Today I’m going to tell a story from a long time ago, from an old collection of European fairy tales called Grimm’s Fairy Tales. The story is called “Beauty and the Beast”, which may sound a bit strange, but it is actually about a wonderful experience between a girl and a “monster”.
It is not only a romantic love story, but it also tells us that true love is not based on appearance, but on whether a person is kind, brave, and willing to give to others.
Let’s take a look and see how this story happened!
Chapter 1: The First Meeting of Belle and the Prince
In a place far, far away, there was a small village. In the village lived a girl named Belle. She was an exceptionally bright child who loved to read from an early age and often helped her neighbors. Although she wasn’t the prettiest girl, she was always smiling and gentle, and everyone loved her.
One day, an ordinary looking young man came to the village. He wore ordinary clothes and didn’t introduce himself, but just stayed quietly in the village. He often went to Belle’s house to borrow books, and the two of them gradually got to know each other.
They talked together, took walks together, and slowly became good friends. Belle found this man very interesting, he spoke politely and cared about people. But strangely, he never mentioned his past or where he came from.
It wasn’t long before the young man suddenly disappeared, and no one knew where he had gone.
It turned out that he was a prince. But he was under a spell because he had offended a witch. During the day he turned into a lion, but only at night could he return to his human form. Because he thought he was too ugly and didn’t want Belle to see him turn into a lion, he decided to leave.
Just like that, Belle lost this friend and was very sad.
Chapter 2: A Misunderstanding Caused by a Rose
Belle’s father was a merchant and often traveled for business. One day, he got lost and entered a mysterious palace. This palace was very beautiful, with a garden half filled with winter snow and half filled with spring flowers in full bloom.
Among the flowers was a particularly large rose, brightly colored and fragrant. Belle’s father remembered that roses were his daughter’s favorite, so he picked one and prepared to take it home to her.
Unexpectedly, just as he was picking the rose, a huge lion suddenly rushed out and roared, frightening him so much that he almost fell to the ground.
That lion was the cursed prince. He thought that the merchant was deliberately destroying his garden because he had planted the roses to remind him of Belle. He said angrily, “How dare you steal my roses? You will pay for this!”
The merchant quickly explained, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I just wanted to give this flower to my daughter. She likes roses very much, too.”
When the lion heard this, he was silent for a while and then said, “Then you should let your daughter come to me in person so that she can take the punishment for you.
The merchant was horrified; he knew that Belle would be the first to run out and welcome him home each time. He didn’t want to risk his daughter, but he didn’t know what to do.
Finally, the lion said, “Then the first thing you meet on your walk will be mine.
The merchant was frightened, but he agreed. He prayed all the way, hoping that the first thing he would see on his way home would not be Belle.
Alas, heaven forbid. ……
Chapter 3: Belle’s Choice
Belle was indeed the first to run out to greet her father. She took one look at her father’s pale face and knew something was wrong. She asked about him and realized what had happened.
She realized that if she hadn’t gone looking for the lion, her father would probably be living in constant fear. She also wondered why the man who had been so gentle had turned into a terrifying lion.
She did not tell her father about her decision, but only comforted him by saying, “Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.
Early the next morning, she quietly wrote a letter and then set off alone to the mysterious palace.
She didn’t know what lay ahead, but she knew it was a choice she had to make.
Chapter 4: Secrets in the Palace
When Belle entered the palace, she realized it was different. There were lions everywhere, standing in the corridors and on the stairs, looking like they were guarding something.
She was afraid, but she tried to calm down. She slowly walked deeper into the palace and noticed that the food inside always came on time, as if someone was taking care of her.
At the dinner, she finally met the “servants”. They looked like people, but they moved in a strange way. She asked many questions, such as:
- “Who are you?”
- Why can’t I see you during the day?
- “Why are there so many lions?”
But they just smiled and said nothing.
Later, she saw a familiar figure at the window – the same young man she had lost touch with for years. He told her that he was the one who turned back into a lion during the day.
He also explained the origin of the curse: he had been enchanted by a witch for breaking a princess’ heart. He could only return to his human form at night, and was a lion the rest of the time.
When Belle heard this, she didn’t fear or dislike him. She looked at him and said, “It is the person you are that I like, not the way you look. No matter what you become, my feelings for you will never change.
These words touched the prince and gave him back his confidence.
They decided to marry and start a new life in this magical palace.
Chapter 5: The Dragon’s Revenge
Do you think the story ends here? Actually there is a bigger challenge waiting for them.
The witch who cast the spell didn’t spare the prince. She found the princess who hated him out of love, turned her into an evil dragon and ordered her to kidnap the prince.
Seven years later, the prince finally got rid of part of the curse and could return to his human form at night, but remained a lion during the day. Just then, the evil dragon appeared and captured her.
Belle was so worried that she searched for her for seven whole years, and finally one day the wind god appeared and told her, “Your prince is fighting the evil dragon at the Red Sea, go save him!
The wind god gave her a magic wand, and the sun and moon gods were moved by her persistence and gave the wand great power.
Belle took the staff and flew to the Red Sea. She saw that the prince was exhausted and about to be defeated by the evil dragon.
Without hesitation, she threw her magic wand at the evil dragon. A blinding light flashed and all the magic was lifted. The lion turned back into a prince, and the evil dragon turned back into his original princess.
Belle went up to the princess and whispered, “You’re willing to turn into an evil dragon and be under someone else’s control just to get back at the prince. Is that really a life worth living?”
The princess shed tears as she listened, finally realizing that love is not possession or pain, but understanding and forgiveness.
She left silently, never to return.
Chapter 6: Happily Ever After Begins
The Prince and Belle were reunited at last. They returned to the palace and began to live a peaceful and happy life together.
Their love was tested and grew stronger. Together, they ran the kingdom, helped the people, and taught everyone about true beauty – not on the outside, but the goodness and courage within.
The Truth Behind the Story
Although this story seems like a fairy tale, it teaches us many useful truths:
1. Kindness is more important than looks
Belle didn’t leave the prince just because he turned into a lion, because what she saw was his inner gentleness and sincerity. What really attracts people is never physical appearance, but the quality of a person.
2. Love is not of the face, but of the heart.
Prince was afraid to face Belle at first because he was afraid she would hate the way she looked now. But Belle told him, “I do not love you because of your looks. This shows that true love is the ability to accept everything about the other person.
3. Tolerance Dissolves Hate
The princess became angry at being rejected and even turned into an evil dragon. But instead of retaliating, Belle used understanding to bring out the good in her. This tells us that sometimes a kind word can change a person.
4. Courage allows us to overcome difficulties
Belle knew she might be in danger, but she chose to face the “terrible lion. It was her courage that saved her father and the prince.
Conclusion
Dear friends, no matter how old you are now, you may have heard a lot of fairy tales, but Beauty and the Beast is still one of the most heartwarming and powerful.
It tells us:
- Don’t just look at the surface, learn to see people with your heart;
- Don’t give up on love easily, because true love is worth waiting for;
- Don’t be afraid of difficulties, as long as you face them bravely, you can always find a way out.
I hope you can remember this story, and I hope you can be a kind and brave person like Belle in your life.
No matter how hard the future is, please believe that love and kindness are always the best answer.
