On a dark and stormy night, a gentle knock echoed through the castle halls. Queen Eleanor opened the heavy wooden door to find a young lady, drenched from the rain, her golden curls clinging to her face. “Please,” the girl said softly, “I am Princess Aurora, and I seek shelter from the storm.” Lightning flashed behind her, illuminating her delicate features and the small crown upon her head.
The queen studied the visitor carefully. Many had claimed to be princesses before, but Queen Eleanor had a special way of knowing the truth. “Come in, my dear,” she said kindly, “We shall make you comfortable for the night.”
In the guest chamber, Princess Aurora gazed in wonder at the enormous bed before her. Twenty mattresses were stacked high, reaching nearly to the ceiling, with a golden ladder beside it. “What an unusual bed,” she remarked politely.
“It’s our special guest bed,” Queen Eleanor explained, having secretly placed a tiny pea beneath all those mattresses. Only a true princess would be sensitive enough to feel it. “I hope you’ll sleep well, my dear.”
The next morning at breakfast, Princess Aurora looked tired. “Did you not sleep well?” Queen Eleanor inquired, hiding a knowing smile.
“Oh,” Aurora replied, rubbing her eyes, “I barely slept at all. There was something hard in my bed – like a small rock or seed. I tossed and turned all night.” She looked embarrassed. “I don’t mean to complain, but I’m covered in bruises from that tiny thing, whatever it was.”
Queen Eleanor rose from her throne, holding up a tiny green pea for all to see. “My dear,” she announced with joy, “you have proven yourself a true princess! Only someone of royal blood could be sensitive enough to feel a pea through twenty mattresses.”
Princess Aurora’s eyes widened in surprise, then she laughed delightedly. “So that’s what it was!” The queen embraced her warmly, welcoming her to stay at the castle as long as she wished. From that day forward, the tiny pea was kept in a special glass case, reminding everyone that true nobility shows itself in the most unexpected ways.