Her Mother-in-Law Turned Her Mother into a Goat | Parts 1 and 2

Welcome to our channel.  Today, we invite you to discover a brand new story.  Make yourself comfortable.  Suzu stood at a distance, took out a small charm wrapped in red cloth, and began to whisper words that did not belong to this world.  The air thickens, the birds kill each other. Moses turned around, confused: “Suzu,” she flattened, “What are you doing here?”  Suzu did not respond.

  She raised her hand and before Moses could scream, his body twisted, his bones bent.  Where Moses once stood, a goat collapsed on the ground, bleeding with terror.  Suzus advanced calmly, her face blank.  “You wanted peace,” she murmured. Taking advantage of the situation, she dragged the goat deeper into the bush and tied it to a tree near the boundary of the land where the farmers temporarily kept the animals.

  Then she wiped her hands, adjusted her loincloth and returned home.  That evening, Lionus noticed that Moï had not returned.  As night fell, panic gripped the concession.  “Where is your mother?” Lyonus asked Twinkle.  Twinkle collapsed.  A rich man named Lyonus lived there.  He was known far and wide, not only for his wealth, but also for his vast farmlands that stretched beyond the hills, his inherited lands, his granaries filled with harvest, and his large concession that never lacked food.

  Lyonus had two wives.  The first woman’s name was Suzu, the second’s name was Moi.  From the outside, the family seemed complete, comfortable, and blessed.  But inside the concession, jealousy lay dormant and awoke with the first woman.  Suzu had been Lyonus’s first love.  She arrived while he was still fighting. When farmland was small and granaries half empty, she had given him a daughter and believed with all her heart that whatever Lionus would one day become belonged only to her and her child.

But life has a way of changing things.  When Lyon married Moses, everything changed.  Moses was gentle.  Calm and hardworking, she never raised her voice.  She never fought to attract attention.  She didn’t need it.  Lyonus naturally gravitated towards her.  He laughed more in her presence, rested better, and found peace in her presence.

  And when Moses gave birth to a daughter named Twinkle, the balance of the house was completely shattered.  Twinkle became a child who turned heads wherever she went.  She was not only beautiful, she was graceful. The kind of girl who walked as if the ground respected her steps.  She greeted the elderly properly, helped the neighbors without being asked, and smiled with a warmth that made people forget their worries.

  People were whispering, “That child is special. She’s in favor. She behaves like a queen.”  Lyonus openly adored her.  He praised her kindness. He corrected her patiently. He taught her about the land, farms, harvest seasons, things he rarely shared before.  And Suzu watched, she watched how Lyonus’ eyes softened every time Twinkle entered the room.

She watched how the villagers greeted Twinkle before greeting her own daughter.  She watched as even her own child faded into the background next to Moi’s daughter .  Suzu’s daughter, Apple, looked nothing like Twinkle.  Apple loved food more than dignity.  She ate without restraint, spoke without thinking, and cared little for good manners.

  She could abandon her chores if there was soup on the stove.  If food were at stake, Apple would trade its loyalty, the truth, and even blood.  The villagers chuckled to themselves. This girl’s stomach is her guide.  She would sell a member of her family for meat. Suzu heard all of this, and each comment burned her more deeply.

  What made Suzu the angriest was not just that Twinkle was loved, but that Lyonus trusted her.  He often said things like, “One day, Twinkle will understand how to manage this land. She has a wisdom that surpasses her years. She reminds me of my late mother.” Those words resonated like drums in Suzu’s head.  Heritage, that was the word that haunted her.

  Lyonus had lands that could feed generations, properties that could build dynasties.  Suzu knew that when the time came, Lyonus would not divide things blindly. He would give based on love, trust, and character.  And in Suzu’s eyes, that meant only one thing.  Moses’ daughter would take everything. Jealousy writhed within her like a living creature.

  But Suzu wasn’t crying .  She was not fighting Lyonus.  She didn’t fight openly because Suzu had a secret.  A secret she had carried since childhood.  A secret buried so deeply that even spirits feared to whisper it.  Suzu was a witch, not the kind who dances naked in the night or screams in public.  She was calm, calculating, patient, and when she decided to act, she chose a day when fate left Moses alone.

