Chapter 3

Belle held Beast's paw tightly, as he slowly walked inside the cathedral with her. His head remained low, deep in thought, as he avoided the light of the glowing candles. She figured why he acted in this manner, almost out of shame. Perhaps past memories of the place had overwhelmed him, like what happened to her before. She will let him explore the church with her. But only if he was okay. Belle had to ask him. She turned her head towards him. La Dame waited patiently.

"Beast," she asked tenderly. "It's okay if you're feeling unwell. If you wish to return home, we can always come back."

Beast looked at Belle. Despite the calm but lowly lit night, her radiance always brought colour into his bleak world. He shook his head.

"And deny you the chance of seeing more of Paris?" Beast said. "I am fine, Belle. Do not worry about-"

-SCREECH-

A loud, sudden noise erupted from the back of the cathedral, breaking the couple's trance.

Out of instinct, both travellers held two different thread of thoughts at once.

We will be seen. They'll see me as a monster, and I will put Belle in danger! I must hide!

We will be seen! I must think of something, before it's too late. Quick!

Belle scanned the nearest area as fast as possible. She saw spiritual robes left for visitors during the day. Miraculously, there was a white one big enough for Beast to wear. She grabbed the garment and flung it to him, who was still hidden in the shadows of Notre Dame. The candles flickered a little, but didn't blow out.

"Wear it, I'll think of something!" she whispered, as a looming silhouette approached from the altar. She wore her own hood, hoping her idea will work. Beast did not hesitate. He wore the giant white robe. He would have felt ridiculous in it, if his heart wasn't pounding like a racing horse.

So this is how thieves feel like when they're in places they shouldn't be.

"Beast!" Belle gestured towards her hood.

He checked his back. Oh! He wore his own hood over his horned head. It was a very good thing he did.

"Bienvenue, bienvenue! Wecome, my dear children!"

It was an old, Parisian priest. He looked weary, possibly out of his duties of patrolling the cathedral at night. But you'd think he lost decades of his senior age with the radiant smile he gave to the both of them. Beast shifted behind Belle, feeling uncomfortable with the priest's over friendliness.

Would he be smiling in the same way if I removed my hood? Beast looked at him again. His smile was annoying. But he looked oddly familiar...

"Splendid! More voyageurs!" the priest said, his soothing voice booming the cathedral with much needed warmth.

"Are you here on a pilgrimage, my children?"

Belle hoped their lifted hoods within the church would have given that impression. She pounced on that given opportunity like a cat on its unsuspecting prey. "Yes, Father. Me and my friend have travelled far in order to arrive here," Belle told. "We heard many stories about Notre Dame and wanted to see it for ourselves."

Beast didn't know what to do next. Either talk, which could possibly ruin Belle's story, or process what she just called him. He went for the latter.

Did she just call me a... friend?

"My child, you've met the right person," the priest swelled his chest with pride. "There is no one in Paris that can guide you better here than moi!"

Beast fought himself from rolling his eyes. So much for him and Belle being finally alone...

"From whence you came, dearest visitors? You're most certainly not from these parts, I can tell."

Beast looked at Belle. She wanted to say something, but she hesitated. Perhaps it was best if he joined the conversation. "No, we are not from here," Beast confirmed, his deep voice leaving an echo around them. "We come from rural France, far away from Paris. We are indeed on a pilgrimage, Father."

His voice may have sounded confident, but inside he felt like a child waiting for their parent's judgement. He hated that feeling. He hoped what he said will help their presence be justified. He felt Belle's hand tighten slightly around his hidden paw.

"Ah, you have a voice mon ami!" the veteran monk said. "Very well, as I thought. Do not worry though. Your secret is safe with me."

Belle and Beast stared at each other in confusion. Did he see...?

"Portuguese, Prussian, Jew, Gypsy... it doesn't matter in the eyes of God. You are his children. We all are."

Belle said a low oh behind the golly priest. She leaned towards Beast. He thinks we are foreigners. Perhaps it's our accents?

Is that a bad thing? Beast asked. They followed the clergyman in silence.

The priest meanwhile, leaned towards one candle. Like a domino effect, all other candles lit up together. Belle gasped at what she saw. Spiritual statues, magnificent paintings and breathtaking stained glass windows were in her sight. She looked at Beast, her smile making him smile in return.

"Notre Dame is always open to everyone who visits the night before the Festival of Fools," the cleric said. "You came just in time."

