The Frog Prince

Once upon a time, in a far-off kingdom, there lived a beautiful princess. She was the youngest of the king’s daughters and loved nothing more than to wander in the gardens of the royal palace, especially near a sparkling, clear fountain in the middle of the forest. One day, the princess was playing with her favorite golden ball, tossing it high into the air and catching it with delight.

Princess (laughing): "Oh, how I love my golden ball! It is my most treasured toy!"

But as she threw it up one more time, the ball slipped from her fingers, bounced once, and fell deep into the fountain. The princess gasped and rushed to the edge, but the ball had sunk out of sight into the water.

Princess (distressed): "Oh no! My beautiful ball!"

As she sat by the fountain, weeping bitterly, she suddenly heard a voice.

Frog: "What is the matter, Princess? Why are you crying?"

Startled, the princess looked around and saw a small, green frog sitting at the edge of the fountain.

Princess (sniffling): "I lost my golden ball in the fountain. It’s sunk to the bottom, and I don’t know how to get it back."

The frog, seeing her sadness, croaked softly.

Frog: "I can help you retrieve your golden ball, but what will you give me in return?"

The princess, desperate to have her ball back, quickly offered anything.

Princess: "I will give you my jewels, my fine clothes, or even my crown if you want!"

But the frog shook his head.

Frog: "I do not want your jewels, your clothes, or your crown. If I retrieve your ball, you must promise to be my friend. You must let me eat from your plate, drink from your cup, and sleep in your palace."

The princess, thinking the frog’s request silly and not believing she would actually have to keep such a promise, hastily agreed.

Princess: "Very well! I promise. Just bring back my golden ball."

With that, the frog dove into the water, and after a short time, he emerged with the golden ball in his mouth. He hopped to the princess and dropped it at her feet.

Frog: "Here is your golden ball, Princess."

Delighted, the princess scooped up her ball and ran off without a second thought, leaving the frog behind.

Frog (calling after her): "Wait! Don’t forget your promise!"

But the princess ignored him and hurried back to the palace, thinking she had escaped the frog's strange request.

The next evening, as the princess sat down to dine with her father, the king, there was a knock at the door. The princess opened it to find the frog sitting on the steps, looking up at her with his big, bulging eyes.

Frog: "Princess, I have come to eat with you, just as you promised."

The princess, horrified that the frog had come to her palace, slammed the door shut. But the king, having heard the commotion, frowned.

King: "Who was that, my daughter?"

The princess hesitated, but she knew she could not lie to her father.

Princess (reluctantly): "It was a frog, Father. He helped me retrieve my golden ball from the fountain, and I made a promise to him that he could be my companion, but I didn’t think he would actually come."

The king’s face grew stern.

King: "A promise is a promise, my daughter. You must honor your word, even to a frog. Let him in."

With great reluctance, the princess let the frog into the dining hall. He hopped up to the table and looked at her expectantly.

Frog: "Lift me onto the table, Princess, so I may eat with you."

The princess cringed, but she did as the frog asked. He ate from her plate and drank from her cup, though she could barely look at him. After the meal, the frog spoke again.

Frog: "Now, take me to your room so I may sleep on your pillow."

The princess, now truly upset, looked at her father, but he only nodded. Unhappily, she carried the frog up to her room and placed him on her pillow.

As the night wore on, the princess grew more and more frustrated with the frog. Finally, in a fit of anger, she grabbed the frog and threw him against the wall.

Princess (angrily): "You’re nothing but a horrible, ugly frog!"

But as the frog hit the wall, a flash of magic filled the room. To the princess’s astonishment, the frog was no longer a frog, but a handsome prince standing before her.

Prince (smiling): "Thank you, Princess. Your kindness, though tested, has broken the enchantment that was placed upon me."

The princess gasped.

Princess: "Who... who are you?"

The prince explained that he had been cursed by an evil sorceress to live as a frog until a kind soul agreed to be his friend despite his appearance. Though her initial actions had been reluctant, the princess had kept her promise, and that was enough to break the spell.

The prince and the princess returned to the dining hall, where the king welcomed the prince with open arms. In time, the two grew to care for one another deeply, their friendship blossoming into love.

The prince and the princess were soon married, and they ruled the kingdom together with wisdom and kindness. The prince never forgot the lesson he had learned—that true friendship and love are not based on appearances but on the promises and kindness we show to one another.

And so, the prince and the princess lived happily ever after, with a golden ball still kept in the royal gardens, as a reminder of the day a simple frog became a prince once more.