  That morning, Moses went early to the distant farm, carrying this where his basket was.  The sun was still gentle, the rose is fresh on the ground. Twinkle had stayed behind to help Lyonus organize the grain in the granary.  Suzu watched Moï leave, then followed her deep into the farmland where no one could hear the cries.

  Moses walked peacefully, humming to herself, unaware of the danger walking behind her.  Suzu stood at a distance, took out a small charm wrapped in red cloth, and began to whisper words that did not belong to this world.  The air thickens, the birds kill each other.  Moses turned around, confused. “Suzu, flatten yourself.

” “What are you doing here?” Suzu did n’t answer. She raised her hand, and before Moses could scream, her body twisted, her bones buckled. Where Moses had once stood, a goat collapsed to the ground, bleeding with terror. Suzu advanced calmly, her face like marble.  “You wanted peace,” she murmured, taking advantage of the situation.

She dragged the goat deeper into the bush and tied it to a tree at the edge of the land where farmers temporarily kept animals. Then she wiped her hands, adjusted her clothes, and went home.  That evening, Lionus noticed that Moï had not returned.  As night fell, panic gripped the concession.  “Where is your mother?”  Lyonus asked Twinkle.

Twinkle collapsed.  They searched, they called, they waited, but Moses never returned.  The days passed. No trace, no body, no explanation.  Twinkle cried until her chest burned, until her voice broke.  Suzu became the one who led the mourning most loudly.  She ran from dealership to dealership. Have you seen my co-wife?  Please help us find Moses.

  My co-wife has disappeared.  Has anyone seen Moses?  Ah, cruel world.  How can a woman disappear like smoke?  She was crying in public.  She would complain during the meetings.  She even led research groups in the bush.  The villagers felt sorry for her.  Look how much she loves her co-wife.  This woman has a good heart.

But when night fell and the concession slept, Suzu returned alone to the farmland.  She untied the goat.  Moses, imprisoned by fur and silence, stood up, staggering with weakness.  Suzurit.  She slowly circled the trembling goat to mock it. “Walk,” she whispered cruelly. “Go back home if you can. Let them see what you’ve become!” Then she released her.

 The goat ran, confused, frightened, driven by instinct and love. The next morning, Twinkle sat under the old orange tree, her knees drawn up to her chest. She hadn’t eaten. She hadn’t spoken to anyone. She prayed silently. God, please, bring my mother back. The goat quietly entered the compound. She went straight to Twinkle.

 She sat down beside her. The girl looked down . Their eyes met. The goat bleated softly as if trying to speak, to explain, trying to cry through another body. That’s when Suzu saw them. Her face changed instantly. She ran toward them, yelling, “Get away from her!” She kicked up dust, grabbed a stick, and chased the goat out of the compound.

 The goat screamed and ran toward the bush. Twinkle sat there crying. She did n’t understand what was happening. That moment under the row was the beginning of Twinkle’s agony. Months passed. At first, the compound was filled with panic. Lyonus searched everywhere for Moses. He went from farm to farm, from creek to creek, asking questions, offering small rewards.

 The villagers shook their heads, some taking pity on him. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. Slowly, the search ceased. Lyonus accepted it as the men of the village often did, with quiet grief and resignation. Moses was gone. No body, no trace, no explanation. Life had to go on, but Moses had never truly left.

 Every morning, a calm-eyed brown goat wandered the compound as if it had always belonged there. It slept near the kitchen. It drank from any bowl of water it could find. It ate  Cassava peelings, podignam, and all the crops left unattended. No one questioned it. Goats were common in the village. Stray goats came and went all the time.

 What made this one different was Twinkle. Wherever Twinkle went, the goat followed. When Twinkle sat under the ranger in the compound to read, the goat sat beside her. When Twinkle washed the dishes near the kitchen, the goat stood close by, watching calmly. When Twinkle ate, the goat sat a short distance away, its eyes fixed on her face. At first, the villagers laughed.

Look at this friendship between the goat and the child. Perhaps the goat likes her spirit. Even Twinkle didn’t think much of it . She only knew that when the goat was near, she felt calmer, safer, as if someone were watching over her. Suzu, however, was not unaware of this.  No. From the very beginning, the goat irritated her.

