Belle waited patiently for the maid to return. She took it from the woman's hands and nodded. "No need to worry or apologize. It is perfectly fine", she assured the woman, with a somewhat forced smile. As the woman left, Belle took a look at the dress and changed into it. It was a lot better than hers, still dirty and torn out here and there from the walk to the castle.<br/><br/>Feeling better with the clean clothes, Belle tied her hair on a braid and picked up a book. Since she could not leave the castle, she reasoned, she might as well make herself busy there. Long and quiet hours passed as Belle read, trying to focus solely on the world between the two covers and forget all about the one out there. The girl read the book almost to the end, until she finally felt tired enough to sleep. Blowing the candle she had requested from the maid and leaving the book on the bedside table, Belle shifted a little for a position and fell asleep.<br/><br/>Her first dreams were a little restless, but very soon the girl was having her usual pleasant dreams. As the beast in human form took a look, she was dreaming about happier days, at home, still with the full family. Her lips curled in a soft smile, Belle looked innocent and sweet. Being so deeply asleep, she did not notice when the man slipped in the bed. As he wrapped his arms around her, Belle moved a little, still asleep. Her lips moved to let out a sigh and she tried to shift for a better position. Only then, feeling something was keeping her from moving, the girl opened her eyes. Her lips parted as if to let a scream pass, but she was too scared even to scream... for now.