Although I could very well take Belle without this charade or planning, could rip Gaston’s head from his neck, I did not want to start my nuptials with Belle on the wrong foot, as the humans would say.
I focused on Maurice, who sat at the table with Gaston and a few of his minions, wooden chips they used as currency in their games in the center of the table.
Maurice was sweating, his face glistening with droplets that caught the light, his cheeks ruddy, and his hands buried in his hair as the sheer panic swamped him.
I knew enough about Gaston, the big and bulky human, to know he used the villagers’ weaknesses against them. And that was what he had been doing with Maurice for a very long time.
Taking advantage.
But that would change tonight. I would make Gaston an offer he could not refuse. And that was to pay off Maurice’s debt and then some, which would make the human bastard rich beyond words.
And would give me the only thing I had coveted. Belle.
When Pierre walked up to them and presented the leather coin purse from his satchel, showing Gaston, I could see the greedy gleam in his eyes.
It would be more riches than Gaston had or would ever see in his miserable life, so when he reached out for it and held the heft of it in his palm, I knew she would be mine.
I focused on my reflection, at my grisly appearance, and knew winning over Belle would be a feat in and of itself, but I would try until the end of time.
It was not like she had a choice in the matter because she was already mine, and nothing and no one would ever change that.