Long ago, in a bustling kingdom, there lived a wise and kind-hearted woman who chose a humble life devoted to helping others. Her compassion and wisdom earned her great respect among the people, and she was often welcomed at the royal palace. Many believed her presence brought good fortune, and even the queen admired her deeply.
One
bright and sunny day, the woman was visiting the palace when the queen
entrusted her with a dazzling necklace encrusted with precious stones.
"Please keep this safe for me while I take a quick bath," the queen
requested. The woman carefully placed the necklace on her mat and sat down to
meditate, immersing herself in peaceful thoughts.
As she
meditated, a mischievous magpie flew in through an open window. The bird’s
sharp eyes caught sight of the glittering necklace. Unable to resist, it
swooped down, snatched the necklace in its beak, and hid it in a small crack
within the palace wall. The theft happened so silently that no one noticed.
When the
queen returned, refreshed from her bath, she asked for her necklace. The woman
opened her eyes and looked around but was dismayed to find the necklace
missing. Distressed, she told the queen, “I placed it right here on my mat. I
haven’t moved since. It seems to have vanished!”
The queen
was alarmed, and the news quickly reached the king. Furious, the king suspected
foul play and ordered the woman to be interrogated. Despite her honest pleas
and unwavering truthfulness, she was subjected to numerous tests and
questioning, as the palace guards sought to make her confess to a crime she did
not commit. Yet, she remained steadfast, maintaining her innocence with quiet
dignity.
Weeks
passed, and the kind woman was kept in a small room within the palace, her
spirit weighed down by sorrow. Meanwhile, the king grew increasingly troubled
by the situation. One afternoon, as he sat in his garden, he happened to notice
the same magpie flitting about near a crack in the garden wall. Intrigued, he
watched as the bird reached into the crevice and pulled out something shiny. To
his astonishment, it was the missing necklace!
The king
immediately realized the grave mistake he had made. Overcome with regret, he
summoned the woman at once and, with tears in his eyes, offered her a heartfelt
apology. “I deeply regret the injustice you have endured because of my hasty
judgment. Your honesty and courage in the face of unfair treatment are truly
remarkable.”
The wise
woman listened kindly and, with her gentle smile, accepted the king’s apology.
True to her nature, she asked for no reward or compensation. Instead, she chose
to return to her simple life, continuing her mission of helping those in need,
as she always had.
From that day forward, the king and queen held an even greater respect for the woman, and her story became a symbol of integrity and kindness throughout the kingdom.
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