The Princess and the Pea
A Powerful Kingdom and a Spoiled Prince
Once upon a time, there was a powerful kingdom. The Queen of the kingdom always did things exactly as she wished. She was very possessive of the prince at court, who was her only son.
She offered the prince only the best. The most beautiful clothes, the most exquisite food, the best teachers to educate him, and much more.
The Search for a True Princess
When the prince grew up and it was time for him to marry, the Queen called him to her chamber.
— A prince must marry a princess, but he must find her himself. Remember a few things when choosing your bride. Don't just look for a beautiful face. — A princess is not just the daughter of a king and queen. She must be a delicate, intelligent, and graceful girl. She should dress with good taste and walk with dignity. — And most importantly, the first thing you will notice about a princess is that a true princess has the voice of an angel.
The First Princess: A Squeaky Voice
The prince agreed with the Queen, and she allowed him to embark on a journey to find his bride. The prince, accompanied by his servants, rode for several days to reach the nearest kingdom. He went to the king and introduced himself.
The king was delighted with the prince, as he was handsome and well-mannered. He took him to his daughter, who was of marriageable age. The prince was delighted when he saw the beautiful princess in her room. She was reading a poem and was dressed with good taste.
— Hello, Princess! — Hello!
The prince was shocked, because the princess had a squeaky voice.
— Are you feeling well? Shall I bring you some water? — No, no, I'm not thirsty. — Oh, alright, please. Continue your poem. I must leave now, as it's getting late. It was nice to meet you.
The Second Princess: Too Busy Eating
The prince was disappointed for a while, but he continued his journey to the next neighboring kingdom. He arrived at the castle and presented himself to the king. The king and queen were so delighted by the prince's charm that they invited him to meet the princess.
The prince went to the princess's room. He saw a beautiful princess, who was seated at the table. She was just having lunch. The prince greeted her, but she didn't even look at him. She was eating with great appetite.
— Princess, you seem a little busy. I'll let you enjoy your favorite meal.
The Prince's Return Home and Disappointment
And so the prince left the kingdom. After traveling for days through countless places, the prince still hadn't managed to find a suitable girl to marry. He was disappointed. So he returned to his own kingdom.
His parents came out to meet him. He told them the whole story of his journey.
— Oh, how sad! But I'm glad you came back without choosing any of those girls. I'm convinced your life would have been dreadful if you had married any of them.
The prince agreed with the Queen and returned to his room.
A Storm and an Unexpected Visitor
That evening, a thunderstorm began. The prince was looking out from his chamber window. He saw someone approaching the castle. The person knocked on the door. The servant opened it.
Outside stood a beautiful girl. She was dressed in a heavy cloak and was soaked to the skin from the rain. The prince came downstairs when he heard the girl's gentle voice.
— My coachman got lost because of the rain. I guided myself by the castle lights. Would you be so kind as to offer us shelter for the night?
The Prince Meets the Girl, the Queen is Skeptical
— Of course! You are most welcome! Allow me to take your cloak.
The prince welcomed her to the castle. As he took her cloak, he thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He asked the servants to take care of her and went to tell the Queen.
She came with him to see her. At first sight, the Queen did not like her.
— Son, she is no princess! Look at her dirty, muddy dress! She's not accompanied by servants. And why would a princess travel in such rain?
The Queen's Test: The Pea
— But Mother, I've never seen such a beautiful girl who walks so gracefully!
The Queen realized that the prince had fallen in love with her. She devised a plan to get rid of her, proving that she was not a princess.
— I will put her to the test. Tonight, we will have her sleep in a royal bed. And beneath the ten luxurious mattresses, I will place a raw pea. If she is truly a princess, she will be delicate enough to feel the pea.
A Sleepless Night
The prince trusted his mother. The Queen ordered the servants to place the pea under the girl's bed. The prince took the girl to her room. A ladder was needed to reach the bed.
She couldn't sleep all night. She woke up the next morning and called a servant.
— I didn't rest at all. Please don't tell the prince, but the bed is dreadful. It felt as if there was a brick underneath it. I couldn't sleep all night.
The True Princess and the Happy Ending
The prince learned of the girl's discomfort. He hurried to her.
— You are a true princess, aren't you? Please, marry me! — I will marry you as long as I don't have to sleep in this bed again!
The prince and princess got married and lived happily ever after.
