The White Bride and the Black One

In a small village nestled between rolling hills and whispering woods, there lived a poor woman with her daughter Regula and her stepdaughter Lillian. The contrast between the two girls could not have been greater, for while they shared the same household, their hearts were as different as day and night.

The Two Daughters

Lillian, the stepdaughter, was as beautiful inside as she was outside. She had hair like spun gold, eyes as blue as summer skies, and a complexion so fair and pure that she seemed to glow with inner light. More importantly, she possessed a gentle, kind heart and always helped others without thought of reward.

Regula, the woman’s own daughter, was darker in both appearance and spirit. She had black hair, dark eyes, and a perpetually sour expression that reflected her jealous and spiteful nature. She resented Lillian’s beauty and goodness and spent her days plotting ways to make her stepsister’s life miserable.

The stepmother, influenced by her daughter’s jealousy, also treated Lillian poorly, forcing her to do all the hardest work while Regula lived in comfort.

The Brother’s Departure

Lillian had a dear brother named Wilhelm who loved her dearly and always defended her against her stepfamily’s cruelty. But one day, Wilhelm decided he could no longer bear to watch his sister suffer.

“Dear Lillian,” he said sadly, “I can no longer stand to see how poorly our stepmother and Regula treat you. I am going out into the world to seek my fortune. When I have found success, I will send for you, and we will live happily together.”

Lillian was heartbroken to see her only ally leave, but she understood his decision. “Go with my blessing, dear brother,” she said. “I will wait patiently for word from you, no matter how long it takes.”

Wilhelm kissed his sister goodbye and set off on his journey, carrying with him a small portrait of Lillian to remember her by.

Wilhelm’s Success

Wilhelm was intelligent, hardworking, and honest, and his good qualities soon brought him success. After several years of diligent work, he found a position as advisor to a young prince in a distant kingdom.

The prince, whose name was Marcus, was kind, just, and wise beyond his years. He and Wilhelm became close friends, and Wilhelm often spoke fondly of his beloved sister back home.

One day, Prince Marcus saw the portrait of Lillian that Wilhelm carried. “Who is this beautiful young woman?” the prince asked, studying the picture with great interest.

“That is my dear sister Lillian,” Wilhelm replied proudly. “She is as good and kind as she is beautiful. Despite all the hardships she has faced, she has never lost her gentle spirit.”

The Prince’s Interest

Prince Marcus found himself deeply moved by both the beauty in the portrait and Wilhelm’s loving description of his sister’s character. “I would very much like to meet this sister of yours,” he said thoughtfully. “In fact, I think I might want to make her my bride.”

Wilhelm was delighted by this prospect. His sister deserved happiness, and he could think of no better husband for her than his dear friend Prince Marcus.

“I will write to her immediately,” Wilhelm said excitedly, “and arrange for her to come to our kingdom.”

The Letter Home

Wilhelm wrote a letter to Lillian, telling her of his success and Prince Marcus’s desire to marry her. He included money for the journey and instructions on how to reach the kingdom.

However, when the letter arrived at their village home, the stepmother intercepted it before Lillian could see it. When she read about the prince’s proposal and realized the opportunity it represented, her jealous heart immediately began plotting.

“This letter is addressed to Lillian,” the stepmother said to Regula, “but why should she have such good fortune when you are my true daughter? You should be the one to marry a prince and live in luxury.”

The Deception

The stepmother and Regula hatched a plan to deceive Prince Marcus. They would travel to his kingdom together, with Regula pretending to be Lillian. In the confusion of meeting someone for the first time, they hoped the prince would not realize the deception.

To Lillian, they said nothing about the letter. Instead, they told her they were going on a long journey to visit relatives and that she must stay home to care for the house.

“We may be gone for many months,” the stepmother said coldly. “Make sure everything is kept in perfect order while we are away.”

The Journey

The stepmother and Regula set off for Prince Marcus’s kingdom, carrying with them fine clothes and jewelry bought with Wilhelm’s money. Regula practiced walking and speaking in what she imagined was a royal manner, while the stepmother coached her on how to deceive the prince.

But their plans were about to face an unexpected challenge, for there was magic at work in the world, and truth has a way of revealing itself.

The Magical Encounter

As they traveled along a forest road, they encountered an old woman sitting by a well. The woman appeared to be very poor and thirsty, and she begged them for a drink of water.

“Please, kind ladies,” the old woman said weakly, “could you spare a cup of water for a weary traveler? I have been walking for many hours and am terribly thirsty.”

Regula looked at the old woman with disgust. “We have no time for beggars,” she said haughtily. “Find your own water.”

The stepmother was equally unsympathetic. “You should not expect respectable people to serve you,” she said coldly. “Move along and stop bothering us.”

The True Nature Revealed

But the old woman was not what she appeared to be. She was actually a powerful fairy who often tested the hearts of travelers by appearing to them in the guise of someone in need.

When she saw the cruel rejection from Regula and her mother, the fairy’s eyes flashed with righteous anger. “Since you have shown such hardness of heart,” she said, her voice suddenly strong and commanding, “you shall be transformed to match your inner nature.”

