The
Twelve Dancing Princesses
Written by Mara Bergman Illustrated by Pablo Pino
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Chapter 1 Once there was a king who had 12 daughters. Soon after the youngest princess was born, the queen died, so the king was left to raise the girls on his own. The king missed his wife very much. The queen had loved to dance and together the royal couple had hosted many fine balls. People had come from far and wide to enjoy countless evenings of dancing that went on long into the night. Musicians played the queen’s favourite music and huge platters of delicious food were laid out in the banqueting hall. But since the queen’s death, all celebration had stopped. Just the thought of dancing drove the king into such a state of sadness that no one was allowed even to mention it.
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Each of the 12 princesses was named for a letter of the alphabet. Angelina was the eldest, and Belinda came second. Tall and graceful, their hair was long and dark, like their mother’s, and, like her, they were very musical. Charys followed; then Daniella and Evangelina. They shared their father’s pale skin and bright eyes, and were excellent at horse riding. Francesca loved Maths, and Gabriella enjoyed fixing things. Helena loved to bake: pies and cakes, tarts and quiches and the most delicious cupcakes in the kingdom. Irina was expert at juggling. Josephina liked to paint and was often seen with a paintbrush in her hand, and Katriona performed magnificent magic tricks. 4
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Larissa, the youngest, was said to be the kindest. Adored by all, she loved animals and had rescued many a frog and sparrow with a broken leg or wing and nursed them back to health. Every day, the princesses enjoyed doing what they loved best. They also spent hours studying and reading. Their days were busy and so full that each night they went upstairs to their enormous bedroom soon after dinner.
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Chapter 2 One morning at breakfast, the king noticed that the soles of his daughters’ shoes were worn thin. The silk was shredded; the ribbons, torn. He was embarrassed by the state of them. “My kind and beautiful daughters,” he said, “what’s happened to your shoes?” The princesses looked at one another nervously. “Be careful what you say!” Belinda whispered to Angelina.
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“We did so much walking through the castle grounds yesterday …” began Angelina. “… that they must have worn out!” finished Belinda. Charys, Daniella and Evangelina looked away. Francesca, Gabriella and Helena stared out the window. Irina, Josephina and Katriona started to clear the table. And Larissa said, “Don’t worry, Papa, we promise to be more careful from now on.”
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The king called, “Thesper!” and straightaway his manservant appeared. “Make sure my daughters have a new pair of shoes by teatime tonight. And check they’re sturdier than the last.” “Yes, Your Royal Highness,” said Thesper, with a bow. And off he ran before you could say “12 princesses”.
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The princesses spent another day studying and reading and doing all the things they liked most. Soon after tea, they retired to their bedroom. But the next morning at breakfast, the king saw that their shoes were in tatters once again. “Something’s terribly wrong!” he boomed. “Either the shoes you bought were faulty, Thesper, or my daughters have been walking farther than the castle grounds. And at night, too! I fear they’re up to no good. And I fear they’ll wear themselves out.”
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He turned to the princesses. “My beautiful and clever daughters, what’ve you been doing? And why do you look so tired?” Once again, the princesses looked at one another nervously. “Don’t let Papa know!” Katriona whispered to Larissa. “Don’t worry, Papa,” said Larissa, “we won’t wear ourselves out.” The king paced back and forth. “There’s only one thing to do, Thesper. Someone must keep watch and see where the princesses go at night – someone brave, someone daring, someone clever and trustworthy. I won’t ask you. I need you here with me. Whom shall I approach?” Thesper thought better than to answer. He knew the king was only thinking out loud. “I know!” cried the king. “I’ll make a royal announcement. It’s time my daughters began to think about marriage. Therefore, he who can solve the mystery of my daughters’ worn-out shoes shall marry the princess of his choice and inherit my kingdom. He who fails will be sent away for ever.” 10
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