 It ate from the pile of cassava she stored behind the kitchen. It chewed the young shoots at the edge of the farm. It drank the water meant for cooking. Every time she saw it, her chest tightened with anger because she knew. She knew exactly what that goat was. She watched how it followed Twinkle with uncanny devotion, how it sat beside her like a guard, how Twinkle unconsciously leaned toward her when she was sad. One evening, Suzu exploded.

 ” That useless goat has finished our food,” she snapped. “It’s destroying the crops. It’s drinking the water any which way.” Lyonus frowned. “It’s just a goat. A stray goat,” Suzu insisted. “Tomorrow, it will destroy even more. We should kill it.” Lyonus hesitated. “Kill it? Yes,” Suzu said quickly. “Sunday is coming.

”  Let’s slaughter her and make pepper soup. At least she’ll be useful. Lyonuss shrugged. A goat was a goat. He didn’t know she followed Twinkle everywhere. He didn’t know. She slept by his window at night. He didn’t know what Suzu really meant by useful. So, he agreed. We’ll kill her tomorrow, he said.

 That night, Twinkle slept. Her dreams were heavy, filled with images she didn’t understand. Then she saw the goat. She was standing by the riverbank. Her eyes were no longer calm but urgent. When she spoke, her voice wasn’t the sound of a goat. It was her mother’s voice. Twinkle, she said, listen to me. Twinkle, be careful.

 When they cook me, don’t eat any of it. Twinkle shook her head in her dream. What? Don’t eat anything that’s cooked with my flesh. Repeat the voice. Pick up the bones discreetly.  Take them to the riverbank, bury them there. Why? Twinkle cried. The goat approached. Promise me, she said softly. Promise me, my child. Twinkle woke with a scream.

 Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Sweat soaked her loincloth. The room was dark and silent. Her heart pounded. “It was only a dream,” she whispered. But something inside her knew it was n’t. Morning came too quickly. The compound buzzed with activity. Men were sharpening knives. Water boiled loudly. Firewood crackled.

 The goat was easily caught. She didn’t resist . She didn’t struggle. She only glanced where Twinkle was standing. That glance stayed with her. The meat was washed, cut up, and thrown into a large pot. Pepper, spices, fragrant leaves.  Everything was added generously. Soon, the smell of pepper soup filled the compound. People gathered.

 ” Ah, this soup smells good. Suzu, you did a great job.” Suzu beamed. She served everyone cheerfully, laughing, moving about like a generous hutess. Then she turned to Twinkle. “Come!” she said softly, “Have your food.” She handed Twinkle a full plate. The soup was steaming. The meat sat in the center.

 Twinkle stared at it . Her hands trembled. The dream came back to her . The smell was strong, spicy, inviting. The dream returned to her in pieces. The river, the goat’s eyes, her mother’s voice. Without thinking, Twinkle stood up. She quickly left the house, her heart pounding . No one noticed her departure.

 The compound echoed with laughter and chatter. Once she was far enough away, she tilted the plate and poured the soup into the bush. She searched  in the mixture and gathered the bones. Carefully, she wrapped them in a leaf. Then she ran. She ran to the river, to the quiet spot where she drew water every day. On the bank, she dug with her bare hands.

She placed the bones there, gently covered them, and whispered through her tears, “I promise.” From that day on, everything changed. Months passed, and Suzu’s mask completely fell away. With Moses gone, there was no one left to protect Twinkle. At first, it was words. “So, your mother really abandoned you,” she would say .

 “Maybe she didn’t love you enough to stay.” “Are you here to serve Apple?” Suzu declared one morning. ” Whatever she tells you to do, you do. No questions.” Apple smiled wickedly, and Twinkle obeyed. Whenever Lionus was around, Suzu pretended to be nice. She laughed. She made loud noises.  Twinkle’s praise .

 But as soon as Lionus left for the farm where he traveled, Suzu became cruel. Twinkle did all the chores alone. Apple did nothing. Instead, Apple sat and ate. “Bring water, clean my sandals, wash my clothes again. I don’t like the smell.” Suzu watched and smiled. One task never failed to exhaust Twinkle above all else, then water.

