The Tale of Unconditional Love: A Lesson from the Kingdom

Once upon a time, in a grand kingdom, there lived a benevolent king and his three beloved daughters. The king adored his daughters dearly and one day, he decided to put their love to the test to ascertain the depth of their affection.

A Father’s Testing Resolve

Gathering his daughters around him, the king posed a simple question to each of them, “How much do you love me?” The eldest daughter replied, “Dearest father, I love you as much as all the heroes in the world combined.” Delighted, the king turned to the second daughter, who responded, “Dear father, I love you as much as all the gold and silver in the world, and even more.” The king beamed with joy.

Unforeseen Challenges

It was then the turn of the youngest daughter. “My dear father and king,” she began, “I love you as much as the humble salt.” Taken aback by her seemingly underwhelming response, the king exclaimed in anger, “How dare you! How could you love me merely as much as salt?”

The Youngest’s Courageous Departure

Heartbroken, the youngest princess left the palace in tears, finding solace in the depths of the nearby forest. As she wept, a passing prince noticed her distress and was captivated by her beauty. He took her to his palace and soon proposed to her.

A Secret Unveiled

The young princess, however, laid a condition before the prince, that she would only marry him if her father, the king, accepted their union. Sadly, her father was displeased with her, forbidding her to return to the palace. In an attempt to reconcile, the prince decided to send a wedding invitation to the king.

The Unexpected Revelation

To the prince’s surprise, the clever princess had omitted the fact that she was the youngest daughter of the king. When the day of the wedding arrived, the king attended the celebration. Sitting at the feast, he noticed the absence of salt on the table. Unable to eat without it, a veiled maiden appeared and offered him salt, declaring, “Here is the salt. I hope the taste of the meal improves.”

A Father’s Realization

Recognizing the voice, the king raised the veil and saw his youngest daughter. Overcome with shame, he sought her forgiveness, and she lovingly pardoned him. The king, the prince, and the princess began to live happily, learning the value of unconditional love and humility.

This tale from the past teaches us that love can be expressed in countless forms, and its true essence lies in the depth of our feelings rather than the grandiosity of our expressions.