Imagine a princess, not just any princess, but one who loved exploring more than tea parties. Her name was Lily. One sunny afternoon, Lily wandered a little too far into the Whispering Woods. Oops! Soon, every tree looked the same, and she was quite lost.

Just when tears started to well up, she spotted something very odd. A big, black iron stove, sitting all by itself under an oak tree! "Hello?" Lily called out, a bit nervously.
A voice rumbled from inside the stove, "Hello, little princess! I can help you find your way home."
Lily was surprised! "You can?" she asked.
"Yes," said the stove-voice, "but only if you promise to come back and marry me."
Lily giggled. Marry a stove? What a funny idea! "Of course!" she said, thinking it was just a silly game. The stove then gave her perfect directions, and soon she was back at her father's castle.

The King was overjoyed to see her, but when Lily told him about the stove, he frowned. "Marry a stove? Nonsense!" he declared. When the time came for Lily to return, the King tried a trick. First, he sent the miller’s pretty daughter. "I'm the princess!" she told the stove.
"Aha!" rumbled the stove. "Your hands are dusty with flour. You're not her!"
Next, the King sent the swineherd’s girl. "I'm the princess!" she announced.
"Hmm," said the stove. "You smell a bit like pigs. Not her either!"

Finally, Lily knew she had to keep her promise. With a heavy heart, she went to the stove. As she touched it, POOF! The stove vanished, and standing there was a handsome prince! "You broke the spell!" he cheered. He explained an evil witch had trapped him.

Lily and the Prince were very happy. But soon, the Prince wanted to visit his own father, the King of a faraway land. "Be careful," Lily said, giving him a special ring. "Don't let anyone kiss you on your left cheek, or you'll forget all about me."
The Prince promised. But when he arrived, his father was so happy to see him, he rushed forward and gave him a big kiss... right on the left cheek! Instantly, the Prince forgot all about Lily. Oh dear!

Poor Lily waited and waited. When the Prince didn't return, she set off to find him. Her journey was long. One day, she met three friendly toads. The first gave her a magic nut that held a beautiful, sparkly dress. The second gave her another nut with an even more amazing gown. The third gave her a nut with the most dazzling dress of all, shining like stars.

At last, Lily reached a grand castle. And guess what? The Prince was there, about to marry another princess! Lily was heartbroken but determined.
That evening, Lily showed the new princess the first sparkly dress. "Oh, I must have it!" cried the new princess.
"You can," said Lily, "if you let me sleep outside the Prince's door tonight."
The new princess agreed. But she gave the Prince a sleepy drink, so he heard nothing.
The next night, Lily offered the even more amazing gown. Again, the new princess agreed, and again, the Prince slept soundly.
On the third night, Lily brought out the star-dazzling dress. This time, a kind servant felt sorry for Lily and didn't give the Prince the sleepy drink. As Lily sang softly of her lost love, the Prince woke up. "That voice!" he cried. "Lily!"

He rushed out, saw Lily, and suddenly remembered everything! "It's you!" They hugged tightly. Wasting no time, they hopped onto a magical horse (perhaps one the toads sent!) and galloped away from the grumpy new princess.

Lily and her Prince returned to her kingdom, got married for real this time (with no stoves involved!), and they lived as happy as two peas in a pod, exploring many more woods, but always together.

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