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. Metal shifted against metal as Polly opened the curtains and let new 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 brighter 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 more cruel than hard truths.

"Well, I-" She stopped, and Belle could almost hear her searching for the right words. "Oh, blast it all. I will just come out and say it. You do not 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 was not foolproof, but she assumed that no one would notice how little interaction she had throughout the day.

"I'm- Yes. Have I been that noticeable?"

Polly laughed, "I may be old, but you will find that most creatures in the forest have an affinity for finding weaknesses."

Belle felt her face flame red in embarrassment. 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 am not sure. If I were a betting woman, I would bet he was completely unaware. Vandy didn't notice, and those two were never the most observant when it came to women anyways."

"Please don't, tell them." Belle said awkwardly.

"Are you sure dear? Things would be different if he knew. He might even take pity on you and agree to let you go."

"I am sure." Belle said dryly. For some reason, even amid being abducted, the idea of being let go simply because she was blind angered her.

She imagined returning to her home and telling her father the sad truth. "Not even then Beast King wanted me after he saw how pathetic I was." No. She could never wave her condition around as a crutch or to garner sympathy. She was not someone who needed pity.

"You have my word. I will not say a thing, but they are both bound to find out eventually. No matter what I might say about them, they are not completely incompetent. Just mostly.

"Everyone will find out. I could not keep it a secret even if I wanted to, but I will not wave it around. My blindness changes nothing here." Belle said.

"Yes. I will honor your request, but I have a request of my own."

"What could I do for you?"

"I need you to honestly consider taking a tour of the castle 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 haven. After she had explored it and grew familiar with everything, it was her new home. Outside of this room she did not 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 of talking. The truth was that every time that Polly left her alone in that room there was nothing more she wanted to do than to leave.

"Okay." She said.

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 hour's time."

Polly stood from the chair and left the room without another word and Belle could not 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 for 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 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 kitchen and introducing Anette, who had been making all her meals. After expressing her sincere gratitude Anette 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 perk of cooking is sampling."

"I'm afraid 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 did not 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 gardeners filtered in and out looking for something to eat, and Belle was introduced to them all.

"Miss Belle, will you sit by me tonight at dinner?" Agnis asked. Agnis had come 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 have dinner in my room tonight." Belle said softly and the little girl voiced her disappointment.

"Alright girls. That is enough fun. You have completely exhausted 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 complaints 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 interrupt 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 was not 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 could not help 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 anger. The castle, the beasts, everything in the forest completely contradicted every story she had ever heard.

Even the King of Beasts was seen in a new light as she heard stories about him. Her arm still ached from being dragged through the castle, and she was still terrified of him, but he was not the one who had tied her up and placed her in the forest in the first place.

Polly had brought food only a short while later with little fanfare 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."

"Can we go tomorrow as well?"

"Of course." Polly gave her a small hug. "You've already won over half the castle. If I don't bring you around, they all might riot."

Polly said goodnight and Belle realized that she was happy.

Only a few minutes after Polly left a knock sounded at the door. It was not Polly's signature knock. 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.