At the town
3rd person POV

All eyes shoot to the door that burst open. The soft white ice tumbles inside, melting as soon it makes contact with the wooden floors; they had increased in temperature due to the fireplace.

Timothee stumbles over the small mountain as he enters, nearly falling flat on his face. He's breathing heavily, having just ran two miles.
"It's about... hic... time you showed up." Antoine slurs from the stool he sits on, still able to reprimand Timothee since he is only a bit tipsy.

"The wedding guests..." He pauses to catch his breath. "They're getting impatient."

Antoine slaps his empty beer bottle, knocking it onto the floor. It shatters into a countless number of pieces.
"Just cancel it. Cancel it all and put me out of my misery! Now leave me be." Antoine dismisses.

Timothee sees how distressed his friend is and attempts to cheer him up.
"Come on, don't be that way. Elliana doesn't deserve you. You're much better than this; a fool who sits here wallowing in his failure, knowing that his future is bleak at the moment."

"If this is your attempt at making me feel better, just know that you are not succeeding." Antoine says through his hands that cover his face.
Although not lightening his mood, Timothee's words encouraged Antoine to speak his tormenting thoughts out loud.

"My father would spit on the floor I walk on if he knew that I'd been chasing after a girl and putting my hunting priorities aside. But I just can't get her out of my head. Even as I sit here, drinking my feelings for her away, she still lingers in my mind, haunting every moment of my day. As if she's some sort of enchantress!
She is the drug that I cannot get enough of. Her assertiveness, confidence in knowing what she wants, unimaginable beauty; it all makes her so appealing." He explains. "If I cannot obtain her soon, I believe I may go crazy!" Antoine grabs hold of the stool he was previously sitting on and throws it at the wall in exasperation.
"Hey! You better pay for that!" The bartender tells him. Antoine ignores his comment.
Suddenly the door shakes violently once again, seeming like it will be ripped off its hinges. Sure enough, it slams open. All of Antoine's sorrow melts away for just one moment as his, along with everyone else's, focus is set on the crazed figure at the door.

"Someone help me!" Lorenzo shouts, clawing at the snow around him as he stands up.

He scans the room searching for anyone who could potentially help him.
Murmurs from the other customers arise.

"You! Over there! You're that fellow who's in love with my daughter!"

Antoine strides over to the door. The shards of glass scattered atop the floor impale themselves into the sole of his leather boots.

"That would be me." Antoine says, adjusting his designer coat, upset now that he is reminded of Elliana and the fact that she had not shown up to the wedding.

"You care about my daughter just as I do, correct?"
"Why of course! We were due to be married today." Antoine pronounces proudly, while adjusting the collar to his tuxedo.
"Then help me get her back!"

Antoine raises an eyebrow.

"An animal, no... A-a-a monster, no... A beast! Yes, a beast has taken her! She's being held captive in his castle right this second!" Lorenzo adds for clarification.
Timothee chortles, finding the unrealistic statement to be humorous since it shows signs of lunacy.
Antoine hits Timothee upside the head.
"Alright Lorenzo, I'll help you out. Just show me the way." He concludes. Everyone who listened as the conversation progressed was dumbfounded. How could Antoine, the most admirable man in town, believe or even offer to help a crackpot like Lorenzo?

Before exiting, Antoine whispers in Timothee's ear. "Do not cancel the wedding. I have a plan in mind."

***

Hours pass by as Antoine and Timothee continue to trek through the forest alongside Lorenzo in pursuit of the beast's castle.

"Antoine, perhaps you could just--"

The wealthy man turns around to meet the eyes of his companion who is following close behind.

"Perhaps I could just do what, Timothee?!" He seethes. Timothee gulps before continuing to speak, still debating in his mind if it's actually a good idea to finish his statement. Antoine continues to walk, until Timothee makes a suggestion. "You could stop trying."

Antoine halts, causing Timothee to bump into his back. "What do you mean by 'stop trying'?"

