The King of England and His Three Sons
The King of England and His Three Sons — an illustrated tales story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Tales.
Page 1
King Oberon of England, a man known for his golden touch and three sons of varying charm, ruled a land touched by stardust. A carnival appeared only during the showers of meteors, a realm of wonders and illusions, and it was here that Oberon planned to divide his kingdom. One born of honesty, the second with love and the third with deception – each son would embark on a trial, revealing his true nature to inherit the throne. The king knew that the carnival, a swirling mirror of truth and temptation, would expose their hearts, setting the stage for a kingdom's destiny.
Page 2
"My sons," Oberon announced, his voice amplified by the carnival's peculiar magic, "tonight, under the starlight, you will each face a challenge." Alaric, the eldest, straightened his tunic, a flicker of ambition in his eyes. Lysander, ever gentle, offered a nervous smile, while Cassian, the youngest, merely smirked, his gaze fixed on a nearby game of chance. "The carnival holds the keys to your destinies," Oberon continued, his voice echoing through the swirling tents and dazzling lights. "Prove your worth, and the kingdom shall be yours."
Page 3
Alaric, eager to prove his strength, stepped forward. "I will win this trial with power!" he declared, his voice booming through the carnival. Oberon nodded, gesturing towards a strength-testing game: a massive bell that required immense force to ring. A carny barker, with a feathered hat and a mischievous grin, explained the rules: Ring the bell thrice, and claim the prize. But, the carny warned, the bell amplifies one's true intent—greed, kindness, deception—making it known for all the carnival to see.
Page 4
Alaric swung the hammer, his face contorted with effort. The bell rang once, a clear, resonant tone. He grinned, emboldened. With a second swing, he poured all his strength, and it rang again, louder this time. But as he prepared for the third strike, an irresistible urge washed over him: to cheat, to ensure his victory. "As Machiavelli said, 'The end justifies the means,'" Alaric muttered to himself, justifying his plan. He saw a loose bolt on the mechanism.
Page 5
Lysander, understanding the nature of his brother's trials and knowing the importance of honesty, approached his own test: a mirror maze, filled with illusions and reflections of the heart. A wise woman, draped in velvet and adorned with silver jewelry, stood at the entrance. "Find the true path, young prince, and reveal the love within," she instructed, her eyes twinkling like the distant stars. A wrong turn will lead you into yourself, where no one can get out.
Page 6
Lysander stepped into the maze, his heart filled with hope. Mirrors reflected his face a hundred times, each distorted and exaggerated. Doubts whispered in his mind: Am I worthy? Am I strong enough? The maze shifted around him, blurring reality and illusion. One mirror showed Lysander as a king, powerful and revered. But as he reached out to touch it, the image shattered, revealing a path forward. "'The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart,'" Lysander recalled, remembering what Helen Keller said.
Page 7
Cassian, his eyes gleaming with mischief, sauntered toward his trial: a game of riddles, overseen by a masked figure shrouded in darkness. "Answer correctly, and claim your prize. Fail, and face the consequences," the figure rasped, his voice sending shivers down Cassian's spine. The first riddle: 'I have cities, but no houses, forests, but no trees, and water, but no fish. What am I?' Cassian smiled. He knew the answer.
Page 8
"A map," Cassian answered, his voice dripping with confidence. The masked figure chuckled, and the prize appeared: a glittering crown, radiating power. But as Cassian reached for it, the figure stopped him. "There is one more question, prince. What is the greatest deception of all?" Cassian hesitated, his smile faltering for the first time. He looked around at the carnival, at the illusions and tricks, and realized the truth. "The deception lies in believing that power is the only thing that matters," he spoke.
Page 9
Alaric, eager to cheat, loosened the bolt on the bell. He swung with all his might, but instead of ringing, the bell toppled, crashing to the ground. Lysander emerged from the mirror maze, his eyes shining with newfound understanding. Oberon watched, a solemn expression on his face. Cassian, having spoken his truth, found the masked figure vanishing and the crown now glowing a dull silver. "You have all revealed yourselves," Oberon announced.
Page 10
Oberon, with a heavy heart, divided the kingdom not by land, but by virtue. He gave Alaric a small plot, stripped of gold, to learn the value of honest labor. Lysander inherited a sanctuary, a place of healing and compassion, to spread his love. Cassian, now wise and honest, was given the carnival itself, to use its illusions to reveal the truth. And so, the kingdom was ruled not by power, but by the virtues that truly mattered: honesty, love, and wisdom. "The true test of character," Oberon said, "is not what we gain, but what we choose to become."
About this story
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
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