"John Morressy - The True History of the Picky Princess" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morressy John)

"And you do have to get married."

Sighing more deeply, Infatuata said, "I suppose so."
"I have thought long and deeply about the selection process," said the king. "We must set your suitors a
task to perform as proof of their devotion. A bold feat to accomplish, a quest to go on, something like
that."

"The usual thing is to make them go out and slay horrible monsters!" said the princess, clapping her hands
in delight. "Let's do that."

"The only horrible monsters I know of are those dragons up in the mountains, and not one of these lads is
a match for the smallest of them."

"Then they're certainly not good enough for me."

"No one is, my priceless treasure," said the queen, hugging her daughter. "But we must be practical.
You've got to marry someone, and if the best available all get themselves eaten, there won't be anyone
worthwhile left."

"A sensible observation," said the king. They all pondered for a time, and then he asked, "How about
making them solve three riddles?"

Infatuata looked at him in alarm. "I don't want a husband who's too clever."

"That's no problem. Eliminate the ones who solve the riddles, and pick from among the others."

"I don't want to marry a dolt, either."

"She has a point there," said the queen. "Riddles won't do."

Once again they were all silent for a time. The princess sighed once again and said, "I suppose I
absolutely must marry."

"Yes, my dear. Otherwise our line will die out. And I don't believe you'll ever have a better selection."

Infatuata stamped her perfectly shaped, dainty little foot and said, "Then I'll set them a task. But it won't
be an easy one."

"Why should it be, my pet? You are the most desirable princess in the world, and a man ought to be
willing to face horrifying dangers and excruciating hardships to win your favor," said her father, patting her
cheek.

"I'll make them get me things. I'll require that they bring me back Medusa's comb, a cloak made of
phoenix feathers, slippers of chimera's hide, and a drinking vessel made from the horn of a unicorn."

"Good. That's all useful stuff. But don't make it so easy."

They thought for a time, then Princess Infatuata burst into a merry laugh. "And they must swear to
accomplish all this in twenty-four hours, or never to look at another woman in all their lives!"