And he began to tell how he was offended by his mother and galloped aimlessly, got lost and came across a hut. How he came in to ask for water, and left his heart there.
– Daddy, it seems I can’t live without her, – and he handed his father a gift. The king looked, turned it over in his hands, shaking his head in surprise:
– What fine work. She is indeed a craftswoman.
As soon as the king found out about the beautiful girl, the needlewoman, he did not believe that she was disinterested and he decided, secretly from his son, to check if she was really a good girl. He loaded a whole wagon of precious goods, sable furs, spoiled outfits, silver and gold, and went with his servants to see her, dressed as merchants. He found a handsome serf to pass him off as a noble lord, dressed him up and arrived at the house where the needlewoman lived.
Hearing noise in the street, the girl’s parents ran out into the yard. And there, on a huge, full of all sorts of good cart, covered with a carpet, sits a burly merchant and next to him is a handsome, prominent guy. There are two more on horseback in the back.
– Peace to your home. We are visiting merchants. We heard, you have a marriageable bride, so we came to woo her. And we already have a handsome fellow, but not empty-handed, – the king pointed to his fellow traveler and to the cargo.
The husband and wife were surprised and invited to enter the house. They sat down on benches covered with linen bedspreads. They poured them kvass from the road, pulled it out of the cellar and put pork jelly with garlic, pickled cucumbers, and crispy mushrooms on the table, cut the bread into slices. They wanted to add more treats, but the king stopped them:
– Enough for the meal already, the food is already enough. Now I’ll treat you too, – he waved his hand and the servants brought in baskets full of smoked sturgeon, dried venison, honey, sweets and spices.
The woman threw up her hands. With a bow and a smile, she and her husband accepted the merchant’s gifts. The guests looked around and the king asked:
– And where, in fact, is your beauty? Why doesn’t she welcome guests?
The owner hastened to answer:
– She went to the pasture to milk the goat. Now she will bring fresh milk.
– Oh, she milks your goat too?
– Of course, – said Mother proudly. – She is a master of all trades. From morning till night she works around the house, but she embroiders such canvases, and I sell them, – she pointed to the walls.
– Oh, what a beauty! – the king sincerely admired, and thought: the son, it seems, knowingly fell in love with her. If she is also as beautiful as the craftswoman, then the son was not mistaken. But we will check this.
And then the girl appeared at the door with a jug of milk in her hands. The guy who pretended to be the groom stood up. The king gestured for him to sit down. The girl stood on the threshold as if rooted to the spot. And her parents rushed to explain to her that the matchmakers had arrived. Silently she put the pot on the table and does not say a word. And the king himself stood up and bowed slightly:
– And here is our handsome groom, nice to meet you. You are a perfect match. Both are beautiful and stately.
The girl immediately blushed with embarrassment, covering her face with a handkerchief. She wanted to say something, but the king interrupted her:
– We are not interested in the dowry, we have enough of our own good. Hey, assistants, – he shouted to the servants, – bring in here.
And after a couple of minutes, chests with jewels, rolls of silk, gold brocade, caskets with pearls and sapphires were brought into the upper room and placed on the floor. The astonished parents, with their mouths open, their eyes wide, did not know what to say. And the king watched the girl all this time, but did not see greed and special delight in her eyes. He thought about it and decided to ask her:
– Aren’t you happy about all this, girl? Or did they bring you little, or do you not want to get married?
– I want to get married, – the girl murmured softly, «but there is already someone who is dearer to me than anyone else in the world.
The king was delighted with such speeches and continued to test the girl:
– And who is this lucky man who is better than my nephew?
And as soon as she opened her mouth to say that this was a prince, when her parents stood up and interrupted her so that she would not blurt out and make the people laugh. The mother tugged at her daughter’s sleeve and answered herself, fearing that they would be laughed at if they told the truth:
– Yes, we have one hard-working guy here in the village…
– Hmm, we were late, that means, – the king patted the serf on the shoulder. – Well, then we ask you to excuse us, God help you.
The servants loaded all the precious gifts back into the cart, bowed and left home. All the way the king thought:
– Hmm, it’s a pity if she really has someone, and why not. What a worker, smart, beautiful, she will be better than secular ladies. It’s a pity to lose such a daughter-in-law, – he twisted his mustache in thought.
Returning to the palace, he went straight to his son’s chambers. Caught him looking at a present.
– Here, son. I thought I was here and I want to ask you.
– Yes, father, ask.
– You’ve fallen in love and intend to marry, but what about the girl? What other feeling did you take for her love? Or maybe she already has someone else?
The prince jumped up in fright:
– Can not be! Is that possible?! Daddy, we must urgently go there and ask her.
– So it is so, but what will your mother say? She probably won’t be happy.
– But we won’t tell her, – it dawned on the prince.
– Well, first we will find out if the girl loves you, and then I myself will settle with my wife.
And the next day, waking up before everyone else in the palace, they went together to the house of the beauty.
– I won’t go there, I’ll stand behind the trees, I’ll watch, and you yourself talk to her. She will be ashamed of me, – said the king and dismounted, tying his horse to a branch. – And you, son, go, then you will tell me everything.
So they decided.
The prince knocked on the window. His lover appeared at the knock. She saw the prince and threw up her hands in surprise, was delighted and rushed headlong to open the door.
– Prince, are you back? – and for joy did not know what to say.
He took her hand and asked:
– From the first time we met, I thought about you all the time. And now I came to ask: will you marry me?
The girl lowered her eyes, flushed with embarrassment and did not answer. He pressed her hands to his chest, his heart pounding with excitement. He pulled her hands away from him.
– Well, why are you silent… Or do you not like me?