Golden Touch (An Original Children's Story)

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Once upon a time, there was an enchanted princess whose touch can turn anything into gold. Her father was a greedy man, thus, the fairies in their kingdom had conspired to punish him through his only child. But instead of feeling upset, the king had always been delighted of his daughter's ability. Day and night he would ask the princess to turn random things into gold -- chairs, clothes, fruits, and many more.

The princess only wanted to have a normal life. But with her situation, the king wouldn't allow her to stray past the palace doors, for fear that someone might take her away. So she stayed in her room and waited for her father's orders. Everyone in the palace knew about her condition, but they couldn't do anything to help her.

Meanwhile, a young servant's daughter has come to the palace to work. Her mother and father were now too old for the job, and she had volunteered to replace them. She was assigned to clean the rooms in the palace, and it was during one of those tasks that she met the princess.

They talked and giggled the whole afternoon, until the king asked for his daughter. The servant felt sorry for her and knew that she had to do something. So she tried to think of anything that might save the princess until she fell asleep. Little did she know that the fairies heard her, and they also wanted to help. After all, the princess' sufferings were their fault. As the servant slept, they left her a gift for the princess -- a pair of the thinnest gloves the color of her skin.

When the servant woke up and found the gloves, she knew what she must do. The next day, she sneaked to the room where she found the princess and gave her the pair of gloves. The enchanted girl didn't know what to say. It was the first time that someone has ever given her a gift. She happily slipped it on her hand and it instantly made her feel so much better.

When the king gave her a task that day, he was enraged. Her hands could no longer turn things into gold. He screamed like a little child and forced his daughter to keep on trying. But the princess was tired, so she tried to escape from her father. As soon as she had poised her feet to run, the king grabbed her hand so hard that the glove tore away in an instant, and in the slightest touch of his finger to the back of her palm, he felt his hand slowly stiffened until he could no longer feel anything.

The princess stood there, weeping as she watched her father turn into gold. The servant consoled her and assured her that it was not her fault, and the princess knew that she was right. Her whole life, all her father wanted was to become wealthier than he already was. And even then he will still want more.

The princess was crowned the next day, and she ruled the kingdom in behalf of her father. She used their gold to provide enough food for her people, and to make sure that everyone had enough clothes and comfortable shelter. Her people loved her and she reigned until yhe end of her days.