THE ARROGANT PRINCESS

 👑 The Arrogant Princess 👑

— A tale of pride, power, and unexpected transformation —

Once upon a time, in the golden kingdom of Zanbara, there lived a princess whose beauty could stop hearts and whose pride could silence rooms. Her name was Princess Elira, the only daughter of King Jamari and Queen Nayela.

Elira was born into wealth, royalty, and endless praise. Every servant bowed deeply at her passing, every subject cheered at her appearance. She wore diamonds like sand, silks like skin, and her words were sharp as a sword. But behind the glow of her royal crown was a heart filled with arrogance.

She would say things like:

“Why should I greet them? I’m royalty!”

“This food is too plain—throw it away!”

“No one is worthy to sit beside me.”

Even the palace animals knew to walk the other way.

One day, a poor farmer came to the palace gates. He brought a basket of fresh mangoes as a gift for the royal family.

“I wish to offer these to Her Highness,” he said humbly.

When the guards brought the mangoes to Elira, she scoffed, “Why would I eat something touched by dirty hands? Throw them to the goats.”

The farmer heard her words from outside the gate. He didn’t cry or argue. He simply whispered, “One day, your pride will be tested.

That night, a mysterious storm swept through Zanbara. Lightning struck the palace tower, and the princess’s chamber vanished in the blaze. When Elira awoke, she was no longer in her golden bed—but in a tiny mud hut. Her crown was gone. Her silks had turned into simple rags. And worse… no one recognized her anymore.

She ran to the town square. “It’s me! Princess Elira!” she cried.

The people only laughed. “The arrogant princess? In this village? Go fetch water like the rest of us.”

For days, Elira begged for food, carried firewood, and slept on floors. She had never said “please” before. She had never thanked anyone. But now… she had no choice.

Slowly, the villagers saw her change. She helped an old woman with her roof. She shared her only yam with a hungry child. She laughed—not the proud, mocking laugh she once had—but the soft, grateful laugh of someone who had learned.

After forty days, the same farmer who brought the mangoes returned. He smiled and touched her shoulder.

“You’ve learned what no crown could teach,” he said. “Now you may return.”

And just like that, the wind swirled around her, and she awoke again in her palace room.

But everything had changed.

Elira now sat with the servants. She gave food to the hungry. She smiled at the poor. And she never wore her crown again—except during ceremonies.

The kingdom of Zanbara came to know her not as Elira the Arrogant, but as Queen Elira the Wise.

Moral of the story:

Pride builds walls. But humility opens doors no crown ever can.