Belle, The Royal Designer of Follis
Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Follis, lived a seamstress named Belle. Belle was known throughout the Kingdom for her remarkable skill for making the most beautiful dresses anyone had ever seen. However, Belle was no ordinary tailor. She possessed a remnant of magic in her fingers passed down through generations. At a touch, she could transmute any fabric into the loveliest and grandest attire. Yet, Belle herself lived in humble contentment in a small corner of the prosperous kingdom.
One day, King Valor, the ruler of Follis, announced a grand ball. The King's only son, Prince Julian, had come of age, and in honor of his birthday, the ball was open to every citizen, not just the elite. The entire kingdom was buzzing with anticipation. Every woman fancied the prospect of being chosen by the Prince as his dancing partner at the grand event.
All vied to dress their best, and for that purpose, they flocked to Belle. However, Belle was not merely excited about crafting beautiful dresses for the women of the kingdom, she was equally thrilled at the prospect of attending the ball herself.
The day before the ball, dressed in remnants of the leftover fabric, Belle crafted a dress for herself. It was a beautiful ensemble imbibed with all the grandeur of a royal attire, and yet, it maintained the simplicity of the humble seamstress. The dress was an extension of Belle herself, beautiful and modest, bundled together delicately.
Regardless of her own excitement and dreams, Belle dedicated the entire day and night towards Francesca, a humble maid at the castle, who shared a mother-daughter bond with Belle. Belle knew Francesca would forgo the ball to help in the preparations. So, together they labored through the night, creating a majestic gown befitting royalty for Francesca.
The day of the ball finally arrived. The seemingly endless stream of elegantly-dressed noblewomen and commoners alike danced and dined, impressing each other with radiance and charm. Belle, in her lovely dress, and Francesca, in her stunning robe, arrived at the grand Castle. Francesca was mistaken as visiting nobility by many, whereas Belle's attire caught several curious glances.
Unknown to Belle or Francesca, Prince Julian watched them both from afar with deep interest. Enchanted by their beauty and the uniqueness of their attire, he had to learn of their stories. He chose Belle for the first dance, much to everyone's astonishment. Belle danced with grace and beauty, her elegance turning every head in the room.
As the evening drew late, Prince Julian invited Francesca to dance. Impressed by her grace and humility, he found himself drawn toward the story of her life as a maid at the castle and the bond she shared with Belle. Francesca narrated her story, her voice resounding with pride and gratefulness for Belle.
At the end of the ball, Prince Julian announced to the court that he would not be choosing a wife that night as tradition dictated, but rather a Royal Designer for the Kingdom. And so, Belle, the humble tailor with magic in her fingers, became the Royal Designer of Follis.
The tale of Belle teaches us that moments of magic can be found in the most ordinary acts. The magic of creation, the magic of selflessness, and the magic of living your life on your terms. The magic that didn't require a magic wand, but rather a needle and thread.