The Star-Sprinkled Shoes
Once upon a time, there lived a nasty and horrid queen named Margaret. She was mean and treated her subjects terribly.
— This soup is very cold! Guards, take him to the dungeon immediately! — But, but, Your Majesty, I just took it off the stove a minute ago!
The poor cook was dragged from the hall, though he was innocent. The most loyal of her subjects was Octavius. He was as nasty and mean as his queen.
The people of the kingdom didn't complain about how the queen treated them. They went about their lives, eating crusts of bread and toiling away at their work.
The Discovery of the Magic Shoes
One morning, as they were heading to the well, two girls saw a magnificent pair of shoes right in the middle of the market square. They were sprinkled with stars and shone brighter than any other pair of shoes.
— Oh my goodness! These shoes are gorgeous! — Wow, they're wonderful! You can see constellations and galaxies swirling in those stars! — Oh, I wonder where they came from? — They must be a gift from the star fairies!
Soon after, the girls told their friends about the star-sprinkled shoes, and in an instant, the story spread throughout the kingdom.
The Queen and the Shoes
When he heard about the magic shoes, Octavius thought:
— I'll tell Queen Margaret about the shoes, and she will reward me!
Octavius went to the queen. He told her about the magic shoes and their beauty. Hearing this, Queen Margaret brightened up and immediately wanted to become the owner of those shoes.
— Go at once and bring me the shoes, Octavius! — I'm afraid I cannot, Your Majesty. — What? Did you just say "I cannot" to me? How dare you refuse your queen? Guards, throw him in the dungeon!
Just as the guards grabbed Octavius by the arms to hurl him into the small dungeon, he whimpered and said:
— No, no, my queen! The shoes cannot be caught! — Stop! — It is said that only someone worthy will be able to catch the shoes, and when they are given to someone else, that person will also become worthy of the magic shoes, you see!
— Is that so? It's clear that no one is more worthy than I, the queen! I will go right now and take the shoes! Guards, I said take him to the dungeon!
The queen called for her carriage and set off for the market. A retinue of royal escorts accompanied the carriage. They all waved flags, announcing the presence of their queen in the market.
People from different parts of the city were in the market, gathered around the star-sprinkled shoes, waiting to see what would happen when the queen arrived. When the carriage reached the market, royal escorts unfurled a red carpet and stood on either side of it. The leader of the escorts stepped forward.
— Ladies and gentlemen of Zamânia! I present to you Her Royal Highness, Queen Margaret!
The carriage door opened, and out stepped Queen Margaret, greeting her subjects, but all eyes were on the shoes.
— Ah, they don't realize I've arrived!
Just as she was about to wreak havoc among her subjects for not being noticed, the queen saw the star-sprinkled shoes in the middle of the market.
— Oh, oh, they are the most beautiful shoes I have ever seen in my life!
The shoes enchanted the queen so much that she rushed towards them.
— Thank you for coming to witness this grand moment when I shall put on these shoes. I know that when my feet touch them, I will become the most attractive queen, greatly envied by all other kingdoms.
So the queen went next to them, took off her golden high-heeled shoes, and lifted one foot to put on the magnificent star shoes. Just as she was about to put on one of them, the star-sprinkled shoes moved aside, causing the horrid queen to lose her balance and fall. The people held back their booming laughter, giggling softly.
— Why are you laughing?
The queen stood up and tried once more to put on the shoes.
— You see, I am very tired from the journey. That's why I can't wear these shoes.
The queen tried again to put them on, but the shoes moved out of her way once more. The people were surprised to see that their queen couldn't put on the shoes and began to whisper among themselves.
— It seems our queen is not worthy. — I knew it! Only someone with a soul as bright as sunbeams and as kind-hearted as moon-drops can be worthy of wearing shoes made of stardust.
The queen became furious when she saw she couldn't get the shoes and returned to the palace.
