When Prince Adam awoke the next dawn, the first thing his weary gaze fell on was Belle's pair of concerned and worried eyes before him...She was as close as she could get to him by the bed, with her hands holding a hot wet towel which was about to be placed on his aching forehead.
"Are you feeling any better, Adam? You went through an extremely high fever the whole of last night," Belle said feeling his head and face, which has cooled somewhat but still overly warm to her touch.
Adam took her hand, sighing weakly and attempted to sit up, "Oh, how I must have troubled you...I'm really sorry love..."
Belle held his hand upon her chest and shook her head as she sat down on his bed again, wiping little beads of sweat from his temples and chin, "As long as you are well, I would be the happiest...You had a difficult night, but I am glad that you were able to fall asleep and have a rest..."
His cheeks seemed more pale than usual to her, which troubled Belle. Yet, Adam felt more for her than his own health. He reached his palm over to cup her face, "How did you know? Don't tell me you haven't slept and was here with me all night..."
She managed a soft smile to assure him, "That's nothing...Mrs Potts were calling you for dinner but she ended up finding you sick and fallen by the bed in the evening...We were all so worried about you...Adam, tell me if anything is a bother...I want you to be well...We still have plenty to read together in the library..."
He was touched by her care for him, someone as ignorant as him. He leaned forward and kissed her temple, holding earnestly her hands. "Belle, you hurt your arm all because of me...and saved my life by so much sacrifice...I...Now I don't know how to make you recover..."
Belle was utterly surprised, for she has not yet realised Adam saw her torn dress. Nevertheless, she felt terrible for causing him the burden of guilt. Passionately wrapping her arms around him, she kissed his lips dearly, "You don't have to do a thing, but only love me...and be free from any curse...because I can't bear to live apart from you...Adam,...I think...I've fallen more in love with you...And that changes everything..."
He pulled her close and tight to himself, kissing her fervently, as the dwindling heat of the fever gradually left all of his body...
At this moment, a glistening little snow-like dew formed on the second petal of the thornless rose over at Belle's suite balcony.