BEAUTY IMPOUNDED

'Beauty Impounded' is a fantasy story about a beautiful princess of Ottahana. Her father and mother were very handsome, thus she is also expected to be born beautiful. But, to the suprise of all, she is born dark and ugly. Her father, King Balthasar, could not bear it. Thus he gets his princess a boon of beauty. Consequently, little Princess Estelle becomes the most beautiful lady of the country. But their happiness i jis followed by a grief, as her mother Queen Cordeilla dies a few days after giving birth to her.

When the people of Ottahana hears about the beautiful princess, they come to have a look of her. Ottahanians' excitement brings fear to the king. He is afraid if his daughter would catch an evil eye. Thus, Balthasar decides to keep her

daughter inside unless she grows sixteen.

When she grows up, she gets married to prince of Acheronus, a wealthy as well as handsome prince named Hornet. This is the first time when princess Estelle comes out of her room. There is a great celebration. Princess Estelle is dressed in a beautiful white gown with a face veil. When Prince Hornet sees her, he gets fascinated by her beauty. It was love at first sight. Estelle accepts Hornet as her husband and leaves Ottahana with him.

At the house of her in-laws at Acheronus, Princess Estelle is happy more than ever. She could see the sky every morning, walk in the palace, dine with the family, talk with them, go out in the streets, enjoy the festivals and much more things she had never done before. It is here when she learns what a joke means. But life never goes smooth. One evening when princess Estelle is back from the marketplace, prince Hornet gives her such weird statements that it blows her mind. He talks about the rumours built across the palace that she flirts with the men of all ages. Her beauty attracts every man, and she does nothing to prevent it, rather she enjoys it. That night princess Estelle cries a lot, more than ever she has cried at her father's palace due to solitary. That night prince Hornet makes a decision that she would no longer be allowed to go out without his company. It was difficult to walk with the prince, for she has to glance down all the time, still Hornet would find fault in her walk. Thus she prefers to stay in most of the time.

The scene is then moved to the palace of Ottahana, where King Balthasar gets a shocking information about his daughter. A lady of excellent knowledge tells him that his daughter's beauty is not forever. She couldn't bring a child in the world with her beauty. If she wants to be a mother, she would have to sacrifice her beauty. The king gets another shock when he comes to know the truth behind his daughter's ugliness. The same woman tells him that the princess is not his child but a devil's who was called Typhonus. He had assaulted Queen Cordeilla and thus Princess Estelle was born. Typhouns didn't live long after assaulting the sacred Queen, and the Quwen died due to utter pain she felt producing his child.

The King runs to Acheronus to reveal the whole truth to her daughter and thus save her glamor. But as he enters the palace, he is welcomed with a good news. Princess Estelle is bearing a child. King Balthasar becomes depressed hearing this news. When Princess Estelle asks him about his sorrow, he reveals the truth to her. This truth shocks Princess Estelle, as she was told that she was born beautiful. Prince Hornet hears their talk and becomes very angry ,for they hid the truth from him. He even taunts Estelle for her ugliness, and being the daughter of a devil. He refuses to go along with princess Estelle and orders her to get out of his palace. This is the third time when the boon of beauty becomes a bane for her.

Princess Estelle now lives at Ottahana. She has a daughter who is not-so-beautiful. And yes, Princess Estelle has also become not-so- beautiful girl, for no one calls her ugly anymore.

         CHAPTER - 1

The night didn't seem so pleasing. It was a full moon night, yet the moon was eclipsed in the dark shadows. The sky looked horrible in the quilt of black clouds. There was not a single star to be seen. The only light in the sky was that of the lightning, appearing constantly at the same point in the sky. It was horrible to look at the sky. The sharp screams of the woman from the palace were adding more terror in the terrifying weather.

'Whoa! What a horrible weather it is!'

'Have you ever seen such a weather before?'

'Not in my lifetime I've ever seen such a bad weather in Ottahana.'

'No one in the world would have even seen such a strange weather at any place of the world.'

'Yeah! Right.'

The Ottahanians were talking among themselves. The queen of Ottahana was supposed to come up with a child tonight, and the same night such was the weather. Strange coincidence.

             * * * * * *

The palace was beautifully decorated to welcome the newcomer. For how long Ottahana had waited for this moment. King Balthasar was getting more nervous with every passing moment. Queen Cordeilla's labord pain was getting unbearable. The women attendants were trying to calm her, but she was screaming continuously, ill with labour pains.

The pain ended with a strong scream, followed by the silence from the queen. She could not speak, but heard the cries of her child held between the hands of Gracy. The king had a sigh of relief when Ellen opened the door and said:

'Congratulations! Your majesty. It's a baby girl.'

Tears come out of his eyes. He was excited to see his little princess. But he noted that something was wrong. Looking at Ellen's face, he asked:

'What happened, Ellen? Is everything fine with the princess and the queen?'

'Yes, your majesty- they are fine. But the princess......,' Ellen dared not speak more.

The King went in to see his princess. The atmosphere of the room was gloomy. No one was welcoming the newcomer with excellent words, not were there any blessings for her, in fact there was a deep silence. Gracy came to the King and passed the child into his hands. The King was shocked at once when he saw his princess. He could not believe if she belonged to him and the queen. Despite their expectations, the princess had a dark face, big eyes, a large forehead and s mall unshaped nose.

'How could my daughter be so ugly!', King Balthasar exclaimed at once, 'Tell me Gracy! How is it possible that an ugly child could be born of handsome parents?'

'Then perhaps this child doesn't belong to you, King Balthasar', a voice was heard from the door of the room from where an old woman entered. She was in old ragged clothes, holding a thick stick to walk with. Her face was full of lines indicating her old age and vast experience. Coming in, she continued, 'This may not be your child.'

'How dare you speak such rubbish!', King Balthasar interrupted the woman,'Who asked you to come at my palace, you foolish lady! Get out of my sight or I'll curse you', Balthasar was very angry at the woman. He called the soldiers and drew the old woman out of the room.

Queen Cordeilla was feeling better now. She asked the King to show her the princess. As soon as the King laid the princess near her mother, Cordeilla burst into tears,

'What is our daughter cursed for?', she complained.

No one spoke. A long silence fell there. At last, King Balthasar started,

'I know how to make it right.'

Everyone's eyes got freezed upon his face, and he said again,'My princess would be the most beautiful lady in the world. Yes, my little princess Estelle.'

'Princess Estelle!', exclaimed Queen Cordeilla.

The king hurriedly took the child into his arms and says,

'I request you all, what happened today should be kept a secret. I will be back by tomorrow. There would be celebrations everywhere.'

'Don't worry your majesty. No one would come to know about this. I take the responsibility',assured Ellen.

King Balthasar took the princess away from the palace in the dark silent night. It started to rain heavily in Ottahana as he left the country.