The Frog Prince

Once upon a time, in a grand and splendid castle, there lived a beautiful princess named Eliza. Princess Eliza was kind-hearted and loved by everyone in the kingdom. She often spent her days wandering the enchanted forest near the castle, enjoying the beauty of nature.

One sunny afternoon, while exploring a secluded glade, Princess Eliza came across a shimmering pond. Feeling playful, she took out her favorite golden ball and began tossing it into the air and catching it. Suddenly, she missed her catch, and the golden ball fell into the pond, sinking to the bottom.

Distressed, Eliza knelt by the pond, trying to see the ball. As tears welled up in her eyes, she heard a gentle croak. Looking up, she saw a small green frog sitting on a lily pad.

“Why are you crying, princess?” asked the frog.

Eliza explained her predicament, and the frog offered to retrieve her golden ball on one condition. “If I get your ball for you, will you promise to be my friend and let me live with you in the castle?”

Desperate to get her ball back, Eliza agreed, though she secretly thought she would not need to keep her promise to a mere frog. The frog dove into the pond and quickly resurfaced with the golden ball. Eliza took it with delight and ran back to the castle, forgetting about her promise.

That evening, as Eliza was having dinner with her family, there was a soft knock on the door. When the door was opened, the little frog hopped in. “Princess Eliza, I have come to remind you of your promise.”

Eliza was startled and embarrassed, but her father, the king, insisted she keep her word. Reluctantly, Eliza allowed the frog to join her at the dinner table. She treated him with mild disdain, but the frog remained polite and kind.

After dinner, the frog asked to stay in the princess’s room. Though hesitant, Eliza had no choice but to agree. She placed the frog on a soft pillow and went to bed. As the days passed, Eliza and the frog spent more time together, and she began to see him as a friend. The frog’s kindness and wisdom impressed her, and she grew fond of him.

One night, as Eliza prepared to sleep, the frog spoke gently, “Princess Eliza, will you give me a goodnight kiss?”

Eliza hesitated but, remembering his kindness and their growing friendship, she leaned down and kissed the frog lightly on his head. 

Suddenly, a magical glow filled the room, and the frog transformed into a handsome prince.

The prince explained that he had been cursed by an evil witch and could only be freed by the true friendship and love of a kind-hearted person. Eliza was astonished but overjoyed. The prince and Eliza became inseparable friends, and soon their friendship blossomed into love.

They married and ruled the kingdom together, their bond of trust and friendship serving as a reminder that true kindness and keeping one’s promises can lead to the most unexpected and wonderful outcomes.

The moral of the story is that genuine friendship and keeping promises are powerful and can lead to magical transformations in our lives.