The prince gathered 99 masked girls from all corners of the kingdom and vowed to marry the one whose voice would conquer his heart: but when the chosen one removed her mask, the entire palace froze in horror at what they saw 😱
The prince had long been known throughout the kingdom not only for his wealth and title, but also for his strange stubbornness. He had long since turned twenty-five, neighboring kings and dukes constantly offered him brides from the most noble families, yet not a single girl ever managed to conquer his heart. Some were beautiful, others intelligent, still others came from ancient lineages, but each time after the acquaintance the prince merely smiled politely and said: “No. This is not the girl I am looking for.” The courtiers were already beginning to worry.
The king was growing old, and the heir still would not marry. One day, during another ball, the prince suddenly announced his decision before the entire court. “I love music more than anything in the world. I want my future wife to be able to sing in such a way that her voice touches the heart. Therefore I announce a special selection.” The guests immediately fell silent. “In a month, girls from all over the kingdom will arrive at the palace. And I vow to marry the one whose voice turns out to be more beautiful than the others.” A noise immediately ran through the hall. But the prince raised his hand and continued: “So that everything is fair, each participant will perform in a mask. I do not want to see either faces or outfits. I will listen only to the voice.” This news spread throughout the whole country.
Heiresses of rich families, daughters of counts, princes and influential merchants began to flock to the palace. Each dreamed of becoming the future princess. On the appointed day, the huge throne room was filled with guests. On the dais sat the prince himself. Before him was a stage. Onto the stage, one after another, came girls in identical masks. The first sang beautifully. The second even better. The third surprised many guests. But the prince merely listened calmly and shook his head. “Next.”
This continued for several hours. One girl, after the refusal, burst into tears right on the stage. Another ran out of the hall, covering her face with her hands. A third could not hold back her tears and left the palace together with her relatives. When the ninety-eighth participant performed, many decided that the prince would again choose no one. But then the doors opened. Into the hall came the last girl. She wore a simple dark mask. No jewels. No expensive decorations. No one even paid her any particular attention. The guests began to whisper. “Probably another one who will lose.” “All the best ones have already performed.” “She certainly has no chance.”
The girl slowly rose onto the stage. In the hall, silence fell. Then the music began to play. And the girl began to sing. Already after the first words, people began to exchange surprised glances. Her voice was so beautiful that it seemed as if it were not a human singing, but a fairy-tale bird. Some guests stopped breathing from admiration. The musicians themselves forgot to play their parts.
Even the guards at the doors listened without taking their eyes away. And the prince, for the first time in the whole day, leaned forward on his throne. He did not take his gaze off the stage. With each second, his eyes became brighter. When the song ended, absolute silence reigned in the hall. And then loud applause rang out. People rose from their places. Some women wiped away tears. The prince slowly stood up. He looked at the girl for a few seconds. After which he pronounced loudly: “I have made my choice.” The hall again fell silent. “I will marry you. Remove your mask.”
An agitated whisper rolled through the palace. Everyone wanted to see the lucky one. The girl carefully raised her hands. And removed the mask. Seeing what was hidden under the velvet mask, the entire palace and even the prince himself turned out to be in complete shock 😳😱
The continuation of this story can be found in the first comment 👇
In the next second, a general gasp rolled through the hall.
Many guests literally froze in place. Some courtiers did not believe their eyes. Because before them stood not at all the daughter of a count. Not an heiress of a rich lineage. Not a princess and not a noblewoman. Before the prince stood an ordinary palace servant. That very girl who every day cleaned the corridors, brought flowers to the chambers and helped in the kitchen. “This is impossible…” “A servant?” “How did she even get into the selection?” People exchanged shocked glances. And the girl lowered her eyes. She understood that now she could be driven out of the palace.
Finally the prince asked: “Is it really you?” The servant quietly nodded. “Forgive me, Your Highness. I knew that I would never be allowed to participate. Therefore I decided to put on a mask and simply try my luck.” The girl sighed deeply and added: “I have loved you for a long time. Probably this is foolish. I understood that I had no chances. But at least once I wanted you to hear my voice.” After these words, many expected the prince’s anger. But he unexpectedly smiled. And then descended from his throne. The whole hall watched him in complete silence. The prince approached the servant and took her by the hand. “That is precisely why I ordered everyone to wear masks.”
The guests exchanged surprised glances. “I wanted to see not titles and not wealth. I wanted to find a person who could touch my heart. And today I found her.” The girl’s lips trembled. Tears rolled down her cheeks. And the prince turned to the guests and pronounced loudly: “In a month our wedding will take place.” This time the hall exploded with applause.
