Prologue
Once upon a time, in the hidden heart of France, a handsome young Prince lived. Although the prince had everything his heart desired, the Prince was spoiled, selfish and unkind.
The prince’s name was Regulus. Regulus Black.
He lived in a shining castle, full of servants. As much as the Prince was unkind, his servants were filled with so much love, that they treated him like family.
The Prince got his servants to fill the house with the most beautiful and expensive things, and host parties attended by the most beautiful of people.
One night, an unexpected intruder arrived at the castle. An old woman weaning a black cloak, seeking shelter from the bitter storm. As a gift, she offered the Prince a single rose.
Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the Prince turned the woman away. Before she could leave, she warned him not to be deceived about appearances, for true beauty is found from within.
And when he dismissed her again, the old woman’s outward appearance melted away to reveal…
A beautiful glowing Enchantress.
The Prince tried to apologise but it was too late. For she has seen that there was no love in his heart.
As a punishment, she transformed him into a hideous beast, and placed a powerful spell on the castle and all who lived there.
As days bled into years, the Prince and his servants were forgotten by the world. For the Enchantress had erased all memory of them from the minds of the people they loved.
But the rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose. If he could learn to love another and earn their love in return by the time the last petal fell, the spell would be broken. If not, the Prince and his servants would stay in their transformed form for all time.
As the days passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope.
For who could ever learn to love a beast?