Once upon a time, there was a poor boy called Joseph, who led a humble life in a small village, working for his master, who was very pleased with his work, All the other peasant boys envied him, because he was clever, handsome and hardworking. The village girls were desperately trying to make him notice them, but he paid them no attention. They used to call him Prince Charming.
One sunny day, tired as he was after working very hard, he slipped into the forest and lay down under a huge oaktree and slept under its hospitable shelter. And while he slept, a beautiful fairy dressed in a robe sparkling with diamonds appeared before him and told him:
“Go to the king’s castle,because you’ll find your fortune there.”
No sooner had he reached home, than he went straight to his master and said to him:
“Master, I have a good mind to go into the wide world to seek my fortune. I have served you enough and now it’s time for me to turn over a new leaf.”
His master tried to change his mind and make him stay to no avail, so he paid the boy for his work and he was gone.
Joseph soon reached the king’s court and went to the gardener to ask for work. Seeing him so tidy and clever, the gardener liked him and accepted his services. His main job was to make twelve little bouquets every day and give them to the king’s twelve daughters each morning when they went out for a walk.
The twelve princesses were doomed not to be able to marry until someone could make one of them fall in love with him and thus, deliver them from their fate, which gifted them with the passion for dance. The princesses were crazy about dance and every night they tore up their shoes. But no one knew where they went, because they were locked in.
Then the king made it known to all the land, that if any person could find out where it was that the princesses danced in the night, he should have the one he liked best for his wife, and should be king after his death.
Many suitors came to the castle, but the princes who had been watching during the night could no longer be found in the morning. They just disssapeared, and no one knew what had happened to them. Eleven princes were lost so far and no one dared to try his luck any more.
Joseph did his job very well, and the princesses were pleased with his work. He was so humble that he didn’t even dare to look at them when he gave them the bouquets. It was only when he gave the flowers to the youngest of them, Laura, that his cheeks flushed and his heart started to beat wildly. The princess felt the same way about him, though her sisters were not delighted at all to see that.
He was thinking to go and watch, too, but he didn’t dare.
One night, the fairy appeared in his dreams again and said to him :
“Go to the eastern angle of the garden and there you’ll find two small laurel trees. Take good care of them. When they have grown, ask anything you want, and they will give it to you.
Saying this, she disappeared from sight.
As soon as he woke up, he went straight to the place described by the fairy. When he reached there, he just couldn’t believe his eyes. The laurel trees were right there! He took very good care of them and when they grew up enough, he asked them to make him invisible. His wish was granted immediately.
In the evening, when the princesses entered their room, Joseph sneaked inside. The doors were then shut and locked up by nine bolts. He noticed that, instead of preparing to go to bed, the princesses began to brush their hair, to dress themselves in beautiful clothes and to put on jewels like they were going to leave somewehere.
Then, the eldest sister stamped her foot on the floor three times and suddenly, a trap door opened. They went down on a secret staircase till they reached a garden whose gates opened when the eldest sister stamped her foot again. Joseph followed them everywhere they went.
Twelve boats with twelve paddlers were waiting for them ashore. The princesses seated themselves into the boats. Joseph entered the boat where the youngest princess was seated.