Emilia reaches up and knocks on the door. Footsteps creak against the floorboards inside matching the thumping in Emilia’s chest. When the door flings open, Emilia finds herself staring at her father

The king stands in his palace with long coyly hair and a beard. Those who were once beasts are now human. A few fall to their knees crying hugging themselves. Others rush to their loved ones with hugs and smiles.

At the very top of the mountain, she can see the river running from the bottom of the mountain to the fork, to the hidden witch’s home and outward. A beast with moondust like fur sits on a rock looking down. The rock is placed perfectly to fall to the bottom of the mountain.

milia goes on, “I know you’re under a lot of pressure with the role of the crown prince and future king. I know everyone loved your brother, and it seems your father loved your brother more than he could ever love you.”

“How has life been without Borden?” Emilia asks. Maria cries harder, “Do you really think you can go on without him?” Maria shakes her head, “Then you might as well give your life to save him.”

“I miss Borden. I don’t want to live without him!” The crying lady wipes her eyes with a sheer embroidered cloth, and Emilia twitches at Borden’s name. Emilia sits near the group of women with her back to them, “I should’ve run away with him and eloped.”

The King’s voice greets Emilia instilling fear in her heart, but she was a beast and survived. Emilia survived two challenges and a massacre; she can do this. She was her own monster, and the king is nothing compared to that.

Even Emilia is disappointed that she gave up on finding her good qualities so easily, but what can anyone expect when someone is no good.