Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there was a beautiful princess who lived in a grand castle. The princess had many treasures, but her favorite was a golden ball. She would often play with it in the castle garden, where the sun shone brightly and flowers bloomed in every color of the rainbow.
One sunny afternoon, as the princess was tossing her golden ball into the air, it slipped from her grasp and rolled away. She chased after it, laughing, until it disappeared into a deep, dark well. The princess stopped at the edge of the well, her laughter turning to tears. She peered into the well, but it was too dark to see anything. Her golden ball was gone, and she felt so sad and helpless.
As she sat there, crying, a strange voice called out from the well. “Why are you crying, fair princess?” It was a frog, sitting on a stone at the bottom of the well. The princess looked down at the frog and said, “Oh, my golden ball has fallen into the well, and I can’t get it back. I am so very sad.”
The frog, who had been watching her from below, replied, “I can help you, princess. If you promise to let me live with you in the castle, I will fetch your golden ball.” The princess, desperate to get her ball back, quickly agreed. “I promise,” she said, “I will let you live with me and be my friend.”
With that, the frog dived into the water and disappeared. After a few moments, he reappeared, holding the golden ball in his mouth. The princess was overjoyed and reached down to take the ball. But as soon as she had it back, she forgot all about her promise to the frog. She ran back to the castle, leaving the frog behind.
The next day, as the princess sat down to have her dinner with her father, the king, there was a knocking at the castle door. The king sent a servant to see who it was. When the servant opened the door, there was the frog, holding a letter in his mouth. The servant took the letter and brought it to the king. The letter was from the princess, explaining what had happened and how she had promised the frog a place in the castle.
The king was very wise and knew that a promise was a promise. He called the princess and said, “My dear, you must keep your word. The frog helped you in your time of need, and now you must help him. Let him live with us in the castle.”
The princess was not happy about this, but she knew her father was right. She reluctantly let the frog into the castle. The frog followed her everywhere, and she tried to ignore him as much as she could. She ate her meals and went about her day, but the frog was always there, reminding her of her promise.
One night, as the princess was getting ready for bed, the frog hopped onto her pillow. “Please, princess, let me sleep beside you,” he said. The princess was horrified at the thought, but she knew she had to keep her promise. She reluctantly moved over, and the frog lay down beside her.
As they lay there, the frog began to change. His rough, green skin turned into smooth, soft skin. His big, bulging eyes became bright and beautiful. The frog was no longer a frog, but a handsome prince! The princess was amazed and delighted. She realized that the frog had been cursed, and her kindness and keeping her promise had broken the spell.
The prince and the princess became the best of friends, and soon they fell in love. They lived happily together in the castle, surrounded by love and happiness. The princess learned that sometimes, the most unlikely of friends can turn into the greatest treasures.
And so, the story of the frog prince became a legend in the kingdom, reminding everyone that keeping promises and showing kindness can lead to wonderful surprises. The princess and the prince lived happily ever after, and the castle garden bloomed more beautifully than ever before, as if celebrating their love and the magic of their story.
And that, dear child, is the Bedtime Story of the Frog Prince. Remember, always keep your promises and be kind, for you never know what magic might happen.
