Gaston and Paulette walked along the forest path. When they had moved away enough to avoid the sounds of conversation, Paulette leaned against a tree. Gaston noticed that her new uniform, though it had the same colors, was considerably more modest. Moreover, she was buttoned all the way down to her throat, as if she were a nun.

The more modest clothes and their dark color drew attention to Paulette's face, not to her curvies or her bright dress. Without this tinsel, she seemed somehow different, her porcelain-pale face with almond-shaped green eyes seemed more interesting than before. Her blonde hair, tied back in a ponytail, was also favorably set off by the dark bodice of her uniform. Paulette seemed... beautiful. Or maybe some underlying sadness or some other feeling in the depths of her green eyes made her seem different?

Paulette noticed his gaze, but understood in her own way:

"Prince Adam is not a lecher at all, you are mistaken," she began hotly. "He's a very good man. He... He treats everyone in the castle like a human being... He listens to everyone, always even if he orders something as if he's asking for it - politely and sort of apologizing for bothering us. We all love him very much."

"All right, all right," the hunter threw up his hands in a joking gesture, as if giving up. "I know he's a good man," he paused, then added. "I'm sorry I said mean things to you at that time. I was nervous."

He was happy, and therefore magnanimous. Why not cheer up sweet little Paulette?

"It's okay," the girl smiled, looking closely at his face. "You've changed so much in a short time. You look happy. And even more handsome," she added after a short pause.

Gaston flicked his hair back from his forehead with a familiar movement and straightened up:

"I know! Belle said I look like a Viking!"

He savored Paulette's perplexed look at the unfamiliar word and then condescendingly explained:

"They were the mighty warriors of the northern lands."

"Oh..." the girl raised an eyebrow, but quickly became serious. "Are you not afraid at all?" she asked quietly.

"No!" Gaston answered carelessly. Belle loved him, and he knew it. He felt it.

"I envy you a little," Paulette said quietly. "You are always so sure of yourself."

They stood in silence for a moment, and then Gaston asked:

"What are you afraid of?"

The girl shuddered.

"You are devilishly perceptive," she answered at last. "I know what you will say - he is a prince. I know he is."

"Then why would you go from the castle to the forest to talk to him? Oh, my God! What would you talk to him about?"

Paulette shook her head:

"You don't understand. He's the only one who talks to me like a human being. Not like a stupid girl. He talks to me as an equal. And he understands me. He, too... He, too, loved unrequitedly. And he's the first person who wants to do something not for himself, but for others."

"For whom?"

"He wants to do something good for our town. But he doesn't know what. He consults with me to see what he can do to help us. I advised him to build a hospital, because, for example, our village doctor didn't help my mom..."

"Do you really think he has no one to advise him on such important things, what he should spend his money on but you?"

" Yes. I'm a simple girl from the town, and I know what most of its people need."

Gaston shrugged, he wanted to argue some more, but why? Paulette knows what she's doing.

They stood in silence for a while longer, and then the girl waved her hand:

- Shall we go back?

The hunter nodded, and they walked back toward the lake.

For a moment Gaston did get worried, but as they got closer, he saw that Belle and the prince, though sitting quite close to each other, it was a distance that might have been between good acquaintances or friends. They were both looking out over the lake and when they heard footsteps, they turned around seemingly even relieved.

"Belle, will you get the sandwiches? I'm hungry," said the hunter and sat down as close to Belle as he could. "You help yourself, too," he offered. He was still being magnanimous. "Of course, it's not royal fare, but..." he couldn't help but quip about the prince.

"Thank you," Prince Adam replied. His face was a little sad but also happy, apparently he was glad to see Belle and that she was alright.

Gaston could've bet Chip would've told the prince all sorts of horrible things about him. "I've been eating... Not exactly royal for the last ten years."

"Your manners were far from ideal," Belle smiled kindly. She laid out a small tablecloth and placed the sandwiches on it. They also took two cups for water, but since there were four of them, Belle and Gaston took one cup and Paulette and the prince took the other.

"How did you go to the sea,"asked Paulette, to start an interesting but light conversation. "What was it like? Did you like it?"

Gaston looked at Belle. There was a look of fright at the memory in her eyes. He wanted to tell another cheerful bragging story to make everyone jealous, but he suddenly said quietly and seriously:

"Not very well. We were kidnapped and only miraculously came back."

The prince and Paulette were shocked.

"Kidnapped? You?" The prince asked, looking at Belle worriedly.

Belle wrapped her arms around her knees and spoke softly:

"They wanted to sell us to some aristocrats. They said we were very beautiful for ordinary people... Gaston..." she turned to the man. "I sometimes think of that night. I think I killed him."

Gaston leaned back a little and laughed pretentiously:

"Who could you kill with your little hands?" He stretched out his arms, palms open. "Come on, hit me."

Belle swung around and slammed her fist into his palm.

"It was like a fly flew by. I didn't feel a thing."

Belle wasn't actually that weak. But Gaston didn't want her to worry.

"I had a statue in my hand," his wife was still doubtful.

"The human skull is much stronger than you think," the hunter tapped himself on the head. - You have to know where to hit, and hit hard. Most likely that marquis fell down with fear, because he didn't expect resistance."

But he himself was worried, of course, he tried to push those thoughts away, counting the days... Until no one came for them. And they were noticeable, very noticeable. But the Marquis probably didn't want to look for them, lest his other dirty deeds be exposed.

"No one will touch you again," the prince said firmly. "If anyone comes here, they will have to deal with me."

Gaston looked at his graceful figure and white hands in amazement. For the first time in his life someone had volunteered to protect him, Gaston. But on the other hand, the prince had knights. That gave some peace of mind.

"Thank you, my prince," he said quietly and sincerely.

Paulette sat frowning, biting her lip.

"This is why you should not go to Paris," she said to the prince. "God knows what they might do to you there!" she was visibly worried.

"But I must go there!" Prince Adam objected. "I have to take my place whether I want to or not. I have responsibilities."

"No, no, no," all three of them - Belle, Paulette, and Gaston - shouted at once.

"Don't you dare! We went to Toulon, yeah! And this is Paris!" Gaston was getting hot.

"You're so naive, you're gonna fight for power? They'll put you in a dungeon, what's it called? The Bastille! Does the iron mask mean anything to you?" It's Belle.

"They haven't heard from you in 10 years, thank God. You're our prince, live here in peace, we're not letting you go anywhere!" Paulette screamed.

The prince moved a little away from the overly benevolent hands that were trying to restrain him, as if he were going to leave for Paris right now.

"But wait, wait..." he began, raising his hands. "I can't just live here as if nothing had happened."

Everyone fell silent.

"Why can't you? - Gaston was the first to wake up from the silence.

"Because I have to make myself known."

"Look, but if your turn to the throne were really important," Belle said, "you would have been found and sent to Paris despite the curse. You've been forgotten for ten years."

"So, what... Can I really do nothing? Just live here in the castle?"

"Of course!" all three of them exclaimed.

He hesitated, but finally agreed. He was their prince, their own prince, and they weren't going to give him away to Paris.