Princess and the Pea
Once upon a time, in a kingdom surrounded by rolling green hills and sparkling rivers, there lived a young prince. Despite his royal duties, the prince had only one wish: to find a true princess—someone with a kind heart, a sharp mind, and the courage to lead alongside him.
The search for a true princess wasn’t easy. Many came to the castle claiming to be of noble birth, but the prince could tell they were more interested in jewels and titles than love and duty.
One stormy evening, as lightning lit up the sky and rain poured down in sheets, there was a knock at the castle door. The prince opened it to find a young woman standing there, drenched to the bone, her long hair clinging to her face, her clothes muddy from travel.
“I am a princess,” she said, her voice trembling but strong. “My carriage overturned, and I was separated from my guards. May I seek shelter here for the night?”
The queen, suspicious of the young woman’s claim, decided to test her. “If she is a true princess,” the queen thought, “her sensitivity will reveal it.”
The queen ordered the servants to prepare a bed piled high with twenty mattresses. Beneath the bottom mattress, she placed a single pea. “Sleep well,” the queen said with a knowing smile.
The next morning, the queen and prince awaited the young woman at breakfast. She entered, looking pale and weary.
“Did you sleep well, my dear?” the queen asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The young woman hesitated. “I appreciate your hospitality, Your Majesty, but I must admit, I had a restless night. There was something hard beneath the bed that kept poking me. It was unbearable!”
The queen gasped in delight. “Only a true princess would feel a tiny pea beneath twenty mattresses!” she declared.
The prince, impressed not only by her delicate sensitivity but also by her courage to speak the truth, felt his heart swell with admiration. He asked her about her journey, her dreams, and her values, and the more they spoke, the more he knew she was the one he had been searching for.
The young woman stayed at the castle, and over time, the prince and the princess fell deeply in love. They were married in a grand celebration, with the pea encased in glass and placed in the royal hall as a reminder that true worth lies in what’s inside.
And so, the prince and his true princess ruled their kingdom with kindness and wisdom, proving that love, honesty, and courage are the real marks of royalty.
Moral:
True nobility lies in one’s character, not just in titles or appearances.