Fairy tales for young and old ~ English version

The Lost Prince of Olesian

(Warning. This is a dark fairytale.)

 Once, in the kingdom of Olesian, beauty and prosperity reigned alongside its beloved royal family. The queen, said to be the most beautiful woman anyone had ever seen, was admired far and wide, yet her heart was as cold as her beauty was radiant. Her king, however, was known as a gentle soul, and their only child, Prince Shaan, was adored by all. From a very young age, Shaan was a beacon of kindness and humility, often helping those in need and offering joy to everyone he met, from noble to servant, young and old alike. His beauty grew with age, so delicate in feature and fair in spirit that some whispered he might even outshine his mother one day.

But one tragic night, Prince Shaan disappeared.

The kingdom fell into mourning, and the king became a shadow of his former self, weakened by grief and the endless search for his son. He had every corner of Olesian scoured, dispatching knights and scouts from dawn till dusk, paying no heed to distance or danger. Forests were combed, rivers traced, mountains climbed—no stone left unturned in their search for the beloved prince.

Driven by a father's desperation, the king's grief turned fierce and unrelenting. Word reached neighboring kingdoms of the prince's disappearance, and the king, usually a fair and even-tempered man, now sent warnings and demands in his sorrow. "If any kingdom shelters my son, knowingly or unknowingly, you will face Olesian's wrath," he declared. But seeing his desperation, the neighboring rulers did not take offense. Rather, they were moved, recalling how young Prince Shaan had charmed the hearts of every visiting envoy with his kindness, treating even the lowliest of attendants as equals.

The rulers of these kingdoms offered their own knights and scouts, vowing to help in any way they could. An army of searchers—soldiers, peasants, hunters, and villagers from every realm—was formed, each person determined to bring Shaan home. Day after day, the search parties expanded their reach, going further and further until they touched the edges of unknown lands.

Rumors spread among them: whispers that the prince might have wandered to distant shores, that he could be hiding in disguise, that perhaps he was lost in the enchanted forests or captured by a jealous mage. But as the seasons passed, even these wild speculations faded into silence. Each night, the king waited for news, but his halls grew emptier, his face more haggard, until he could no longer rise from his bed. He had torn his very soul apart seeking his son, and now, he was but a shell, frail and fevered, wasting away from a grief as consuming as a curse.

Olesian itself had fallen under a dark cloud. The people had adored their prince—he had been like a bright flame in their lives, and his absence left a cold void in its place. They whispered that the land itself had lost its warmth. Crops withered, rivers dried, and storms battered the kingdom with an almost unnatural fury, as though the kingdom itself wept for him.

And as the king weakened, the queen seized her chance to rule. In her care, the kingdom's wealth found its way to her chambers rather than her people. Hungry villagers watched her adorn herself with gold and jewels, holding grand balls and acquiring all the luxuries to maintain her beauty, a beauty that now seemed tinged with cold cruelty.

~~~

Eight years passed. Rumors spread of a terrible monster in the mountains, a creature that haunted the forest near the capital city. Tales of a looming shadow with twisted limbs and a hideous, scarred face filled villagers' hearts with fear. Some claimed it lurked at night, calling for help in a sweet, haunting voice only to attack those who were lured by this siren's call.

The villagers whispered that this beast had taken their beloved prince and eaten him. Hearing these rumors, the queen played her part to perfection, shedding crocodile tears and offering a wonderful reward for the head of the creature that had taken her son. Many brave men entered the cave to slay the monster, but none returned with anything to show but trembling voices and tales of an apparition too terrifying to face.

One night, a young girl named Hinara lost her way in the forest as the sun dipped below the horizon. Desperate and afraid, she stumbled upon the dreaded cave of the mountain. Remembering the stories, she hesitated. But then, a soft voice drifted out, like a lullaby sung by a desperate soul.

"Help me... please..."