The Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde, and Other Stories

In a glittering palace a young princess dazzles all with a beauty that feels almost magical—but behind her smile lies a secret talent for sorcery, learned in the lonely hut of a hideous witch on a distant mountain. When her aging father decides it’s time for her to marry and secure an heir, the princess panics, fearing that any husband would discover her dark studies and strip away the allure she treasures.

Desperate, she summons a tiny bird with a handful of peas, watches it swell into a colossal creature, and rides it straight to the witch’s door under the cover of night. There, she bargains for a spell that could transform any suitor into a glittering bead, promising a necklace of living princes that would forever adorn her neck. The tale unfolds with clever tricks, whimsical magic, and a lingering question: how far will she go to keep her enchantments hidden?