Belle had been trapped in her new room for three days now. It seemed even worse having a nice room compared to an old dungeon. It felt more of a joke to be kidnapped by a monster and be living in better living situations than she had at home.

Every morning Polly came by and brought breakfast and polite conversation. Every morning she extended the offer to show Belle around the castle but every morning Belle gently turned her down and then Polly left Belle alone. She would stop in and check on her once or twice throughout the day and then bring her the evening meal and turn down her bed but she stayed secluded other than that.

"Mrs. Belle would you like to take a turn about the castle today?" Polly asked again on the fourth morning, sliding apart the curtains and letting the warmth into the room.

"No thank you Polly, I feel more comfortable here."

Polly took the breakfast tray and set it on the table where Belle was sitting and instead of her usual exit she sat down at the table across from her.

"Mrs. Belle, we've become acquainted in the past few days, and I was wondering if I could be somewhat bold?"

Belle laughed, Polly had been one of the bright spots in her days here. She was like the grandmother that she never knew she had. "Please, be as blunt as you would like." Kind lies were sometimes as cruel as blunt truths.

"Well I-" She stopped and Belle could almost hear her searching for the right words. "Oh, blast it all. I'll just come out and say it. You don't need to hide your afflictions on my behalf. You are, if I am correct, a very blind woman."

Belle's stomach dropped. She had been well practiced in hiding her blindness. She had her sight for most of her life and knew how to hold her eyes in a way that looked natural. She knew that it wasn't fool proof, but she assumed that no one would notice with how little interaction she had throughout the day.

"I'm- How could you tell?"

Polly laughed, "The question is how you've managed to conceal it from everyone else. I have old eyes, but they are alert enough to pick up on the small details and you show a lot of small signs."

Belle felt her face flame red in embarrasment. She had worked so hard to hide it only to be seen through so easily. A horrific thought flew to her mind.

"Does he know?" Belle asked, "Does he know that I am- that I can't"

Polly cut her off. "I will not tell him unless you want him to know. You hide it well, enough to fool Vandy but those two were never the most observant when it came to women anyways."

"Please don't, tell them." Belle said awkwardly. She didn't know why, but even after Vandy and Polly's assurnces, she was still terrified of the King of Beasts.

"Of course not dear, but they're both bound to find out eventually. No matter what I might say to them, they aren't completely incompetent."

"I would rather them find out on their own." Belle said.

"and they will. They won't hear a word about this from my mouth I swear it." She said earnestly. "but, you have to do something for me Belle."

"What could I do for you?"

"I need you to consider leaving this room with me."

Belle opened her mouth, a slew of excuses already coming to her mind, but Polly continued.

"You cannot stay up in your room for the next two weeks. It will drive your mind mad and send the ghosts after you, and there are plenty of ghosts in these halls looking for someone to haunt."

Belle was quiet for a moment, considering Polly's request. Her room was the place that she had claimed as a safe haven. After she had explored it and grew familiar with everything, it was her new home. Outside of this room she didn't know who she was. A captive? A guest? Outside of this room she could not control who she came across, and that included the famed King of Beasts.

"I don't want to see him." Belle said quietly.

"You won't. I promise. In fact, any given day when you venture out your odds of coming across his majesty is low. He spends most of his time in that forest keeping the peace."

Belle took a deep sigh. No was the answer that she wanted to give, but that was fear talking. The truth was that everytime that Polly left her alone in that room there was nothing more she wanted to do than to leave.

"Okay." She said. "let's do it."

Polly clapped her hands together and laughed lightly, "Alright Ms. Belle, let's take it slow at first I will leave you to get dressed and to finish your breakfast and I will return in an hours time."

Polly stood from the chair left the room without another word and Belle couldn't help but feel excited. She ate quickly and felt her way to the wardrobe. It was filled with various dresses and shirts and trousers that Belle had gone through and tried on nearly every day or something to do. She felt around for the comfortable dress she liked with the smooth material and was ready by the time Polly came back.

Belle was not miserable. Instead, if anyone asked, she would have to begrudgingly admit that she had a great time. The castle had a confusing floor plan and really long echoey halls. It smelled like an old library containing hundreds of secrets and Polly was an expert conversationalist. They had managed to skirt around the subject of the King Beast all day long.

She had distracted Belle by taking her to the kitchens and introducing Anette, who had been making all of her meals. After expressing her sincere gratitude Anette asked invited her to help around the kitchen anytime.

