The Glass Princess
Romanian Fairy Tales.
A Princess in Love
Once upon a time, in the vast German lands, there lived a lovely princess named Adel. Adel was deeply in love with Prince Iohan, so she decided to speak with her father, King Stefan.
— Father, Iohan has asked for my hand! Isn't it wonderful? — What? Iohan? Why? — Well, he's kind, sweet, and... — Marry someone who deserves you, Adel, like Prince Warner. He's strong and... — Rude and without manners! Father! Father, I will only marry Iohan!
The Glass Globe Curse
Adel and King Stefan were both stubborn, and soon the king lost his temper.
— Enough!
Adel was taken to the garden, where there was a wonderful fountain with a glass globe that gleamed in the sunlight.
— Father? — Enchant it, enchant it! Do as I say! Keep my daughter locked inside you for three years! — What? No! — You are too stubborn! You will learn to obey! — No, Father!
Adel tried to call for help, but the magic hid her and no one else could see or hear her.
— Three years is a long time! Iohan will forget me!
The Unexpected Friend
Suddenly, a small, cute dragon appeared beside her.
— Hello! Sorry I'm late, I was cleaning my scales. Aren't they shiny? — Huh? Who are you? — My name is Shnel, the guardian of this glass globe. Who are you? — I am Princess Adel. My father locked me in here because I wanted to marry the love of my life. — Oh no! Why? — Yes. And I refused to marry who he wanted. — Oh no! — And now I'm locked in here. Wait! Can you help me get out? — Sorry, my job is to guard you so you don't escape. I can offer you nice clothes. Food and... — That's not what I want! I want to see Iohan! — Oh, it'll be alright, Adel. Listen, I've been here for about fifty years and I'm fine. — What do you mean? — Well, you see, three years is nothing and they'll pass in a flash. And besides, I'm here too. — Yes, that's certainly much better. — Right? — Fine. — That's the spirit.
The Escape
Adel hoped the three years would pass immediately, but they didn't. Adel always thought about the world outside and about Iohan, and no matter how strong she pretended to be or whatever Shnel did, she spent her days sighing.
Finally, the three hard years passed.
— Oh! What's happening? — The spell is broken! Hold on! — Wow! Oh no, Shnel! — I've got you! — Oh! Thanks! But I still can't get out ahead. — It must be the spell's aftereffects. Hold tight! — My palace! Ah! If Father finds out I'm free and... — Oh no! — Hold tight, princess! — Wow! Ha! — Yeah, not so tough now, are you? Huh? Did you see that? You really are a dragon! — Well, the spell shrunk me too, you know? Now I must go, since I'm free. And you? — I want to see Iohan! — At your service. Hop on! And hold tight! — Yes!
And so the two took flight, and soon Shnel set her down near Iohan's kingdom.
— Sorry, princess, I don't want to scare those who haven't seen dragons as magnificent as me. — Thank you so much, Shnel! I couldn't have managed without you. — Oh! Well, you were wonderful too, with your smiles, your tears, your screams, and your, well, see you soon!
And he flew away, disappearing like a red river of flames.
Iohan and Martina
— Ah! I must find Iohan.
Adel wandered the streets and soon arrived at the palace. Here she accidentally ran into the head housekeeper.
— Hello! What do you want? — I can't meet Iohan dressed like this. If I could get into the palace first... Ah, give me a job!
Adel decided to work at the palace until she could meet the prince.
Iohan was now set to marry Princess Martina, who had been cursed to be a witch by day and human by night. The curse could only be broken with a magic necklace from the prince's kingdom.
— When I have the necklace, I'll be human again!
She never showed her face to anyone and spoke with Iohan only when she was human.
If you're wondering where Iohan had disappeared while his dear Adel was locked away, don't worry — he hadn't forgotten her. You see, Iohan kept going to Adel's kingdom hoping to see her. But Martina's spell made her invisible to him. And the next time he went to Adel's kingdom, the spell made him see a kingdom destroyed and burned to the ground. He returned heartbroken.
