Beauty and the Beast - French

My name is Belle, and I have always loved stories more than anything. I lived in a cozy cottage with my father and sisters, where my greatest adventures were found between the pages of a book. But one day, my own adventure began when my dear father got lost in a dark forest and stumbled upon a castle full of magic, which is how I became part of the story of Beauty and the Beast. To save himself from the castle's master, a fearsome creature, he made a promise that would change my life forever.

It all started because my father, a merchant, had lost all his money. One day, he heard news that one of his ships had finally arrived, so he journeyed to the city, promising my sisters and me gifts. My older sisters, who could be quite selfish, asked for expensive jewels and fine dresses. When my father asked me, I told him, "All I want is a single, lovely rose." But when he got to the city, he found there was no money left. On his long journey home, a terrible storm blew in, and he found shelter in an enchanted castle. He told me it was quiet and strange, with a warm fire and a feast waiting just for him. As he was leaving the next morning, he saw the most beautiful rose garden and remembered his promise to me. But just as he picked a rose, a terrifying Beast appeared. The Beast roared that my father had to pay for stealing, either with his life or by sending one of his daughters to live in the castle forever.

To save my dear father, I knew I had to be brave, so I went to the castle myself. I was so frightened when I first saw the Beast. He looked like a monster from one of my books. But he was surprisingly gentle with me, treating me like a princess instead of a prisoner. The castle was a place of wonders. Dishes served themselves delicious food, and music floated through the halls from nowhere. The Beast gave me a lovely room and a gift that made my heart sing: a giant library filled with more books than I could ever read. Every evening, he would join me for dinner. His voice was deep and rumbly when he asked, "Belle, will you marry me?". And every evening, I had to gently say, "No, Beast." I started to see that underneath his scary looks, he was just very lonely and had a kind heart. He even gave me a magic mirror so I could see my family. One day, I looked in the mirror and saw my father was sick with sadness, and I knew I had to go to him.

I begged the Beast to let me go home, and he agreed, but only for one week. He warned me, "If you do not return, I will die of a broken heart." I promised I would be back. At home, I helped my father get better, and he was so happy to see me. My sisters, however, were jealous of my beautiful dresses and the stories I told of the magical castle. They tricked me into staying longer than a week by hiding my things and telling me the wrong date. I started to feel very guilty, so I looked into my magic mirror. I saw a terrible sight: the Beast was lying in the castle garden, looking as if he wasn't breathing. My heart dropped. I rushed back to the castle as fast as I could and found him. I started to cry, holding his giant head in my lap. "Please don’t die," I sobbed. "I love you." As one of my tears fell on him, a bright, magical light surrounded the Beast. He began to change, transforming into a handsome prince. He told me a fairy had cursed him to stay a beast until someone could love him for who he was on the inside. My love had broken the spell.

Our story, the one you know as Beauty and the Beast, was first written down in France hundreds of years ago. It reminds everyone that looking past what we see on the outside can lead to the most wonderful discoveries. The Prince and I were married, and we learned that kindness and love are the most powerful kinds of magic in the world. Our tale continues to inspire movies, plays, and books all over the world. It encourages everyone to open their hearts and find the good in others, a message that is just as important today as it was all those years ago.