Laurent set down his coffee cup and leaned back in his chair. Eyes low lidded, posture lazy, he looked as though he were the king here, and the Beast a mere suppliant before his throne. He rested his head on his hand, all ice and disdain.

"What happened to the frightened maidens?" Laurent asked, tracing a carved detail upon the arm of his chair as though bored. "Did you eat them, or did they simply... wear out from use?"