inwardly at how sweet he was to her when she first entered the castle before clearing her throat:

"You work with the master very closely, right?" She asked, smiling shyly. The clock stared at the slightly younger girl what seemed forever before nodding slowly.

"Yes, my princess, I'm his head adviser. I will help you with everything you'll need help with as the princess of this castle also. I will teach, advice, and when need to be, protect you when the master cannot."

"Ah, I see. We will be working together a lot then. I'm looking forward to working with you, Alec. Should I go in now?"

The man/clock smiled as his head c****d towards the big door, telling the younger woman to go. She breathed deeply, mustering all of the courage in her petite body, and grabbed the wheels tightly as the head adviser clock opened one side of the door, she wheeled into a large room with a smile.

The room was breathtaking, it was just like a picture in storybooks.

There were stained-glass windows on each wall, letting colorful images dance across the floor and the leafs from trees growing high acted as a ceiling above, which let in so much sunshine on the hardwood floor. Then she noticed the two thrones set on a high perform:

One of the thrones looked like it was made for a female, maybe it was hers, she guessed with a small smile on her lips.

Willa slowly made her way to the large chairs, reaching out when a voice startled her behind.

"Hello, Willa, my rose." She whipped around to see the Beast grinning at her, wearing the same clothes he was sporting last night, and walking towards the beautiful blushing flower. She curtsied to him at her best ability in the chair when he was standing in front of her, a smile of her own sitting on her painted red lips:

"Good morning, sir. How are you today?" She asked, lifting her eyes to his wolfish eyes:

"I'm well, my Beauty, I get to feast my eyes on your beauty, after all." When a fiery blush appeared on her freckled cheeks, the Beast chuckled before clearing his throat.

"You were comfortable in your new room, I hope?" The Beast whispered as he ran a claw along her jaw, loving the fact that he was the cause of her flushed cheeks.

"Yes, s-sir. Thank you."

"Good, now, let us eat breakfast. Alec needs to start your lessons right after we eat if I want to have you in the afternoon. I must keep you as smart as you are, for that is a part of your charm, rose." The Beast smiled as he tucked her beautiful dark red hair behind her ear. In answer, the teen smiled sweetly.

"Yes, sir. Say, sir, can I have your name? If I'm going to live here, I need to know my roommate's name, right?" She asked teasingly, c*****g her head to the side with a smile.

The Beast chuckled as he caressed her cheek tenderly before he turned to one of the windows, shaking his head:

"Ah, my sweet rose, you are already blossoming into the flower I see; confident, bold, and beautifully brave. But, the Beast is what you can dub me, Willa. For that is what I am, a fearful beast." He growled slightly as he turned back to her, sighing when he saw the frown on her lips. "That is my fate, sweet rose, don't frown so, sweetheart. I have a friend now. I'm happy for that." The Beast reassured his flower, walking oddly back to her, not used to walking on two legs after ninety-eight years of embracing his beastly mannerisms.

Willa sighed deeply, frowning still. The girl hated to hear that, for to the ginger; he was a kind soul shouldered with a great burden he didn't even deserve. He was so sweet and caring, and Willa wanted to call him something that fits him, not something so horrible.

She wheeled to him and did something that surprised them both; she placed a hand on his cheek, looking straight into his wolfish eyes:

"You are not a beast, sir. You are a sweet man with a cruel curse cast upon him, and that is all it is. You might get angry and I might get scared because of it, but I will know that it is not truly you. So, please, tell me your name, I don't want to keep calling you sir or a name that brands you something you are not. You did say I can have anything I ask for, didn't you? Well, I'm asking you for your name, please don't refuse me." She whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

The Beast stared at the ginger for what seemed like years, but after realizing it was useless to try to refuse her, he sighed as his burning amber eyes lifted to his flower's eyes, reaching to touch her small hand with his wolfish one:

"Well, Willa, darling, you proved to be quite stubborn when you want to be. Very well, I will tell you my name if you do me a favor."

"I will do anything, my Beast." The ginger replied with a firm nod as he pushed her to the table, sitting on the other side of her and his eyes were back on hers with a serious glint behind his own.

"Every night, I will ask you two questions: Do you love me and will you marry me? There are no wrong answers, my dear flower, just be honest with me and I will be happy, I promise." He reassured her in a rush.

"Yes, sir, I will be honest with you, but why will you ask me those questions? You barely know me and I you." Willa bit her lip unsurely, turning her eyes to her lap shyly.

