The Most Precious Tears
Long, long ago, there was a king who ruled his kingdom very well. Though his kingdom was small, the people were prosperous, content, and happy.
The king had three beautiful and lovely princesses, each born with a magical power: when they cried, their tears would turn into exquisite diamonds, worth a fortune.
One day, the king realized he was growing old, and there was no one to entrust his kingdom to, nor anyone to take care of his princesses. So, he made an announcement:
“As it is well known, I have three princesses, each possessing unparalleled beauty. Moreover, their tears can turn into precious diamonds. One month from now, I will gather all the outstanding men in the world for them to choose their husbands. The chosen ones will have the chance to inherit my kingdom and wealth!”
One month later, the king’s castle was filled with princes, knights, and wealthy sons from all over the world. Each was handsome, noble, and confident, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the princesses.
At noon, the king arrived with his three princesses. To welcome the guests, the eldest princess sang a beautiful song, her voice clear as a bell; the second princess performed a graceful dance, her movements enchanting. However, the youngest princess, with a shy smile, hid behind the king and refused to come out.
Embarrassed, the king explained that the youngest princess had never spoken since birth and was afraid of strangers.
To win the favor of the princesses, the men displayed their talents. Some composed poems and painted for the eldest princess, while others demonstrated swordsmanship and horsemanship for the second princess. Some even presented rare treasures to the youngest princess.
The eldest and second princesses eventually made their choices, but the youngest princess remained hidden behind the king.
As the king was about to announce the results, a young shepherd stepped forward from the crowd and whispered something to the youngest princess. Suddenly, she smiled brightly and without hesitation, took the shepherd’s hand.
And so, each princess found her companion.
Five years passed…
The eldest princess’s husband used the diamonds from her tears to raise an army and conquer countless lands, inscribing her name on every castle he captured. Her name became famous far and wide, and she felt happy.
The second princess’s husband used the diamonds from her tears as capital for his business, which grew larger and larger. He was truly a born businessman and soon accumulated immense wealth. Although he hadn’t yet built the most magnificent palace in the world, the second princess was already content. She felt happy.
The youngest princess and her shepherd husband wandered the world. Eventually, they found a beautiful paradise and settled down.
The shepherd spent half a month building a large house with wood and straw and made many pieces of furniture. They planted many vegetables behind the house, and he built a fence around the vegetable garden. The youngest princess transplanted beautiful flowers she found into her little garden. Though she didn’t know the names of these wildflowers, she was happy to see them every day. In the evening, they would sit by the lake, fishing or stargazing.
They were always poor, but they lived happily. The youngest princess gradually began to speak, talking incessantly to the shepherd about everything she saw—clouds in the sky, fish in the river, nests in the trees, and butterflies overhead. The shepherd would often sit quietly by the lake, listening to her stories until she fell asleep, then carry her back to their room.
The king fell ill and sent for his three princesses and their husbands.
To his surprise, the youngest princess and her husband were dressed in clean but patched clothes. He wondered why they were so poor when just one drop of her tears could buy a whole clothing store.
The shepherd said, “Because I never let her cry.”
The king immediately decided to pass the throne to the shepherd.
Perhaps everyone has their own understanding of happiness, and the answer is never the same. But only the shepherd understood what it meant to cherish.
The king asked the youngest princess, “What did the shepherd say to you back then?”
The youngest princess replied:
“He whispered in my ear, ‘Even if your tears can turn into the most valuable diamonds, I would rather be poor my whole life than see you cry.'”
The most precious tears are not those that can turn into diamonds but those that never fall, because those who cherish you will never let you cry.
I can’t promise to give you much, because the future is uncertain, and so are we.
But I will tell you, I won’t let you cry.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
