The Princess and the Peas

A prince hoped to find a friend who spoke honestly and kindly. He visited many places, but returned home disappointed. His mother, the queen, kept wondering how to recognise a truly genuine princess.

One evening, thunder rolled above the palace. Rain struck the windows and wind rattled the gate. A traveller knocked loudly, and the king himself went to see who needed shelter from the storm.

A young woman stood outside, her hair and cloak soaked. She said she was a princess travelling home. The family welcomed her inside, brought dry clothes and offered a warm meal near the fire.

The queen secretly prepared an unusual bed. She placed three tiny peas on its base, then stacked many thin mattresses above them. A soft quilt covered the enormous pile, which stood on a broad frame.

The princess climbed the safe steps beside the bed and settled beneath the quilt. Everything looked comfortable. Yet a strange lump seemed to press through the layers whenever she tried to lie still.

She turned one way, then the other, listening to the rain. Morning finally came, and she was glad to get up. At breakfast, the queen asked whether she had slept well in the guest room.

The princess answered honestly that something hard had kept her awake. The queen looked astonished: her secret peas had been noticed through all those mattresses. The prince admired the visitor's truthful reply.

The queen showed everyone the three peas and explained her old-fashioned test. Then she apologised for spoiling a tired guest's rest. The princess accepted the apology and suggested a simpler bed that evening.

The peas were placed in a small glass case as a curious reminder. The princess and prince spent the day talking and laughing. Neither needed a tall pile of mattresses to recognise kindness.

That night, the guest room held an ordinary bed and no hidden peas. The princess slept peacefully. Outside, the storm had passed, and the palace welcomed its visitor with comfort instead of a test.