The story begins in a distant kingdom where a young prince lived a comfortable and honorable life. He was admired for his intelligence, gentle nature, and sincere heart. When he heard about a princess in a neighboring kingdom who was celebrated for her beauty, he believed she might be the partner he had been searching for. Hoping to win her affection, he decided to send her the most precious treasures his kingdom possessed.
The prince’s first gift was a magical rose. It produced a soft, sweet fragrance, and when held close to the ear it allowed the listener to hear the sound of an entire orchestra playing rich melodies. The prince chose this flower because it represented true beauty, something both fragile and meaningful. When the princess received it, she glanced at it briefly and dismissed it without much thought. She remarked that real flowers were nothing special to her and refused to meet the prince. This rejection showed how she valued appearance more than meaning.
Still believing the princess might give him a chance, the prince sent a second gift. This time he offered a mechanical nightingale crafted from pure gold. The bird sang beautifully, with notes so clear and lifelike that it could easily be mistaken for a real nightingale. The princess listened for a moment but decided she preferred real birds. She once again declined to speak with the prince. Her lack of appreciation for genuine effort became even clearer.
After being rejected twice, the prince understood that the princess might not value sincere gifts or the emotions behind them. However, he wanted to know her true character, so he disguised himself as a simple swineherd and quietly took a job caring for pigs at the royal palace. In his tiny workroom he built a remarkable pot that could play any song by simply touching its rim. It also revealed upcoming weather conditions, predicting rain, sunshine, or storms with surprising accuracy.
When the princess heard that the swineherd had created an unusual pot, her curiosity grew. She visited him, and when she saw how fascinating the pot was, she immediately wanted it. She asked what he wished in return, expecting a small price. Instead, he requested a single kiss. The princess hesitated, but her desire for the magical pot overpowered her embarrassment. She agreed and kissed him once. This moment showed that she was willing to trade affection for trivial amusement.
The swineherd soon invented another item, a delicate little rattle that played lively music whenever it was shaken. The princess, enchanted by anything new and entertaining, rushed to see it. She asked again what payment he wanted, and this time he requested ten kisses. Although she was reluctant, her fascination with the rattle outweighed her caution, so she kissed him ten times while her ladies in waiting stood nearby trying not to watch.
The king eventually discovered what was happening. When he saw his royal daughter kissing a swineherd in the pig yard simply to acquire toys, he was furious. He reminded her that she had refused a prince and his heartfelt gifts yet willingly kissed a pig keeper for objects of little value. Deeply ashamed and disappointed, he ordered both the princess and the swineherd to leave the palace immediately.
Outside the gates, rain began to fall. The princess stood alone, confused and humiliated. The swineherd stepped away from her, removed his dirty clothing, and revealed the rich garments of the prince she had rejected. He told her that he had been the one who offered the magical rose and the golden nightingale. He explained that he gave her the simple inventions only to test her priorities. She had rejected genuine affection but eagerly traded kisses for meaningless toys, revealing what she truly valued.
The prince walked away, leaving the princess to face the consequences of her choices. She finally understood the depth of what she had lost. The story ends as a reminder that material novelty means little compared to sincerity and genuine love. The true worth of a person can be seen through the values they choose, not through the luxuries they chase.