There was an old widower who had three young daughters. He wanted them to be married for he can't take care of them anymore.
In their village, it was a tradition that parents would give their daughters for marriage in exchange for some dowry that they think the worth of their daughters.
A fine, young man came to their house one day, and asked for this old widower's eldest daughter. He was surprised but happy for the gifts this fine young man brought. He wants to take the eldest's hand in exchange of seven cows, and the widower gave his eldest daughter without a second thought.
He was exceedingly happy for the young man's generosity. His eldest daughter was indeed beautiful, and seven cows were the right dowry in exchange of her.
His youngest daughter was more beautiful than the eldest; so, he set a higher dowry for her. Not less than a dozen cow or any other animals would be the requirement in exchange of her.
On the other hand, his second daughter was just a fine woman. She had a long, messy hair that was black but turned gray as it was too dirty. Her feet were dirty, too, and her clothes were ragged. She walks indecently and she moves immodestly.
The old widower worried that no one would take his second daughter for marriage because of these characteristics. So, he lowers the dowry of the maiden. He thought that a goat would be sufficient.
Several months had passed since the eldest's marriage when the prince of the kingdom came to their house. It was a huge surprised for the old widower as the prince offered 20 cows, 20 sheep, 3 boxes of silver, and 3 boxes of gold.
"Oh, your majesty. What an honor to be your father-in-law!" He exclaimed, "But in our family tradition, the elder daughters should be married first before the young ones. I'm very sorry but I can't give you my youngest daughter." He explained hoping that the prince would give additional gifts.
By the time he finished his excuse to the prince, his second daughter made a loud, obnoxious, embarrassing laugh. She was holding her stomach from laughing while her eyes were shut and filled with tears.
"Father, why do you think the prince would take me in exchange of those precious gifts? I'm not even worth a penny." She said between laughs.
Her father scolded her silently for the show she made. Even her sister elbowed her as her sister saw the scowl on the guards' faces.
She stopped making obnoxious laughs but she can't resist laughing silently for the ludicrous thought his father gave. She knew that she would not even passed as the prince's maid for she didn't know how to cook or clean the house (much more of herself), so, how would she passed as his bride?
One of the prince's guards cleared his throat and she managed to make a straight face, but soft laughs still leaks out of her mouth from time to time.
"I understand well a family tradition, Mister." The prince gracefully spoke but even this didn't' stopped Lily's leaks of laughs. "And I understand that we should follow this certain tradition for your youngest daughter is too young for marriage."
The old man smiled in triumph while Lily held her mouth with her two hands as she thought of being wed with the handsome, graceful prince.
"However," The prince continued, "I want to assure you that I went here to take your second daughter's hand." Lily laugh stopped abruptly. "If my gifts are not enough, I am willing to add more of it if it's the only way to take her to the palace."
The old man's jaw dropped. He never thought that someone, so much of a prince, would want his second daughter, Lily, for a wife.
In surprise and fear that the prince would be mad, the old man stood abruptly and start pushing Lily toward the prince saying that it was very nice to know and you can take my daughter as soon as you want.
