Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a poor man who had a beautiful and very clever daughter. The girl was known not only for her beauty but also for her intelligence, which was admired throughout the land. One day, the king announced that anyone who could solve his riddles would be richly rewarded.
The poor man’s daughter decided to try her luck and set off for the king’s palace.
When she arrived, the king said to her:
“If you are as clever as they say, answer this riddle: Bring me something that is neither dressed nor naked; neither on horseback nor on foot; neither a gift nor property.”
The girl smiled because she knew the answer. She went home, caught a little bird in a net, and returned to the palace riding on a goat.
When she stood before the king, he looked at her curiously.
“What have you brought me?” asked the king.
The girl held out the net with the bird inside.
“This is neither dressed nor naked because it is in a net. I didn’t come on horseback, but on a goat, which is neither horse nor walking. And this bird is neither a gift, because I caught it, nor property, because I can release it,” she said, freeing the bird.
The king was amazed by her wisdom and quick thinking. He decided to test her again.
“Very well, clever girl, here is the next task: Come to me neither by day nor by night; neither by carriage nor on foot; neither inside nor outside.”
The girl went home and thought about the challenge. At dawn, when it was neither fully day nor night, she set off for the palace. She tied herself to a cart with a rope and dragged herself along, neither walking nor riding. When she arrived at the palace, she stood in the doorway with one foot inside and the other outside.
The king laughed.
“I must admit, clever girl, you have outwitted me. You have fulfilled my tasks and shown that you are wiser than anyone I have ever met.”
The king was so impressed that he offered her a place as an advisor in his court. But the girl replied:
“Thank you, Your Majesty, but I’d rather go home to my family. It’s not wealth and titles that make me happy, but helping others with my knowledge.”
The king nodded respectfully and let her go. The entire village celebrated her cleverness and integrity. From that day on, stories of the clever girl spread far and wide, and she became a symbol of wisdom and humility.
