THE LONG FORGOTTEN PRINCESS

~Prologue~

1814, In The Library of Kassel, Germany

            Jakob Grimm sat hunched over his manuscript as he began to write down each detail of the German folk story, Little Snow White.  This was the politically correct version of the fairytale, but who had time to read such a tale in an age of Romance? They wanted to read about unrequited or forbidden love. Dark and handsome princes, and fair and helpless princesses stirred everyone’s fancy.    Yes, they all wanted to surround themselves with a distorted version of reality.

            The children grew up hearing romantic fairytales, and believing that they’ll meet their one true love in the same manner these characters had.  Of course, this wasn’t true.  Most of these children ended up with unwanted betrothals or dull lovers in the end.  It was the awful and painful truth of reality.

No one was ready to read such a tale in this era.  He decided that he would never publish this manuscript. He didn’t want to crush the children’s dreams for he held on to that tiny piece of hope that perhaps a child might watch his or her fairytale dream come true.  Instead, he hid chapters of the manuscript in several books in the Kassel library.  He concealed each chapter on the back of each book’s front cover, hoped that someday, someone would find his entire manuscript, and discover the truth behind France’s long forgotten princess.

1941, Kassel Library, Germany

            Franz Ulbricht stumbled upon pieces of paper hidden in one of the books he was reading.  He noticed that the front cover of the book was thicker than the back cover, decided to slice open the front cover and discovered a chapter of a story.  He read over the chapter and was captivated. 

He scoured the entire Kassel Library for more chapters.  By the end of one month he completed the entire manuscript.  Afterwards, he paid for the damages he caused and hurried home to read the tale that had led him into a frenzy of destruction.