There was a queen. Very angry. She was angry if someone nearby was prettier than her, nervous if someone’s outfit was more expensive and more fashionable, and simply furious if she found out that someone had a more fashionably furnished bedroom.
So the years went by. The queen began to age. Her former beauty, which she was so proud of, began to fade. Well, she couldn’t bear it! That she’s not a queen and can’t pay for miraculous anti-aging potions? Yes, as much as you like! Her beauty matters the most. Even if you have to give your soul for it! So she decided.
The queen called to her the best doctors in the country to help her keep her youth. Every day new drugs and elixirs were brought to her, which were supposed to help her. But … Wrinkles became more and more. Nothing helped. The evil queen was no longer invited to neighboring kingdoms for holidays, fewer and fewer fans were eager to meet her. The queen was angry. She broke all the dishes in the kitchen, broke all the mirrors in the kingdom. She was furious. The queen decided to resort to the last resort, she announced that whoever helped her stay young, she would give half the kingdom. And those who volunteer to help and do not do this — she executes.
Healers, doctors, healers, magicians were afraid of the wrath of the queen and left her country. Everyone left, even those who knew how to heal only a little bit. A few weeks later came a terrible epidemic. People began to get sick, wither and die. Nobody could help them. The country was falling into disrepair. The queen realized that a little more and there would be no one to look after the castle, no one would cook delicious meals for her and breed goldfish in her favorite aquarium. How is she without fish? These were her only friends, whom she considered the best interlocutors, and who alone were worthy of her. Firstly, they are golden, and secondly, they know how to be silent.
The Evil Queen didn’t know what to do. How to save the country? And how can you save yourself?
She sat at the mirror and thought: “Yes, I am getting old. Apparently, we need to come to terms with this. It is much worse if an enemy attacks our country now. Then everyone will die. Something must be done. For the first time, the queen was not angry, but thought about how to make others feel better. She combed her curls, which once aroused the envy of her friends, and noticed gray hair that said that she was no longer as young and young as before. She sighed and thought, I would give a lot now to save my people. Perhaps even their beauty. After all, the kingdom is in complete decline. I didn’t leave an heir. I thought too much about my figure and did not want to spoil it with childbirth. Yes, my husband died of longing and of unrequited love. He knew that I only married him because of his wealth. She sighed and wept. She felt that something was happening to her, but she did not yet understand what.
One day, an old man knocked on the castle gate. He said he could help the queen save her country. The guards let him through.
He bowed to the queen and asked for a large bowl of water to be brought to him. Then he drew the heavy silk curtains and invited the queen to look out over the water.
The queen obeyed. After a while, she saw that the mirror of the water was lit up with a radiance, and she made out at first indistinctly, then more clearly, a woman who was gathering herbs in an unfamiliar forest. She was in simple clothes, very tired. She bent down, tore some grass and put it in a big bag. The bag was very heavy. The woman could hardly bear it to put a new portion of the grass. More precisely, not grass, but some strange plants with small blue flowers.
This is urbento morri, a magical herb that can save your country. From it I can brew a medicine that will save your servants and your people from the epidemic. And only you, our queen, can find these flowers. And you need their big bag, which is very difficult to carry alone.
The glow of the water disappeared, and the picture disappeared. The light melted with him. The old man, who had just been sitting opposite, also disappeared.
Urbento morri, urbento morri — repeated, like a spell, the queen. She went to the royal library. “It seems to me,” she thought, “that I have a bad memory of what a flower looks like. And where to look for him, the elder also did not say anything.
In the library, she found an old dusty book, where she read that the flower she needed grows in a far, far away country beyond the yellow desert in an enchanted forest. And only those who can appease the forest spirit can get into this forest. “There is nothing to be done,” the queen decided. I drove all the doctors out of the country, and I must save my people. She took off her royal dress, put on a simple and comfortable one. These were not the silks she was accustomed to, but homespun ueha, over which she put on a simple sundress, such as poor city merchants wear. On her feet, she found in the servants’ closet simple rag shoes, in the same place a large canvas bag, similar to the one she had seen in the woman in the water reflection, and set off.
For a long time she walked through her country. And everywhere I observed hunger, ruin and death. I saw exhausted and emaciated women who saved their children, giving them the last crumb of bread, if only they would survive. Her heart was filled with sadness and pain.
— I will do everything to save them, I will go and find the magic flowers urbento morri.
In the desert, the queen nearly died of thirst. When it seemed that she would fall asleep forever under the scorching sun, an unexpected tornado lifted her up and lowered her right into the clearing in front of the magical forest. “So it’s necessary,” the queen thought, “someone helps me so that I do what I have planned. Thanks to him».
Suddenly, a bird sitting nearby addressed her. “Don’t be surprised, yes, it’s me — the bird is talking to you. I am a smart owl and serve as an assistant to the forest spirit. Today he asked me to convey his will to you. Namely, if you want to find magical flowers, he will launch you into the forest, but for this you will give him 10 years of your life. Yes, you will age another 10 years. Agree?»
“Yes,” the queen whispered. I brought so much grief to my country that 10 years is even a small payment for what I have done.
“Okay,” the owl replied. Look here.
The queen stood in front of a mirror. And, looking into him, she saw how her face was cut by more and more wrinkles, how her still golden curls were turning gray. She was aging before her eyes.
