A very long time ago, there lived a princess who did not wish to marry. Her father presented many suitors for her but she was certain that she would not marry. The future of the kingdom was secure as her two older brothers were already happily married in the kingdoms their father had given them, and the princess had a niece and nephew she loved with all her heart.

The princess tried time and again to convince her father to stop trying to make her marry, but the poor man was convinced he would see her wed before his death. 

At last, after enduring many years of suitors and odd stares, the princess agreed to a compromise. She would take her favourite ring, throw it into the deepest lake in the land and whoever found it for her would become her husband. But the princess had a plan. She would swap out the ring for a plain one so that even if a suitor came upon the ring they would not win her hand.

On the day of the throwing, everything went off without a hitch. The princess concealed her ring in her sleeve and threw a plain one into the lake.

This practise of throwing rings into lakes in order to test suitors was quite commonplace, and as the deepest lake in the area it was a popular location. Many princes ventured into the water, returning with a ring that maybe wasn’t the one they had searched for but all were happily married in the end. Plus, you could always throw the ring back.

The princess’s challenge went on for many years, as no one could find the ring. She had concealed it within her floorboards so this wasn’t surprising. 

Over time, her father realised that she was happiest alone and stopped pressuring her to marry, calling off the challenge with his retirement. The princess inherited a third of the kingdom and ruled it well. And it is said that in her kingdom, none were forced to marry.

THE END