 Every day, under a blazing sun, Suzu sent water to the stream. Sometimes twice, sometimes three times. ” Go back,” Suzu said coldly. “The water you brought isn’t enough.” One afternoon, the sun was merciless. Twinkle’s throat was dry, her shoulders ached. Her feet dragged as she carried the heavy clay jar to the stream.

 When she reached the river, she stopped. Something had changed. Where she had buried the bones, a tree…  stood there. Not a small one, but a huge, sturdy tree, its broad branches reaching into the shadows as if it had always been there. Twinkle froze. She was sure this place had been empty before. She was the only one who could see the tree.

 Confused and tired, she approached and set down the jar. The shade was cool on her skin. She sat down beneath the tree and leaned her back against its trunk. That’s when she heard it. My daughter. Twinkle jumped. Her heart pounded. She looked around . No one is afraid, the voice said softly. It came from above her, from inside the tree.

Twinkle’s knees buckled. The voice continued, soft and familiar. It will be all right. Twinkle trembled. Who? Who are you? Our enemies will have what they deserve. Patience, my child. Twinkle made as if to run away. Stay, the voice called. I  I wouldn’t hurt you. She told him everything about the spell on Suzu.

Tears streamed down Twinkle’s face as he listened: “When you obediently buried the bones, I was restored to this form.” Twinkle fell to his knees, sobbing. “You are not alone,” said the tree.  Whenever you need help, come to me.  “But do n’t tell anyone,” he warned. “No one must know about this tree, or what I told you.

” Twinkle shook her head, wiping away her tears. She drew water in silence and hurried home. She arrived late. Too late. Suzu was waiting for her. “Where were you?” she snapped before Twinkle could reply. Slap. Her cheek burned. “Useless girl, you think that because your mother’s gone, you can start misbehaving.” Twinkle lowered her head and said nothing.

 That evening, the village crier’s gong boomed through the air. Gong! Gong! Gong! All the young girls of the village, prepare yourselves! The great festival is approaching. The prince is ready to choose a bride. Excitement spread like wildfire. The girls screamed, the mothers whispered, the fathers smiled proudly. Inside Suzu’s hut, something dark glittered in her eyes. She smiled slowly.

An idea  She had struck him, and she was dangerous. The whole village buzzed with excitement. But inside Lyonus’s concession, the excitement had a different flavor. Suzu was already busy preparing her daughter, Apple. Every morning, she made Apple stand in the middle of the room while she corrected her posture.

 ” Apple, to smile, lift the corners of your mouth like this. Good, now lift your chin and walk confidently. Okay.” She taught her to walk slowly, to lift her chin, to smile without showing too much of her teeth. She practiced greetings with her. ” When the prince looks at you, do n’t rush your words,” Suzu would say.

“Speak softly, make them have to lean forward to hear you.” Apple laughed, savoring every moment. Meanwhile, Twinkle was in the kitchen.  Her hands were red from pounding the chili pepper.  Sweat dripped down her face as she worked.  The sound of the mortar echoing in the concession.  Every time she stopped to rest, Suzu’s voice cut through the air.

  Why are you slowing down?  Are you lazy like your mother?  Twinkle said nothing.  She never said anything.  Suzu leaned towards her daughter and whispered, “When you become the prince’s wife, this girl will follow you everywhere.”  Apple’s eyes widened.  She will wake up before dawn to fetch water.  Continue to Suzu.

  She will wash your clothes, cook your food, and carry your belongings.  Apple smiled slowly.   “Will she kneel when I speak to her?” she asked.  Suzu smiled back at him.  She will kneel before you even speak.  Apple clapped his hands excitedly. Twinkle heard everything.  She continued to pound the pedals.

  That night, Apple stayed alone in her room, staring at the ceiling, imagining herself in royal clothes. She imagined servants bowing, drums beating her name, and Twinkle running after her, breathless.  She giggled to herself. Twinkle, for her part, was sitting outside under the orange tree, staring into the darkness.  She knew she wouldn’t dance.

  She didn’t even know how to do it.  But deep down , she still felt a small spark of happiness.  She wanted to watch, just watch, see the beautiful young girls dancing in their colorful loincloths, hear the drums, feel like she was part of the village, even from afar.  She didn’t know that her mother-in-law had other plans.  The morning of the festival arrived.

