The Queen Bee
Once upon a time, in a lush, green forest where the trees whispered secrets to the wind and the rivers sang lullabies, there lived three brothers. They were princes from a faraway kingdom, and they had set out on an adventure to seek their fortunes. The eldest was proud and boastful, the middle brother was clever but impatient, and the youngest, whose name was Simpleton, was kind-hearted and gentle. Though his brothers often mocked him for his simplicity, Simpleton had a wisdom that came from his pure soul.
One day, as the brothers wandered deeper into the forest, they came upon a magnificent castle made of shimmering stone. Its towers reached high into the sky, and its gates were adorned with intricate carvings of animals and flowers. But something was strange—the castle was eerily silent, as if it had been abandoned for years. Curious, the brothers decided to explore.
As they entered the castle, they found a table set with a feast fit for kings. Roasted meats, golden bread, and goblets of sparkling wine awaited them. The brothers, hungry from their journey, sat down to eat. But as they reached for the food, a tiny voice cried out, "Stop! Do not touch the feast, or you will be cursed!"
The brothers looked around but saw no one. The voice came again, and this time they noticed a little gray mouse sitting on the table. "This castle belongs to an enchanted princess," the mouse explained. "She has been cursed by a wicked sorcerer, and anyone who eats her food will share her fate."
The eldest brother scoffed. "Nonsense! I am not afraid of curses," he said, and he began to eat. The middle brother hesitated but eventually gave in to his hunger. Only Simpleton listened to the mouse and refused to touch the food.
Suddenly, the air grew cold, and the castle seemed to come alive. The walls groaned, and the brothers found themselves surrounded by strange creatures—bees, ants, and ducks, all chattering in human voices. The mouse transformed into a beautiful fairy, who said, "You have ignored my warning and brought the curse upon yourselves. To break it, you must complete three tasks. Fail, and you will remain trapped here forever."
The first task was to gather a thousand pearls scattered across the forest floor. The eldest brother set out confidently, but he grew frustrated and gave up after finding only a handful. The middle brother tried next, but he too failed. Finally, Simpleton took up the challenge. As he searched, he noticed a line of ants struggling to carry a heavy crumb. Without hesitation, he helped them, and in gratitude, the ants gathered all the pearls for him.
The second task was to retrieve a golden key from the bottom of a deep, dark lake. The eldest brother dove in but quickly surfaced, shivering and empty-handed. The middle brother tried to use a net but caught only weeds. Simpleton, however, saw a family of ducks paddling nearby. He gently asked for their help, and one duck dove down and brought up the key in its beak.
The final task was the hardest: to choose the youngest sister of the enchanted princess from among her twelve identical siblings. The brothers were led to a room where the twelve sisters stood in a row, each wearing a veil. The eldest brother guessed randomly and chose the wrong sister. The middle brother tried to use logic but also failed. Simpleton, remembering the kindness of the bees he had met earlier, whispered a request. A bee flew into the room and landed on the true youngest sister, revealing her identity.
With the tasks completed, the curse was broken. The castle came alive with light and music, and the princess was freed from her enchantment. She thanked Simpleton for his kindness and wisdom, and the two fell in love. They were married in a grand ceremony, and Simpleton became the ruler of the enchanted castle.
As for his brothers, they learned the value of humility and kindness. They returned to their kingdom, carrying with them the lessons they had learned. And so, Simpleton, the kind-hearted prince, lived happily ever after, proving that true wisdom lies not in pride or cleverness, but in a gentle and compassionate heart.
And that, dear children, is the tale of the Queen Bee, a story of kindness, courage, and the magic that comes from helping others.