"I don't think I would be much help." Belle said.

"Well if you can't help my mom you could come help me!" Called a smaller voice from the corner of the room.

"Emma! Our guest will not be helping you with your chores!" Anette called. Emma and Agnis were her two daughters that helped her around the kitchen.

Emma groaned from the back and everyone laughed.

"You would be plenty of help." Anette said, "Plus, the perks of cooking is sampling."

"I'm araid that I would only be in the way." Belle said, "I don't see the best in the world." She said, waving her hand in front of her eyes.

Belle had never had to tell anyone that she had been blinded before. The village knew her story well from her father's late nights in the ale house. It was a good thing. She didn't have to hear the sympathy in their voices and the apologies that people gave her unwarranted.

"Oh." Anette said softly and Belle smiled awkwardly.

"You can't see anything?!" Emma's voice came from across the room.

Belle turned towards her voice and smiled.

"Nope."

"But, how did you know to look over here?" She asked incredulously.

"I have really good ears." Belle said.

"Well if you can't see anything then don't you just walk into walls and doors all day? How do you know how to put on clothes?" She gasped suddenly, "How do you brush your hair?" She asked in a panic.

Belle laughed and Anette and Polly followed her. "I have really really good ears." Belle said.

"Stop asking her so many questions Emma." Anette called out. "I'm sorry Belle, you've unwittingly told the biggest gossip in the castle your secret. Everyone will know by tomorrow." Anette warned and Belle smiled while Emma leapt to her own defense.

They spent most of their afternoon with Anette and Emma. She ate a lot and laughed a lot as maids and gardners filtered in and out looking for something to eat, and Belle was introduced to them all.

"Ms Belle, will you sit by me tonight at dinner?" Agnis asked. Agnis had came into the kitchen after her chores were done and had been equally as mystified by Belle's eyes as her sister was.

An awkward silence ensued. Belle had no interest in coming across the King Beast and he was sure to be at his own table for dinner.

"I'm sorry Agnis. I think I am going to take dinner in my room tonight." Belle said softly and the little girl voiced her dissapointment.

"Alright girls. I think that's enough fun. You've completely exhaused our guest. Go clean up and get ready for dinner."

"But mom!" Emma declared, "I wanted to ask Belle if-"

"Nope! Go right now." Anette said firmly.

The two girls filtered out unhappily with groans and complains until they closed the door.

"Thank you for putting up with them." Anette said.

"No, it was no trouble. Your daughters are fun. Thank you for allowing me to interupt your work."

"Anytime. The kitchen is always open to you if you want any food or just some company."

Belle and Polly left the kitchen and Polly took Belle back to her room.

"It wasn't too overwhelming?" Polly asked.

"No!" Belle rushed out, and then realized that she wasn't even saying it just to be nice. She had a lot of fun. "No, It wasn't too much. Can we go out tomorrow?" Belle asked.

"Definitely." Polly said, squeezing her hand. "I'm going to run and help set up the table, but I will be by soon to bring you dinner." She said, and she left.

Belle sunk into the bed and laid down. She couldn't hep but think of turning down Agnis' invitation and she wondered if the Beast King knew about her invitation to dinner. It was getting harder and harder to keep her unpleasant attitude. Every one she talked to simply raved about the King of Beasts. It was hard to compare her memory of him with everyone's good oppinion of him.

Polly had brought food only a short while later with little fan fare coming in and out as she worked and when Belle was done eating Polly turned down her bed and grabbed her plates.

"Thank you for being my adventure partner Ms. Belle."

"Of course"

Polly said goodnight and Belle was happy that her refusal to attend dinner did not offend Polly.

Only a few minutes after Polly left a knock sounded at the door. It wasn't Polly she didn't knock like that. It was three solid pounds that made Belle start. Before she could cross the room towards the door a voice broke the silence.

"Good evening." Belle froze, it was the beast himself at her door.

"I- this is weird talking to a door, but Polly wanted me to apologize." He said awkwardly making his apology mean a little less. Belle silently moved an inch at a time towards the door.

"There are no excuses for my actions, they are despicable and you should expect nothing else from me. I want to make that part clear, but I wanted to ensure that you knew that you are safe here while you are our guest and I-."

He stopped there was nothing for a minute until he finished it quickly.

"I apologize again." and his footsteps quickly pushed away from the door and died out.