She wasn't sure that she was ready for this. After being a freak for so many years, how was she going to become a powerful princess? She was always hard on herself as soon as she realized that the only siblings she had hated her with a passion, despite how well-mannered and good behaved she was, no matter what she did to please them; their feelings towards her never changed. With every beating she took, they stripped away her self-esteem little by little, causing her to have problems with talking in front of people and it was the reason that Willa had little or none friends to speak of.

And now, she had this prince asking her to marry him and they barely knew each other. How in hell was she going to deal with that?

"Oh, but my rose, I know you better than you think. However, as I said, you can say whatever feels right to you, no or yes. You can say no every time until you have feelings for me. I just need to ask you, don't ask why. I just need to." He stated quietly, dishing two meals and starting to feed her. He wanted to move on to a more cheerful subject, so as he spooned some eggs into her mouth, a smile found its way onto his wolfish lips.

"I'm Adnet, Beauty.

She took a deep breath in, shocked that he told her actually, but soon a smile danced across her lips and the smile almost melted Adnet's heart.

Her smile…it can't be…..

"A noble name for a noble man, I see. Thank you, Adnet." Willa's voice broke the spell, bringing him back to reality. Adnet, no longer the Beast, smiled shyly before saying it was time to eat, not trusting his voice to work more than that, and the couple fell into a comfortable silence.

But, soon Adnet's nerves melted away and he was making his rose laugh, for the sound was like the best music to him. After talking and laughing like they moved from just being strangers to best friends, the door opened to reveal a smiling broom:

"Hello, sire and Willa, dear. I'm Maria, your dance instructor. It's very nice to finally meet you in person." Maria bowed to the confused-looking ginger, not sure why Adnet had assigned her a dance instructor when she clearly couldn't.

"Um, I hope this doesn't seem rude, but I can't dance—" Maria lifted a hand up, cutting short the ginger's statement with a gentle smile.

"I'm aware of your condition and the limitations that come with it, but it does not mean you can't dance just as beautifully as other women can. You see, Willa, your condition might limit you, yes, but you can choose to not to let them rule you. Let me teach you and you will see what I mean, you don't have to be afraid."

Willa blinked at the female, her heart beating fast with cautious excitement mixed with fear of messing up. She never had the chance to try something, and because of her father's fears and her sister's taunts, she never went for it. But, as she looked at her new friend who was smiling at with such pride, she felt the passion reach a fever-pitch and Willa wanted to show herself and her sisters that she could do anything if she put her mind to it, no matter what her limitations are. She wanted to dance, ride horses, and anything else the world told her she could not do.

She let a smile spread across her lips, nodding excitedly before she turned to the wolf-like male with a sweet smile playing on her lips.

"I'll see you in the afternoon after my lessons then, Adnet?" The cute ginger required as Maria pushed her to the door, bowing to Alec just as he entered the room. The male smiled, nodding tenderly:

"Yes, my rose, do show me what you learned from Maria then, will you?" He asked with a teasing winked.

With that, she was slowly wheeled away with a burning blush placed across her face, surprised at how the wolf could affect her. This had never happened to her, a young man flirting with her and teasing her so lightly, and she didn't know how to deal with it or even how to act when he does.

With those thoughts sitting her mind, Willa hid behind a veil of curls, her embarrassment growing with every passing moment, but she couldn't let him see her like this, so until they were out in the hallway; the ginger kept the veil over her red face.

Maria smiled slightly back at her master as she exited the room, leaving the two males alone, now a forlorn expression was placed onto the wolf's face since his flower was gone.

He knew what was coming next and he didn't want to discuss it, but Adnet knew that they needed to. So, he turned to the window once more, closing his eyes as he braced for Alec's unwanted question:

"Well, your highness, the time has come for me to ask you. Do you think she is…?" Alec started, but trailed off, unable to finish the burning question.

"I don't know, my friend, I just don't know. She has her smile, but I don't know if….." Adnet replied softly, final turning to the giant, wooden clock with a pure sad expression laced to his face.

He had a burning feeling that Willa will become someone so special to him, in fact, he hoped that with everything in him, but Adnet had to think of her feelings too, and he worried that—no matter how understanding she is—she would never love him more than a friend.

And if that would happen, he would be doomed to live as a beast forever, alone and hopeless. Adnet didn't want to force his flower to love him; he wanted her to love him freely and with her own will, but the male was fearful that she would never see him more than her friend.

