Once upon a time, there was merchant. He had three daughters. The youngest one was called Belle. She was beautiful and smart. So her two sisters were jealous of her. Unlike her sisters, she didn't like dressing up but enjoyed reading. Her two sisters always laughed at her, but Belle never got angry.

One day the merchant was going on a business trip. The two sisters asked their father to buy them dresses and jewelry but Belle asked for nothing. She only wanted her father to come back safely.

“Don't you want any gift?" the merchant asked Belle“Maybe you could pick a rose for me, she said.

Unfortunately the merchant was robbed and he had to go back home empty-handed. What's worse, he got lost in a forest Hearing the howls of wolves, his horse got scared and ran away The wind was blowing hard in the dark night, and the merchant was terrified. He felt he would be eaten up by wolves or die of hunger.

Just at that time the merchant saw a palace. He went inside and found nobody there.But there was a lot of delicious food on the table. He was so hungry, and he began to eat and drink.

After the meal the merchant found a bedroom in the palaceHe went to bed and soon fell asleep.

When the merchant woke up the next morning he found a new suit on the chair.He was so surprised.“What a magical palace!” he thought.

The merchant looked out of the window and saw a garden with beautiful roses. He thought of Belles request. So he went into the garden and picked one rose for her.

Suddenly, a beast appeared.

“I treated you with kindness, but you stole my favourite rose!" the beast roared. “l will eat you up!"

“Please forgive me!" the merchant begged.“My daughters need me."

“Well, I'll give you three days to go home and say goodbye to them. lf one of your daughters is willing to die for you, I will forgive you," the beast said.

When the merchant went back home, his daughters welcomed him happily. He gave Belle the rose.“Dear keep it well. I gave my life for it" he said sadly.

After hearing his story, the two sisters scolded Belle“I will go to the beast for Papa" Belle said calmly.

Although the merchant didn't agree, Belle insisted on doing so.

Three days passed and the merchant and Belle were to set off Belles two sisters only pretended to be sad.

When they arrived at the palace the beast was waiting for them in the hallBelle was frightened by his horrible appearance. But when the beast asked whether she was willing to die for her father, she nodded bravely.

“Good girl, stay here.Your father can go now" the beast said. The poor merchant wept and left.

Belle thought she would be eaten at once, but the beast talked with her very kindly, and gave her a beautiful room with shelves full of books Belle picked up one book and saw some golden words on it:“You can have whatever you want."

“l only want to know what Papa is doing"Belle said to herself.

All of a sudden she saw her father in the mirror besideHe looked quite sad.

Three months passed.The beast came to see Belle every day. Belle was not afraid of the beast anymoreBut when the beast proposed to her, she refused. She had never thought of marrying an ugly beast.

One day, Belle begged the beast to let her go to see

her family “If you stay away too long your poor beast will die!" the beast said sadly.“ will be back in a week" Belle promised.

When Belle woke up the next morning, she found herself at home Beside her was a trunk filled with beautiful dresses. Belle knew they had been sent by the beast.

Her sisters were jealous of her nice clothes. They asked Belle to stay at home longer.They hoped that the beast would get angry and eat Belle. When Belle was ready to go back, they pretended to be weeping and urged her to stay a little longer. Belle was moved and decided to stay.

That night, Belle dreamed of the beast. In the dream, he was lying in the garden, almost dead.

Belle felt worried. She found herself in love with the beast She wanted to marry him.“He was so nice to me, but broke his heartWhy can't I marry him? Although he is ugly, he is so kind.I will. be happy if I marry him"she thought.

Belle couldn't wait to see him. She left for the palace at once.

When Belle opened the gate of the palace, she saw an empty hall. The beast didn’t come to welcome her Belle thought of her dream, so she rushed to the garden. Just as in her dream, the beast was lying on the grass unconscious.“My dear beast, please wake up. Now l know how important you are to me.I want to marry you and be with you forever!" Belle cried.

Just then, beautiful fireworks lit the garden and music played. To Belle's surprise the ugly beast disappeared. And a handsome prince was standing in front of her.

Belle asked the prince if he had seen the beast“I am your beast!"the prince laughed.Actually the prince had been turned into a beast by a witch. Only when a beautiful girl was willing to marry him, would the curse be broken.

Belle and the prince held a grand wedding and lived happily ever after.