Lyonus had left for a business trip.  The drums were resonating from the palace.  The women tied their loincloths.  The young girls laughed and hurried past the concession, their ankle bracelets dyed. Suzu called Twinkle.  Twinkle ran, his heart pounding.  Suzu pointed to a large bowl on the floor.

  Inside was ash, thick grey ash .  Then Suzu poured a bag of rice into it.  The grains disappeared into the ashes.  Twinkle froze.  That’s talking. said Suzu calmly.  Twinkle looked up, confused.  What does it look like?  ” Ash rice,” replied Suzu. Twinkle’s eyes filled with tears.  How ? How am I going to do that?   She murmured.

Suzu crossed her arms.  Until each grain has been separated, you will not approach the palace.  Apple burst out laughing.  “Please,” Twinkle begged.  Please, just let me go and watch.  I will not dance, I promise.  Suzu laughed coldly.  You will watch royalty.  Finish your work. She turned to Apple.  Come.

  The prince will not wait.  The mother and daughter walked away laughing.  Their laughter followed Twinkle like a curse. Twinkle stared at the bowl.  Bring down the rice. Her hands trembled as she picked up the first grain.  Ash covered his fingers.  Tears fell into the bowl.  The drums grew louder.

  The festival had begun.  Twinkle gently swallowed up, surrounded by ash.  Unaware that this cruel task was about to awaken something Suzu had never foreseen. Twinkle’s fingers trembled as she picked grain after grain from the ashes.  Her tears were flowing freely now.  Then she remembered the tree.  Whenever you need help, come to me.

  She doesn’t think twice.  Twinkle lifted the heavy bowl and ran.  The village was strangely quiet.  Every empty concession, every deserted road.  Everyone had gone to the palace.  Her feet burned as she walked past the huts and farms.  When she reached the river’s mouth, she tripped and fell at the foot of the tree. She dropped the bowl and collapsed.

   Please help me.   “Don’t cry, my daughter,” said the tree softly.  “They won’t let me go,” she cried.  They gave me ashes instead of freedom. The voice of the tree was calm.  You were never meant to watch.  You were destined to dance.  Twinkle shook his head.  Incredulous.  What dance?  I don’t even know how to dance.

  “You will dance,” replied the tree.  And when you do it, no one will recognize you. They will see a queen continuing at the tree.  Not a servant, not a forgotten child, but an entirely different person.  Before Twinkle could speak again, the ground trembled gently.  The rice and the ash reappeared in the concession, perfectly separate.

  A soft light enveloped her body like the morning sun.  Her clothes faded away.  In their place appeared an elegant dress, soft, flowing and radiant. Diamonds sparkled around her neck, catching the light.  A silver crown rested delicately on her head and her feet glittered in diamond shoes.  Twinkle stared at herself in disbelief.

  She was beautiful.  Not the kind of beauty that one would discuss, but the kind that commands silence in a room.  “You must listen to me carefully,” said the tree.  As soon as the first dance ends, you must leave the palace immediately.  Before leaving, place your crown on the turntable in the palace garden.

  “For what ?”   she asked.  “The time will come,” replied the tree.  “But you mustn’t stay longer than you’ve been told.”  A carriage appeared, golden and sparkling, drawn by white horses that impatiently pounded the ground. Twinkle climbed inside, his heart pounding.  As the carriage rolled towards the palace, the drums grew louder.

  The palace gates were wide open.  Inside, the young girls are already dancing.  Apple stood among them, dressed in a bright fabric, smiling confidently while Suzu observed the crowd with pride. Then the music changed.  The crowd turned around.  The bus stopped.  Twinkle came out of it .  Murmurs of surprise spread through the palace like wildfire.

Whispers followed his steps.  Where does it come from?  From which kingdom?  Have you ever seen such grace?  Even the prince leaned forward on his throne. Twinkle moved towards the center of the courtyard and somewhere in the crowd, Suzu narrowed her eyes.  The drums changed their rhythm.  A deeper beat resonated in the palace courtyard, slow and imposing.

  As Twinkle advanced, every glance followed his movement.  The way her feet touched the ground, the way her arms floated in the air as if guided by something invisible.  She didn’t rush, she didn’t hesitate. She moved like someone who had always belonged in that place.  Then the prince stood up and walked straight towards her.  Exclamations rang out.

