Long ago, in a kingdom long since fallen was a prince in a grand castle. He was an angry man, selfish and unkind. He would take out his frustrations on those around him. But sometimes, he would throw grand parties to bring a little bit of joy into his melancholy life. And during those parties, he would invite only the most beautiful people and have them attend the party. They would dance and drink and make merry.
Then on a cold winter's night, an intruder came to a party celebrating the 21st birthday of the prince. She was an old woman, repulsive in every aspect of her appearance. She sat at his feet and begged for him to give her shelter from the harsh winter storm. In return, she would give him a single rose, yet to have fully bloomed. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned her away. She warned the prince not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty was found within.
When he turned her away again, her outward appearance melted away and revealed a beautiful enchantress. The prince begged for forgiveness, but it was too late. She had seen that he only cared for the appearances he saw, much like the ones he kept, instead of the hearts of people. As punishment, she placed a curse on him and his entire castle and all who lived there. To show his cruel heart, he was turned into a hideous beast and transformed the members of his castle that had yet to escape into objects, robbing them of all that made them human short of their souls. Then, to punish them further, they were wiped from the minds of all of those who once loved them, and from the people of the kingdom in general.
The rose she had brought with her was truly an enchanted fire rose. It would bloom until the last year of its life, where then it would start to die. One by one a petal would flame up and die. As the petals turned to ash, the castle would crumble more and more until it was nothing but ruins. Should he fail to break the curse before the last petal fell, he would remain a beast forever in a ruined castle, cursed to be alone.
The enchantress gave him two gifts. One was a mirror, able to show him anything he asked to see. The other was a book that could take him anywhere in the world, as long as he knew the location well. But there was a risk for leaving, one many would consider far too great for anyone to take. Should he or any of the members of his castle leave and not return before the next petal fell, then the curse would be sealed.
The prince begged for a way to break the curse. The enchantress told him of only one way to do it. If he failed to find someone to see past his appearance and love the man within, then he would remain a beast forever. After several years, the prince began to fall into despair. For who could ever learn to love a beast?