[Beauty and the Beast] Rose Castle

My father looked at me suspiciously and said, "It can save lives in a critical moment, what's the matter?"

calm down.

Keep your expectations to a minimum, otherwise the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.I clenched my fists, inhaled and exhaled deeply, but my fingers were still trembling.Picking up the brass-colored pocket watch, I observed it carefully, and was delighted that the hot trickle filled my chest cavity.That's right, this is indeed the piece worn by the witch in the dream.

For a while, I didn't know whether to lament the drama of the world first, or to rejoice that good people are rewarded first... If my parents were not kind by nature, they would not be able to save the witch, let alone get the potion and pocket watch, my father's Serious illness will not heal, and Lambert's curse will not see hope...

Of course, if the king hadn't ordered the expulsion of the witch, there would be no subsequent revenge, let alone the meeting of my parents... Lambert and I would never meet and fall in love.Fate is sometimes so absurd, sometimes so wonderful.

I gripped my pocket watch tightly, turned to my father and asked, "Can you give this to me?"

"Of course if you want."

I've never had a better day than I do now.After getting an affirmative answer, I smiled from the bottom of my heart and almost jumped up with joy. I wanted to go back to the castle immediately and tell Lambert the good news, but when I looked back at my father, I couldn’t help but run back and give him a gift first. a hug.

He shook his head and patted me on the back with a smile.I hugged her tighter: "I'm sorry... because you have been refusing to tell me the identity of my mother. Over the years, I have had doubts, complaints, and misunderstandings. I even wondered if she is a bad person... Abandoned us all."

"You and your mother not only look the same, but also have similar personalities, and they are both very kind. She died of illness, and the burns were too serious... Although witchcraft can curb the deterioration of the injury, the sequelae are very tormenting. But your Mother didn't complain or hate anyone. I wanted to use this pocket watch at the time, but your mother sternly rejected me. She didn't want me to spend five years in exchange for her life." Father sighed, "Dying Before, she hugged you and refused to let go, staring at your face all the time. She hoped that you would be healthy, kind, and brave, and you did it."

At this moment, the always vague image of the mother finally ceased to be a cliché in the book, and became vivid and three-dimensional.

Today is literally my lucky day.

I sniffed and was about to say something, but the next second, my father suddenly asked me seriously: "Rosa, the witch told me that this pocket watch can only be used by me and my family. Are you sure you will dedicate five years to him?" life span?"

I thought my father would object to my approach. After all, no parent would watch their children do things that hurt themselves. Who knows, he just said: "If you are sure and prepared, then you will be the bravest I have ever seen Girl, I'm so proud of your courage. I hope you won't regret your decision today. But, before you really make up your mind, I hope you can think through these questions, are you sure he didn't take advantage of your kindness? Can you guarantee Will he love you forever? After the curse is lifted, can you really be together? Five years sounds like a short time, but there are many people in the world who hold thousands of gold and cannot exchange for five years Lifespan. Are you sure, he can afford this preciousness?"

I pondered for a while and said, "When you and your mother rescued that witch, you probably didn't think too much about it. After all, if you were caught, it would be a catastrophe, but you still took her in without hesitation... …I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, and I don’t want to think about the future, I just want to be as good as I am now.”

Father nodded, sat on the chair, took out a handkerchief and wiped his glasses: "I don't want to educate you, I just want to know your thoughts. It's good that you have your own thoughts."

I bent down and kissed my father's old cheek: "Dad, you taught me well."

He shook his head, as if he didn't agree with my words, but he didn't say anything, just sighed: "Our little rose has grown up."

Walking out of the house, I took a last look at my father's back from the window, and put the pocket watch in my hand away.Using five years of life to exchange a new life for a person, anyone would think that this deal is a good deal.However, before I actually make a decision, I still have some apprehensions and concerns... For example, whether my relationship with him will last long, whether life will be smooth after the curse is lifted, and whether the witch will continue to take revenge on him.However, if saving people looks ahead and weighs the pros and cons, it loses the meaning of saving people.At least at this moment, I want to save him, and I don't regret it.

Pulling the horse from the stable, I rolled over into the saddle and galloped towards the castle.After today, his life span is only one day.I don't want to wait until the last moment to lift the curse on him, that's too unsafe... How can I tell him that I have found a way to get the best of both worlds?

Go back to the castle.As time goes on, it becomes more and more common here.The gloomy and dense dark clouds disappeared, the strong wind stopped, and the snow several feet deep melted away.The setting sun is a painting paper saturated with purple paint, extending a gradient from the horizon to the sky.Thousands of acres of roses are gently swaying, and it is a fragrant and sweet sea wave, which sets off the stone wall of the castle into a gorgeous rose color.

