"Then he wandered, blind and miserable, through the wood, eating nothing but roots and berries, and weeping and lamenting the loss of his lovely bride." The Prince finds by misadventure the hospitality of a country lord of unique appearance.
Warnings for the Prince's blindness resolved in a fairy tale manner (as in canon) and Bluebeard's violence against women, as in canon. This totally strayed from its original focus but I hope my recipient can forgive me; this plotbunny came to mind fully formed instead.