Beauty and the Brute

  Chapter 1: The Cursed Beast

  In the heart of Eldoria, a village surrounded by dense, enchanted woods, there was a legend—a tale of a creature feared by all. They called him "The Brute," a monstrous being lurking in the Forbidden Forest. No one had seen him up close and lived to tell the tale. He was said to be enormous, with glowing crimson eyes and claws sharp enough to tear through stone.

  Elena, the healer’s daughter, had always been drawn to the unknown. Unlike the others, she did not fear the forest or the myths that surrounded it. One fateful evening, while gathering herbs, she wandered too deep and found herself face to face with the creature of legend.

  The Brute stood before her, a towering beast with dark fur and horns curling from his head. His presence was terrifying, but his eyes held something she did not expect—pain. Instead of running, she took a step closer.

  Chapter 2: The Heart Behind the Monster

  Elena should have fled, yet she remained. The Brute did not attack. Instead, he watched her with caution, his breath heavy. She noticed the deep gash across his side, a wound that bled dark ichor.

  "You’re hurt," she whispered.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  The Brute growled low, but there was no malice in his voice, only exhaustion. Summoning her courage, Elena knelt beside him and reached for the herbs in her satchel. The creature tensed but allowed her touch.

  Days passed, and Elena kept returning. She spoke while she treated him, telling stories of the village, the stars, and the beauty of life outside the forest. Slowly, the Brute's growls softened, and he began to listen.

  Chapter 3: The Truth Revealed

  One evening, under the silver glow of the moon, the Brute finally spoke.

  "I was not always like this."

  His voice was deep, filled with sorrow. He told her of a curse placed upon him by a vengeful sorceress. Once, he had been a man—a prince who had refused the sorceress’s love. In her wrath, she had transformed him into a beast, cursing him to live in the shadows until someone saw past his monstrous form.

  Elena listened, her heart aching for him. "There must be a way to break the curse," she said.

  The Brute hesitated. "A willing heart—one who loves me despite what I am."

  Chapter 4: Love in the Shadows

  As time passed, Elena and the Brute formed an unspoken bond. She saw not a monster, but a soul yearning to be free. The villagers grew suspicious of her absences, warning her of the dangers in the forest, but she ignored them.

  One night, as they sat by a fire, the Brute turned to her. "You should not stay here, Elena. If the villagers find out, they will fear you as they fear me."

  "But I don’t fear you," she said softly.

  He looked at her, searching for deceit, but found none. And in that moment, something in the air shifted—a warmth, a spark of magic.

  Chapter 5: The Breaking of the Curse

  The villagers soon discovered Elena’s secret. In their fear, they gathered with torches and weapons, marching into the forest.

  "Elena! Get away from that beast!" they cried.

  But she stood before him, protecting him. "He is not a beast! He is cursed!"

  As she spoke, the Brute stepped forward, not to fight, but to surrender. "If they must take me, let them," he said.

  Elena, with tears in her eyes, placed her hand over his. "No. I see you for who you truly are."

  A blinding golden light engulfed him. The curse shattered, and in his place stood a man—his true form, his humanity restored. The villagers gasped in awe as the prince of old stood before them.

  Elena had broken the curse—not with magic, but with love that saw beyond appearan

  ces.

  And so, the brute was no more, but love remained.