Goodnight Prince: The Royal Dining on Edamame
The Enchanted Edamame
Once upon a time, there was a princess who longed to marry a real prince. But he had to be the genuine article, not just any pretty face. So, she traveled far and wide, hoping to find him. Princes were a dime a dozen, but verify they were princes was another matter altogether. Everywhere she went, something always seemed off. Determined, she returned home, despondent and shattered, yearning for her genuine prince.
One stormy night, there came a knock at the door. The old king went to answer and found a bedraggled prince standing there. The poor soul had been drenched and battered by the storm. "I assure you, I am a real prince," he said. The old queen raised an eyebrow, remembering the old tale of "The Princess and the Pea" by Hans Christian Andersen. She knew her daughter's methods and avoided comment.
Tired and miserable, the prince entered the castle, longing for rest. Exhausted, he climbed into bed, muttering to himself, "Something's amiss here." He pulled off the mattress, revealing a curious little green pod—"An edamame bean?" he wondered aloud. Strange, he thought, how an edamame bean finds its way into my bed in this household! Unfazed, he decided to leave well enough alone and ate the bean. He slept soundly that night.
When he awoke the next morning, he felt rejuvenated and headed downstairs for breakfast. The royal family watched him curiously as he sat down to eat, sensing something odd about the prince's sleep.
"Wonderful! Many thanks!" the prince replied, surprising everyone. The king's reaction was not what they had anticipated. "Impostor!" he cried, "Out! But don't let the door hit you on your way out!" And so the prince was escorted from the castle, having no idea why. Without breakfast.
Inside the castle, the discussions continued. "I believe he was a real prince, just very, very tired!" insisted the princess. "He failed the test! Really? Are you sure you want to marry a man who doesn't realize he's eating vegetables?" the queen retorted. "I enjoyed his company! Besides, I don't see why I should rely on the opinions of a long-dead Danish children's book author. Frankly, I don't think he'd even be eligible to be a cabinet minister these days!" The king sighed, "Ladies, no politics at the breakfast table." He nodded to his daughter, "Go get him back."
The prince was still standing outside the castle when he heard footsteps behind him. The princess was coming! She approached, her eyes flashing and her voice raised. "Where is the edamame bean? I don't see it here. Did you eat it? Why would you do that?"
"Uh... I... um... I... ate it?"
"What? Why on earth?"
"Well, it looked fresh. And I figured if you're letting me stay here, I certainly wouldn't complain and make a fuss just because something is in my bed!"
The princess was thrilled with his answer: the prince demonstrated his finesse, not just in his manners but in his common sense as well. She decided to keep him around.
Hannover | Column of the Month | Stadtkind | Goodnight
In a whirlwind of social media dynamics, the escorted prince found himself discussing his predicament online, sparking debates on hidden societal norms and the genuine nature of their unconventional test. Meanwhile, the princess, engrossed in the latest pop-culture trends, found herself captivated by the prince's unconventional thinking, as it reflected her own unfaltering inclination towards challenging the status quo in the realm of books and entertainment.