"Well, I mean, maybe you should give up on Elliana. It's clear that she doesn't show any interest in--" Timothee stops himself, knowing the wrath he would have to endure if he had mentioned any flaw about Antoine. "Ahem, interesting traits or qualities. She's always at the library; I thought those were extinct! And, get this, she actually enjoys reading the pointless square things they have. I think people called those peculiar objects books in ancient times." Antoine looks bored as if he's heard that argument a million times in the past.

"I am well aware of her unusual love for those things." He states the last word with an extra emphasis of disgust. "However, I do not care about that, for she is the most beautiful maiden in this town, and I am the most handsome man there has ever been, therefore we are a perfect match. It's simple logic."

"But she always avoids you-- the ungrateful wench. There are many other eligible bachelorettes in town who dream of being yours."

"But that's the problem. They're not a challenge. I like a woman who plays hard to get. The chase after Elliana gives me the same exuberant feeling as hunting. She is the prey, and soon I shall have my feast." He shoves Timothee forward, urging him to continue moving. "Come on. If I want Elliana's heart, I'll have to get her father to accept me as well."

Timothee shifts uncomfortably. "Yeah, but... We've been at this for hours. Doesn't it seem a bit odd for there to be a humongous castle-- reaching high above the trees-- that no one has ever noticed before?"
Antoine ponders over what Timothee said-- something he doesn't do very often. But before he could make a final decision, he asked Lorenzo a question that, if answered with the desired response, would make the whole trip worth it.
"So Lorenzo. I've been, uh, meaning to ask you something." Antoine begins.
"And what might that be?" The old man in front of him responds with his eyes still on the trail.
"I'd like permission for your daughter's hand in marriage." Antoine states, getting straight to the point.
"No."
"Yes, so now that I have your blessing, would you be so kind as to convince Ell--" Antoine pauses, realizing what the man's response was. "I'm sorry, did you say no?"
"I believe I did. You are not the right man for my daughter and you made it quite clear back when we first met in this same forest."
"B-but I'm helping you find her. Surely that proves that I'm the right one for her!"
"There's more to it that just that." Lorenzo counters. "Anyways, I think we're getting close. Just around this corner and that's where the rose might be..." He trails off.

Antoine turns to his friend.
"You know what? I agree. It's been quite a while, so we should stop searching. I'm sure that Lorenzo is just imagining things and Elliana is probably safe at home, back from wherever she was. Come along sous-fifre, we shall trick him into pursuing the wild goose chase on his own."

The two of them turn to look at the oblivious Lorenzo, who was too busy attempting to recall the location of the castle to pay attention to a single word they said.

"Lorenzo, perhaps Timothee and I should go another way in order to try and seek out the castle quicker."

"Very well then. I will stay on this trail. If you find anything, just return to this path. When the sky gets dark, we can meet back at this stump right here."

And off they went. But not to continue the seemingly futile pursuit of the castle, but to return back to the town, snickering on their way about how clever their devious plan was.

They reach there fairly quickly and stay for a while. Laughing, drinking, betting; it somehow took Antoine's mind away from his love interest.
But soon enough, another person set foot in their favorite tavern; someone they hoped to not see for a while. The grins on their faces faltered.

"He's ruthless! That ruffian deceived me; he lied about helping me find Elliana and instead left me to rot in the forest at night without any of my belongings or any sense of direction." Lorenzo yells to anyone who would listen. "I had to walk here in the dark, freezing night with no clear vision of anything and the possibility of being attacked by wolves!"

"Is that true Antoine?" Someone questions.
"It's one thing to play a practical joke, but it's another to steal someone's needs for survival!" Another person protests.

"You all know he's lying right?! I mean, that loon is always seeking pity and attention so it is only logical that he'd make up such an absurd story like that. Mauled by wolves? I mean, come on!" Antoine claims.
The crowd of people supporting Lorenzo give Antoine's claim a thought, and then soon disperse throughout the bar, back to their usual seats.

Lorenzo walks up to Antoine with an intimidating stance.
"You will never marry my daughter."

"Oh but I believe I will." Antoine insists. "And you will not stand in my way."