Twinkle’s heart raced, but his face remained calm.  When the prince had calmed him, he extended his hand to him.  She placed hers in hers without a word and they began to dance.  The court disappeared.  There was no more crowd, no more music, no more curious glances, just two.  The villagers whispered among themselves.

  Who is she? I’ve never seen it before.  Which village is she from?  Watch the way the prince looks at her.  At the edge of the courtyard, Suzu’s smile faded.  Her fingers tightened firmly on her loincloth as anger boiled in her chest.  Elle Suzu turned abruptly and gestured to Apple with her eyes.  Dance harder.

  Apple took to it and threw herself into the rhythm, twirling, jumping, smiling with all her teeth. She danced with all the strength of her body, desperate to be noticed.  But the prince did not look at her.  He didn’t look at any of the other girls. His eyes never left the mysterious young girl who was dancing in front of him.

  Even the other girls who were supposed to be her rivals forgot about themselves. They stopped dancing.  They stopped looking at each other.  They stopped feeling envy.  She watched with admiration. The stage was no longer a festival ground.  It belonged to Twinkle and the Prince.  It moved in perfect harmony.  Each step was in harmony.  Each turn was a response to another.

  It was as if they had trained together for years.  The prince smiled at him.  She smiled back at him.  Nothing more, no words, just charm, just grace, just eyes that spoke without a sound.  Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the drums slowed down.  The first dance was over.  Twinkle sensed it immediately.  His heart skipped a beat.

  She remembered the warning.  She stepped back before the prince could speak.  Before he could take another step towards her, she bowed slightly, just enough to be respectful, and turned away.  She walked quickly out of the courtyard.  He ran into the garden, now out of breath.  Her eyes searched the flowers desperately. Then she saw it, a bright, tall sunflower, standing all alone.

  Her fingers trembled as she reached for the crown.  For a moment, she hesitated, feeling its weight, its beauty.  Then she remembered the path of the tree.  She carefully removed it and placed it in the center of the sunflower.  The crown saintilla once and then became immobile.  Twinkle ran away.  At the edge of the palace grounds, the coach was waiting.

  She got on just as the horses were starting to move.  The palace faded behind her.  The carriage rolled deeper and deeper into the bush until it suddenly stopped.  Twinkle blinked .  Before she could speak, the carriage vanished into thin air.  The horses disappeared.  The dress faded away.  The diamond necklace disappeared.

  His shoes crumbled like dust.  Twinkle dyes himself alone on the dusty path, wearing his old clothes again, breathing heavily.  She didn’t panic.  She ran. By the time she reached the concession, Suzu and Apple were already returning from the palace.  Laughing loudly, talking over each other, Twinkle rushed inside, quickly grabbing the bowl.

  She pretended to separate the rice from the ashes, her head down, her hands moving slowly. Suzu entered abruptly a few moments later.  She froze in front of the bowl. The rice was perfectly separated by a visible grain of ash.  Suzu’s mouth opened and then closed.  “How? How did you do it?”  Suzu demanded. Twinkle did not respond.

  She kept her head down, discreetly picking up invisible grains.  Suzu hissed through her teeth and then walked away.  But outside the palace walls, the prince remained restless, his heart troubled by a young girl who danced like destiny and disappeared like a secret.  And somewhere in the garden, a sunflower held a wreath that would soon speak louder than words.

  That evening, Apple could barely contain itself.  She paced the concession excitedly, her feet barely touching the ground as she replayed the events of the festival in her head.  The drums, the crowd, the prince, and above all the mysterious young girl who had taken the breath away from the entire palace.  She eventually found Twinkle sitting on a triangular bean-shaped wooden stool .

  Apple sat down next to her and began to speak animatedly.  She told him everything that had happened at the palace, the mysterious stranger, the excited crowd, the drums, and the way the prince had danced. She was laughing as she spoke.  “I danced so well, ” Apple said proudly.  The prince couldn’t take his eyes off me. Everyone saw it.

