Hi! I'm back with Chapter 2! Thank you so much to all who favourited and followed, and especially thank you to Ikahorse and Banzi for reviewing! I'm planning to update on Fridays (just to let you know) but that might change. I'm not sure this chapter is the best, but I do have good plans to come! I'm going to see Beauty and the Beast for the final time until it comes out on DVD (which might not be 'till like JULY!) tomorrow! Hopefully I'll get inspiration from it!

The following musical number is done in time to the song 'Belle, Reprise'

Can you imagine! Me! Not owning Beauty and the Beast!

Me, lonely, without the rights to

My favourite movie!

No sir! No way! I guarantee it! I want to own this movie desperately!

But I sadly do not own Beauty and the Beast yet! DUN! DUN! DUN! DUN! DUN! DUN! DUN! DUN! DUN!

... Sorry, I have a habit of bursting into song. Needless to say, I don't own Beauty and the Beast (2017).

Adam sighed. Freedom felt so much better after having to talk to Ralph for hours. It was funny how horrible experiences – Like talking to Ralph, or being turned into a beast – could make freedom all the more sweet. Belle had been lucky to escape, though now she was nowhere to be found. He heard a knock on the castle door, which Cogsworth opened to reveal a tall, dark shadow.

"Hello, your majesty," he said in an eerily calm and chilling voice, "I have been sent in place of Sir Maladroit."

"Pleasure to meet you, Sir?"

"Rebus. Crux Rebus."

"Sir Rebus. You are very welcome here, and I do hope Sir Maladroit is in health?"

"He recently had the influenza, and the doctors decided not to risk his coming here, for the doctor fears it may still be contagious."

"I understand. Well, please do send him my regards."

"Of course, your highness."

"The other dignitaries are currently in the library, I believe. Please do make yourself comfortable."

"May I ask who has arrived?"

"Only Sir Augustus, Sir Albrecht and Sir Theodore so far. Also Ralph, the nephew of Sir Dilatory, who sadly could also not be here, is visiting in his place."

"I do say, how unfortunate that two dignitaries couldn't be here!"

"It is very unfortunate, but does sometimes happen."

"Indeed. I will leave you in peace now, your highness." He bowed and turned to Cogsworth, who led him to his room.

oOo

Adam decided to go meet the dignitaries servants, as that was what Belle had mentioned doing earlier. The first servant he met was Lucy, Ralph's quiet, and overworked, maid.

"Thank you, your majesty," she said shyly in return to Adam's compliment.

"I see Ralph is still enjoying greeting in the traditional fashion."

"I apologise if he was a bit forward."

"Well, I can't say Belle's thrilled with the idea of greeting him again, if that's what you mean."

In response to this, Lucy blushed and bowed her head, looking ashamed of her master's behaviour.

"I have been meaning to ask, what is Sea Caviar? Ralph seems to absolutely love it." He changed the subject.

"Don't serve it, if that's what you're thinking of doing! Your highness."

"Why ever not?"

"They're sea urchins and sea cucumbers. I suggest you look them up in a sea creature book before you make it, Ralph has some strange tastes."

"I can't say it comes as a surprise to me. Have you seen my fiancée, Belle?"

"Sorry, your highness, I haven't even met her."

"Oh well, thank you for the tip on Sea Urchins."

Albrecht's footman was very quiet, speaking as little as possible before excusing himself to deliver Albrecht more papers. Mrs Camomile told him off for being in the servants quarters, before telling him that Belle went to see Manny Maple.

Manny Maple was the funniest housekeeper Adam had ever met. She seemed to be taking in every detail about him whilst making pleasant conversation.

"Ahh, yes! That lovely sweet girl! I must say, you caught a good one!"

"Why, thank you," Adam smiled, wholeheartedly agreeing.

"Such a determined personality! And she had the most lovely dress! I must say it looked very comfortable."

"Did she say where she was heading?"

"I think she said the village."

"Thank you, have a nice day."

"And you, Sir!"

So Belle was in the village, and by the sound of it trying one of her inventions. She would probably come back soon, bright eyed with rosy cheeks. She always seemed so happy to get the chance to make – to make whatever came to her head. In the villagers minds she was no doubt still 'a funny girl'. She didn't usually care, though he could hardly blame her for wanting to avoid all their peculiar visitors.

oOo

"Ah, how good it is to see you all again!" The chilling voice rang clearly through the sitting room.

"What excuse does Maladroit have this time?"

"Influenza."

"Well, zat's better zen falling down de stairs. Or tripping over zome stray jewel."

