Prince Milan
Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a king with a beard so long it reached his feet. He was the mighty King Kahota, and his kingdom stretched over five rivers and three forests.
The king wished to travel everywhere in his kingdom to see if all was well. Therefore, for a year, he visited the farthest corners of the kingdom, and when he saw that everything was well, he began his journey home.
The Encounter with the Lake Monster
One very hot day, the king and his companions decided to rest.
— The sun is burning everything today. If we travel at noon, we won't get far, so let's stay here for a couple of hours until it cools down. Then we'll resume our journey.
Suddenly, the king became so thirsty he thought he would die if he didn't drink something. So he got on his horse to look for a river or a lake. He searched everywhere and came to a lake with water as blue and clear as a tear.
The king was so thirsty that he lay down on the bank and began to drink water like a cat. After he had had his fill, the king wanted to get up, but something held his beard tightly. He saw a large green face looking at him from under the water.
— Let me go, or you'll pay dearly! — Your threats don't scare me, for my world is here, under the water. But I'll let you go on one condition. — Which one? — You must give me the most precious thing in your palace, though you don't know it exists. — Very well, I promise!
At that moment, the monster released the king's beard.
The Birth of Prince Milan and the King's Promise
The king finally arrived at the palace and was greeted with great pomp and joy. His queen was waiting for him at the palace gates.
— Oh, my dear, look what the angels have brought us while you were away! Our son, the prince of this kingdom!
The king heard the queen's words, but in his mind, the monster's voice echoed:
— You must give me the most precious thing in your palace, though you don't know it exists.
The king then understood that the monster was asking for his son.
— Hmm, so that's what the monster meant. He wants my son. — What is it, my dear? Aren't you happy to see our son? — Oh, my darling, I am very happy. So happy I don't know what to say. My son, the prince of the kingdom!
The king couldn't sleep for nights, fearing that the monster would take his beloved son. He made sure his son was continuously well-guarded.
Prince Milan and the Monster's Challenge
But time passed, and the prince grew into a brave and clever young man, interested in many arts and herbs, and the king forgot his fear of the monster. However, one day, while the prince was in the forest, he separated from his companions and began to explore the woods, when suddenly...
— Aha! Prince Milan, son of the mighty King of Kahota! — Do I know you, sir? — You don't, but your father does. Tell him you met me and that I'm still waiting for him to keep his promise. We'll meet again soon, my son. Goodbye!
The prince told the king about the strange visitor, and the king had no choice but to tell his family about the promise he had made to the monster years ago, without knowing that the monster wanted his son. When he heard the story, the prince said:
— Father, promises must be kept. I will go myself to the green monster. — Son, someone wasn't fair. Is this the payment for a few sips of water? — Mother, whatever it is, we must keep our promises. Things are never as bad as they seem. I'm sure I'll find a way to return. Now let me go.
The king and queen knew the prince was right, so, reluctantly, they sent him into the forest, to the green monster's lake.
The Golden Palace on Canvas
When the prince arrived at the lake, he saw ten ducklings swimming there and ten sets of clothes on the bank. The prince hid behind a tree. One by one, the ducklings came out and dressed. Suddenly, they transformed into beautiful maidens and left. Only the last maiden remained behind.
— Who is that I feel hiding behind the tree? — I'm sorry, maiden. When I saw you in the water, I didn't know what to do. — What are you doing here, Prince Milan?
The prince explained to the princess about his father's promise.
— If you know my name, surely you know the promise my father made to the ruler of this lake a long time ago. — I am the daughter of this ruler. I am Princess Haisindia, his youngest daughter. Well, I think that was quite a high price for a few sips of water. Hmm, but come with me, I will take you to my father.
Princess Haisindia tapped the ground three times, and the prince and princess arrived in a magnificent palace before the green monster.
— Aha! You've finally come, Prince Milan! — Yes, Your Highness. I have come to fulfill the promise my father made to you long ago. — Finally! Well, tonight you may rest, but tomorrow you must build me a palace of gold with a thousand rooms and a garden with a thousand flowers. Otherwise, your head will be where your feet are! Ha ha ha! — Why wait until tomorrow, Your Highness? This is an impossible task for me. I don't know how to build a normal castle, let alone one of gold. — You have all day tomorrow. Find a way!
The prince sat in his room, wondering what to do.
— This feat can only be accomplished with the help of magic! Or...
Suddenly, Princess Haisindia appeared.
— Yes, you need magic to build the castle. Sleep, Prince. I will make the palace in the blink of an eye, using magic. — No, Princess. That would be cheating. The challenge was given to me, and I must complete it without cheating. — But father asked for you from your father for a few mouthfuls of water. It wasn't fair. — But in all these years, your father has done nothing to me. And even if your father was fair or not, I will not cheat. If you want to help me, you can do me a favor. — Anything you ask of me.
So the prince asked the princess for something, and in the morning he went confidently to the monster.
— So, have you prepared the palace? — Yes, Your Highness. Here it is! — What?! — You asked me to make you a palace of gold, with a thousand rooms and a thousand flowers. Well, go ahead and count the flowers and rooms here. You didn't say you wanted me to build it on the ground. So I built it on canvas. That's all! — Ha ha ha! A clever move, Prince Milan! I admit, you are right. Well, you must do one more thing for me, then I will let you go to your father. — I will do my best, Sire.
The Stolen Diamond and the Last Wish
The monster showed the prince a diamond.
— Look, a diamond! It's in my hand. If you can steal it from me by morning, you are free! Otherwise, your head will be where your feet are! Ha ha ha!
That night, Prince Milan thought again about how to take the diamond from the monster's hand. Again, he heard a knock at the window. Princess Haisindia appeared.
— Tonight you will surely need magic to do your job. Let me, and I will bring you the diamond right now. — No, Princess. That would be cheating. Thank you for your help. — But what father asks of you is not fair. It's not right! — So it may be, but I will not cheat. However, if you wish, you can help me. Will you bring me something? — Anything you ask of me.
In the morning, the prince went to the monster's court, frightened and certain of death.
— Look, Prince Milan! The diamond is still with me. You failed to complete the challenge! — You are right. I accept defeat. — In that case, I must cut off your head! Are you ready? — Yes, Your Highness. Before you cut off my head, can you grant me one wish? I hope you agree that I played fair, right? — All right. I will grant you one wish. You can ask me for anything, but not a diamond! Ha ha ha! — I wish you to cut off my head, but from here and not from here, because this toy looks like me. My neck and head are still mine. And you only said you had to cut off my head. You never said I had to die! Ha ha ha!
The Victory of Wisdom and the Union of Kingdoms
— Well, I'll be! A clever move, Prince Milan! Very good. You didn't keep your promise, now I will keep mine. You may go home. Tell your father he has a good son, who is wise and clever and who did not fall prey to temptation. — Temptation? — Father asked me to ask you to cheat, to see if you would give in. But you didn't! You remained calm and confident and won fairly. For that, you deserve to live and rule your kingdom! Ha ha ha! — Your Highness, am I to understand that we are now friends? — Friends! Tell your father that he no longer has anything to fear from me and that from now on we will be friends forever. And, if you agree, I would like my daughter to marry you. You would be a good husband. — Huh? — Excuse me, did I say something I shouldn't have? — No, no! We want to get married! Ha ha ha!
And so, the prince returned to his kingdom, the two enemies became friends, and the prince and Haisindia lived happily ever after.
The moral of the story is that wisdom, courage, and integrity are stronger than any challenge, and promises must be kept, even when they seem impossible.
The End.
