Once upon a time in a peaceful kingdom, there lived a young king and queen called Tom and Sabine who lacked but one blessing. A child to share their love with, then one happy day the good lord in heaven granted their wish and the queen became with child.

One winter's night as she sat by her open window sewing a little blanket for her baby, she pricked her finger on the needle. Three drops of blood fell upon the snow of her window sil. She noticed how lovely the red and white colors looked together and how beautiful the night sky was. She also noticed the blue belle flower she had embroidered on to the little pink blanket. Seeing such beauty she began to think.

"If only the child I were about to bring into this world had pretty blue belle eyes, lips red as blood, hair dark as night, and skin white as snow then I would be the happiest woman in the entire kingdom." She sighed.

Then one day Queen Sabine gave birth to a daughter with pretty blue belle eyes, lips red as blood, hair dark as night, and skin white as snow. The kingdom cheered at how lovely the newborn princess was but unfortunately the birth had been great struggle on the queen and she had such a weak heart that it would soon be time to say goodbye.

"My love." Tom said kneeling at the bedside of his wife.

"Tom." She breathed. "Our little one?"

"She's perfectly healthy and the kingdom loves her already."

She gently placed her hand over his.

"I'm dying."

"No." He said tearfully.

"She will need a mother." She said weakly. "You must remarry. Please, I know it will be hard but you must for our child."

"I…I will try." He sobbed.

She turned to the servants. "Let me see her."

The nurse walked in carrying a pink bundle and placed it in Sabine's arms. She pulled back the blanket to reveal a tiny baby girl with short dark hair, sleeping soundly in her mother's arms. Sabine smiled weakly and planted a kiss on her daughter's soft head.

"Call her Marinette." Then her arm fell limp and her eyes fluttered closed as she breathed her last breath. Tom burst into tears and wept bitterly.

The entire kingdom was grief stricken over the death of their beloved queen and after many months of mourning, the king finally decided to honor his wife's dying wish to find a suitable mother for Marinette.

During his search he traveled through the forest and found an old man wondering.

"Food." He croaked. "Food for a poor old beggar?" He approached the Tom. "You're majesty forgive me for bothering you but could you be kind enough to spare a crust of bread for a starving old man?"

He looked at that man, he was skinny, frail, and feeble. About fall over and kick the bucket.

"Merely a crust?" He said. "My friend, a man in your condition deserves a feast. Come back with me to my castle and I will see to it that some meat is put on those old bones."

So King Tom welcomed the old man as a guest in the castle. He served a hearty meal which satisfied his hunger and appetite greatly.

"Feeling better?" He asked.

"My lord you are too kind." The old man spoke. "Allow me to reward you, you see I am no ordinary old man I am a wizard of great power. Call me Master Fu."

"I have been told of such wizards."

"Now tell me you're highness what is it you wish the most."

"All I want is my wife back. She died so our daughter could live, if you could bring her back I would give you all the riches in my kingdom."

"Alas good king, I cannot raise dead." He sighed. "But I can find you a new queen."

"What do you mean?"

"She'll be here tomorrow afternoon."

Master Fu then left and travelled to an old tavern where there lived Lila, an ragged and filthy serving wench. She spent almost everyday serving beer, feeding pigs, and making slop.

"Good day Lila." Master Fu said.

"What's so good about it?" She asked as she chopped onions for the slop. "Another day working and being abused by those barbarians!"

"Hey Lila! Where's my beer!" A man called.

"You'll have your beer you drunk brute!" She screamed back.

"Lila what if I told you I could give you the life you always dreamed of?"

"Ha-ha. So funny."

"I mean it. Remember that day you gave me shelter from the rain? Well on that day I vowed I'd find a way to repay you and this is it."

"And how exactly do you plan to repay me?"

"With this." He waved his hands making a large mirror appear.

"Take it away!" She cried turning her head. "I hate mirrors! I hate my reflection!"

"It's magic. It will answer any question truthfully and it will give you what you've always wanted."

"Like I believe that!"

"Just say what you want, more than anything in the world. Say it out loud."

"Alright I want…I want to be the most beautiful woman in the land."

"Lila."

"What?"

"Look at yourself."

"No!"

"Look."

"Oh! Fine!" She turned to look at her reflection in the mirror but instead of seeing her usually dirty and muddy self she saw a lovely woman with rich chestnut hair, olive green eyes, and a slender tan body. "Is this a trick?"

"Not at all."

"So I really look like this."

"Yes."

"If it's true. If it's really true. How can I ever thank you?"

"No need. Just know that this mirror will grant you beauty and knowledge. But remember right now your Beauty is only an illusion for it to become true beauty you must have a good heart."

"That should not be a problem. Look at me! I'm magnificent."

"There's more to your good fortune." Fu said. "There is a young king who has lost his wife and wants to find a new mother for the child she left behind. Would you be interested?"

"You mean became queen? Is he handsome?"

"Yes in his twenties I believe and he is a kind, fair, and just man."

"Then I will gladly wed him."

"Excellent. He is expecting you tomorrow afternoon."

So the next day King Tom and Lila were married. The kingdom was amazed by the beauty of their new queen and it would seem that all would be well. But as seven years went by, Lila became a selfish and vain woman only finding pleasure in knowing that she and only she was the fairest in all the land. This disappointed Tom greatly, the light of his life was his little daughter Marinette who was such a sweet and loving child.

"Can't catch me Papa!" The little girl giggled as her father chased her around the castle gardens.

"I bet I can." He argued playfully.

The handmaidens smiled as they watched the king and princess play.

"Isn't she just the sweetest little thing?" One asked.

"A dear, full of grace just like her mother." The other said.

"Gotcha!" Tom scooped up Marinette and tickled her.

"No fair Papa!" She laughed.

"Oh my little Marinette." He said hugging her. "You are my everything, I don't know how I could live without you."

"I love you Papa."

"I love you too."

"Papa, why must you go to that horrible war tomorrow?"

"I am the king I must lead my men into battle."

"But I don't want you to leave."

"Now, now, I'll be back before you know it."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

He left the next morning. For six months he and his men fought a dreadful war and though it ended in victory for the kingdom it cost them a great sacrifice.

"Papa's home." Marinette cried happily running downstairs. She hurried to greet him at the castle doors only to find Lila and the royal staff gathered around in sorrow.

"What's wrong?" She asked. "Where is Papa?"

"Oh Marinette." The nurse said.

"Your father is dead child." Lila said coldly. "He was killed on the battlefield."

"But he said he would come back." Tears filled her eyes. "He promised."

The nurse hugged Marinette while she sobbed.

"There, there Marinette." She said comfortingly. "Your father's in heaven now with your mother. He's very happy now and no one will hurt him ever again."

Though her words were kind and true it did not stop the tears of the little heartbroken princess."

"Such a pity." A guard said. "To lose both mother and father at a young age."

"You're all she has left my queen." Another said to Lila. "No doubt you will take good care of our lovely princess."

"Yes." Lila said looking at the child. "She is lovely isn't she? Captain."

"Yes?"

"Have a room made in the servant's quarters."

"What for?"

"We'll be getting a new scullery maid soon."

And that sad day would soon mark the beginning of Marinette's new life