The following morning, word of the queen’s plan had spread through the castle. All the servants, the queen, and the prince waited anxiously outside the maiden’s door to see how she had slept.

When the maiden opened the door, she had bags under her eyes and couldn’t stop yawning.

“How did you sleep, my dear?” the queen asked.

“Not well, I’m afraid,” the maiden said. “Thank you so much for your kindness, but I tossed and turned all night long.”

“It’s a miracle!” the prince said. “We’ve found the missing princess!”

The crowd in the hallway burst into cheers and applause. The maiden was confused by the sudden celebration.

“Excuse me?” the maiden asked. “What did you say I am?”

“I’m sorry you didn’t have a restful night, my dear,” the queen said. “We hid a pea under your bed. Only a real princess would have been able to feel it!”

The maiden was delighted to learn she was a princess, and the discovery allowed her to reconnect with her family in a far-off kingdom.

The prince and princess were married and had many children before the king passed away. Both had gotten exactly what they were looking for: The prince had finally found a wife, the princess had finally found a life, and together they found a happily-ever-after.

The End