  She shook her head with an airmur.  “It’s just a shame you didn’t get to see any of it.” Twinkle kept his head down, continuing to sort the beans he had been ordered to pick.  Apple continued, savoring every word.  She even added: “You should pray harder for me, because that’s the only way for you to set foot in the palace when I am queen.

”  She smiled cruelly.  “You will be my personal servant. You will follow me everywhere.” Twinkle said nothing.  She didn’t argue .  She did not look up.  She simply continued selecting the beans one by one, her silence being heavier than any response. That night, far from the concession, the prince could not sleep.

  He went to the palace garden, the quiet place where he always went to think, the same place where he sat every evening to relax. As he approached, something caught his eye.  A crown carefully placed on the head of a sunflower.  His breath caught in his throat.  He picked it up slowly.  “It’s his,” Teil whispered, turning it between his hands.

  The same crown that rested on the head of the mysterious young girl while she danced.  The same crown that shone brightly under the lights of the palace.  She was here.  “She was here,” he said softly.  He called his guard immediately.  Take this crown, Commander, and keep it safe in my room. Tomorrow, I will return it to her myself.

  The guard bowed.  Yes, Your Highness. But the next day came and the mysterious young girl did not return. The drums played, the young girls danced.  The palace filled up again, but she was nowhere to be seen. The prince looked around.  He waited.  He remained standing.  “Where is she ?”  he asked.

  She’s not here yet .  Nothing.  No, Your Highness. By midday, the prince’s patience had run out.  He stood before the crowd and raised his hand.  “Enough,” he said firmly. The woman to whom this crown belongs is not here.  I won’t wait any longer .  Tomorrow, I will go to the village myself.  I will find the young girl whose head matches this crown.

  Suzu’s heart was pounding wildly .  A crown test throughout the village.  Apple, on the other hand, suddenly flattened the screen .  Yes Mum, we need to make sure this crown fits your head. When they got home, she went to a gourd hidden in a corner of the room. Inside was a dark, thick, slightly bubbling liquid, a mixture.

  “This will make you,” she said slowly.  “That will make you, Mom, the best.” Apple’s eyes lit up.  Suzu smiled, but even she wasn’t prepared for what the potion would cause.  That night, Apple drank it and in the morning, when Apple woke up, she stretched lazily, already smiling.  It was D- Day, the day the prince would come for her, the day she would finally be chosen.

  She jumped out of bed and rushed towards the mirror, proudly freedancing.  But the moment her eyes met her reflection, she screamed.  A piercing scream tore through the concession. Her eyes were bulging in an unnatural way, red and swollen.  His nose had lengthened and taken on a crimson hue of anger.  His neck, long and stiff, bore no resemblance to what it had been the day before.

  Her face had lost all its softness, replaced by something frightening, something profoundly abnormal.  Apple staggered backwards, clutching her chest.  “No, no, no, it wasn’t me!”  she shouted.  She ran back to the mirror, hoping for a flash of light, but there was none.  Her body began to move strangely.  Her hands were trembling, her legs were bending awkwardly.

  She laughed suddenly, then cried, then laughed again as if her mind had split in two.  Her cries immediately attracted Suzu’s attention.  Suzu rushed into the room and froze. The sight before her drained all color from her face.  Apple turned slowly.  her eyes bulging, rolling in their sockets.  Look at me.  Look what you’ve done to me.

  Suzu lunged forward, grabbing her daughter’s face, turning it left and right in a panic.  No, no, it’s not possible.  She ran to find her charms, her gods, her powders.  She sang, she spat incantations, she burned leaves and murmured words between her teeth.  Nothing worked. Apple’s condition was only getting worse. She began pacing the room, muttering to herself, scratching her skin, laughing loudly for no reason.

  For the first time in years, fear crept into Suzu’s heart.  Outside, the village drums began to resonate.  “Boom, boom! Boom! The prince is coming!”  voices were shouting.  “The prince is in the village.” Suzu’s heart went dark.  She had waited for this day, but not in this way.  Soon the royal procession arrived.

  Guards, elders, and the prince himself, going from house to house to test the crown on each young girl.  Everywhere he went, the crown refused to adjust.  It’s not her.  Next, not this one. Finally, they reached Lyonus’s concession .  Suzu’s stomach is drowning.  The villagers gathered, whispering excitedly.  Lyonus has two daughters. Yes, one of them is very beautiful.

