Once upon a time, in a kingdom far and wide, lived a king blessed with twelve daughters, each more beautiful than the last. These were not ordinary princesses; they were enigmatic figures who held a nightly secret. Every evening, as the castle doors were locked and sealed, the princesses would retire to their shared bedchamber. Yet, with the dawn, a perplexing mystery would unfold – their delicate shoes, meant for royal promenades, were inexplicably worn out, as if they had danced through the entire night.
The king, troubled and intrigued by this nightly phenomenon, was determined to uncover the truth. He issued a royal decree across the land, promising a grand reward to anyone who could solve the riddle of The Dancing Princesses. The reward was substantial: the hand of a princess in marriage, with the eldest available to the successful candidate, and the inheritance of the kingdom upon the king’s passing. However, the stakes were high. Failure to unravel the secret within three days and nights would be met with a severe consequence – death.
Courageous suitors, enticed by the prospect of royal marriage and a kingdom, arrived at the castle. The first was a king’s son, full of confidence and determination. He was given the best hospitality and lodged in a chamber adjacent to the princesses’ room. His mission was clear: to stay awake and observe where the princesses disappeared to each night. The door to his chamber was deliberately left ajar, ensuring no sound escaped his notice. However, despite his valiant intentions, slumber overcame the prince. He awoke to find the same baffling evidence – twelve pairs of shoes, each bearing the tell-tale signs of tireless dancing.
The prince’s failure was repeated for the next two nights. True to his word, the king, though saddened, carried out the decreed punishment. Suitor after suitor followed, each meeting the same fate. The mystery of the dancing princesses remained unsolved, shrouded in secrecy and danger.
As fate would have it, an old soldier, weathered by battles and seeking a peaceful end to his days, wandered into the kingdom. While traversing a dense wood, he encountered an old woman, her eyes wise and knowing. She inquired about his journey, and the soldier, weary and perhaps with a flicker of adventurous spirit left, confided his vague ambition to solve the mystery of the dancing princesses, half-jokingly suggesting it might be his path to becoming king.
The old woman, with a knowing smile, revealed, “The task is not as arduous as it seems, but heed my words. When one of the princesses offers you wine in the evening, refuse it. Pretend to fall into a deep sleep once she departs.” She then gifted him a cloak, whispering, “Wear this, and you shall become invisible. It will guide you to the princesses’ secret dancing place.” Intrigued and with nothing to lose, the soldier decided to try his luck. He presented himself to the king, declaring his willingness to undertake the challenge.
The soldier was welcomed as warmly as his predecessors. Royal garments were bestowed upon him, and as evening descended, he was led to the designated chamber. As he was about to settle in, the eldest princess approached, offering a goblet of wine. Remembering the old woman’s advice, the soldier discreetly disposed of the wine, feigning to drink. He then lay down, and after a short while, began to snore loudly, mimicking deep sleep.
Upon hearing the soldier’s theatrical snoring, the twelve princesses erupted in laughter. The eldest princess remarked dismissively, “This one too could have chosen a wiser path than to forfeit his life in this manner!” They proceeded to their wardrobes and jewel boxes, retrieving exquisite gowns and sparkling jewelry. Adorning themselves before the mirror, they twirled and skipped, their excitement for the night’s escapade palpable.
However, the youngest princess voiced a premonition, “I feel uneasy tonight, sisters. A sense of misfortune hangs in the air.” The eldest sister scoffed, “Silly girl, you are always fearful. Have you forgotten the countless princes who have failed? And as for the soldier, even without my sleeping draught, he would be sound asleep by now.”
Once they were fully adorned, the eldest princess approached her bed and clapped her hands. Incredibly, the bed descended into the floor, revealing a hidden trapdoor. One by one, the princesses disappeared into the opening, the eldest leading the way. The soldier, witnessing this spectacle, sprang from his bed, donned the invisible cloak, and followed them down the secret passage.
Midway down the stairs, in his haste, the soldier inadvertently stepped on the hem of the youngest princess’s gown. She exclaimed, “Something is amiss! Someone tugged at my dress!” The eldest sister quickly dismissed her concern, “Nonsense, child, it is merely a nail protruding from the wall.”
They continued their descent and emerged into a breathtaking grove. The trees shimmered with silver leaves, their beauty otherworldly. Desiring a memento of this magical place, the soldier broke off a small silver branch. Instantly, a loud crack echoed through the grove. The youngest princess trembled, “Did you hear that? Something is not right. Such a noise has never occurred before.” But the eldest sister reassured her, “It is merely the princes, cheering for joy at our arrival.”
They journeyed onward to a second grove, where the leaves were made of pure gold, and then to a third, where diamond leaves glittered brilliantly. At each grove, the soldier took a branch as a token, and each time, a loud sound echoed, further unsettling the youngest princess. Yet, the eldest princess maintained her explanation of joyous princes.
Finally, they reached a vast lake. Twelve small boats awaited them at the shore, each occupied by a handsome prince, seemingly anticipating their arrival. Each princess boarded a boat, and the soldier, unseen, joined the youngest princess in hers. As they sailed across the lake, the prince rowing the youngest princess and the invisible soldier remarked, “I am weary tonight. Though I row with all my strength, the boat feels unusually heavy, and we are moving slower than usual.” “It is simply the warm night air,” the princess replied, “I too feel quite warm.”
On the opposite shore stood a magnificent, illuminated castle, from which joyous music of horns and trumpets resonated. They disembarked and entered the castle, where each prince danced with his princess. The invisible soldier, too, joined the revelry, dancing alongside them, unseen. Whenever a princess was served wine, he would drink it before she could, leaving her cup mysteriously empty. This further spooked the youngest princess, but the eldest sister consistently silenced her fears.
They danced until three in the morning, at which point their shoes were utterly worn out. The princes rowed them back across the lake. This time, the soldier strategically placed himself in the boat with the eldest princess. Upon reaching the shore near the castle, the princes bid them farewell, with promises to meet again the following night.
The soldier, swift and silent, raced ahead of the princesses, returning to his chamber and feigning sleep once more. As the twelve weary sisters ascended the stairs, they heard his loud snoring, and reassured, they whispered, “All is safe.” They changed into their nightclothes, put away their finery, and collapsed into their beds, exhausted from their nightly adventure.
The next morning, the soldier remained silent about his nocturnal observations, determined to witness the spectacle again. He repeated his invisible journey for the second and third nights, each night mirroring the first. On the third night, as a final piece of evidence, the soldier purloined a golden cup from the underground castle.
When the time arrived for him to reveal the secret, he was brought before the king, presenting the three branches and the golden cup as proof. The twelve princesses stood anxiously behind a door, listening intently.
The king questioned, “Where do my twelve daughters dance each night?”
The soldier declared, “With twelve princes in a castle beneath the earth.” He recounted his invisible journey, detailing the underground world, and presented the branches and the golden cup as tangible evidence.
The king summoned the princesses, demanding the truth. Confronted with undeniable proof and their secret exposed, the princesses confessed everything.
The king, impressed and grateful, turned to the soldier and asked, “Which of my daughters will you choose for your wife?” The soldier, considering his age and perhaps the wisdom he had gained, replied, “I am no longer young, so I will choose the eldest.” And so, on that very day, they were married, and the soldier, the once weary traveler, was declared the king’s heir, his adventure transforming him into royalty.