“Oh,” exclaimed the queen. Is it really me? Nothing, nothing, I’ll get used to it. And in my kingdom, I simply will not look at myself in the mirror. I’m ready! — she said.
— Go, said the owl ..
Before her was a path that led her deep into the woods. The queen is very tired. She began to feel that her legs did not obey her well, that the bag was still empty, not at all light. Yes, it’s just me getting older, that’s why it’s so hard for me to walk. It’s okay, I’ll manage, the queen thought, and continued on her way.
She stepped out into a large clearing. And, oh joy! She saw the blue flowers she needed. She leaned over them and whispered, “I came and I found you. And I will carry you home.” In response, she heard a quiet crystal ringing. These flowers responded to her request. And the queen began to collect the magic herb. She tried to do it carefully. I didn’t tear it up by the roots, I didn’t pull it out, I didn’t crush the sheets. “After all, these plants and these flowers are needed not only for me. And so they will grow back and bloom even more magnificently, she thought, and continued her work. She picked flowers from morning to sunset. Her lower back hurt, she could no longer bend down at all. But the bag was still not full. But the elder said, she remembered this, that the bag must be full and that it would be difficult for her to carry it alone. Apparently, this is a test, the queen thought, and collected, and collected, and collected flowers, even though she was very tired.
When she once again wanted to move her bag, she heard: «Let me help you, this burden, I feel, is heavy for you.» Nearby stood a middle-aged man in simple clothes. You collect magical herbs. What for?
And the queen said that she had come from another country to save her people, who, through her fault, were suffering disasters and illnesses, about her stupidity and female pride, about how she wanted to preserve her beauty and youth by all means. The man listened attentively to her, did not interrupt. He only helped to put flowers in a bag and drag it from place to place.
There was something strange about him. But the queen could not understand what. She was so easy with him.
Finally the bag was full.
«If you don’t mind, I’ll help you carry it,» said the man who called himself Jean. Just go ahead and show the way, I’ll follow you.
“Yes, you will help me a lot,” said the queen. I can’t do it alone.
The way back seemed much shorter to the queen. And she was not alone. With Jean, time flew by. And the road did not seem as difficult as before.
However, she was not allowed into the castle. The guards did not recognize the old woman as their beautiful and evil queen. But suddenly a familiar old man appeared, and the gates swung open in front of them.
Rest, I’ll be back in a few days, he said, picking up a sack filled with magical herbs like a feather.
After some time, the old man reappeared in the queen’s chambers. Kneeling before the queen, he handed her a healing elixir brewed from the magical herb urbento morri.
“Get up from your knees, venerable old man, it is I who should kneel before you. You deserve it more than me. How to reward you? But as always, she remained unanswered. The old man was no longer around.
By order of the queen, the elixir was delivered to every house in her kingdom.
Less than six months later, the country began to revive. The children’s voices were heard again. City markets rustled, music sounded. Jean helped the queen in everything. She asked him to stay with him in order to thank him in every possible way for his help. And he became her indispensable assistant and adviser.
One day, as always in the morning, the Queen was sitting at the window. She didn’t look in the mirror anymore. She looked out the window, admired the flowers and their beauty. There is a time for everything, she thought. It is much more important that my country is flourishing again. It’s a pity that I didn’t give birth to an heir .. How stupid I was before.
She heard the sounds of that. Heralds announced that a delegation from a neighboring state was approaching. How surprised she was when she heard that a king from a distant foreign country was coming to woo her.
Woo? But am I old? Perhaps this is a joke?
Imagine her surprise when she saw Jean, her faithful assistant on the throne. It was he who offered her his hand and heart.
Yes, I am the king. And I want you to be my queen.
Jean, I love you very much. But so many young princesses are waiting for their chosen one. Turn your eyes on them!
“I love you too, dear queen. And I love not with my eyes, but with my soul! It is for your patience, diligence, I fell in love with you. And I don’t see your wrinkles and already gray hair. You are the most beautiful woman in the world to me. Be my wife!
And the queen agreed. After all, what could be better than growing old together? Support each other in old age, take care of each other? Together to meet the dawn and see off the sunset.
Everyone who passed by was invited to the wedding, which was celebrated right on the city square, and everyone was treated. The people rejoiced for their queen and wished her happiness. They loved her for the justice and order she created in her country.
The queen was very happy. Only one thought troubled her. She is old to have an heir.
At the end of the feast, when the guests had already gone home, and the newlyweds were ready to get into the carriage, an old man appeared
Sorry I’m late. But I brought you my gift. And he handed the king and queen a blue vial. This is also an urbento morri tincture. I have prepared it for you. That’s why I was late. Drink it.
The queen drank half and handed the vial to her husband. He finished the elixir. And about a miracle! She felt that a warm wave ran through her body, that it was filled with strength and freshness, that all of her became light and airy as in her youth. It seemed that she was about to suffocate from the joy that overwhelmed her. God! What is happening to us?
They turned around to thank the old man, to ask what they had drunk. But he was gone…
A year later, they had an heir. They named him Urbento.
And many more years have passed and Urbento has been ruling this country for a long time, and his parents are still together. They breed fish, walk in the park, feed white swans, who take food only from their hands, play with his sons and their youngest blond daughter and tell them wonderful tales about magical flowers, after which they named their son. And in the center of the city there is a monument to the great doctor with the words “In gratitude to the one who returned happiness to the country. For urbento morri»