Belle pushed against the massive oak door of the room, which opened at her touch effortlessly without a creak and stepped into the hall. Half of it was lit by torches while the other half was pitch dark. Taking the light as an indication of her way, Belle turned left and tiptoed, her fingertips brushing along the wooden panel of the walls. She realized she was holding her breath for some reason and exhaled loudly. She was just being silly, she didn't have to sneak. She had every right to be in the castle, even if she'd rather be miles away from here. Besides, the dark-red carpet on the floor was so thick it muffled all the sounds.

The corridor was wide enough for two carriages to pass side-by-side. There were no pictures or other decorations on the walls, but when she raised her head to look up, Belle noticed some fretwork on the tall ceiling. She soon reached the staircase – the grand marble steps separating the East and the West wing of the castle.

As a kid she used to think her papa's castle was the biggest and the most beautiful of all. Later, after visiting the King's palace, she realized her home was modest, but the Dark Castle made them all seem like hideous shacks.

She took a turn right from the stairs and then another one to the left until she walked into a dining-room. It was spacious and elongated with a row of long windows covered by the curtains. The only sources of light were a grand crystal chandelier, the reflected candlelight of it sending colorful sparkles dancing on the marble floor, and a roaring fireplace. It was another thing Belle noted – as immense as the castle was the air in it felt warm. She half-expected to find it dark and covered with cob-webs, with cold wind howling in the secluded hallways.

Rumpelstiltskin stood up to greet her and moved behind Belle to push her chair for her, his manners impeccable. Not quite understanding why he chose to play the gentleman, the girl murmured her thanks. He'd changed his clothes, she saw, his shirt a light green that went surprisingly well with his odd skin color. Tall dark boots and vest, decorated with golden clasps and embroidery, were made of the same black leather and accentuated his slim form. She almost wished she could see better the ornaments and run her fingers along the clothing to feel its softness.

He looked strikingly elegant and handsome, even if not in a conventional way. Belle had to remind herself it was a murderer she was admiring. She felt disgusted with herself for still finding him attractive, for longing to touch him, even after what he had done. She closed her eyes for a few brief moments, trying to regain her composure, hoping the man could read none of the thoughts on her face.

Diverting her glance to the table, Belle saw that it was laid for a feast. Her mouth watered at the sight of roast, lamb chops, baked potatoes and various desserts. There was wine and mead, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Some of the dishes she could not even name, the food looked too strange and exotic. It was hardly possible to get much fresh fruit at this time of the year, considering they were up in the mountains and the girl wondered where all of it came from. Why would he even bother to summon so much provision with magic? There was no way both of them could eat all of it even in a week.

Reminding herself that she had to hold back or she would be sick after nearly starving in the dungeon, Belle reached for a basket with bread. She chose a round bun, sprinkled with sesame seeds on top. It was still as warm as if it just come out of the oven and was deliciously crispy as Belle tore a piece off and lifted the bread to her mouth. The crumb was whiter and softer compared to the usual whole wheat buns she used to have at home.

Rumpelstiltskin watched her closely and she made sure to chew thoroughly before swallowing. Only seeing that she did eat, he picked up a pot and poured himself some herbal tea before adding a full teaspoon of honey to it. His movements were gracious and unhurried; apparently it was a task he had performed thousands of times before. He didn't stir the honey in his tea, but rotated his index finger absent-mindedly, his eyes still fixed on her, and the spoon soundlessly moved around in the cup, obeying his silent command.

After Belle finished the bun, she decided she could stomach something else light, like soup. She was used to servants caring for her needs at the table, but the castle had none. Picking up the ladle she poured the hot liquid into a bowl clumsily, several drops landing on the table. Rumpelstiltskin made no comment and sipped his tea.

The room was awfully quiet, the silence broken only by the crackling sound of the logs in the fireplace and Belle's spoon scraping against the rims of the bowl. It was a bit unnerving but Belle wasn't sure if she was supposed to say something or if she even wanted to. The man, instead, seemed to be content with this quietness or became merely accustomed to it. Belle flinched when he finally spoke.

"I'm afraid I have to leave you, dearie. Some business to attend to," his tone was even and emotionless. Despite the fact that he was sitting across the long table and didn't raise his voice a bit, his words sounded very clear in the large room. "Feel free to walk around the castle but do not touch anything in my tower. Some things there do tend to bite," he quipped, the corner of his lip quirking up.

"Should you require anything, just name it and the castle will provide it. I'd not recommend trying to walk out, though, for the consequences may be… unpleasant," he paused making sure she understood. Judging from his dark tone, containing a not quite hidden threat, unpleasant probably meant a few broken bones or far worse. "I will return tomorrow night. In case there is some emergency, or you miss me terribly," he gave her a small smirk this time, "call my name."

Belle simply nodded. She strangely felt nothing at the prospect of being left alone. Where she thought there should be relief dwelt only emptiness.

Rumpelstiltskin patted his lips with a napkin and rose. He put on his high-collared stiff leather coat and giving her a deep bow strode away from the room not looking back.

She was all alone.

The luxury of being by herself was not something Belle was familiar with. It seemed that she had always been surrounded by servants, her papa and her laughing girlfriends. Even when she chose to read in the library, there was an unobtrusive feeling of being watched by one of her maids. But here, in the castle, she was too aware even of the sound of her own breathing. It did not frighten her though. It could be quite an adventure.