Chapter 1- Preparations and Diplomacy

Things were only beginning to come into order for the grand wedding uniting young Belle DeFleur, a girl from a small village a few miles from the palace, and His Highness Prince Adam Vincente Christophe, the lost Prince, now found after ten years of mystery. How this came to pass is an extraordinary story unto itself, and if you were to hear it, you wouldn't be likely to believe it. So instead, let us enter the castle and listen in on the proceedings.

"Why do I have to learn to read, Mr. Cogsworth?" A small seven-year-old boy was sulking on a large upholstered chair. He poked the chair with his finger to make sure it was not alive, couldn't run across the room and playfully dump him to the floor. After all, he was used to that kind of behavior from an armchair, or a footstool for that matter. But this chair was inanimate, meaning that it was not Sophie the scullery maid, who'd transformed into a human just like everyone else.

"It's a new policy, young Chip." said Cogsworth. "All palace servant children are to get an education from now on. You will learn to read, and then go on to study history, science, politics and literature. It's what Belle wants, and she will be your Princess soon. Personally, I think it's a rather farfetched idea, and most impractical."

Mr. Cogsworth had, besides his old duties, the new responsibility of acting as tutor to the servant children, which numbered only two. Charles Potts, known as "Chip," was the youngest member of the palace staff, and the next youngest was Mirielle, who had been a serving spoon until just recently. She was now an eleven-year-old girl.

Chip himself was quite enjoying getting used to the idea of having fingers and limbs, considering the fact he had spent several years as a tiny china cup. He opened up the small book in his lap and proceeded to read out loud, while Mr. Cogsworth stood behind him and coached him on the phonetics of each word. After ten grueling minutes, Chip finished the book.

"You may be dismissed, now. Excellent job. Tomorrow we will read a slightly longer one. And you will need to study arithmetic as well." Cogsworth told him.

He hopped off the chair, ran out of the library, and into the hallway. Coming around the corner, he passed by Mirielle, who, like Belle, always had a book in her arms. She was going to be tutored by Cogsworth the next hour.

"Have fun at lessons," he called to the young servant girl, who enjoyed schooling much more than he did. He resumed running down the hall, and came to the banister of the stairs. He couldn't resist the urge to climb on the banister and slide down- should he do it, he mused. He gathered all his courage and climbed the golden banister. It was polished and slippery, and he swooped down as it curved and he found himself landing with a plop in the dining hall.

It was cheery and bustling, quite a change from what had existed before. The castle had undergone a great redecorating. The old Baroque style was replaced with modern furnishings. The heavy dark curtains were removed from the tall windows, and were replaced by either pastel or sheer white curtains or simply left bare, allowing the sun to shine in. Tables were bedecked with crisp white cloths, and Chip was hit with the delicious smells of snacks cooking.

"Hi, Mama!" he exclaimed. His mother, who was more the age to be his grandmother than his mother, greeted him with a plate of cookies. She was accompanied by her new friend Maurice, the father of the princess-to-be. They had just been in their usual daily habit of sharing tea and pleasant conversation.

"Here, have only a sample of the broken cookies, dear. The good ones are to be saved for the wedding!" She was beaming with excitement.

"Where's Belle, Mama?"

"She's getting a final fitting for her gown. She will spend time with you tonight, I am sure." Mrs. Potts replied. "But the tailor wants to redo part of the gown, and now it'll take more time."

Some of the villagers from Molyneux were happily donating their services for the wedding, much to Prince Adam's dislike. It was hard for him to trust outsiders from beyond the castle grounds, which was forgivable considering the former unpleasant events that had occurred.

Belle, in her diplomatic way, had convinced him to give some of the people from her hometown a chance, and that included inviting Madame Fortier to make her wedding dress, the town baker to make the main wedding cake, and some of the local children to bring hand-picked flowers for the decorations. She also insisted that they invite the entire village to the wedding; after all, the castle was enormous, and after hiding it all these years, why not share it with the general populace?

From what she had heard on her last brief visit to the village, it was buzzing with talk about the 'lost prince,' and rumors were flying. Of course, the death of Gaston was a big part of those rumors, and so she had no choice but to tell the baker's wife, who would no doubt tell everyone else, that the Beast was dead and gone. The townspeople did what they would with that information, and she was certain that it involved her deceased, mad suitor's elevation to near-god. However, Belle was too involved with her upcoming marriage to do much about it.

These issues involving the village, as well as wedding details, were the source of more than a few bickerings between Belle and Adam that Maurice and the servants had to listen in on for the last few days. Belle and her Prince were certainly madly in love, but they were from completely opposite worlds and viewpoints. They were equally passionate, yet equally stubborn.

Mrs. Potts looked up from the table and shot her young son a warning look. Echoes were being heard down the hallway, and the voices came clearer as they approached.

"It's Belle and the Master," she warned her boy, making a quick shushing gesture.

"Why does this have to take so long? I have the best royal tailors right here, and you insist on that woman to sew your dress for you? And they are baking the cakes? We have a competent staff right here in this castle!" Adam was ranting.

His angry voice now was much less menacing than it used to be, considering he'd lost the animal growl which used to make everyone's teeth chatter (well, at least the teeth they could have had if one hadn't been a stuffed chair or a teacup.)

"Because Madame Fortier and Marie the baker's wife are good people. They truly want to help, Adam."

"And you want to invite that whole village to the wedding?"

"Why not?"

"Because, I just… I wanted a private affair. I … still like my privacy." Adam looked embarrassed.

