The Princess and the Straw King

 


The Princess and the Straw King

Once upon a time in a kingdom nestled in the rolling hills of Portugal, there lived a beautiful princess named Isabel. She was loved by everyone in the kingdom for her kindness, but she had one flaw: she was very vain and proud of her beauty. Every day, she would gaze into the mirror and admire herself, refusing to see the importance of kindness and humility.

One day, a mysterious old man arrived at the castle. He was dressed in rags and looked like a beggar, but he had an air of wisdom about him. He approached Princess Isabel and said, “Oh, beautiful princess, I have a gift for you, but you must promise me one thing in return: that you will never boast about your beauty again.”

The princess, not understanding the significance of his words, laughed and said, “I will do anything, but only if the gift is something worthy of me.”

The old man smiled and handed her a bundle of straw. “This is a gift of wisdom,” he said. “Take it with you and never forget your promise.”

The princess, thinking the straw was of little value, dismissed the man and tossed it aside. “I will only accept gifts of gold and jewels, not this poor, simple straw,” she said to herself.

As soon as the straw touched the ground, a magical transformation occurred. The straw grew into a magnificent castle, with golden towers and shimmering windows. The princess was amazed, but also proud and excited. She entered the castle, but when she did, she found something strange: there was no one inside except for an old, hunched man sitting on a throne made of straw.

The man turned to her and spoke, “I am the Straw King. I was once a great king, but my vanity turned me into this humble form. You see, every time I boasted about my appearance or powers, I was punished, and now I remain in this form. The gift I gave you was not just straw—it was the key to my transformation.”

Princess Isabel, surprised and a bit frightened, asked, “But why me? Why have you brought me here?”

The Straw King replied, “You, too, are vain. You care more about your beauty than the hearts of others. You must understand that true beauty comes from within. If you can stay in this castle for one year without boasting or thinking of yourself above others, I will return to my true form, and you will be freed from this lesson. But if you fail, you will remain here forever.”

The princess, now humbled, agreed. She spent the days in the straw castle, reflecting on her pride and vanity. Over time, she learned to be kind and caring, no longer focused on her beauty, but on the beauty of the world around her. She helped the animals and plants grow, took care of the land, and befriended everyone she met. Slowly, the straw castle began to bloom with vibrant flowers, and the once-barren land turned into a peaceful garden.

After one year, the Straw King appeared before her. He smiled and said, “You have learned the lesson of humility and kindness. You have transformed, and so have I.”

With that, the Straw King turned back into his true form: a handsome prince, radiating warmth and grace. The princess, now truly beautiful in spirit, no longer cared for outward beauty, for she had learned that true beauty comes from within.

The prince and the princess married, and they ruled the kingdom together, spreading kindness and love to all.

Moral of the Story:

This fairy tale teaches the importance of humility and inner beauty. It reminds us that pride and vanity can lead to downfall, but kindness and selflessness lead to true transformation and happiness. The tale is a beautiful reflection of Portuguese values, focusing on wisdom, humility, and love.

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