Riquet à la Houppe: Conte

A tiny, unruly prince born with a single curl of hair carries a magical gift: he can share as much cleverness as he has with the person he loves most. Meanwhile, in a neighboring kingdom, a queen watches her two daughters grow into striking opposites—the elder shines with dazzling beauty but grows increasingly dim‑witted, while the younger is plain‑faced yet sparkling with wit. A fairy’s blessings have left each child excelling in only one of these virtues, and the contrast fuels both admiration and envy throughout the court.

One day the elder princess, weary of her growing folly, wanders into a forest and encounters the oddly handsome yet hideously ugly prince. He greets her with gentle politeness and, hearing her lament, offers a startling solution: he can give her the intellect she craves, the very gift he bears. Their conversation hints at a delicate bargain, inviting listeners to wonder how love, appearance, and cleverness might intertwine.