The Princess and the Pea

Once upon a time there was a prince. He lived in a little castle by the sea. The prince wanted very much to marry. But he wanted to marry only a real princess. Not just any princess. A true, real princess. No other would do. So he packed his little suitcase. He set his crown upon his head. And he went out into the world to look.

The prince travelled over hills and valleys. He travelled over seas and great forests. He met many princesses on his journey. One princess laughed far too loudly. One princess did not know the name of a flower. One princess could not say good morning. There was always something that was not quite right. Never quite as it should be. At last the prince went home again. He was tired and a little sad.

Back home at the castle lived the prince's mother and father. They were the old king and the old queen. They saw that the prince was sad. 'Do not worry, little one', said the queen. 'We shall find a real princess for you.' The queen was very wise. She knew how to find true things. But she did not say a word about her plan. She only smiled to herself.

One evening a terrible storm came. The sky turned black as night. The thunder rumbled. The lightning lit up the whole sky. The rain poured down in torrents. The wind howled around the castle towers. Inside the castle the fire glowed warm. The queen listened to the rain against the windows. Then she heard something else too. Knock, knock, knock. Someone was knocking at the big castle gate.

The old king took his lantern. He went down to the gate himself. He opened the great heavy door. The wind tugged at his coat. And out there in the rain stood a girl. She was all alone. She was wet from top to toe. Water ran from her hair. Water ran from her dress. It ran into her shoes at the front. And it ran out at the heels behind.

The girl smiled anyway in the middle of the rain. She had a tiny dripping crown on her head. 'Good evening, dear king', she said. 'I am a real princess. May I come in for a little while?' The old king was astonished. A real princess? In this rainy puddle? He invited her in all the same. 'Come in, come in, little friend, you must be freezing.' The queen looked at the girl. And she smiled her secret little smile.