  Suzus moved forward quickly, forcing a smile. My lord, please, my daughter is not feeling well today.  The prince raised an eyebrow.  Get her out. Suzu hesitated.  When Apple finally stumbled out, supported by Suzu, the concession fell silent. Then laughter erupted.  Some villagers covered their mouths, others had a heart-shaped opening.

  The children were openly pointing their fingers.  What happened to him ?  Is it an illness or madness?  Apple suddenly screamed again , waving her arms, her voice wild and demented.  Suzu wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.  The prince stepped back slightly.  “It’s not her,” he said calmly. Suzu’s face burned with shame.

  “You should see the other one,” said a villager.  Suzu laughed louder.  My lord, the other girl is nothing, just a servant, poor, dirty, not even worthy to stand before royalty.  The villagers murmured.   ” Bring her here,” ordered the prince.  They called Twinkle.  She left quietly, head down, in simple clothes, her feet dusty from chores.

  The same girl who was drawing water.  The same girl who was sleeping on the floor.  The same girl that Suzu had mocked and beaten.  When the guard lifted the crown and gently placed it on his head, it fit perfectly.  Neither too tight, nor too loose, as if she had been waiting for it.  The prince approached, his eyes fixed on his face.

  “It’s you!”  he whispered, “you chose him!”  Twinkle slowly raised her eyes and for the first time since her mother’s disappearance, hope blossomed.  But in the distance, under the river tree, the wind rustled softly as if something or someone was watching and smiling.  Then Twinkle stepped forward.  Her voice trembled at first, but she gathered her courage and spoke loudly so that everyone could hear.

  She told the villagers how Moses had been transformed into a goat, how she had suffered in silence, and how Suzu’s jealousy had destroyed her life.  The crowd remained silent.  The prince turned abruptly to Suzu and demanded the truth.  Cornered and trembling, Suzu was forced to confess.  She admitted everything she had done to Moi and Twinkle.

  She confessed that the goat slaughtered in the village was Moi herself. Panic immediately erupted.  The people who had eaten the meat began to vomit violently, screaming in fear.  Many swore on the spot that he would never eat at anyone’s house again.  Suzu choked back more deeply and confessed one last thing.

  The spell meant to beautify her daughter had backfired , transforming Apple into what she had become.  As her confession came to an end, the spell broke.  In full view of everyone, Suzu screamed and transformed into a wild animal or a black beast. Some villagers ran home, unable to bear to look at such an abomination.

  An elder stepped forward and spoke with final authority.  Leave her in the village and the bushes.  This will be his punishment for his wicked and inhuman heart.  The prince then took Twinkle by the hand and led her away.  He led her to the palace.  Lyonus returned a few days later from his business trip. When he learned what had happened, he screamed.  He tore his clothes.

  He fell to the ground, trembling.  He remembered the day the goat had been slaughtered.  He remembers having eaten the meat, having enjoyed it.  He never recovered from it .  From that day on, Lyonu would be in the concession like a shadow of his former self , silent, broken, haunted.  He died a few weeks later, crushed by the truth.

  Twinkle married the prince in a grand ceremony.  The whole village gathered, the drums thundered, the women danced, the whole world celebrated.  Suzu and Apple watched from afar, silent, broken, forgotten.  The next morning, Twinkle returned to the river.  She knelt down in front of the large tree. “Thank you, Mom!”  She whispered, “Telle,” through the weapon.

  The voice of the tree came softly.  “My daughter, my time is up. You have risen above the pain. You have forgiven. You have survived. Live well. Then the tree was gone. Gone. Twinkle wept, but she understood. Twinkle inherited all of Lyonus’s land, all his farms, all his wealth. She became queen and the richest woman in the village.

 As for Suzu and Apple, they wandered in the bushes. The children chased them with stones. The elders whispered warnings. Legend says they still live to this day, eating grass, crying at night. And Lyonus, it is said his spirit never found rest, for some sins are too heavy for a man to survive. And so the story ends with justice and truth.

 With a crown that never belongs to wicked hands and a reminder whispered by the wind. What you bury in hatred will rise for judgment. If you like this content, subscribe to the chain.