"Dilatory bailed on us as well. He sent his insufferable nephew in his place!"

"Ze one dat dresses like a drunk jester."

"That's the one."

Sir Rebus sat down in a creaky old chair and ignored Theodore and Augustus's cheerful chatteMar.

"Zo, what zo you think of ze girl de prince intends to marry?"

"I think she is a childish, bigheaded oddball!"

"Augustus, that is because she disagreed with you, if she had agreed with you, you would be declaring her a pleasure to be with," Albrecht said without looking up from his letters.

"That is not true! There have been people who disagreed with me and yet earned my favour!"

"Zere was one person, Monsieur."

"Well, that proves that it can be done!"

"With great difficulty, I presume?" The chilling voice brought their attention to the man hiding in the shadows.

"Well," Augustus didn't seem to want to admit that he was disagreeable,"I suppose that might be true..."

"None of you really liked this girl. She was silly and annoying. I already have gotten rid of her, now I need your help."

"I'm all in!" Augustus exclaimed.

"What I need you to do is distract His Majesty, preferably with other girls more to our taste. Or is that too much for your pea-sized brains to handle?"

"Of course not! I can't wait to start suggesting better maidens!" Augustus clapped his hands.

"I zon't know…" Theodore seemed doubtful, "But I zuppose... Maybe Ze Prince will want things to do… Life can get dull."

"Albrecht will help if you can find anything for him to do!" Augustus spoke for him.

"And of course, our biggest weapon!" Crux laughed creepily.

"Erm, what is our biggest weapon?"

"I'm sure his Highness will be delighted to spend time getting to know our little jester!" He smirked in a twisted way, before turning and closing the door dramatically.

"Zat did not require a zramatic exit."

"I'm not going to do anything," Albrecht said, still not looking up, "I'm going to read my books and ignore everyone if it kills me!"

"Albrecht, you really do make no sense sometimes," Augustus shook his head, puzzled.

oOo

Belle groaned as she climbed up the mountain. It was boiling hot and she had no idea where she was heading. She didn't know how she was going to get back to Adam. She didn't know why she wasn't heading straight back. She just wished that she could see what was beyond these mountains. But it was so hot. And she was so tired. She saw a bush or something not too far ahead of her. Maybe she could rest there. Rest, that was exactly what she needed.

oOo

Adam tried to stifle yet another groan as Ralph continued yapping about 'Sea Caviar'. The more he heard about it, the less he wanted to try it. Apparently Ralph was oblivious to this, as he found much joy in speaking about the sponge-like, slime-like texture.

He was still trying desperately not to shudder as Ralph went to join the dignitaries, probably much to their discontent.

Adam did hate being royal sometimes. Back before the curse, he sometimes used to wish that he could just live without anyone ever coming to bother him. He'd certainly got his wish - in the cruelest way possible. As a beast, not even his servants seemed to care anymore - and always being alone quickly made him feel like nobody cared. To be honest, he still thought that nobody had really liked him as a prince. But now he could see why - he'd been a beauty-obsessed, conceited, self centered jerk - and was trying to make it up to the dignitaries, however much they drove him crazy.

oOo

Belle sighed with intense relief as she collapsed in the shade. She never wanted to get up again. She even got out her book (which happened to be her favourite) and began to read. It felt almost like being in the gardens at the palace. Adam and her would sometimes sit for hours in the maze, reading undiscovered books and arguing about Romeo and Juliet. He still insisted that there was so much more to read than that silly story. Usually, when she would carry on arguing, he would kiss her. And tell her that he loved her, despite her bad taste in books. They would walk through the maze, hand in hand, just the two of them. Why did their lives have to be run by so many other people? The more she thought about Adam, the more she missed him. She didn't even get to say goodbye.

When she found tears involuntarily filling her eyes, she leaned back against the trunk of whatever this plant was. She got an odd feeling at one point, when she thought she heard something, but nothing was in sight. She decided that it was time to continue.

So, what do y'all think? Like I said, I'm going to see the movie so hopefully next chapter will be better! Here's a fun fact: Maladroit means clumsy and Dilatory means lazy! Oh, and do y'all think I should add chapter titles? For now I'm going to leave them, but if anyone wants them, review and tell me! :-) (Do you want me to do review replies in the chapters? Or would that just be annoying?)

There's another reason I think the next chapter's going to be good!

I have this new character, you see!

I think she'll be amazing!

But you won't get to meet her 'till chapter Three!

...Sorry. Couldn't resist. Review, and catch ya next chapter!