— Son, I know you loved Adel, but you must marry. The kingdom needs a queen. — But... — No, Iohan! I will find someone for you and you will marry her.
Iohan knew he couldn't say anything more and agreed to marry. And so Martina and Iohan were about to be married.
— Oh, Adel! It's wrong to wish you'd come back to me. I miss you so much.
Meanwhile, Adel learned from the servants about Iohan's engagement to Martina and was devastated. She didn't know, however, the conditions under which he had to marry.
— I think he doesn't love me anymore. Then I won't interfere. His happiness is more important.
The Wedding
The wedding day arrived and Adel, luckily, was sent to bring tea to the bride.
— I wonder what she looks like.
Meanwhile, Martina was having big problems.
— Oh! How can I go out like this? He won't marry me! But what if I cover my face? Oh, that won't work! — Your Highness, I've brought your tea.
Martina was about to scream when she had an idea.
— I don't have to get married! I just need the necklace! After the wedding, Iohan will surely give it to me! Come in!
Adel entered the room, but Martina had her back turned.
— I need a favor from you and you can't refuse. I want you to go and pretend to be the bride, but always keep your face covered. — What? But how can I do that? — As your future queen, I command you! Girl! — Yes, Your Highness.
So Adel dressed as the bride and, covering her face, went to Iohan. Adel's heart went wild when she saw him.
— Oh, Iohan! — Your voice sounds different, like my true love's. — Sorry, I'm still thinking of her. This marriage is a compromise. I wish I could have said it sooner. If you don't want to marry anymore after you learn the truth, that's fine by me. — He still loves me! But how can I say something in front of so many people?
Adel had a fantastic idea.
— Oh, bells! How you ring for me, the lying bride! Oh, flowers! How you bloom for me, the lying bride! — What did you say? — Whatever I said, promise me you'll ask me to repeat it when we're alone.
Iohan was puzzled but agreed. Then he placed around Adel's neck a wonderful necklace, the likes of which had never been seen. The two were married, and the celebration lasted until morning.
The Truth
Adel left the bride's room, changed into her housekeeper uniform, and hid in the prince's room. Then, when the prince came, he called for Martina.
— Yes? Yes, Iohan! — I promised to ask you to tell me the verses. What were they?
Martina, surprised, didn't know what he was talking about.
— Well, I don't remember. Was it something important?
Iohan was shocked. Then he realized the voice was actually different.
— Your voice is different, and where's the necklace I gave you? — What? You already gave her the necklace? That girl probably stole it! — I didn't steal anything.
Iohan and Martina were left speechless.
— Adel? — What? How dare you get in my way? I'll curse you! — Guards!
Just then, the sun rose and Martina transformed into a witch.
— What? Oh my! I'll deal with you both and the necklace will be mine!
But the necklace around Adel's neck shone like a thousand suns and stopped Martina's dark magic.
— No! Please! I wanted the necklace to break this horrible curse! — What curse?
Martina told them everything about the terrible curse she had to endure.
— So this necklace will break the curse? Yes. Will you give it to me? — Mm-hm. I want you to be able to break your curse. I only need Iohan's love for me.
Martina took the necklace, the curse was broken, and she became human again.
— I'm human! Oh, yay! Thank you so much! — Adel, I thought you had left me. Where were you?
Adel told him how she had been locked away and unhappy for three years for his sake.
— But it doesn't matter. We're together and now I'm your wife! — But I saw that your kingdom was completely destroyed. — I'm sorry, Iohan. When I first saw you, you still loved Adel and kept going to her kingdom. I tried to find her and curse her, but I couldn't find her. So, to stop you from going there, I cast a spell. So you'd see the kingdom totally destroyed and believe she was gone. But since I'm no longer cursed, I break this spell!
The Moral
And so Adel and Iohan lived happily together. King Stefan realized his mistake and swore never to be stubborn again. Adel didn't need a necklace. She had Iohan's love, and everyone who saw her could swear she was the most enchanting person.
— You have a wonderful voice, you know! — Oh, thank you, Shnel!
Remember that true love is stronger than any sorcery or obstacle.