After placing the horses in the stables, I entered the hall of the castle, and my vision suddenly went dark, and my eyes were covered with an opaque black ribbon.A familiar and cold atmosphere surrounded me, and Lambert's voice sounded above my head: "Little Rose, can you grant me a wish?"

I blinked: "You... haven't turned into a beast?"

He chuckled: "Maybe 'it' also wants to see you satisfy me."

What he said was so ambiguous.I couldn't help but stare at him, but couldn't see anything, so I could only ask, "What wish?"

I thought he would say simple love words like "kiss me" or "kiss me for a while", but he hugged me tightly with both arms. Fiery possessiveness.

"Marry me, Rosa."

I froze.

"I know, this is a selfish request, because I will not be a responsible husband, I will not be able to take care of you for the rest of my life, not even a complete person." He stroked my hair, his voice sounded calm Calm, but with a deeply emotional tenderness, "But I want to have Little Rose completely, even if it's only for one day and one night."

Because, his life span is only one day and one night.

Even though I knew the way to break the curse, I still shed tears.I was about to tell him about the pocket watch, but I was afraid that he would refuse like my mother.After thinking about it for two seconds, he decided to hide the condition of the five-year lifespan and give it to him as a surprise later.

I was still thinking about the pocket watch, but at the next moment, I was suddenly picked up by him and wrapped my arms around his neck.The gold chain of his glasses fell to my cheeks: "Go upstairs and change. Do you change it yourself, or should I change it for you?"

"...I, I will do it myself."

He smiled lowly: "Okay."

He sent me into the room, lit all the candles in the room, and then retreated out in a gentlemanly manner.The moment I tore off the black ribbon, I saw the long skirt in front of me.For a few seconds, I was so shocked that I lost my voice.This is a pure white long dress, but it is not a flawless white, but a light pink that is as tender as a flower bud.The long skirt was dragged on the ground, and it was dotted with small flowers composed of purple, yellow, and red gemstones. The waist and skirt edges were inlaid with scattered diamonds.The candlelight is a soft gauze, shrouded in the skirt.The whole skirt presents a dreamy color.

Today is also a dream day.

I changed into a long skirt and a misty white gauze, picked up the bouquet next to me, pushed the door and went out.

Like this dress, the layout of the castle is also very dreamy: the corridor is full of white, crimson, and lavender roses, and the deep red carpet is spread from the door of the room to the gate of the castle.

Under the crystal chandelier, Lambert stood in the center of the castle hall.He was wearing a white dress that fell to his knees, with golden wheat ear-like epaulettes on his shoulders, and a solid gold lion badge on both sides of his boots.It was the first time I saw him dressed so grandly, but thinking that he gave me such a grand wedding with the mentality of mortals, the smile on my lips was a bit bitter.

Holding the skirt and walking downstairs, I came to him and held his black gloved hand: "Lambert..." I wanted to tell him everything, but he clasped my wrist instead, eyes looking at me tenderly.Seeing the sinking deep emotion in his eyes, my heart beat wildly a few times and I forgot to speak.

He closed his eyes, lowered his head and kissed the back of my hand: "I wish I was old now."

With a pain in my heart, I shook my head: "Don't say that..."

"Actually, I am no different from ordinary people. I also hated fate. But at a very young age, I knew that I must restrain this desire. Ordinary people can spit on gods, but I can't, because I am a 'son of god' , is a person favored by God. Ordinary people can complain about the injustice of fate, but I can't, because I was born in the royal family and enjoy the most superior everything. Ordinary people can indulge themselves, waste time, say some irresponsible things, do some irresponsible things Responsibility... I can't, because I am the future king, every word I say must be responsible to everyone." He lifted my face with one hand and wiped away my tears with his thumb, " The burden on my body is too heavy, and now I can finally unload it. So, don't feel sorry for me. I have no regrets other than not being able to take care of you."

Having said that, he asked in a low voice, "Is that ring still on you?"

I choked up and nodded.The ring and the pocket watch were placed in one place, and it took some time to take them out.

He took the ruby ​​ring, lowered his eyes to look at it for a moment, his expression was unbelievably gentle, and after a long time, he knelt on the ground on one knee: "Will you marry me, Little Rose."

The feelings in my heart were about to overflow, I sobbed, and wiped away the tears in my eyes with the veil: "I am willing." I could no longer hide it, I took out the brass pocket watch, and said softly, "I also have something for you."

