When the merchant traveled to the city in search of work, he asked his daughters what gifts they wanted him to bring back. The two older sisters demanded luxurious items, but Belle asked for nothing more than a single red rose, a simple request that reflected her purity and grace. On his journey home, a violent storm forced the merchant to seek shelter in an enormous, mysterious castle. Inside, he found an invisible caretaker preparing food and offering warmth. As he left, he noticed a beautiful red rose blooming in the castle garden and picked it for Belle, unknowingly sealing his fate.
The Beast emerged from the shadows, furious that the merchant had stolen a flower from his garden. His fearsome appearance contrasted sharply with the deep sadness in his voice. When he learned that the rose was meant for the merchant’s daughter, he presented a cruel choice. The father must return to the castle or send one of his daughters in his place. Devastated, the merchant returned home. Although he tried to hide the truth, Belle immediately sensed what had happened and volunteered to go to the castle, sacrificing her freedom to save her father.
Belle expected imprisonment, but instead, she found that the Beast treated her with unexpected kindness. The vast castle was quiet and lonely, except for the enchanted objects who could speak and move. They welcomed Belle, encouraged her, and made her feel less alone. Over time, Belle discovered that the Beast was not cruel at all. Beneath his frightening exterior was a lonely, gentle soul who longed to be loved but believed he never could be. He brought her flowers, gifted her a magnificent library, and every evening he asked a single question: “Belle, will you marry me?” Belle always answered softly that she could not, though she had begun to see the good within him.
One day, Belle looked into a magical mirror and saw her father gravely ill. She begged the Beast for permission to visit him. Even though it broke his heart, the Beast let her go because he truly loved her. While Belle cared for her father, her absence weakened the Beast who slowly faded in sorrow. Meanwhile, the arrogant hunter Gaston spread fear among the villagers, convincing them that the Beast was a monster. They formed a mob and marched toward the castle to destroy him.
Belle raced back as quickly as she could. When she arrived, she found the Beast lying injured and dying after his battle with Gaston. Overcome with grief, she held him close and whispered the words she had never spoken before. “Please stay with me. I love you.” At that moment, everything changed. A brilliant light surrounded the Beast as the curse shattered. The monstrous figure transformed into a handsome prince, and the entire castle came back to life. The servants regained their human forms, and Belle realized that the kind heart she had loved was still the same, no matter the appearance.
The prince took Belle’s hand and said, “Your love has freed us all.” From that day on, they lived happily together in the restored castle, proving that genuine love is powerful enough to break any curse and that true beauty is found within.