For three years,s. King Edward had repeated almost every day the same to his son.
“You will be the future ruler. This kingdom needs a queen. It’s time for you to stop delaying the marriage.”
But Prince Adrian always responded calmly.
“I don’t want to get married simply because I’m expected to. I will marry alone when I find a woman I truly love.”
The king could only sigh.
Over the years, the neighboring kingdoms began to send their princesses to the palace.
The families Wealthy dreamed of being related.s. to the family real.
But Adrian rejected each of the proposals.
Finally, the prince came up with an uncommon way of choosing a wife.
Once a year, some of the most admired young women in the kingdom were invited to the palace.
Each candidate had to pass a strict series of tests.
They examined his health.
They evaluated their education.
His manners, knowledge, posture, label and ability to behave in the royal court were carefully judged.
Some women prepared for months just to get the chance to enter the palace that day.
But the strangest proof of all was in the center of the throne room.
It was a huge wooden frame with the shape of the contour of a human body.
No one outside the royal family seemed to know exactly why he was there.
That morning, dozens of young people arrived dressed with expensive dresses.
They smiled, whispered and tried to look self-confident, though almost all were nervous.
Then, the huge palace doors suddenly opened.
A young woman named Clara came in.
She wore a simple but elegant blue dress.
Almost immediately, the room was quieter.
Clara looked very different from the other candidates.
He had a more robust and bulky figure, and did not fit the appearance that was normally praised in the actual court.
Several women exchanged funny glances.
One whispered loud enough for Clara to hear her.
“Are you sure you’ve come to the right place?”
Another covered his mouth and laughed.
“You must be confused.”
A third woman looked at Clara from top to bottom.
“Do you really think Prince Adrian will even look at you?”
Within seconds, a contained laugh spread through the room.
Even some members of the royal court had difficulty hiding their smiles.
Clara heard every word.
