Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a king. He had eleven sons and one daughter, named Elisa. Each of the eleven sons was a prince. Every day they went to school wearing small heart-shaped badges on their chests and little swords at their waists. They wrote with diamond-tipped pens on golden tablets, and their books were so well-studied they could recite them cover to cover—it was clear at a glance they were children of nobility.
Eliza was the youngest child and the only girl. She had a little stool made of mirrors, upon which she sat every day. Her most treasured possession was an illustrated book, said to be worth half the kingdom. She loved flipping through its pages, admiring the castles, gardens, and people dressed in beautiful clothes.
Back then, the family lived happily. The children played together, their laughter filling the entire palace.
The Wicked Queen Arrives
But the good times didn’t last long. The king married a new queen, a woman with a wicked heart. She disliked the children, especially Eliza.
On the first day after the wedding, a banquet was held in the palace. The children had hoped for sweets and baked apples, but the queen gave them only a cup of sand, saying, “This is your treat.”
Before long, she sent little Elisa to live with a farmer in the countryside. Then she whispered slander about the princes into the king’s ear, causing him to ignore them.
One day, she told the eleven princes, “Go away! Fly out into the wild and fend for yourselves! You’re like mute birds—just fly away!”
She actually wanted to drive them all away, even to make them disappear.But she hadn’t counted on magic taking effect—the princes didn’t die. Instead, they transformed into eleven beautiful wild swans. With a long cry, they flew out the palace windows, across the gardens, and toward the distant forest.
That morning, Elisa was still asleep at the farmer’s house, completely unaware that her brothers had become swans and were flying right over her head.
The Little Girl’s Longing
Elisa lived a simple life at the farmer’s house. She had no toys, only a green leaf she picked up to play with. She poked a small hole in the leaf and peered through it at the sun. When the sunlight touched her face, she always felt that the glow was like her brothers’ eyes watching her.
Every day, the wind blew through the rosebushes outside the house and whispered, “Is there any flower more beautiful than you in the world?”The roses shook their heads and replied, “Yes, there is someone more beautiful—Elisa.”
On Sundays, the old farmer’s wife would sit at the door reading the Hymnal. The wind turned the pages and asked, “Is there anyone better than you?” The book answered, “Elisa is better.”
These words were no boast—they were true. Though Elisa dressed simply, her kind heart and bright eyes made her special to everyone who met her.
Return to the Palace
When Elisa turned fifteen, she was brought back to the palace. The queen, seeing how beautiful she was, grew deeply displeased, even considering turning her into a swan too. But she dared not act immediately, for the king wished to see his daughter.
One morning, the queen secretly went to the bathhouse. The place was all white stone, clean and beautiful. She took out three toads, kissed each one, and commanded them:
- “You sit on Elisa’s head and make her foolish.”
- “You cling to her forehead and make her ugly, so the king won’t recognize her.”
- “Cling to her heart, and let evil thoughts take root within her.”
She placed the toads in the water, and they turned green. Then she called Elisa in to bathe. Elisa jumped into the water, and the three toads clung to her head, forehead, and chest respectively.
But she felt nothing. When she stood up, three small red flowers floated on the water—poppies. Because Elisa was too pure, the evil magic couldn’t harm her.
The queen was furious. She smeared walnut juice to darken her skin, rubbed foul oil on her face, and tangled her long hair into a mess. Now no one could recognize her as the beautiful princess.
The king, startled by her appearance, exclaimed, “This is not my daughter!” Only the family dog and the swallows still recognized her, but they could not speak.
Alone in the Forest
Elisa wept bitterly. She thought of her eleven brothers, knowing they too must have been banished. She resolved to find them.
Leaving the palace, she walked through fields and muddy paths until she reached a vast forest. Night fell, and unable to find her way, she lay down to sleep on soft moss. After saying her prayers, she rested her head against a tree root.
At night, fireflies danced around her like tiny green stars. She dreamed her brothers were together again, writing on golden tablets and reading from that precious illustrated book. The people in the book came to life, stepping out to speak with her. But when she turned the page, they hurried back in, afraid of disturbing the scene.
The next morning, sunlight glistened on the leaves like golden flowers. She walked to the lake and saw her face reflected in the water—so dark, so ugly. She washed her face with the water, rubbing her eyes and forehead, and gradually, fair skin emerged.
She shed her clothes and stepped into the cool lake. In that moment, she was the most beautiful princess in the world.