Belle sidled up to him and gave him a reassuring hug. "Remember, you are the long-lost Prince. You can't be a hermit and hide anymore. Everyone wants to see you, and get to know you. It's good diplomacy."

Adam looked down at his lovely fiancée. "All right. I have to present a good image now. As the lost Prince. And I guess diplomacy, and being bene…what's that word?"

"Benevolent."

"Yes, benevolent…it will be part of a new era for this place." He gazed around the dining hall of the palace, squinting in slight irritation at the brilliant sun coming in the windows. "I'm having trouble getting used to that blasted sunshine, though!" he said, shading his eyes and going into the kitchen, Belle following him. Chip, Mrs. Potts, and Maurice resumed their tea and cookies.

Adam casually picked up a bottle from the kitchen's shelf, opened it, and took a sip. He made a disgusted face. "This is horrible-tasting!" he said. "This ale has been sitting in storage too long. It can't be served at our wedding. I'm going to have to find a whole new store of beverages… Sophie!" Belle smiled in a patient, loving way, but rolled her eyes slightly. This was not turning out to be Adam's day.

Sophie, the scullery maid and general "go-to" girl, came quickly into the room at Adam's summons. A plump young woman with rosy cheeks and light blonde hair, she had been a little upholstered chair during the enchantment. "Yes, your Grace?" she said, bowing obediently.

"I want you to go into the village and find a source of beverages and refreshments. We have nothing decent to drink, other than tea and milk." Adam asked of the maid. Sophie had been chosen for the job of going outside the castle on shopping and fetching duties, not only because she liked venturing out to the village, but also because she wasn't very efficient in the kitchen.

"I like tea and milk. What's wrong with serving just that?" she piped up, then quickly snapped her mouth shut at Adam's stern look. "I'm… sorry, I mean that yes, tea and milk aren't suitable at all for a wedding! You have to have proper beverages that are more festive, and well, celebratory!" she babbled, wringing her hands. It was all part of the servants' general 'testing' of Adam's new persona, seeing if it would match his old authority. Sophie, and a few others, like Lumiere, were the ones who were likely to push Adam's boundaries to the outer limits.

"I'll be right on it, Your Grace." Sophie finally said. "I'll go find Michel and have him get a horse ready for me. This is going to be such fun!" she said excitedly, striding out of the room.

Belle watched her go, then she made a horrified realization.

"Adam, dear?"

"Yes."

"I know Molyneux like the back of my hand, it's my home, but there's a little problem."

"What?"

"Well, it will be easy to find more delicious refreshments and foods, with Andre the baker, and the farmers, but well, alcoholic beverages were only found in the tavern. There was only one tavern…and…"

"What?" Adam looked at her quizzically. He didn't know that much about Molyneux, it was true.

"The man who owned that tavern, well…he's dead. He just died recently."

Belle winced. The unpleasant subject of Gaston was something that hadn't come up and was now becoming an issue with the wedding preparations. There was no other source of alcoholic beverages for the reception for miles and miles, and the only close establishment, which might or might not have had stock still available, had been owned by the man who'd tried to kill Adam.

"Oh…that's unfortunate." Adam said, perfectly oblivious. He'd never made the connection. "Well, in that case, I could try to convince Jean-Luc to prepare a mild wine, although it wouldn't be much more than grape juice, and the way Sophie seems so excited about her chore, she's sure to fetch something."

He stepped closer to Belle and kissed her on the top of the forehead. "Let's go for a walk in the garden, my Belle."

Belle breathed a sigh of relief, and went along.

They exited out the back door, into the enormous garden which was still covered with a dusting of early spring snow. The recent rains had washed away all of the winter snow, but a cold spell had dusted the castle grounds with a gentle, newer white coating. Belle and Adam breathed in the crisp cold air and could smell the hint of oncoming spring in the air. It had been cloudy, but the sun was just starting to appear. Belle enjoyed these walks and talks outdoors with Adam more than anything, even her reading.

They relished the chance to get away from the staff and get to know each other more. She especially liked the funny anecdotes Adam would recall about his childhood. He had been a little spoiled brat, to put it gently, and Belle was picturing this little reddish-blond haired, mischievous boy in her mind as he talked. She liked hearing about it because they shared a common bond in their childhoods- they had both lost a parent. Belle had lost her mother, but Adam had lost both parents very young. She wondered how different his life would have been, had that tragedy not occurred.

As they walked past the tall cedar trees, they heard a scuffling sound, and a giggle. Adam stepped forward and peeked into the trees.

"It looks as if you two wanted some privacy as well!" he chided, mirthfully rather than angrily. A sheepish Lumiere, followed by a blushing, giggling Babette, tumbled out of the cedars. The couple grinned, brushing dusty snow off their clothes. Lumiere straightened his posture. "Have a pleasant walk today, Your Grace."

"Likewise." Adam replied. He and Belle left them behind, walking arm and arm down the path. From across the grounds, children's laughter could be heard. It was Chip and Mirielle, playing near a tall evergreen tree. A little farther, they saw Sophie, bundled up in a shawl and bonnet, waving to them. Belle could see that she'd been supplied a strong horse, Antoinette, who was the same breed of horse as Phillipe, and a wagon by the stable boy. She began driving the cart down to the opposite side of the valley, in the direction of the village.

"And now, we are finally alone," Adam said, smiling and looking at Belle lovingly.

"Yes, we are. Finally," she laughed. "Come on, let me show you where I saw some most amazing little birds. I've been reading up on all the bird species, the different types who live here. They are all flying back home for the spring."