Traditional | Middle East
The Stolen Necklace
A kind and wise woman wrongly accused of theft is proven innocent when the king discovers a magpie took the queen's necklace.
Once upon a time, in a busy kingdom, there lived a kind and wise woman who chose to live simply, spending her days helping others. She was well-known and respected and often visited the royal palace, where everyone liked her because she brought good luck.
One sunny day, while she was with the queen, the queen gave her a beautiful necklace, sparkling with precious stones, saying, “Please hold this for me while I take a quick bath here in the palace.” The woman put the necklace carefully on her mat and began to meditate quietly.
While she was deep in thought, a naughty magpie flew through the window. It saw the shiny necklace, picked it up in its beak without anyone noticing, and hid it in a small crack in the palace wall.
When the queen returned, refreshed from her bath, she asked for her necklace. The woman began to look for it but was sad to find it missing. She explained to the queen, “I put your necklace right here on my mat. I haven’t moved since. It seems it has disappeared!”
The king, upon hearing the news, was angry and decided that the woman must be questioned. Despite the kind woman’s honesty, she was tested many times to make her confess to a theft she did not commit. Yet, she stayed firm and truthful.
Days turned into weeks, and the woman stayed sad in a small room in the palace. Meanwhile, the king sat in his garden one afternoon, thinking about what had happened. Just then, he saw the same magpie flying towards a crack in the garden wall. Curious, he watched as the bird pulled out the very necklace that had been lost.
Realizing his big mistake, the king was filled with regret. He immediately ordered for the woman to be brought before him. With tears in his eyes, he apologized sincerely for the misunderstanding and praised her for her honesty and courage.
“I am very sorry for the trouble we have caused you,” the king said, his voice full of regret.
The wise woman, with a gentle smile, accepted the king’s apology but did not want any reward. She chose to continue her simple life outside the palace, helping others as she always had.