"Festival? You mean like the novel?" Belle asked. Beast's smile enlarged slightly, but only just. He was pretty self conscious about his fangs.

"You are a scholar as well, how fascinating! Yes, just like Victor Hugo's novel, Notre-Dame de Paris. His work is the reason we are here. Do you know the story that connects his book and this church, mademoiselle?"

This intrigued Beast. Who was this Victor Hugo? He had never heard of him all those times he used to visit the basilica as a person. He will have to ask Belle about him later. She'll know for sure.

Belle shook her head, obviously wanting to learn more. The priest brushed up his history lessons. "Before La Revolution, La Dame was as beautiful as you see her now," the clergyman continued. "However, after it ended, a lot of people saw it as the stain of France. Imagine! This beautiful cathedral, a stain on our history! Luckily, Monsieur Hugo wrote his masterpiece and saved this church from utter destruction. And La Dame has recaptured her beauty once again, in her people's hearts."

The priest's poetic description of the beloved church did not interest Beast at that moment. Revolution? When? Beast wanted to ask about that, but the later comment struck a chord for the tormented prince. Notre Dame, a stain? Who in their right minds would think of this place like that?

"But of course, how could you remember those horrid times? You are still very young, my child," he said wisely. "Please, come this way."

He guided the two towards the windows. Beast recognised them instantly. Belle was struck by the breathtaking sight before her. The pillars were majestic on their own. But together with the enormous glass stained windows, it was a sight for sore eyes.

"These are the Three Rose Windows, my children," the priest said. "They date all the way back to the thirteenth century. Suis moi, s'il vous plaît."

He then guided them towards the rest of the cathedral. The beautiful altar. The history behind the paintings. Who was incoronated within its walls. Whilst he spoke, Belle was enjoying every minute of it. She absorbed the information in the archive of her mind as she walked through the corridor full of priceless statues alongside Beast, conscious that they were still technically holding each other's hand.

Their steps and the cleric's voice were the only sounds to be heard in the area. She looked at him, expecting him to be as entranced by the Dame as she was. Instead, he looked like he desperately wanted to ask a question, but stayed quiet. She asked him in concern. Didn't you want to ask him something? She coaxed him to try.

Beast opened his mouth, her words giving him courage. But the clergyman didn't notice.

"And here, is a famous painting of Napoleon Bonaparte," the priest presented. "Surely, you must have heard of this painting and his famous exploits."

Napoleon? Is he mad? Now Beast felt lost. That second lieutenant brat from Corsica? What did he do to deserve a painting here, of all places?

"Excuse me, Father-"

"How rude of me, I haven't introduced myself! Please, call me Father Philipe, the both of you," he bowed slightly. Beast cleared his throat. "Father Philipe. This... Napoleon," he hesitated, but he had to ask. "Who is he?"

Belle felt a little confused. How could Beast not know who Napoleon was? He did look lost when Father Philipe mention the Revolution earlier as well. Could this be the curse's doing? But, surely he must've heard of Napoleon at some point, maybe even the others...

Father Philipe stayed silent for a minute, then he smiled. "Of course, silly moi! Let me explain in detail! I will tell you everything about our former Emperor, Napoleon Bona-"

"EMPEROR?!"

He let go of Belle's hand in his exasperation. His shout shook La Dame a little bit. Some candles blew away in the distance.

Father Philipe didn't take any notice. "My, you sound surprised! I assumed you do not read newspapers, mon ami," He laughed wholeheartedly. "Yes, he was our Emperor. And our finest for sure. Now, his nephew took his place. He's not as bright as his uncle was though. Even a man of cloth such as myself would admit, despite the clergy's grumbling, that many people were very happy under his reign. But... sadly, all eras have to come to an end, eventually."

Beast digested what the humble priest just told him. It can't be. Revolution? Napoleon? Emperor?

He looked at the painting again. He realised that it was Napoleon's incoronation portrait.

Many people were very happy under his reign. Under his reign. Reign.

"Father... what happened?" Beast looked at the priest directly.

"What happened... to the King?"

Author's Notes

Dun dun! Implied timeskip for our poor Beast? Agathe will have some explaining to do. Denz-El... you know me so well. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Good catch! Thank you all for your kind support. Also... has anyone watched the 2014 B&B movie? The one that rips off Hope Spring Eternal a little bit? Man it was weird. Happy Easter to all of you! I'm taking a little break. Gotta catch up with my duties. Au revoir, for now~