Weeks passed and things were the same. Marinette would wake up every morning to find a warm bath and a new gown, jewels, and shoes waiting for her. She'd dress into them and go explore the rooms in castle while befriending the kwamis. Then in the evenings when she would dine the beast would talk to her without showing himself. He would always ask her how her day was and if there was anything he could do to make her stay more comfortable. After dinner she would go to her room, read a little, then go to sleep with wonderful dreams of her prince who would always ask her to look for him. Marinette began searching for the castle for her prince but couldn't seem to find him. During her time there she learned the names of all the kwamis and their jobs.
Tikki was the head seamstress, she made all the dresses, shirts, cloth, blankets, and types of clothing, stitching, and embroidery in the castle. Plagg was the head of security, he made sure no one entered or left the castle without the creature's say so. Wayzz was the scholar, he filed organized, and looked after all the books, letter, scrolls, and records in the castle. Trixx was the head chef, she cooked and prepared all the meals that were served. Pollen was the maid, she kept every room in the castle neat, clean, and spotless. Duusu was the gardener, she tended and took care of the garden and the outside castle grounds. Finally there was Nooroo he was in charge of keeping all the castle gold, jewels, and other riches safe and protected.
They were all very polite and friendly toward Marinette and she enjoyed talking them but what puzzled her greatly was that they all seemed happy working for the beast in fact they seemed to like him a lot even care about him.
"He's not as terrible as he seems." Tikki told her one day. "He's kind of like a lump of coal. At first he can seem dark and ugly but in time he can become a beautiful diamond."
One morning in particular, Marinette awoke to take her usual bath and found a new gown and jewelry waiting for her. This one was slivery blue with a sapphire necklace and matching earrings. She slipped on her dress and went down to breakfast. After her meal was finished she spent the whole day in the library, by lunch time she had read half of the entire library.
Later she discovered a room full of different paintings and other types of artwork. She wondered who painted these marvelous pictures. She remembered how Nathaniel had painted many lovely pictures and sometimes he would give some of them to her as a gift. However these paintings and she would never admit it but these paintings were much more exquisite than his. Her favorite was the portrait of a beautiful young woman dressed in a silk gown decorated with jewels, her long golden hair made her think of the sunshine and her smile made her think of her own mother's smile. She wondered who this woman was.
That night at dinner she decided that she was tired of dinning with just a voice and that she wanted to see her host.
"Marinette does the meal displease you?" The creature asked.
"No it does not but I wish to see you."
"No. I don't want to scare you like I did last time."
"I know what to expect so I won't faint like last time I promise."
"Promise not to scream or run away?"
"I promise."
He took a deep breath of hesitation before stepping out of the shadows and allowing her to see him. Marinette felt fear grip her heart when she saw him and she felt the urge to scream and run away grow inside of her but she did none of those things for she had promised that she wouldn't.
"Marinette." He said. "Tell me the truth, do you think I'm ugly? Are you afraid of me?"
Marinette swallowed hard then closed her eyes.
"I cannot lie. At first glance you are very fearsome but you treat me well, I am scared of you but I'm sure that in time I can overcome my fear of you."
"I know." He sighed pitifully. "I am a hideous creature, those who look at me cannot help but be disgusted."
"Sir I have been thinking and I have realized that if I am to be happy here somethings must change."
"Does something upset you? Whatever it is please tell me and I shall change it."
"I want you to stop hiding from me. If you truly don't want me to be afraid of you then stop hiding from me so that I may become used to your appearance."
"Are you sure you wish to see this face everyday?"
"I am more frightened of you when I can't see you."
"Very well then."
"And I wish to know your name."
"My name is Adrien."
"Adrien?"
"Yes. It is a name that means dark one, befitting for someone like me."
"I think it is a beautiful name." She admitted.
"That is kind coming from you."
"Adrien may I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Am I not a slave in your castle? Do you not plan to subject me to hard labor like you said you would do to my father?"
"No."
"Why?"
