Find Me a Queen
Once upon a time, there was a very good king named Bumbler. Bumbler wasn't funny at all. It's true, his subjects were healthy, but they weren't happy.
— Hmm, I have no work at all. Ooh! — Hehehe! Do you have nothing better to do than play pranks on me? — No, the kingdom isn't fun at all. That's why people are grumpy. You handle the holidays. Give the people a week-long vacation. — The King is my superior, and he doesn't want to. He might be a good king... — Very good, you mean. — Yes, he's a very good king, but he's too boring. We have a king who knows how to rule. — So we need a queen who knows how to have fun. Perfect!
So they both went to the king, who, after listening to their opinions, was very surprised.
— Why? Isn't the kingdom prosperous? — Hmm, well, yes, but... — Your Highness, the kingdom also needs fun, not just practical rules. — Fun? — Fun! For example, royal balls or colorful festivals. Celebrations!
The King was shocked, but because he loved his subjects very much, he agreed.
— Oh, alright, go find me the most beautiful princess in the world. She must also be the quietest, so I can speak for both of us, and also the silliest, because I can be wise for both her and myself.
The Search for the Perfect Princess
The administrator was glad the king had accepted so easily. However, the professor fell into thought. At the palace, a feast was held, attended by many beautiful princesses. Some were silly, others were wise, but none were quiet.
The King quickly grew bored of meeting so many princesses and trying to make them quiet. Soon after, they all left.
— Oh, thank goodness they're gone!
Suddenly, the tired king saw his two advisors huddled together.
— What are you two whispering about over there? — Ooh, we were just... — There is someone perfect for Your Highness. But there's a problem. — I can solve any problem. Just tell me what it is. — Hmm, well, Your Highness, here's the thing. The princess has hidden. She heard you were looking for a queen and... — And she ran away after hearing your name. She didn't quite like it.
The Minister of Holidays was frightened, but the king laughed.
— Ha ha ha! That means she doesn't know me. I will find her. I won't return until I do.
The Mysterious Garden and Lady Strange
So the king roamed the entire land, searching for the princess, for months on end, tirelessly. But just when he began to think he wouldn't find her, he came upon a tall hedge, covered in beautiful, fragrant roses.
— Hmm, surely something charming is hiding behind this beautiful hedge.
So he walked on, full of curiosity, until he reached a beautiful gate covered in climbing plants and flowers. He passed through the gate and saw an adorable little house.
— Who lives here? Ooh! — Hello, who are you? What are you doing in my garden? — Well, I am the king, and I want to know who lives here. — Yes, I live here. — What nonsense! You can't possibly fit in that little house. — If that's what you wanted to know, you should have asked a clearer question. — Do you want to tell me who this house belongs to? — No, I can't, because it doesn't belong to anyone. — Does a princess live here? — No princess lives here. You ask too many questions. — King Bumbler got angry. But suddenly, he saw a beautiful young woman near the house. — Who is she? I want to speak with her. — Her name is Lady Strange. You can talk to her whenever you want, but she won't answer you. — A silent beauty! She is the chosen one! Tell her King Bumbler wants to meet her. — Huhuhu! Bumbler, what kind of name is that? She'll surely refuse to speak to a man with such a strange name.
The dragon left, leaving the king very upset. After a while, it returned.
— Lady Strange, strangely enough, has agreed to meet you, but only for one minute after sunrise. Goodbye, see you tomorrow morning!
The King was extremely amazed, but he had traveled a long time to get this chance.
— Ha ha ha! Good. She really will be here tomorrow, won't she? — You really ask too many questions. Yes, yes, she'll be here tomorrow.
Meetings with Lady Strange
So King Bumbler left and slept outside, in the garden. The next morning, the king went to the beautiful little house. There appeared Lady Strange, who just looked at him and smiled.
— Lady Strange, I have traveled for days to see you.
He waited, but Lady Strange just smiled.
— Your eyes shine extraordinarily beautifully.
Again, Lady Strange just smiled. But this time, she seemed to be holding back laughter.
— Hmm, you are indeed a charming lady, and I...
But Lady Strange could no longer hold back and began to laugh.
— Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! — King Bumbler was stunned, but before he could react, the dragon appeared. — Time's up. You can come back tomorrow. — What? But the lady...
Lady Strange had fled inside, so the poor, discouraged king turned back and left. The night passed, followed by a new sunrise. With the sunrise, King Bumbler also appeared, ready to try his luck again with Lady Strange.
— Lady Strange, has anyone ever told you how wonderfully quiet you are? I mean, no one is as quiet as you. — Mhm. — Ah, I mean, nothing is sweeter than the sound of silence. — Ahahaha! Oh ho ho ho ho! Ahahaha! Oh ho ho ho ho! Ahahaha! Oh ho ho ho ho! — Lady Strange! — A minute has passed. The lady and I need to have breakfast. — Ah!
Poor King Bumbler tried his luck a third time.
— Lady Strange, will you come back with me to the palace and be my queen? — Mmm. Mmm. — What? Why not?
Lady Strange shrugged and smiled.
— Tell me why you don't want to be my queen?
But Lady Strange started laughing again and left.
— Oh, what am I to do? She laughs at everything I say.
The king left, grumbling. He grumbled until nightfall, and soon after, he fell asleep. The next morning, he went to the lady again.
— Lady Strange! Lady Strange! — You really are noisy! Lady Strange doesn't want to come out anymore, because she's tired of your chatter. — What? She said that? — Lady Strange never says anything, but she made a face. — No, no, no, no, no, no, no! I want to see her! Oh, how foolish I've been! — Of course you were foolish. If you only wanted to see her, then why did you talk to her? — Because that's what I wanted from the beginning. — But then, why did you change your mind so easily? You're too silly. — Ah, yes, yes, I am the silliest king. — Ahahaha! — Lady Strange, you're back! — How silly! She never left. — No!
A Wise and Cheerful Queen
— Well, King Bumbler, I'm glad you've learned your lesson! What good would a quiet queen be when you needed someone to talk to? — She would be useless. — And what good would a silly queen be if she had to help you rule the kingdom? — She wouldn't be completely useless. — Alright, I understand. But Lady Strange, can you speak? — Of course I can! I didn't speak to you because I was playing a trick on you! I hope I haven't upset you!
But the king laughed, because he had enjoyed the trick played on him. So he came to understand why fun was needed in the kingdom.
— Will you come back with me to my kingdom? I want a wise queen who speaks her mind. I was wrong when I asked for something else. — What do you say, dragon? Are you really sorry? — Hmm, well, it seems so to me. — Ahahaha! And it seems the same to me. Alright, King Bumbler, I'll go with you, but you should know I'm not a princess. — That doesn't interest me at all.
So the two left the garden and returned to the palace. There, the king encountered another surprise.
— Hello, my girl! You've finally come out of hiding! — Hello, father! — Wait a minute! You're his daughter? Why didn't you tell me? — Because you never asked me! Ahahaha! Oh ho ho ho ho!
His new and cheerful queen began to take care of the fun things in the kingdom, and the subjects were more than happy with her decisions.
— I chose the right woman. Hmm? Where did you go? — Ahahaha! Oh ho ho ho ho! — Ah, she really doesn't fall far from the tree.
The moral of the story: A good king needs a wise and cheerful queen who speaks her mind and brings joy to the kingdom, not a quiet or silly one.