He sighed just as he felt a hand on his shoulder, turning to his advisor with a reassuringly smile placed on his numbered face:

"Time will tell, master Adnet. Don't look so gloomy, just enjoy this and time will tell if she is the one we were searching for. The missing rose princess."

With that, the male returned the smile before he turned back to the window, feeling once more ready to fight for the density upon him and Willa. Adnet didn't know why nor how he believed this, but he knew that the beautiful ginger was his true rose and she would save him. He grinned deeply, feeling strong.

-.-.-.-.-.-

That afternoon, the couple was laughing and playing in the castle's rose garden, relaxing after a day of duties and lessons.

The garden was beautiful with the sun beaming down upon it, smiling down at the happy sight playing out under its rays. Willa squealed as the male chased his flower, his laughter filled the air. Adnet loved that he can be playful with her and be free from the pressures of the beastly curse. He could be just normal, without worry of her running away from him. He was able to have a new friend in the first time in eighty years.

He grinned inertly at the thought before growling playfully, wiggling his claws at her, making her giggle loudly:

"Willa, I'm going to get you! You can't escape me!" Adnet warned playfully, coming closer and closer to catching her. She screamed in delight, hiding behind a hedge to keep him from getting her and tickling her without mercy.

"No! No! Stay away from me, you silly prince, stay away!" She screamed at him, giggling joyously as Adnet laughed while racing straight at her, growling deeply in his throat.

"I will tickle you, missy!"

She squealed again as the ginger backed away from him, knowing her fate was sealed as she watched the young beast came closer to her.

Then, before Willa knew it, Adnet grasped her out of the chair and playfully pinned his flower to the grassy ground. With that playful action, the beast started to tickle her so fiercely that she soon turned blue from laughing so hard:

"OK, you win!" Willa squealed breathlessly, her eyes widened filled with humor tears and her stomach aching from the laughter:

"Good girl! You know I always will win! You cannot escape me, admit it, I'm the best and I will always win!" Adnet laughed through the words, loving the adorable expression placed upon her face.

"I admit it! Now please, stop! You are killing me here." The ginger growled playfully, lifting her eyes to his while the tears just kept falling down her fiery red cheeks.

Adnet looked at that expression with such joy, knowing that he was the cause of such an adorable face, and then he rolled off of her and laid next to his flower. Biting his lip to keep his calm, he looked up to the sky, watching the day turned into night, knowing that he needed to ask her the question. He sighed once more before he rolled on her side, not sure how she will answer:

"Rose, night is approaching fast, so before we go inside for dinner, I need to ask you the question now."

"Okay, Adnet." Willa whispered, biting her lip hard, nervous deeply about the question and her own answer.

The ginger knew that Adnet wouldn't fault her if she said no, but she didn't want to see the hurt in his golden eyes and she didn't want to be the cause of the pain. But, knowing the truth, Willa couldn't answer the way he wanted her to.

"Remember, my rose, you don't have to answer yes, all I want from you is honesty."

"I remember, Adnet." Willa nodded, biting her lip hard, as she watched her friend sat up and stared down at her:

"Do you love me, will you marry me?"

The ginger closed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath in before she answered. She didn't want to see the pain in his amber eyes, so keeping her eyes shut tightly, she lifted her head and opened her mouth as tears fell from her eyes for the first time since arriving at the castle:

"I'm so sorry, my friend, I can't marry you. I don't love you that way yet…"

Willa waited for the scream of pain, but instead, she felt a kind but cold paw against her cheek. The ginger opened her eyes to see Adnet's kind smile as he ran one of his claws to clean her face of the tears of shame and sadness.

Then, she was shocked by his lips upon hers, it was just a peck but it worked. Willa was calm and filled with warmth, despite her wide eyes:

"It's ok, honey, don't cry. I understand." Adnet whispered against her luscious lips before pulling back to lift her up and back into her chair, smoothing her hair reassuringly before he pushed her into the throne room.

Willa looked at him with unsure eyes, not understanding why he was so cool about her answer. She was expecting him to be so hurt by her reply, not this calm and content.

She sighed deeply as she shook her head at herself, knowing better than that; Adnet would never show her anything that could make her feel guilt or sadness.

"I'm sorry, Adnet."