He frowned slightly, as if he wanted to ask something, I shook my head, and put a finger on his lips: "I don't know how to say complicated love words, I just hope that from now on, you can live for yourself." I bent down , lifted her veil and covered his lips, "Because I gave you this life."

He frowned tightly, as if he knew something, and wanted to take the pocket watch from my hand.At this time, it is not convenient to explain to him.Taking a step back, I gripped the brass pocket watch and whispered the spell from the witch's book.The mantra was short and fast, and it was finished in two seconds.At the same moment, the brass-colored pocket watch flew into the air, emitting a dazzling golden light.Time seemed to freeze at this moment, and the interior of the castle was coated with a layer of brilliant gold powder, but soon, I discovered that those were not the golden light emitted by the pocket watch, but the color of the castle itself.

The murals on the dome are the sky that has peeled off the cloudy sky. The murals have faded away from the dark haze and restored the original warm tones.The closet was opened, and a dozen dishes jumped out clangingly, falling to the ground and turning into young-looking humans.On the long table, the teapot turned into a kind-hearted old lady, the silver spoon turned into a slender young man, the clock fell from the wall and lay down on the ground, turning back into the short, fat man with two blond hairs in the illusion. The look of skimming the beard.

Great, the curse is really lifted.Turning his head to look at Lambert, the black scales on both sides of his narrow cheeks are also rapidly fading, and the palms have returned to the size of a normal human.The scene that I often dreamed about these days has finally come true.I couldn't help showing a happy smile.However, Lambert looked at me in shock, his eyes full of disbelief.

Why are you showing such an expression?Hasn't the curse been lifted?

...By the way, I forgot to tell him that because of the existence of the pocket watch, I will not die.Kneeling down and holding his palm, I smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, I won't die."

No sound.

what happened?

Say it again.

"Don't be afraid, I won't die."

Still no sound.

what happened?

I lowered my head to see what was going on, but saw that my fingers were becoming transparent bit by bit.Soon, the ring finger was the color of air.The ruby ​​ring fell to the carpet.

Why is this happening?

Can't a brass pocket watch do that?Have my parents been tricked by witches?

I swallowed my saliva, shook my head, and tried to explain to Lambert, but I couldn't make a sound.Panic hit my heart, I didn't expect things to turn out like this.

However, the matter has come to this point, and there is no way to go back on it.All that can be done is acceptance.Facing his flushed eyes, after the animal pupils disappeared, his eyes returned to their original color, which was a deep and beautiful blue-green like the ocean.It's good that he finally doesn't have to suffer from the curse.I caressed his side face with one hand, but accidentally penetrated his face: "Live well, don't be sad." The body became more and more transparent, and I was afraid that I would become air in the end, so I hugged him quickly, He raised his head and mouthed, "Help me take care of my father. I love you."

He kept silent, his Adam's apple was rolling violently, his eyes were confused and painful, staring at me firmly, as if he engraved me in his bones and blood.

No way, and I didn't expect that the witch would lie to the parents and reward them with a fake pocket watch.But... Even if I exchange my life for his new life, I don't regret it.It's just a pity that I can't accompany my father until he dies.

But I believe in him, he will take good care of my father for me.

In the end, it seemed that I really became air and floated above the castle.Dusk is a fantastic fire on the skyline.Looking from top to bottom, this rose-colored castle is gorgeous and magnificent.

Every girl has had rose-colored dreams.Because of him, my dream became reality.

Consciousness gradually blurred, and before I completely lost consciousness, I seemed to come to a distant country with the wind, where there were solemn and heavy bells, and red roses were planted all over the city.Everyone passing by this city is talking about those bright and blooming roses, but no one dares to touch them.

I saw the king abdicate, a young and handsome man walked up to the grand square in front of the church, lowered his head, and put on a crown inlaid with rubies.

His expression was colder than ice, and his eyes were the silver snow on the top of the mountain dyed blue-green by the aurora.It was early spring, but he was wearing a thick white coat as if he was afraid of the cold, and on his thumb was a golden ring that symbolized the supreme royal power.He took the scepter and turned to face the ant-like people in the square.

This is also very good.My love, he has a bright future.With so many people watching him, he should not be lonely anymore.

……

……

It was not until a long time later that I realized that the witch did not deceive us, it was just that my father misunderstood the meaning—losing five years of life was not shortening five years of life, but losing five years.

Some people may still not understand, so let me express it directly——

I woke up again, five years later.