The Enchanted Rose
In a far-off kingdom, nestled between emerald green hills and crystalline rivers, there was a majestic castle, home to a prince named Lionel. He was a handsome, yet arrogant and selfish ruler, known far and wide for his indifference towards his subjects.
Word of Lionel's tyranny made its way to an enchantress disguised as an old lady, who decided to teach him a lesson. She presented Lionel with a beautiful rose, asking for nothing more than shelter from the stormy night. Showing contempt for the gift and its bearer, Lionel turned her away. The enchantress revealed her true form, cursed the prince to transform him into a hideous beast, and to everyone's shock, turned the rose into an enchanted one. This bloom was to serve as an hourglass - when the last petal fell, if Lionel had not learned to love and win someone's love in return, he would be doomed to remain a beast for eternity, and his kingdom would forget him.
Lionel was filled with remorse and retreated into the depths of the castle, shrouding his monstrous form in shadows. The enchantress had said one thing, 'Look beyond what you see, and there may prevail kindness, love and beauty'. He held onto these words, seeking solace in solitude.
Years passed, and his despair warped into hope as he met Alina in a peculiar circumstance. She was a beautiful maiden with an even beautiful heart, who had ended up at the castle while looking for her lost father. Over time, Lionel found Alina's infectious laughter, undying spirit, and genuine kindness seeping into the crevices of his hardened heart. Alina, on the other hand, was taken aback by Lionel’s intelligence and humor, hidden behind his terse exterior. They spent endless days exploring the castle, reading, dancing. Alina began to see the man behind the beast, and trace flickers of compassion and love underneath his brusqueness.
Love had made its home in their hearts before they even realized it. Lionel could hardly believe he was capable of feeling such deep affection. In Alina, he had found a confidante, a friend, a lover, and a mirror reflecting his altered self. Likewise, Alina found herself drawn to Lionel's spirit, his transformation, his raw honesty, and his love. Despite his monstrous exterior, she fell in love with the beast, for she saw the prince within.
On a stormy evening, when the final petal of the enchanted rose was about to fall, Lionel, heart pounding wildly in his chest, prompted by an emotion he had now become so accustomed to, confessed his love for Alina. It was a moment that hung in the air, brittle and delicate, yet charged with an emotion so profound. With tears cascading down her face, Alina whispered, “I love you too, Lionel”. As these words echoed in the grand ballroom, a brilliant light engulfed Lionel, and where once stood a hideous beast, was now a handsome prince. The enchantress’s curse had been broken.
Rejoice washed over the kingdom as its prince returned. However, what truly changed was Lionel’s heart. No longer was he the cold and selfish prince; he had been transformed into a wise and compassionate leader, who ruled his kingdom with kindness and love, with Queen Alina by his side.
Thus is the story of the enchanted rose; a tale of love and transformation, a tale about seeking and seeing beyond the obvious and finding beauty within. While time stole away everything, it left behind tales like these, to be remembered, cherished and passed on forever.