Today we are going to tell a very old but heartwarming story called “Bella and the Monster in the Castle.” This story teaches us that we cannot judge a person’s true character by their appearance alone; what matters more is what they think and do.
I. The Changes in the Life of a Wealthy Family
A long time ago, there was a merchant who had three daughters. The family lived happily, eating well, dressing well, and living comfortably. But then the merchant suffered a series of business failures and lost all his money.
With no other choice, the family had to move to the countryside. They moved from their big house into a small cottage, and life suddenly became difficult.
The two older daughters were very unhappy and complained every day, “Why can’t we live like we used to?” “Why is Dad so useless?”
But the youngest daughter, Bella, was different. She never complained about her father. Instead, she often helped with the housework and planted many flowers and vegetables in front of the house to make it look prettier.
II. An Unexpected Journey
One day, the merchant heard about a big business opportunity in the city and decided to try his luck. Before leaving, he told his daughters, “If I make money this time, I’ll bring each of you a gift.”
The two older sisters were overjoyed and rushed to say, “I want new clothes!” “I want a gold necklace!”
When it was Bella’s turn, she said, “Dad, if you can come back, please bring me a rose, okay?”
The merchant nodded and set off.
Unfortunately, the deal fell through. The merchant had to return home empty-handed. Suddenly, a heavy snowstorm began, and he got lost in the forest, unable to find his way back.
Just as he was about to give up, he spotted a castle in the distance. Though it looked a bit dilapidated, he decided to go inside to rest.
III. The Mysterious Owner of the Castle
To his surprise, the castle was very beautiful, and the table was filled with hot food and sweet wine. The merchant was starving, so he sat down to eat, then found a soft bed and fell asleep.
The next morning, he woke up to find breakfast already prepared, but there was no one else in the castle.
After eating, the merchant took a stroll in the courtyard and saw many beautiful roses in the garden. He remembered that his young daughter Bella loved roses, so he picked one to take back and give to her.
But just as he finished picking it, a terrifying beast suddenly appeared. It roared, “I’ve been so kind to you, and you dare to steal my flowers?”
The merchant was so scared he couldn’t speak, stammering, “I’m sorry… I just wanted to give this flower to my little daughter.”
The beast said, “Alright, you can either die here or bring your little daughter to me.”
The merchant was terrified and immediately agreed to bring Bella. The beast let him go and gave him a large chest of gold coins.
IV. Bella Arrives at the Castle
The merchant returned home and told his daughters about his experience at the castle.
Hearing that her father had almost been killed, Bella was very sad. She said to her father, “I’ll go. I don’t want anything else to happen to you.”
Her two sisters said they supported their sister, but they didn’t care about her safety at all. They were even a little happy because now they could have their father all to themselves.
So the merchant took Bella to the castle.
V. The Beast’s True Appearance
At first, Bella was also afraid of the beast. He was tall and big, with an ugly face and a rough, fierce voice. But she soon discovered that the beast wasn’t really bad.
The beast was very kind to Bella and never hurt her. He was afraid of scaring her and didn’t even dare to get too close.
He also gave Belle a magical mirror. By looking into the mirror and thinking of someone, she could see that person immediately. This way, Belle could see her family anytime and wouldn’t miss them too much.
Every night, the beast would ask Belle from a distance, “Will you marry me?”
Belle always replied, “No, because I don’t love you yet.”
VI. Belle Visits Her Family
One day, Bella saw through the mirror that her father was ill, and she was very worried. She begged the Beast to let her go home to see her father, promising to return within a week.
The Beast was heartbroken but agreed: “You may go, but if you don’t return on time, I will be very sad.”
Bella returned home and cared for her father until he recovered.
Her two sisters heard that she was doing well at the castle and became very jealous. When Bella was preparing to return to the castle, her eldest sister deliberately pulled her hand and said, “Sister, stay a few more days.”
Her second sister also persuaded her, “Yes, what if Father gets sick again?”
Bella softened her heart and stayed one more day.
But the next day, she looked into the magic mirror and saw that the beast had become very weak, crying and calling her name.
Bella felt very guilty and immediately packed her bags and rushed back to the castle.
VII. The Power of Love Changes Destiny
When Bella returned to the castle, the moon had just risen. She searched everywhere for the beast and finally found him under a bush of roses. He was on the verge of death, lying on the ground, as if he might die at any moment.
Bella rushed over, embraced him, and said tearfully, “I’m sorry, I’m back! I’m willing to marry you!”
After saying this, she gently kissed the beast.
A miracle happened! The Beast’s body began to glow and slowly turned into a handsome young man.
He said to Bella, “Thank you for saving me. I was originally a prince who was turned into a monster by a witch. Only if someone truly loved me and was willing to marry me could the spell be broken.”
From then on, the prince and Bella lived happily ever after.
What is the truth behind the story?
Many people think this is a fairy tale about love, but it actually teaches us that inner beauty is more important than outer beauty.
Although the beast was ugly, he had a gentle heart; and although Belle didn’t have beautiful clothes or jewelry, she had a kind heart. It was this kindness and sincerity that broke the spell and saved the prince.
We also see that Bella’s two sisters are beautiful on the outside, but selfish and cold-hearted on the inside. They only care about themselves and don’t care about other people’s feelings.
So, this story teaches us:
True beauty comes from within;
Kindness and courage are the most powerful forces;
Don’t judge a book by its cover; look at what a person does and how they think.
What can we learn from this?
Kindness is a choice, not a gift.
Bella wasn’t born with the ability to break the spell, but she chose to treat others kindly and sacrifice herself for her family.
Don’t judge others too quickly.
Sometimes, just because someone looks strange or scary doesn’t mean they’re a bad person. Like the beast, he was just trapped inside his own shell.
Promises are important, and you must keep them.
Belle promised to return within a week, but ended up being a day late because she had a moment of weakness. Fortunately, she repented in time, otherwise it might have been too late.
Family and responsibility are things worth cherishing.
Belle voluntarily went to a dangerous place to protect her father. She did not shirk her responsibility, but bravely faced the difficulties.
Love is not about physical attraction, but about inner resonance.
True love is not based on physical appearance, but on mutual understanding and respect between two people.
Summary
The story of “Beauty and the Beast” may sound like a fairy tale, but the lessons it teaches us are very realistic.
It reminds us that in this world, everyone has their own flaws and scars, but we can help others and change ourselves through kindness and understanding.
Belle awakened the prince’s soul with her love, and the prince proved with his change that no one is forever unforgivable or unchangeable.
So, whether you are an adult or a child, you can learn one thing from this story:
True magic isn’t about conjuring roses; it’s about loving someone with all your heart.
If you like this story, you might also wonder: What happened to Bella’s two sisters afterward? Maybe they learned to change themselves, or maybe they continued to live in jealousy and dissatisfaction. What do you think?
