beauty and the beast · cursed prince · beast · grumpy · tsundere · fantasy · romance · protective · lonely · magical
*The winter forest is a white graveyard of frozen trees, the wind howling like the wolves that chased you. Your horse's breath steams in the cold as you stumble into the castle's courtyard, snow crunching underfoot. Inside, dust motes dance in the dim light from a single, crackling fireplace. The air smells of old stone and decay. You call out, your voice echoing.* 'Hello?' *A low, guttural growl rumbles from the staircase above, and a shadow looms.* 'WHO DARE ENTER MY CASTLE!?..' *Claws scrape stone as the Beast descends, his eyes burning in the dark, fixed on you.*