The Transformation

With a wave of her hand, the fairy cast a powerful spell. Regula, who had always been dark-hearted and jealous, was transformed to match her inner self. Her skin became as black as coal, her beauty vanished, and her appearance became as ugly as her spirit.

The stepmother, equally cruel and deceptive, suffered a similar fate. Both women were changed into hideous creatures that reflected their true natures.

“Now,” said the fairy, “continue on your journey, and see how far your deception takes you when your outer appearance matches your inner selves.”

Meanwhile, Back Home

While the stepmother and Regula were experiencing their magical punishment, Lillian remained at home, unaware of the prince’s proposal or her family’s deception. She continued her daily work with patience and grace, despite her loneliness.

One day, as she was drawing water from the village well, she encountered the same old woman who had tested her stepfamily. But this time, the fairy appeared to Lillian in her true form as someone in genuine need.

“Dear child,” the fairy said gently, “I am so thirsty. Could you spare some water for a weary old woman?”

Lillian’s Kindness

Without hesitation, Lillian filled her bucket with fresh, cool water and offered it to the old woman. “Of course,” she said kindly. “Please drink as much as you need, and rest here in the shade as long as you like.”

Not only did Lillian give the fairy water, but she also shared her simple meal and offered what comfort she could. Her kindness was genuine and came from her heart, with no thought of reward or recognition.

The fairy was deeply moved by Lillian’s generosity. “You have shown true kindness to a stranger,” she said, revealing her magical nature. “For this, you shall be rewarded.”

The Fairy’s Gift

With another wave of her hand, the fairy enhanced Lillian’s natural beauty until she seemed to glow with an inner light. Her fair skin became luminous, her golden hair shone like sunlight, and her gentle spirit became visible in her radiant appearance.

“More than this,” the fairy continued, “I will ensure that your true love finds you, despite the deception of your stepfamily.”

The fairy then told Lillian about her brother’s letter, the prince’s proposal, and her stepfamily’s treacherous plan. “Do not despair,” she said. “Truth and goodness will triumph in the end.”

The Arrival at Court

Meanwhile, Regula and her mother arrived at Prince Marcus’s court in their transformed state. When they presented themselves as Wilhelm’s sister and mother, the court was shocked by their hideous appearance.

Wilhelm stared in disbelief. “This cannot be my sister,” he said firmly. “My sister Lillian is beautiful and kind, while this woman is… changed somehow.”

Prince Marcus was equally confused. The portrait Wilhelm had shown him bore no resemblance to the ugly, dark-skinned woman who claimed to be Lillian.

The Truth Emerges

Under questioning, the stepmother’s story began to fall apart. Wilhelm’s detailed questions about their home, their family, and Lillian’s life revealed many inconsistencies in their tale.

Finally, Wilhelm confronted them directly. “You are not my family,” he declared. “What have you done with my true sister Lillian?”

Faced with the impossibility of maintaining their deception, the stepmother and Regula were forced to confess their scheme. The court was horrified by their treachery and greed.

The Search for Lillian

Prince Marcus immediately organized a search party to find the real Lillian. Following the fairy’s magical guidance, they traveled swiftly to Lillian’s village, where they found her living quietly and patiently in her stepfamily’s house.

When Prince Marcus first saw Lillian, he was struck not only by her extraordinary beauty but also by the gentle kindness that shone in her eyes. She was even more lovely than her portrait had suggested, and her gracious manner confirmed everything Wilhelm had told him about her character.

“Dear Lillian,” Wilhelm said, embracing his sister joyfully, “I have come to take you away from this place of hardship to a new life of happiness.”

The Proposal

Prince Marcus stepped forward and knelt before Lillian. “Gentle Lillian,” he said sincerely, “your brother has told me of your goodness and patience. I have come to ask if you would do me the honor of becoming my bride.”

Lillian looked into the prince’s kind eyes and saw there the same goodness that Wilhelm had found in his friend. “Your Highness,” she said softly, “I would be honored to accept your proposal.”

The Wedding

Lillian and Prince Marcus were married in a magnificent ceremony attended by all the nobles of the kingdom. Wilhelm gave his sister away with tears of joy, knowing that she would finally receive the love and respect she had always deserved.

The fairy who had helped them attended the wedding in her true form, blessing the union and ensuring that their love would last forever.

The Fate of the Deceivers

As for the stepmother and Regula, their punishment was to remain in their transformed state until they learned true repentance and kindness. Some say they eventually changed their ways and were restored, while others believe they never overcame their jealous and cruel natures.

The Happy Ending

Prince Marcus and Lillian ruled their kingdom with wisdom and compassion, always showing kindness to those in need. Wilhelm served as their trusted advisor, and the royal court became known throughout the land for its justice and generosity.

The Moral of the Story

The tale of the white bride and the black one became a beloved story that taught important lessons about the relationship between inner and outer beauty. It showed that true beauty comes from kindness, goodness, and a generous heart, while cruelty and jealousy ultimately transform a person into something ugly.

The story also demonstrated that deception and treachery may seem to succeed for a while, but truth and goodness will always triumph in the end, and that those who show kindness to others will find that kindness returned to them many times over.

And so Lillian, who had begun life as a poor and mistreated stepdaughter, became a beloved queen whose story inspired generations to choose kindness over cruelty and generosity over selfishness.