Finding Her Brothers
She continued onward, picking wild apples when hungry and drinking from springs when thirsty. She walked until she came upon a river.
An old woman gave her some berries and told her, “Yesterday I saw eleven swans wearing golden crowns swimming in the river.”
Elisa followed the river to the seashore. Countless pebbles littered the beach, each smoothed round by the sea, as soft as a baby’s skin.
She understood: With persistent effort, even the hardest things can soften.
As the sun neared the horizon, she finally saw eleven swans descend from the sky. Upon landing, they transformed into eleven princes—her brothers!
They recognized their sister, weeping and laughing. The eldest brother explained: they were swans by day and could only return to human form at night. They could visit their homeland only once a year, staying for eleven days. They were bound for a distant, beautiful kingdom but couldn’t take their sister with them.
Elisa pleaded, “Let me go with you!”
Her brothers wove a net from willow and reeds, letting her lie within.The youngest brother flew above her head, shielding her from the sun with his wings.
Guidance in a Dream
One night, Elisa dreamed of a fairy. The fairy said, “You can save your brothers. Go gather nettles from the churchyard, trample them underfoot, spin them into thread, weave eleven coats of mail, and clothe them in these. Then the spell will be broken.”
But she must remember: From start to finish, not a single word must be spoken. One word, and her brothers would die as if stabbed through the heart.
Elisa awoke to find the very nettles growing by the cave entrance. She began her task at once. The nettles stung like fire, blistering her hands. Yet for her brothers’ sake, she cared not for the pain.
Accused of Witchcraft
The king discovered her while hunting, captivated by her beauty. He brought her to the palace and made her his queen. But the archbishop declared her a witch who had bewitched the king.
Elisa couldn’t explain; she could only weave in silence. At night, she secretly returned to the hut to continue her work. The king grew suspicious, followed her, and saw her gathering nettles at the graveyard—where a terrifying monster was devouring corpses.
Believing her to be a monster too, the king ordered her burned.
The Final Moment
Elisa was locked in the dungeon, mocked by the crowd.Yet she never stopped weaving. Little mice helped carry nettles, and a song thrush sang outside her window, giving her courage.
On the day of her execution, she sat in the prison cart. Ten coats of armor were complete, and she wove the last. The crowd cursed her, trying to snatch her nettles.
Just then, eleven swans flew down and encircled her. She threw out the garments—and eleven brothers appeared!The youngest brother still had one wing unchanged, for the final garment lacked a sleeve.
Elisa finally spoke: “I am innocent!”
All were stunned. The wood on the pyre suddenly sprouted branches, forming a rose hedge with a gleaming white flower at its center. The king plucked the blossom and pinned it to her chest.
She fainted in her brothers’ arms, but her heart was finally at peace.
A Happy Ending
Her brothers revealed the truth. The king realized his mistake. Church bells rang spontaneously, and flocks of birds descended. The people gathered around the newlywed king and queen, escorting them back to the palace—a procession the kingdom had never witnessed before.
The Truth Behind the Story
This tale is more than a fairy tale; it shows how an ordinary person can overcome evil through silence and perseverance. Elisa possessed no magic, no weapons—only a heart devoted to her family. Misunderstood, falsely accused, and treated as a monster, she never gave up.
Her “magic” wasn’t spells, but endurance, labor, and love. She wove hope with her hands, guarded life with silence, and traded suffering for her family’s freedom.
Those who called her a witch were blinded by prejudice. The true villains were the queen who abused her power to harm others, and the archbishop who only knew how to condemn.
What Lessons Does This Story Teach Us?
- Love can make one incredibly resilient. Though just a girl, Elisa endured burns, loneliness, and misunderstanding to save her brother.
- Sometimes, silence is the greatest courage. She could have defended herself, but speaking would have doomed her brother. True bravery is sacrificing your own rights for others.
- Appearances cannot judge a person’s worth. Though blackened and branded a witch, her heart remained pure. Conversely, the queen wore regal finery yet harbored a wicked heart.
- Persisting in doing what’s right will be proven over time. Even if the whole world condemns you, truth will emerge when your actions are just.
- Those who help others will be treated gently by the world. The little mouse, the songbird, even the wind and flowers—all quietly supported her. Kindness is never truly alone.
So this story tells us:
When you feel misunderstood, remember— as long as love dwells in your heart and purpose guides your hands, you are walking the right path.