"Sweetie, don't be. You don't know me well enough yet to say yes. I need to be patient, I so do not want to force you. You have been forced enough in your life, and deep in my heart, I don't want to be yet another person bullying you into something, especially something so special like love and marriage. I don't want you to hate me and be miserable here with me." He stated sweetly as they finally reached the dining table, sitting down once she was parked in front of his chair:

"I know that, but…"

"Shhh, my rose. It's alright, let's just eat and enjoy our meal, ok?"

And with that, the couple slipped into a heavy but comfortable silence as they ate their meal, letting themselves get lost in their thoughts. One was filled with guilt and one was filled with worry, but both wanting to make one another happy more than anything in the world.

However, they knew that would the hardest thing they would do in their lives because neither one was willing to either give up her freedom to choose or become as beastly as he looked by forcing his flower into something so dear.

He would never be so cruel like his family or hers were.

-.-.-.-.-

After they were done eating, Adnet watched as Annalisa took his flower away to her room, to calm her silly guilt and sadness. No matter what he said to slay her guilt, Willa held fast to the guilt. So, hopefully, he told the duster to take her to her room and cheer her up.

And then without Willa in sight, he let himself drop to his knees and he covered his face with his paw, finally letting the feelings of helpless take over him.

"Oh Rosabella, what will I do?" Adnet whispered into the silence, shuddering at the name.

Once upon a time, that name was able to calm his worries and made him smile, but not now. He felt so lost, he didn't know what to do, and nothing could relieve the feeling. He was now at the crossroads and Adnet could not see the way he needed to take:

On one hand, he was sure that Willa was Rosa and Adnet wanted to act like they used to, but on the other, he didn't want to scare her if he went too fast with her. She was so fragile right now and he truly didn't want to become the beast Calla taunted him he will become. It was like walking a tightrope without a net to save him.

So much was unseen to him right now and so much was making him unsure about his cure and the ability of anyone to love him, no matter how sweet and kind they are.

But, Adnet had to have faith in Willa and himself, although it was so hard to do that at that moment.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

A mysterious red-haired woman made a triangle with her two thumbs and pointer fingers; staring at the mirror with a smile fit for the Devil himself. Her dear daughter was doing her job perfect, unwilling and unknowingly of course, but all the same, she was doing her job. The beast soon will be hopeless and will be no longer the ruler.

The woman giggled as she turned around to see a shadowy figure leaning against the far side. She growled, walking around her desk to lean against the front, looking on as a beautiful reddish blonde woman made her way into the light with a smirk placed onto her lips:

"You look surprised to see me, my queen." Madison Fields stated teasingly, her beautiful wings fluttered as she moved closer to the growling woman.

"What are you doing here, fairy? I thought you had a wedding to plan." She growled out, crossing her arms across her breast. The young woman frowned and stopped in the middle of the room, a cold glare was clearly seen in her bright eyes at the woman in front of her.

"I do, but I still have a job to do, and I will make sure that you will not get in Adnet's way. You already have caused too much trouble for them, so I will help them just like my sister did in the past. You won't win this time, you do realize that, do you?"

"And how do you know that, fairy?" Calla asked sickeningly-sweet, but the stern glint in her cold green eyes told Maddie that she hit a nerve. The girl's smirk appeared once more as the words fell from her lips.

"Because I know the power of true love and the strength of Adnet, they will the two things that ensure their win over your plans. And they have friends on their sides. What do you have? Nothing but your anger and envy."

That made Calla's eyes widen with anger, and with a loud howl, Calla lunged at the young woman, but she saw that coming. Maddie flipped into the air and moved her leg to send the madwoman flying half way across the room with a scream. She landed back onto the floor and started to flow towards the scowling ginger, shaking her head in pity.

"Really, Calla, you should give up already. You will never win."

"I weren't be so cocky if I were you, dear princess. Plans can change, I will have my way soon enough, just wait." Calla groaned out, struggling to get up from the floor.

She will have her day in the sun and she would show them that she was meant to be the ruler, not that damned beast.

Maddie sighed deeply, shaking her head again as she begun to leave the room. She wished that she would shake some sense into the would-be queen and get the stupid ideas of her head, but the young princess knew it was feeble. She was stubborn and there was no way to change her mind. So, with one more thing to say, she turned to the woman before disappearing into the night sky:

"I don't know what happened to you, Calla, I heard you were the kindest queen next to my mother. But, you will have nothing if you continue this game and we won't pity you when you realize that you have lost everything you once loved."