The Isle of the Beast, a lovely, peaceful island covered in a lush, green forest, features an idyllic path through the thick wood that once held many deadly dangers to all visitors to the island. Now, however, it leads to a mystifying but verdant hedge maze one must navigate to reach the grand manor that is the former Beast’s home. It is in the setting of his beautiful rose garden, in the interior courtyard, that the wedding was held. The ceremony was held under a latticework archway covered in white rose vines, the flowers in full bloom around the happy couple.

Musicians from the Land of the Green Isles performed their finest songs as the Isles’ royalty feasted on a sumptuous meal. The castle chefs prepared quite a feast of gastronomic delights: fresh white bread and perfectly seasoned meats were served along with meat pastries and spicy soups. Delicious seafood from the islands was offered for those who crave shellfish. King Alexander looked relieved that no oysters were among the seafood items.

As the day grew into evening, torches were lit in the garden and the dishes and tables were cleared away after the last course had been served. An open space was cleared in the garden for dancing. Prince Cocteau held his beloved bride in his arms as they danced in the moonlight, opening the dance floor and creating a wonderful romantic atmosphere. Other couples joined them, including our recently crowned King and Queen, to the sweet music, a perfect ending to the wedding celebrations, and to this joyous new day in the history of the Isle.

This in and itself is noteworthy, as the history of the Isle of the Beast has not seen such a happy occasion for quite some time. Once known as the Isle of the Forest, it was a largely uninhabited nature reserve where the King would enjoy their hunts. More than one hundred years ago, however, during the reign of King Aliphim, strange lights and magical activity were observed overnight. When the king’s knights were sent to investigate, the forest had grown immensely thick, and the path leading towards the center of the isle was now beset with deadly traps, and the hollowing of a fell beast filled their ears. The knights who returned to the King informed him, and the name of the island was soon changed to warn off other travelers.

The truth remained a mystery for over a century, until King Alexander made his way past the traps and met the long-suffering and quite terrifying Beast—the bewitched Prince Cocteau himself.

“Much of this island—my castle, the hedge and the lush forest—was ripped away from my original homeland when

The prince and his new bride

the witch cursed me. Not only did she twist my form, but took me from my homeland and gave me a long life in which I found only suffering. Until, of course, I met Beauty and she freed me,” the Prince told the Four Winds in an exclusive interview. “I have had word that the land I once lived in and ruled over has changed greatly since then. They have a new monarch now, a distant cousin of my own family, and they are well-served by him. I have no wish to return there and disrupt their lives; besides, I have found all I need to be happy here, and I am glad that together Beauty and I can make this island more habitable and welcoming to others now.”

The Isle has no other residents currently, but the Prince has said that he and his wife are planning to begin opening up some of the land so that houses may be built. They do intend to meet and approve anyone wishing to move to their island home when it is ready for newcomers, as they wish to have a small but close community living there with them.