The Monster Within
Prologue
Monsieur Bruchard was a very rich merchant who had always been very lucky. He had been most luck when his beautiful wife had given him six children: Bastien, Marie, Julien, Evette, Humbert, and Rosalie.
Rosalie, the youngest, was the fairest of the children. She was an exact replica of her mother after whom she was name after. However, Rosalie the elder had died giving birth to Rosalie the younger. Being the last gift his darling wife had given him, Monsieur Bruchard cherished his youngest child above all else.
Rosalie not only possessed the outer beauty of her mother, but the same generous and kind nature her mother.
She was incredibly loved by her father and her brothers and everyone who knew her, except for her two elder sisters. Narie and Evette were always jealous of Rosalie. They had always tried to take the attention Rosalie recieved by everyone.
Rosalie, too, tried to get the attention away from her and to her elder sisters. She was painfully shy and got nervous at everything. She was even nervous around her family and best friend Célia Merandeau.
When he felt he had mourned his wife long enough, Monsieur Bruchard lived a happy life in a large house with his children. One day, however, his fortunes changed. His house was set ablaze in a kitchen fire. The house was burned to the ground.
The Bruchard family moved to a different town to find a new home. On their way, however, they were met by a highwayman, who stole most of the large sum of money they had.
The only house they were able to afford was a small cottage outside of the new village. Marie and Evette, who were accustomed to their old lifestyle, complained about the new house they were forced to live in.
Rosalie, being only an infant when this happened, only knew of a simple lifestyle. She had nothing against doing housework. She did all of the cooking and cleaning and did so without complaint.
When she had finished with the housework, she would often go to the fields and offer to help her brothers, which they always declined.
Monsieur Bruchard continued to work as a merchant, often bringing presents back for his children. Rosalie, however never asked for anything except, "for you to come home safe, Papa."
...
King Henri and Queen Caroline were the parents of a son named Alexandre who, despite being one of the most handsome and charming men the kingdom had ever seen, was spoiled, selfish and vain. He thought himself better than everyone else simply because of the title he possessed.
His parents did not help the matter. They spoiled their son endlessly, letting him have everything his heart desired. They saw nothing wrong with their son's behavior, and even encouraged it.
One day, however, a sourceress came to the palace. She told King Henri and Queen Caroline of her powers and they invited her for dinner, saying it would be an honor to host someone with her magical abilities.
The sourceress saw how cruel the prince was. She saw that he possessed no kindness, gentleness or patience. She raised her wand and spoke,
"Prince Alexandre, you show no kindness or love or goodness. I shall take away your looks and turn you into a monster. You shall stay a monster until you find someone who can love you. You will have until your twentieth birthday. If you cannot find anyone to love you, you shall stay a monster forever."
At that moment, Prince Alexandre began changing. He transformed into a hideous monster. He had tusks come out of his mouth, fur covering his whole body, and a snout.
King Henri and Queen Caroline looked terrified. The sourceress turned to them and spoke once again,
"You have no reason to fear him, for he is still your son. But you have heard me. He must find someone who can love him or stay a beast forever."
King Henri and Queen Caroline were disqusted by their son and sent him to live in a different palace, away from society. He was given a staff and riches, yet was not permitted to leave the palace.
Alexandre he was now a year away from his twentieth birthday. He had long ago given up the idea that someone would be able to love him.
