by Sarah Earlene Shere, ©2025
(Apr. 4, 2025) — Far away, in a land of peace and tranquility, there lived a wicked count with a secret: he had obtained the most beautiful flower on the face of the earth. Rather than putting it on display where it could flourish and be appreciated by all, he kept this flower hidden away in a room beneath his estate.
One day, a young man, who was visiting the count, wandered around the house and happened upon the chamber with the flower. There it was, in a pot of soil, bathed in the only beam of sunlight that was allowed in the room. Chained to the pot was a petite, frail young woman (she had been put there to guard the flower). The young man said nothing, but, when his eyes met the frightened expression of the girl, he smiled, nodded and left the chamber.
Months later, the girl heard terrible noises above the room. Suddenly, the roof began to cave in. She reached to save the flower but was too late. A large wooden beam crashed on top of the pot, smashing the flower and breaking the chain that held her to it. When the dust had settled, the young woman sat there in the midst of the rubble, miraculously unharmed.
People began to gather. She heard their whispers. A young prince had offered to buy the count’s property. The count refused and even declared war on the prince. The prince was victorious, although he lost everything in the process, including a rumoured priceless flower. The young woman felt guilty for the loss of the flower, as she had not been able to protect it from destruction.
Just then, the prince came walking toward her. Smiling, he bent down, and, wrapping her up in his cloak and lifting her up in his arms, he whispered, “Ah, here is my priceless flower!”
