THE KING AND THE FOUR MAIDENS

THE KING AND THE FOUR MAIDENS

A Short Moral Story.

One day, an old and famous king said to his son, the prince. 

"My son, you should look for a wife and get married. You're my only son and would ascend the throne immediately after my death. It is our tradition for the prince to choose a bride in order to properly represent the throne".

The prince said.

"But father, I'm in love with four maidens and I don't know who to marry. How do I choose between them?".

The king thought for a moment, then commanded one of the guards.

"Go to the four maidens and tell them to meet me in the palace at the first crow of the cock tomorrow morning".

Then he whispered into the prince's ear. 

"Go to your room and don't come out until I tell you to".

The following morning, the four maidens presented themselves at the royal palace. Upon meeting them, the king showed them a gloomy face and said.

"My heart is sour as my son, the prince has been struck ill with typhoid from drinking bad water on his return from North Africa. Ever since he became sick, he has no appetite, he wouldn't eat anything brought to him. I know very well that the four of you are close to the prince and you know what his favourite food is. Now, I want each of you to prepare him his favourite meal. I shall taste the meals after you're done. And any girl who cooks the most delicious meal will marry the prince, heir apparent to the throne. Yes, the best cook among you will become the royal bride".

The king soon afterwards dismissed the maidens. At dusk, the four maidens returned to the king, each with her bowl of steaming soup. The palace was filled with the delicious and mesmerizing aromas of the soups.

The king began to taste the soups. The first maiden's soup tasted so wonderful with all the fresh herbs and vegetables in it. The second maiden's soup tasted unbelievably good with spicy chicken. The third maiden's soup was great as well. However, the fourth maiden's soup was quite different from the others. It was bland and tasteless, and everyone silently mocked her for being such a bad cook.

The following morning, the king summoned everyone to his courtyard  to announce the wedding of the prince. Then he said.

"The prince will marry the maiden who cooked the tasteless soup".

Everyone was completely astonished. Then the king's advisor whispered to him.

"Why, your majesty?".

The king smiled and said.

"She is genuine, caring and very smart. Anyone who is close to the prince should know that he suffers from bowel disease and doesn't eat spicy and salty food. The other maidens cooked just to impress me, but she cooked for the prince's health and well-being".

MORAL LESSONS: 

Be smart, be genuine and don't try to impress and please people. Always be yourself and do what you know is right.