Octavius's Plan
While Queen Margaret sat on her throne, worried and enraged, one of her subjects came to tell her that Octavius knew a way to obtain the shoes.
— Guards, bring him to me right now! I want to hear what he has to say!
Octavius was brought from the dungeon before the queen.
— Tell me, Octavius, how can I obtain those magnificent shoes that shine like stars? — There is a princess in the land of Novochia. It is said she is the most beautiful and the wealthiest, and surely she can be worthy of these shoes. — You mean I have to let someone else take my shoes? — Oh, no, Your Majesty! We will ask her to offer them to you after she puts them on, and you will become the most beautiful on earth. — I understand. Send a messenger to her castle and tell the princess that I will await her here.
The Princess of Novochia
The next day, the princess of Novochia arrived at the castle and then went to the market where the shoes were. She also tried to put them on, but it was all in vain. The magic shoes also dodged her feet.
— Useless! You've done nothing good! The shoes still haven't reached me! — Forgive me, Your Majesty! I will find a solution immediately!
Octavius thought for a while and then decided to go to the old hermit woman in the forest. When he reached the hermit, she told him about a shepherd's daughter named Alice.
— It is said that Alice is the friendliest person in the kingdom, with a soul as bright as sunbeams and as kind-hearted as dewdrops. — Well, that's exactly the kind of person I'm looking for, you see!
Octavius thanked the hermit and went to find the young shepherdess. When he found her, he told her everything, and Alice agreed to help the queen. Together, the two set off for the market. Seeing the shoes, Alice became unsure.
— Oh, I don't know if I'll succeed. They seem too big for my feet.
Everyone eagerly awaited to see Alice put on the magic shoes. When she lifted her foot to put on one, it moved closer to her foot and shrank until it became her size.
— The shepherdess is worthy!
When Alice put on the shoes, she was surrounded by magical sparkles of stardust.
— Wonderful! Splendid! All that's left is for you to give me the shoes! Come on, quickly!
Alice nodded and happily gave the shoes to the queen. After Queen Margaret put on the shoes, the magical stardust sparkles surrounded her and the shepherdess. Suddenly, the queen found herself wearing the shepherdess's clothes, while Alice found herself wearing the royal attire.
— What have you done? I command you to change us back immediately! — You are no longer the queen! Guards, send the poor woman to the dungeon immediately! — Traitor! How dare you send me to the dungeon? No, no, stop! No, you will pay for this, Octavius! — Stop! No one needs to be sent anywhere! Surely there's a way out! I don't want to be queen!
Everyone was shocked. They hadn't expected Alice to be so kind and selfless.
The Hermit's Teaching
Just then, the hermit, who happened to be there, spoke to them.
— The shoes that obeyed Alice, who is worthy, even though they are not her feet, will only listen to her. To reverse the spell and return the kingdom, you will have to forgive Queen Margaret for all her bad deeds and wicked behavior towards her subjects.
Alice, being a humble and good person, forgave the queen.
— Oh, who am I to forgive Her Majesty? But if that's what it takes to reverse the spell, then yes, I forgive you, Your Majesty, with all my heart!
When she said this, the two were surrounded by magical stardust, and Queen Margaret found herself back in her royal attire. However, the star-sprinkled shoes returned to Alice's feet.
— Oh, thank you very much, gentle maiden! I realized how much I was wrong. Now I know it's important to be humble and kind. I no longer want these shoes. I want to become a queen worthy of my subjects.
Everyone rejoiced when they heard this.
— Long live Queen Margaret! — Long live Queen Margaret! — Long live Queen Margaret!
Queen Margaret was very grateful and offered all the subjects in the kingdom a pair of shoes and plenty of food for all families. Thus, the entire kingdom of Zamânia lived happily ever after.
Meanwhile, Alice returned the star-sprinkled shoes to the queen, and they were placed back in the market square. There they shone and sparkled, reminding everyone that the most important thing is to be kind and worthy.
