Author: Brothers Grimm

Once upon a time, there was a King who had twelve daughters, each more beautiful than the last. They all slept in one room, with their beds lined up side by side. Every night, the King locked and bolted the door. But every morning, when he unlocked it, he found their shoes worn out from dancing, and no one could figure out how it happened. So the King announced that whoever could discover where they danced at night could choose one of them as his wife and become King after his death. However, anyone who tried and failed to solve the mystery within three days and nights would lose his life.

Soon, a prince came forward and offered to take on the challenge. He was welcomed warmly and, in the evening, was led to a room next to the princesses' bedroom. His bed was placed there so he could watch where they went to dance. To make sure they didn't sneak away, the door to their room was left open. But the prince's eyelids grew heavy, and he fell asleep. When he woke up in the morning, the princesses' shoes were full of holes again. The same thing happened on the second and third nights, and then he was executed without mercy. Many others tried after him, but all lost their lives.

Then a poor soldier, who could no longer serve because of a wound, found himself on the road to the King's town. He met an old woman who asked where he was going. "I hardly know myself," he replied, jokingly adding, "I might try to find out where the princesses dance their shoes to pieces and become King." "That's not so hard," said the old woman. "You must not drink the wine they bring you at night and pretend to be fast asleep."