"When you first came to me on that day, when I saw your face and heard you say that you were willing to do even the harshest of chores if it meant saving your father I knew in my heart that I could never enslave one so beautiful, loving, and self sacrificing. A girl like you does not deserve the life of a slave but the life of a princess."
"Adrien I have another question."
"What?"
"Is there a prince here?"
She saw fear and shame cross his face.
"No. There is no prince here. Why do you ask?"
"Well in castles like these there are usually-"
"Handsome princes instead of ugly beasts?!" He said upset.
"Well I-"
"Return to your room!" He demanded.
"Now wait a minute! I'm sorry that I upset you but there's no need to go off like that."
"I told you to return to your room! I no longer wish to speak with you!"
"Well I wish to continue speaking to you! I am sorry for upsetting you but that doesn't mean-"
"Get out!" He threw a vase across the room shattering it, scaring her even more. "Now!"
His anger frightened her greatly.
"You really are a beast aren't you!" She cried.
She got up from her chair and ran back to her room frightened.
"Smooth move Romeo." Said a black cat kwami.
"Quiet!" He hissed.
"You really need to get that temper of yours under control." The kwami said.
"Plagg not now."
"I think now is a good time to talk about this. For three weeks that girl sees you as nothing more than captor and when she finally warms up to you, you go and do that! No doubt she's so scared she'll never speak to you again!"
It took a minute but Adrien quickly realized his mistake.
"You're right Plagg. I just...When she began speaking of a prince I feared that she was ashamed and disgusted by me because I wasn't a handsome prince."
"Well I don't know what she felt about you before but I'm sure she feels that way now."
"I didn't mean to."
"And yet you did. Adrien you're a good kid and you mean well but if you're not careful that impulsiveness and temper of yours will cause you to end up just like your father."
"Don't ever mention him!"
"Sorry Adrien but for once I am going to ignore that rule. One of the many few traits you inherited from that cold hearted man was his refusal to consider the consequences of his actions and his horrible temper. My former master warned him of what happened that night if he went through with his plan but he didn't listen and what happened to him?"
Adrien bristled at the memory of that terrible night. It still gave him nightmares to this day and as much as he hated hearing about it, he knew Plagg was right. If he wanted Marinette to be his friend, to care about him, he needed to consider the consequences of his actions and above all learn to control his temper.
"You're right Plagg. What am I going to do now?"
"You can start by apologizing but not now. Right now she's tired and scared wait til morning."
"Very well."
"And Adrien try to be more gentleman like."
"This coming from the kwami who burps, shouts, and eats like a pig!"
"Hey you don't see me trying to get a lady to like me do you? I maybe no gentleman but I have no intention of winning a lady so what's the point? You on the other hand do, I mean you do want her to be your friend do you not? That is the whole reason you made her what was it again? The princess of the castle?"
"Yes it was. I was lonely, I wanted a friend."
"What am I chopped liver?"
"I meant with a human Plagg! I haven't had any contact with a human in five years!" He seethed.
"Ah-ah, temper, temper."
Adrien quickly calmed down.
"Sorry, Plagg you know I love you and the other kwamis but I miss being with other people."
"We understand." Tikki said.
"Don't take it personally you're all great but-"
"We know, you enjoy our company but there's a different kind of companionship you crave that we can't provide." Tikki said. "Why don't you get some rest and I shall speak to her?"
"You sure you can help?"
"I have a way with frightened young girls."
Tikki then went to the kitchen and came back with a tray of tea and sweets which she brought upstairs to the door of Marinette's room. She knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Marinette sniffled.
"It's me Tikki. I thought you might like some tea and cake to make you feel better."
Marinette opened the door and enjoyed a cup of tea with a little cake.
"Thank you."
"Please don't cry." Tikki said.
"He's horrible." Marinette wept. "I try to be nice and he shouts at me."
"I'm truly sorry for what happened dear but I promise you there's so much more to him. You just need to give him a chance."
"I tried to."
"Well everyone deserves a second chance right?"
"I suppose."
"Don't worry he'll be better tomorrow."
"I hope so.