The Three Foolish Princesses

Once upon a time, in a land filled with sunshine and laughter, stood a village so pretty it looked like a painting. This village was ruled by King Chima, a monarch as wise as he was kind, whose large heart ensured the happiness and safety of his people.

King Chima had two wives and a large family. His first wife, Queen Ulie, gave him three beautiful daughters, the princesses. His second wife, Uchi, gave him two brave sons, the future kings of the land.

The three princesses—Amma, Leela, and Tina—were known for their free, playful spirits. They spent their days running barefoot outside the palace, laughing as they splashed water in the river and got muddy, their dresses dirty and their hair a mess. They didn’t care; they felt happy and free.

Not everyone approved of their wild ways. “They are too wild,” people would whisper. “Why don’t they behave like royalty?” Their mother, Ulie, worried endlessly, often telling them, “You are princesses, my dears. It’s time to act like it.” But the girls would only giggle and run off, their spirits as free as the wind. They longed to be like everyone else—to play and explore the land they would one day watch over. To some in the village, this made them “foolish,” but the princesses believed that being true to oneself was far more important than wearing a crown.

The Festival of Suitors

In the village tradition, a grand festival was held every year for the princes to find their brides. The village square came alive with music, color, and sweet-smelling feasts. Beautiful maidens from near and far came in their finest clothes, dancing and hoping to be chosen.

Yet, as men came to the palace asking for the princesses’ hands, the girls found endless reasons to refuse. “He’s too proud,” one would say. “He thinks his gold can buy love,” another would sigh.

They even turned away a very rich man from another village who came with lavish gifts. When he announced he wanted to marry all three to make them his seven wives, the sisters simply splashed water on him. This made the village talk even more. “How foolish,” they said, “turning away all these rich and powerful men!”

King Chima and Queen Ulie were puzzled and sad. “Why won’t you marry?” they asked. “Your brothers are ready, and you are the elders.”

The princesses would only smile. “When we find true love, we will know.”

After the festival ended and their brothers happily found their brides, the whispers about the three “foolish princesses” intensified. But the sisters weren’t worried. They believed that true love wasn’t something you could find in a day’s festival; it was something that found you in its own time and way.

A Challenge to the Suitors

As the seasons changed, the princesses watched their brothers’ happiness and felt a stir in their hearts. Maybe it was time to open themselves to love, but it had to be true love—the kind that saw them for who they really were.

One evening, they approached their father with a surprising request. “Father,” they said, “we want a festival of our own—a festival where men can show us their talents and skills. We want to find love, but it must be true love.”

King Chima, seeing the sincerity in their eyes, agreed to the unconventional request. “Let there be a festival!” he announced, and the village stirred with excitement.

Sutors from all corners of the land prepared to win the princesses’ hearts, practicing their skills and polishing their talents. The day of the grand festival arrived, shining bright. Men came dressed in their finest, boasting of their gold, lands, strength, and beauty.

The princesses watched with mischievous eyes. They knew that gold and muscle were not what they sought. They wanted someone who could see beyond the surface, who could understand their hearts.

As the sun began to dip, the princesses stood before the crowd and announced their challenge. “To win our hearts, you must do more than show your wealth or strength. You must guess our real names!”

A stunned hush fell over the crowd. Their real names were a mystery, known to none but the royal family. The sutors, who had prepared to show their might and wealth, were utterly shaken by this impossible riddle. The challenge was set: a test not of riches or strength, but of wisdom and patience.

The Village Fool and the Hidden Truth

In the village, while everyone was busy guessing and whispering, lived a man named Okon. He was the village drunkard, often seen stumbling and mumbling, considered foolish and insignificant by all.

But when Okon heard about the challenge, something stirred within him—a glimmer of hope. Why can’t I win the hearts of the princesses? he thought. With a determination that surprised even himself, Okon set out on a quest to discover their names.

Day after day, Okon followed the princesses like a shadow, watching them laugh and play. He saw their love of the land and their free spirits, but they only called each other by secret nicknames.

Then, one day, fate took a hand. As the princesses wandered near the forest edge, the youngest princess, Tina, fell into a hidden pit.

“Help!” she cried. “Please, someone!”

Okon, hidden nearby, watched in shock. Before he could move, he heard the eldest sister shout, “Amma, to the rescue!” and the middle one added, “Leela’s coming too!”

Okon’s eyes widened. The names!

With a heave and a pull, the sisters rescued Tina, wrapping their arms around her in a tight hug. Okon had not only found the names—Amma, Leela, and Tina—but he had also witnessed the depth of their love for each other, a bond that went beyond any palace game.

The Revelation

Filled with a new resolve, Okon stepped out from his hiding place and, with a shout that carried across the village, declared, “I know their names! Amma, Leela, Tina!”

The village turned in astonishment. Okon, the one they called a fool, had done what the wealthiest and strongest could not.

As the village gathered, Okon stood before King Chima, the princesses by his side.

“I know the names of your daughters,” he declared proudly.

But Okon had one more secret to reveal, a truth that would change everything.

“I am not who you think I am,” he continued, his voice steady and strong. “I am Prince Okon from a neighboring village. I came here not as a fool, but in disguise, to learn the true hearts of your daughters.”

The village gasped. The man they had mocked was a wise and cunning prince who had seen past the game to the truth beneath.

The princesses smiled at Okon, their eyes shining with respect and a connection forged in understanding. Many sutors had sought their wealth, but none had sought to truly know them as Okon had.

King Chima, moved by Okon’s sincerity and his daughters’ happiness, agreed to the marriages. “You have proven yourself wise and true,” he told the prince. “Worthy of my daughters.”

The weddings were an unmatched celebration, filling the village with music, laughter, and joy. Amma, Leela, and Tina, the three princesses once thought foolish, stood proudly beside Prince Okon, their hearts united in a love born of respect and true sight.

The story of the princesses and Prince Okon became a legend—a reminder that true nobility comes not from birth or wealth, but from the wisdom of the heart and the courage to see beyond the surface. The village, forever changed by the lessons of their tale, learned that love is not about titles or appearances, but about understanding, respect, and seeing the true worth of a person.