The Crippled Belle (Part One) by Bianca Joffre
(The Cruel Prince is the prologue to this story)
Once upon a time, there lived a happy young maid, beautiful and kind, but suffered from an illness that made her legs weak. The village doctor gave her medicine, her family helped her exercise, but nothing had ever worked. Nothing would heal her legs. Four years walking with broken bones, and yet she continues to move forward. Her precious friends was celebrating the maiden's 20th birthday when suddenly the greedy Mayor knocks at her door. Her friend opens the door and the Mayor announced, "For being the weakest you shall be this year's sacrifice to the Beast at Cursed Castle, in exchange for this town's freedom! Men, take her!" The Mayor's men took the crippled maid away from her friends and family while the villagers mourn and weep, and then shouted at the Mayor angrily. The Mayor had made a deal with the Beast: send the most beautiful lass in the village each year, and your village shall prosper. The Mayor's daughter was the last beauty, but he did not want to give her up to the Beast, so he sends the crippled maid instead to at least satisfy for this year's sacrifice.
The crippled girl was taken away on a coach, but by luck she manages to escape. She forced herself to run in the rain, even if it means bringing pain to her weak legs, and hid from the Mayor's men. When she lost them she continues to walk forward tiredly in the cold rain until she found herself in an enchanted garden. Her weak legs could not support the girl's body anymore, so she collapsed on the soft, earthen ground. Unconscious yet she dreams; she dreams of being carried away by strong arms to a magical world unlike any other. She felt warmth.
A Belle like you is what he needs,
A Belle like you is who he pleads.
Show him the meaning of love,
Set him free like the mourning dove.
When the crippled girl opened her sleepy eyes she finds herself in a warm bed suitable for a queen, and a warm fireplace blooming with blazing life. The girl was warm and dry in her silk nightgown; and sitting on the nightstand was a tray of hot tea. She pours herself a cup and took a sip after blowing it cool. "I wonder who saved me? And where am I?" She asked, and then forced herself to leave her warm bed tiredly. The crippled girl was still too sore to walk, but she wanted to thank her savior for finding her. She went downstairs slowly and found the dining room with a full table of delicious meals and yummy deserts.
The crippled girl's eyes went wide with delight and her stomach growled loudly. "I'm sure the master wouldn't mind," said the crippled girl as she took a seat and began to eat. Color was brought back to her cheeks when she finished her meal; a bright smile formed on her pretty face when she felt a presence nearby. She turns to look, and gasp; it was the Beast! He was indeed horrifying like the townspeople said, but then he bowed and apologized. "Forgive me for startling you, dear beauty. My ugliness cannot be changed. I am a Beast after all." The crippled girl stared up at the huge beast, which made the Beast growl softly. "Does my face frighten you, my dear?"
The Beast had pulled the crippled girl's arm as she shrieks in pain not from her arm but from her legs as they ache and hurt again. She was removed from her chair forcefully, but holds on tightly to the Beast's huge arm while crying softly as she bit her lip. The Beast froze when the girl held on to him desperately while her legs dragged on the floor, limp like a rag doll's. He felt her grip tighten around his arm while pain writes all over her face.
"You . . . can't walk?" asked the Beast as he gently lowers her down. "A crippled . . ."
The pain was too much for the crippled girl, enough that she couldn't say a single word, only cried. The Beast felt shameful, even more so than ever, and quickly calls for his servants. Animals dressed like elegant servants came in and helped the poor girl and comforted her. The Beast quickly exits the dining hall, hiding his twisted face with his cape, while the crippled girl cries again. Poor, pitiful girl, so fragile and weak. She was the one beauty, who could not run.
To be continued . . .
(If you guys want to read the rest of this story then go to this link https://theprose.com/BjDreamer where you can read this story and my other works. Hope you enjoy it!)